THE GRASSY KNOLL AT THE GLEN

****** IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER******* THIS IS NOT A NEGATIVE COMMENT POST ABOUT KYLE BUSCH.

For any of you who have ever read of the conspiracy theroies, of which there are many, regarding the assinaton of President Kennedy, or of the moon landing in 1969, you know such theroies are easily contrived by the minds of those, like me, who read things into events. Even the most innocent of actions can sometimes lead someone to believe that there is indeed a twilight zone. So, here we go.

I have read several discussions on Facebook and other sites today regarding the end of the race at The Glen yesterday when NASCAR failed to throw a caution flag when there was oil all over the track (per several drivers' statements) for at least one complete lap, if not two. NASCAR has gone to great lengths to stress that they could not determine oil was on the track and has even posted on their own site the statement of John Darby that the "tower" (NASCAR speak for head honcho) kept asking the turn workers if they could see oil on the track. Per Darby, all turn workers said "no". The flagman said "no". This all from the organization that throws "debris cautions" to bunch up the field for a close finish whether or not the debris exists.

Please note that all the drivers interviewed yesterday said there was oil on the track and plenty were slipping and sliding, yet, after being "guided" by NASCAR, all drivers now say you could not see the oil.If you are a race fan, you should know if a driver feels something is wrong, he is going to radio his crew "oil on the track". Did that not happen? Funny how TV failed to let us in on any of the in-car radio transmissions addressing that.

Ok, being one who believes Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone, I will proffer this conspiracy theory from the grassy knoll at the Glen (I'm sure they have one).

Point 1: Kyle Busch was leading and on the way to a sure win. It is a big deal for NASCAR to have Kyle in The Chase. I'm sure M&M Mars would not be happy to have their car outside looking in. A win would have greatly enhanced his chances to be in the big show.

Point 2: By the time Kyle slipped and spun, it was too late for NASCAR to do anything to help Kyle who is now 14th in points with only ONE win. Besides, it all happened so fast, no one in "the Tower" has the reaction time necessary to make such a call.

Point 3: Preacher Joe has only Denny Hamlin in The Chase at present and while he looks pretty secure in his 10th place standing with two wins, the way he has flamed out a couple of times recently, Preacher Joe wants to be sure FexEx is not getting ready to ship their sponsor dollars elsewhere.

Point 4: Speaking of sponsor dollar problems for Preacher Joe, I understand Home Depot is so disenchanted and enraged with "Sliced Bread" that they have forbidden their employees to bring sandwich lunches to work.

So, state your opinion. Was NASCAR trying to ensure Kyle's win yesterday and then screwed it up royally because Kyle was the one to spin?

Whatever you may think of my conspiracy theory, you have to say the final lap with Marcos and Brad was the way racing should be. Both drivers said it and I agree. It was slam-bang, racing for a win the way I remember those Petty-Pearson duels. For one brief shining moment, I was back in the 70s and it felt good.

A truly spectacular final lap. Best in years.

Are you sure, though, that we really walked on the moon in 1969? I have it on very good authority...

Hey, NASCAR has been in bed with ConAgra (purveyors of PAM) before, back in the Banquet sponsorship days and they are the official supplier of those Jesse Jones Hot Dogs at Martinsville and the oiler down, Bobby Labonte, was once sponsored by ConAgra's Slim Jims!

Definitely a conspiracy.

Had just finished a late shift at Philip Morris Computer Ops Center on I-95 in Richmond (summer job between junior & senior year of college) and was in the bed with the old portable tv pulled up beside it. Maybe Rev. Stagger heard it was brie on the moon and it was he you observed.

First, good work on stirring the pot Tim. Combining the historical and the contemporary - berry, berry nice.

Second, I too thought about Wilkesboro 1972 with Petty and Allison. I wasn't at the race, and I don't know of any video from it. But with photos I've seen and articles I've read, it was one for the ages. Sadly perhaps, yesterday's finish was compared by many against NASCAR races that have been televised.

I don't think NASCAR was trying to rig things to get Kyle in the Chase - no more than they've tried to get the 48 car to the points lead after having the Daytona 500 penalty overturned. He was about to do it on his own terms. They just wanted a helluva finish. No question about it - the final 10 will be better if he is in vs. Denny. That 11 car is dragging anchor. He has more than a full race's full of points on 11th place + 2 wins in his bank. So he'll make the stage - but I don't see him doing much more.

ESPN and later Speed made a big deal about supposedly examining the 18 car and finding no oil leaking - just as Dave Rogers convincingly said. OK, cool. Then hey TV people - why didn't you move over a few bays or haulers to check out the 47 car. You were so pre-occupied wanting to get a juicy sound bite from Kyle - including a portion that you hoped to bleep on air or apologize for not doing - that you didn't even attempt to report true news, identifying the source of the oil.

And for those who contend Brad used up Kyle, baloney. That was simply some hard nosed racing between 3 drivers had unbelievable control while trying to race on 'ice' and in the dirt. Kyle popped back on the primary portion of the track, but BK had the preferred line. They got together - simple as that.

So for me - no mystery shooter atop the hill.

