NASCAR Lost & Found Dept: “The Big One”
Remember way back last week at Talladega when the iconic “Big One” never happened?
In a strange misalignment of Alabama stars The Big One went MIA and apparently lost as drivers were more intent on a pathetic and fruitless attempt at catching Kyle Busch than playing 200mph bumpercars?
Well, The Big One was found, at Richmond on lap 229.
The red flag was unfurled stopping the race due to mass wreckage from a multi-car pile-up started when .J.J. Yeley tagged the wall (some say with Dave Blaney’s assistance) collecting David Gilliland, Matt Kenseth, Patrick Carpentier, Jimmie Johnson, Juan “So Much for 12th in Points” Montoya, Kurt “Say Good-by to ‘08 Chase” Busch, Johnny Sauter, Michael McDowell and Jeff Burton.
Upon surveying the damage on pit road Chad Knaus said of the #48, “We’ve got to cut a bunch of stuff off of it.” And cut he did as Johnson went sans hood, among other bits of sheet metal, to finish in 30th.
Richard Childress, owner of winner Clint Boyer’s Chevy, had good things to say about the car, it’s driver and the race itself during the after race presser: “I just think it’s been some great racing this year, and I think this new car that we are running today, if you want to call it Car of Tomorrow; we like to call ours the Impala, but I think that probably plays a little role in it.”
“But it’s just great racing, and Kyle and these guys, what they are doing is putting on a show, and people shouldn’t be upset, because that’s what they pay their money for is to see a great race.”
“It was just a great race tonight and we were able to capitalize. And just proud of the BB&T for team for what we did. Tonight Clint drove his butt off, and coming up the field, I’ve watched a lot of racing at this place and watching him be patient for the time he’s driven; and for the way he was able to handle the car and be put in a couple of positions, he’s just done a great job tonight, and I was really proud of him.”
And now for the million dollar question and answer that will be The Talk around water coolers and atop bar stools all week long:
Q. With all due respect, you’re going to be probably the most hated man in the Junior Nation starting tomorrow morning, even with an innocent mistake. What can you say to Junior’s fans to maybe prove that you really are not the villain in this whole thing?
KYLE BUSCH: Well, for some reason, they are awfully confused, because they were giving me the No. 1 sign the last ten laps of the race, and I was in second place still. So I don’t know whether that’s too many Dale Junior Budweisers or they are amped up or what.
For me, there’s nothing you can say, absolutely nothing. If I apologize up and down, even though it may or may not be my fault it would not make a difference. Dale got wrecked, he should have had a win tonight, quote, unquote. But I’ll say it again, it’s just unfortunate circumstances for him because he didn’t get a win, and for me because now I’ve got to put up with it.
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