NASCAR STARS CARL EDWARDS AND KYLE BUSCH RIVALRY GETS A BIG HOO-RAH

Source: Dave Grayson
Date: 08/25/2008

Let's start our racing week out with a rarely issued combination HOO-RAH/WAZZ- UP. First off HOO-RAH for the alleged impending rivalry between NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch following last Saturday night's Bristol race. This has already evolved into more fun than any NASCAR fan could expect. It's now become apparent that Edwards' late in the race bump and run was actually pay back for a similar bumper thumping moment from Busch during a Nationwide Series race at Richmond. Both drivers are already mathematically locked into NASCAR's Chase For The Championship so the final two events, before the Chase begins, could provide some highly entertaining moments from them both on and off the track. Even the team executives are getting in on the fun. I honestly can't remember the last time I saw Jack "the cat in the hat" Roush smile that much. J D Gibbs, President of Joe Gibbs Racing, even managed to work a scripture verse into the scenario when he told Edwards "you reap what you sow." All of this may require racing broadcasters and writers to put in some overtime this week but, hey, if there's a rivalry going on then fire up the coffee pot because I'm working late tonight.

However, at the same time, WAZZ-UP with the on track shenanigans that occurred between Edwards and Busch after the race was over? The NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers had just completed 500 very intense laps on a race track normally provides more intensity that any driver needs in one evening. The last thing anyone of them expected to see was an on track altercation while they were on the cool down lap and heading to the garage area. When Busch side swiped Edwards' car he was precariously close to David Reutimann's Toyota and when Edwards issued the pay back move and turned Busch's car Kevin Harvick had to take evasive action. Fortunately there were no innocent victims from this action.

From our now you see him now you don't department WAZZ-UP with Casey Mears' spotter who told his driver he had cleared another race car when in fact he wasn't clear at all. The result was a nasty, multi car, crash that greatly impacted Kasey Kahne's chances of making the Chase For The Championship. It was later explained that there was a portion of the Bristol front stretch where spotters were having difficulty seeing their cars. If that turns out to be true then it needs to be taken care of right away.

WAZZ-UP Junior? Dale Earnhardt Jr discovered that you can't pass three and one half cars at the start of the race before the you officially drive under the green flag. The result was a penalty trip down pit road and NASCAR's most popular driver spent a long evening trying to make up a one lap deficit that left him with a 17th place finish.

HOO-RAH to 160,000 fans at the Bristol Motor Speedway who helped to establish a new Guinness Book Of World Records entry for performing "The Wave." The television broadcasters displayed a tendency to make fun of this but you have to think that it must have required a lot of coordination to set this record and it really looked cool on TV.

HOO-RAH to the children of NASCAR's families, and the Motor Racing Outreach Program, who participated in the pre race festivities. The sight and sound of these young children singing our "National Anthem" was both heart warming and charming.

Finally WAZZ-UP with my girlfriend, ginnie, who announced that she was tired of seeing Kyle Busch win all of these NASCAR races and, because of it, will no longer purchase M&M's candy. Wait a minute, I love M&M's and now it occurs to me that I will be deprived of my favorite chocolate because Kyle Busch is having a phenomenal year. This is not fair Babe.

NOTES FROM THE SILLY SEASON.

This week's garage rumors state that driver Reed Sorenson may be leaving Ganassi Racing's #41 Dodge to sign on with Gilette Evernham Motor Sports, GEM, and could be replacing Patrick Carpentier in their #10 Dodge. In three years with Chip Ganassi, Sorenson hasn't exactly lit up a race track score board and has reportedly been unhappy with the team's overall performance levels. The question was immediately raised: why would GEM be that interested in Sorenson? The answer may be the fact that Target Stores, a long time sponsor of Ganassi, may be leaving with Sorenson. If this is true then it's another sponsorship blow for Ganassi. Last week Havoline Motor Oil announced that it will be ending its long term relationship with Ganassi and his #42 Dodge driven by Juan Pablo Montoya.

In a rather eye opening statement Felix Sabates, Ganassi Racing co-owner, said "from my point of view his, (Sorenson), contract is over. I think Reed is today as good as he's ever going to be. If somebody else wants to put him in a car, that's fine with us. We have a pretty good idea that he's going to the 10 car. I wish him good luck."

Meanwhile Carpentier's status with GEM is still very much in the air. There is a rumored possibility that GEM will consider fielding a fourth Dodge for him if the sponsorship money can be located.

Expect an announcement from Red Bull Racing, RBR, that says driver Scott Speed will be making his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut prior to the end of the 2008 season. We've all spent this season tracking the progress of the influx of open wheel drivers coming to NASCAR but somehow Scott Speed flew underneath that radar until recently. That may be because RBR has done an outstanding job with his development. In the name of getting him seat time they farmed him out to the NASCAR Craftsman Series where he has already visited victory lane. Also his seat time racing stock cars in the ARCA Remax Series has been so successful that he now has a very good chance of winning the series' championship.

RBR is presently considering 2009 options that will include Scott Speed. Among those options are running three full time Toyota teams or two full time, and one part time, teams. It's not certain exactly what the future holds for driver A J Allmendinger at RBR although he has shown some signs of improvement in recent weeks. A final decision on the team's plans is expected sometime in October.

Expect an announcement from Bruton Smith, sometime between now and the end of the month, that says he will become the new owner of the Kentucky Speedway. The Chairman/CEO of Speedway Motor Sports Inc, SMI, is expected to exercise a $78 million option to acquire the speedway. That option was presented to him back in May and the 90 day time limit runs out at the end of August.

When the quasi commit to purchase Kentucky Speedway was made NASCAR was well into the extensive process of creating their 2009 Sprint Cup schedule and, while Smith would dearly love to see his new race track get a Cup date, he was well aware that it could not be arranged for next season. However Smith vows that the Kentucky Speedway will be on the Sprint Cup schedule for 2010 even if it means he has to give up a date from one of SMI's seven other race tracks. He had no comment regarding which one of his tracks might be giving up a race date.

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