In late 90s, I was in Dallas area for work. Instead of going to a restaurant, we spent our dinner dollars allotment at the go-kart track. I forgot the name of it, but it was one of those super-duper kinds with about a half-dozen types of tracks. By far my fave was the slick track. I could barely drive for laughing so hard. But it was an absolute blast for my brother-in-law, co-worker, and myself as we tried to compete against one another as well as the other customers. We pitched it in the turns, slid coming off, trimmed the esses, etc. in an effort to get one over on the other guy. That's what came to my mind as I watched those guys sling it through the oiled-down surface yesterday.

Well, I could never be accused of being a NASCAR cheerleader, but in this case when all heck broke loose, there wasn't enough time for anyone to do anything expect hunker down and go for broke. This isn't a 1 1/2 miler, it's a long country drive and had NASCAR thrown a caution the discussion would have involved police escorts and fans with pitchforks and torches.

And yes, it was one of the best I've seen in a long time.

If they would go back to bias ply tires and get off these slot car tires...We would see this kinda racing every lap,,, every week..

Now that the discussion on this post has died down, I have a confession. I was cutting my grass Monday while trying to think of ways to get discussions going on the site. What better avenue, I thought, than to raise issues about the honesty and trustworthyness of NASCAR. I pointed out that it was not directed at Kyle Busch because, even though I may not be a fan of his, per se, after seeing him with the kid from Make-A-Wish, or whatever organization, I realized Kyle and I have that in common and someone who can do things like that for a kid deserves my respect, so he has earned that much. The post was more tongue-in-cheek than an outright blast of NASCAR. One day I will write my expose` on what I feel is pretty substantial proof that NASCAR has manipulated race results for years. The yellow flags seem to appear when needed for certain drivers for that elusive debris rarely seen by the human eye. I have my opinion on all that (of course) and when logically reviewed, I am supported by evidence I think proves my point. But that is for another time.

What the race at The Glen proved to me, and many others, is that NASCAR needs to run more road courses. Certainly the road course provides much better competition than those cookie cutter abominations Bruton Smiths seems to over dose on. The racing on a road course is good racing, close racing, and several of those drivers proved you CAN pass on those tracks and do it well. The finish of the race was, as has been stated by others, the best I've seen in a long, long time. I have to think all the way back to Daytona 500, 1976, for a finish with more interest. Ask Billy Biscoe about that one.

Many of us here have issues with the way NASCAR continues to do the things we feel are leading to the eventual end of the sport. While I doubt it will ever "end", the continuing decline is evident. I hope someone wakes up before the final checkered flag flies. What racing was when I fell in love with the sport, it is no more. But, the dedication of some of the drivers to the sport outweighs the money issue of so many others and it those drivers for whom I hope the sport will re-invent itself. To me, the answers are simple. To NASCAR, I'm not sure they are aware of the questions. Sort of like playing Jeopardy. The answers are out there, it's the questions they need to find. But I won't go on rant about that today.

I just want to thank all who took time to respond to this post. I always appreciate input from all sources and you folks who commented here didn't let me down. Keep it coming. You can always e-mail me on the site here or at: legendtim83@yahoo.com

Tim,, there was a time when i wouldn't give you a plug nickle for a road course race..Over the last couple years that has changed some what..I'm not sure what happened maybe,, it is just me,, being hardheaded but i did enjoy the race last weekend..I almost watched the whole race ,,and that was very strange of me...I still can not watch a whole mile and half track race it is impossible...I been watching,, off and on the V8 Aussie cars some ,,and they are kinda exciting..

Do you think the aero push has made the road course better?? I don't know,but the cars seem to fit it better now..The Glen is much wider track then some tracks also ,,maybe that is it, more room to pass...Ms.Patty is right road course racing is close to short track racing ,,,aero push again?? I would not had agreed with you years ago Ms.Patty ,,about having more R/C racing but now i do..I just want to see some good racing NASCAR,, i don't care if it is on ice..I want to support NASCAR and not kick it like i have in the past couple years..Good racing is what i miss and hoping for again..If it takes R/C racing so be it,,it has be better then then these mile and half crap..

Tim about Kyle Busch and his work for make -a- wish...The guy seems to be honest with what he is doing there..I do think he is a good guy,, but when he puts that helmet on he turns into a monster..I don't see anything wrong with talking trash about a driver when he is the race car..There will always be the bad & good guy in racing it is a part of it...Talking trash about a driver with his helmet on ,,,is NOT the same as with his helmet off...

Tim, in a world full of shadows it's too easy to see things that may, or may not, be there. I loved the final few laps of the race and I honestly am looking forward to the return to WGI next year. I am of the opinion that there was oil on the track and it had been getting a little worst as the laps wound down. Too many cars were slithering around including Stewart and Gordon. With 2 laps to go the TV showed the top 3 coming out of turn 5 and KuBu had a slight lead and he started veering from side to side and everyone thought he was out of gas. We now know he was checking to see if a tire was down or if they were dirty. I don't see a conspiracy, what I saw was 3 RACERS doing all they could to win the race, all affected by the conditions the last several laps ending with KuBu slipping wide in turn one and Bad Brad filling the hole.

Was NASCAR playing favorites by letting the race remain under green with KuBu in the lead? It will much more than what I saw to convince of that. I couldn't see anything on the track and I was looking hard to see it. I do think that the corner workers would have reported it if it was noticed. I like your thinking and with the history of the front office I can see why we all could see shadows everywhere.

Coach Joe Gibbs will be on John Boy & Billy around 9:10 Thursday morning. Wonder if he will let the cat out of the bag if his teams are being favored by France and Company.