(WOMR file photo)
It is not even fall and the leaves are falling off of “the Busch”!
Stop me if you have heard this one before. Kurt Busch has exploded on the radio with a verbally abusive tirade, encroached on other race teams, enraged other crewmemebers, and acted like a spoiled little boy. No this is not a rerun from the entire 2011 season, this is “the new Kurt Busch”, circa 2012!
After the race at Darlington Saturday night here is what went down:
NASCAR has fined Kurt Busch, driver of the #51 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, $50,000 and placed him on NASCAR probation until July 25 for his actions during the May 12 race at Darlington Raceway. Kurt Busch violated Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; reckless driving on pit road during the race; involved in an altercation with another competitor after the completion of the race) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book.
It would appear that Kurt Busch loves to donate to the NASCAR penalty funds. For the last several years NASCAR has been able to dip into Kurt’s checkbook for all of his misconducts, misdeeds, and misgivings each and every year, a lesson not yet learned. Maybe Kurt feels like he makes too much money, and wants to give back some of his salary to the sanctioning body, what do you think?
Additionally, Craig Strickler, a crew member for the #51 team, has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; interfering with a member of the broadcast media). Obviously Mr. Strickler did not learn anything from Kurt Busch’s 2011 dealing with ESPN’s reporter, Dr. Jerry Punch at Homestead!
Tony Gibson, crew chief for the #39 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, has been placed on NASCAR probation until June 27 for violating Section 12-1 and Sections 12-4G and 9-4A (Crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his team members).
Andrew Rueger, a crew member for the #39 team, has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 27 for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; failure to comply with a directive from a NASCAR official). Both of these violations occurred post-race.
I will only refer to an article that I wrote following the news that Kurt had landed a ride with James Finch and Phoenix Racing back in December of 2011 in an article titled, Busch Lands With Phoenix Racing.
In that article I stated that this could be the beginning of Kurt’s long slide down the slippery slope to obscurity. I still have not changed my mind. There are many sayings the come to mind, regarding Kurt’s behavior. And at this point Kurt and Kyle are two peas in a pod.
Nevertheless, the sayings that come to mind are; a zebra can’t change its stripes, and the apple does not fall far from the tree!
Kurt is destined to always find himself squarely in the middle of controversy. Mostly because he is the one who stirs it up by his abusive radio rants, childish personality, and his overly aggressive behavior! the last time I checked the spelling of the word team, there are no “i’s” in that word!
Another quote that comes to mind came out of the mouth of Bill France, Jr. when he would “counsel” drivers. He would often say that, “NASCAR was bigger than me and bigger than you. NASCAR was here before me and it will definitely be here long after you are gone”!
So Kurt take some friendly advice. Loose the bad attitude, the sense of entitlement, and the abusive mouth. If you do those things you might have a shot a getting a job with a first class organization in NASCAR, this is probably your last second chance!
What are your views?
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
