Rules??? Not for JGR or Kyle Busch

NASCAR put forth a set of "rules" a few weeks ago which virtually sentence a driver, crew member, spotter, or anyone else involved with a team to NASCAR purgatory. It was clearly stated huge fines and loss of driver and owner's points for many violations, not the least of which was criticizing the "on track product". Please note, even NASCAR didn't call it racing when these rules were set forth.

Kyle Busch was clearly heard, and it has been replayed by the media many times, to say that the X-Finity race was "rigged" because the caution was thrown, freezing the field, when Baby Busch blew a tire while leading the last lap. To make things even worse for the Holy Gee, the other two JGR cars ran out of gas before making the finish. By the time Kyle failed in his attempt to wreck Austin Dillon on the last turn of thelast lap, it was too late for NASCAR to throw out the lifeline to JGR and it was not a JGR car in victory lane.

Kyle Busch, finishing third, being the crybaby he is, failed to show for the post race interview as required by the NASCAR Rules. Violation number two.

Once upon a time, NASCAR handled down penalties on Tuesday. This year they moved it to Wednesday to allow additional time for the imaginative folks who "enforce" the rules to come up with ways to best suit certain teams and drivers (i.e. JGR). This time, it took the "brain" trust until Thursday to determine that Kyle would be fined $10,000.00 for not showing up at the press conference. A great "out" for the NASCAR bunch meaning Busch was fined the paltry amount and no action what so ever was taken on the criticism of the "on track product". No big deal, Joel Osteen is sending Joe a check to pay the fine.

I'm just hoping the racing stays as good as we saw at Fontana in the Cup race, that Toyotas keep having issues, and that at some point in what is obviously a far distance future, Kyle Busch grows up enough to match his talent behind the wheel.

Agree on a couple of points:

1. Kyle Busch was a sore loser after his loss at California.
2. Kyle Busch as a track record of being a sore loser after just about any race he doesn't win.
3. Kyle Busch was fined for skipping the post-race interview in the media center.

But I'm going to take issue with you - and many others - who believe he should have been fined, parked, or penalized in other ways for calling out NASCAR.

Yes, his comments were harsh and sarcastic. Par for the course for Busch - both of them actually. But they were made in the car and over his radio. Say the same thing out loud but without keying the mic: no one ever knows. Say the same thing out loud but in the garage area, motorhome, plane, shop office, etc.: no one ever knows. But he said it over the radio whose primary function is to keep the driver, crew chief and spotter in touch with one another. As fans (and media), we've glommed onto radio chatter as public conversation.

Had Kyle appeared at the post-race presser and made those accusations, then NASCAR's blood would have boiled even quicker. But radio chatter has to be off limits for fines in my opinion. By and large, NASCAR has NOT fined too many drivers or teams for radio conversations. If they begin doing so, however, the teams will lobby even more heavily for encrypted, private communication channels. If that day comes, it will be a loss for the fans. Until then, fans, media, and NASCAR should adhere to a paraphrase of the Latin phrase caveat emptor - let the [listener] beware.

Amazing the difference of focus folks have in today's microscopic coverage of racing vs. about 40 years ago. Even the King himself spouted off a bit following a loss at Pocono in 1975 - during the post race presser! He didn't have the sore loser rep Kyle Busch has, but his comments were equally as strong.

Thanks, Chase, for the comment. I'm pleased you agreed on three points. I cannot, however, agree with your assertion that radio transmissions should be overlooked. With so many scanners, and television covering the in-car communications, it's not private, nor protected. NASCAR makes rules it never intends to enforce against some drivers. Obviously this is one. Kyle Busch is the biggest cry-baby in NASCAR, always has been, always will be. Almost makes me happy my grandsons are more involved in soccer and football than to have to watch such bad sportsmanship. The day may come when I stop mentioning the whiney-butt Busch, but because he continues to exhibit such immature behavior I have to question whether or not he requires a diaper change after a race. Thank you for reading and commenting.

Quite frankly, I think the radio transmissions between driver and crew should be private, not another NASCAR money maker. Nobody has any business hearing that transmission except the crew.

Kyle should have fulfilled his media obligation. He came off in the same vein as our sore loser Carolina Panthers SuperBowl quarterback, Cam Newton walking out on his post game interview. Bush league stuff by both.

I maintain that it is ridiculous for NASCAR to control the comments by its participants. That, too, is bush league.

Well, well, Dave Fulton! You and I agree totally. Radio transmissions should be private between crew, driver and spotter. Football doesn't have helmets with radios. Baseball and Basketball couldn't figure out how to use them if they had them. So, we are in total agreement on that point.

Yes, Kyle should have fulfilled his media obligations. But, as he has done so many times in the past, he had told the press to take a hike while he runs off to snatch a pacifier or get his diaper changed. He is the poorest exampled of sportsmanship in the racing world. You are correct, Kyle scored one for Cam Newton. At least Newton and his whiney butt did take a question or two even if his mumbled answer was non-relevant.

As for controlling comments, that is, in my opinion, violation of the right to free speech. But, as Brian France has proven time and time again, he thinks he is above the law, above the Constitution and above anyone and anything. Wasn't in Jeremy Clements that got burned last year or year before for a comment made walking through the garage area with a member of the press (some ridiculous rag as I recall). That should have taught us all right then and there what to expect from NASCAR. I am sitting here thinking of the retort from Fireball Roberts, or Buck Baker, or Joe Weatherly to any such restrictions of speech. Brian would probably find it difficult to speak with most of his front teeth missing.

We have gone from a sport of glory to a sport filled with whiners, crybabies, pinheads and freaks. That sort of describes Denny, Carl, Kyle and Matt. What Matt did at Martinsville last year should have had him banned for at least a year. But that is history. Wonder if he'll dump Denny at Martinsville since Denny did exactly the same thing at Daytona to Matt that Joey did at Kansas. I would love to see Jumpin' Joe's reaction to that.,

Dave, it is great to have you feeling well enough to be back commenting on things and just being around attempting to keep me in line (impossible dream). But I do give you extra consideration because it was you who made me famous!

Take care.

Thanks, Tim. It sure ain't like it used to be and sometimes that's not a good thing.

Wonder where LeeRoy punching Big Bill in the mouth at Talladega in 1969 would have ranked on NASCAR's current penalty scale?

Dave, that's an interesting question and LeeRoy and Big Bill. Thinking about it, I believe Big Bill was fair enough in most things that he realized he could have punched back but when he chose not to, for him, and LeeRoy, it was a done deal. That's how different I think things were back then. I think much of the problem in this country today is the over emphasis on political correctness. Funny, I've been saying that for several years now (since 2008) and now a presidential front runner is saying the same thing! Oh well, that's my politically incorrect take on the LeeRoy/Big Bill sucker punch.

I remember a race at Columbia back in the late 60s where there were two cars that had a run in on the track and it continued on into the pits,back in the corner kinda. Seems I remember both drivers bailed out of their cars and after surveying the damage met up face to face, and then the questions flew, wasnt no boom mike or announcer or sports writer there either. But it seemed like they mouthed to each other "just wait until next time" and we will see. Seems like I was lucky enough to be at the next race where those two drivers met again. You know those two put on a show out there trying to get in front of the other, but isnt that racing?