Random Thoughts

Some are claiming that the caution was already out and Michael wrecked Robby under caution. But it sure didn't seem that way to me based on what was being said over Michael's radio. Michael is one of the most safety conscious drivers out there and I'd be surprised if he didn't let up when the caution lights came out and deliberately wrecked Robby. That's just never been his style. Michael certainly gets angry like any other driver and he will retalitate if pushed hard enough such as
when he and Jeff Green tangled earlier in the season. But under caution? That strikes me as very unlikely. If in the unlikely event that Michael decided to punt Robby, and again I doubt that Michael deliberately decided to wreck Robby, then he likely didn't know that the caution had come out. But I don't think the caution had come out yet and in that case I see nothing wrong with Michael standing his ground and making sure that he didn't get wrecked, something that has happened to him quite a few times this season.

But given Michael's explanation over his radio to his team and also to Benny Parsons during the race it sure didn't sound like he was an angry driver who was looking for vengence for something. In fact I think he sounded a little shocked that it happened. Particularly after what happened next...

I didn't see this on the TV broadcast but it's being said that Robby then tried to back his car into Michael as he was getting back onto the track after the incident. That's a no-no right there, though I can't say much about it because I didn't see it. But everyone saw what happened next. Robby wanted to ensure that Michael knew exactly how upset he was. So after his car came to a stop he got out, took off his helmet, walked into the middle of race traffic, waited for Michael to come around and threw his helmet at him!

I can't imagine what was running through Robby's mind when he decided that it would be a good idea to go out on the track like that. Okay, yeah I do know what was going through Robby's head - he was seeing red and he wanted to make sure that he got a message across to Michael that he was pissed off. But to take it those extremes is ridiculous! He walked in front of several cars that had to stop for him - what if they weren't able to stop for some reason? What if, as unlikely as it might be, his helmet damaged another driver's car? Drivers walking into the middle of traffic, even if it's under caution, just can't be happening. Imagine the consequences if Robby had been hit by Tony Stewart or Bobby Hamilton, Jr. because they couldn't stop for him? I shutter to think about what might have happened.

The funny part was that listening to it unfold over Michael's radio, Joey, his spotter, "spotted" Robby throwing the helmet just like he would spot him through anything else happening on the track. I think the helmet throwing really caught Michael off-guard. He flinched and ducked in the car, even though there was no way he was going to get hit by the helmet and it was only then that he called Robby an idiot. In his interview with Benny, Michael said that no one had ever thrown their helmet at him before so I'm not sure he quite knew how to react. Really, what can he do? He can't take back the incident and he can't stop Robby from throwing the helmet.

However, the fireworks weren't over yet. Robby then preceeded to give an interview to TNT in which he said "Everyone thinks that Michael is a good guy, he isn't a good guy, he's a piece of shit." Now that just crosses all sorts of lines. First of all every single driver knows that they can't curse on TV otherwise it's an automatic fine and loss of points. Secondly, and more importantly in my mind is that drivers simply can't be insulting each other like that. Yes, they're going to get angry with each other and call each other idiots or say that something was stupid from time to time. But calling another driver a piece of shit? Sorry, that's totally uncalled for. Especially when Robby's referring to a driver who the vast majority of the time races his competitors extremely clean. And a driver that Robby knows full well is a good guy via his charity work and otherwise. I say full well because Robby was at the Hootie and the Blowfish concert that Michael had for Operation Marathon in Las Vegas. Robby on the other hand is a pest to many of his fellow competitors and I suspect that he's not getting much sympathy from the other drivers right about now.

I'm stunned that this incident turned into what it did. Stuff happens on the track and that's just a part of racing. I can understand that Robby is upset that he ended up wrecked, especially when he was running well and since he fields his own cars but it happens. And he of all drivers should understand this considering that he's caused his own share of wrecks through the years. Some by putting himself into positions on the track where he shouldn't put himself. I don't expect the drivers to be unfeeling robots but I do expect them to show some maturity. Throwing a temper tantrum and acting like a five-year old is unacceptable in my book. He's got to act like the adult that he is and realize that as angry as he might be he still needs to follow Nascar's rules which means that he can't be trying to get into Michael after the incident, he can't be throwing his helmet and he certainly can't be saying "shit" during a TV interview. He will certainly be at the very least fined and lose points for his childish behavior, maybe even have to sit out a race too especially since it comes on the heels of being parked for five laps last week for aggressive driving. That should have been a warning to him that he needs to chill out and keep a low profile.

Some fans are saying that Michael should be penalized too and I think that would be wrong. He was called to the big white hauler after the race but I hope that was to give his side of the story and because Nascar wants to make sure that nothing escalates between he and Robby. If Nascar really took issue with Michael's actions I think they would have penalized him during the race or at the very least given him a warning but nothing was ever said over Michael's radio about Nascar having a problem with him. But I don't think it's right for Michael to be punished for standing his ground and keeping himself from getting wrecked. It makes me sick to my stomach to think that Michael might get parked over this incident.

Robby wasn't the only driver to lose his mind. Kyle Busch got into Kasey Kahne which sent Kasey into the wall. But Kasey didn't just drive off the track and into the garage. Oh no, timid little Kasey suddenly wasn't so timid anymore. He waited until Kyle came back around under caution and then tried to get into him. And not just by giving him a little tap either. Kasey drove right across his front hood and that can't be happening either. I understand retaliation but I really don't like it. I don't think that drivers should be using their cars as a weapon. But I do understand that it's a part of the sport - drivers feel wronged and they want some payback. Same as the practice of pitchers seeking retalitation for when one of the own hitters gets hit by an opposing pitcher. However, if a driver is going to retaliate going it has to happen in an appropriate way - while there's actual racing going on. Kasey can't be trying to run drivers over during a caution no matter how much wrong Kyle did him. That is blatantly and deliberately seeking retaliation. Kasey will pay for that.

In addition, Kurt Busch was wrecked early on by Scott Riggs. I don't think Riggs didn't anything intentional, simply got loose but understandably Kurt was extremely displeased since he's racing for the Championship and suddenly the first race of the Chase he finds himself wrecked before lap ten. So Kurt took a stroll down pit road, numerous members of the media trailing behind him, and had a chat with Scott Rigg's crew chief. I have no problem with that. Kurt didn't throw any punches and didn't even yell. He simply wanted to make it known in a strong way that he was upset. Some say he should be penalized for that chat but I don't see a thing wrong with what he did. As long as a driver is behaving appropriately and is under control, and I think Kurt was, then I see no problem with him speaking his mind.

Oh yeah, Ryan Newman won this race. But no one's going to be talking about that and Nascar is sure to be extremely displeased that instead fans will be talking about the antics of Kasey Kahne and Robby Gordon as well as debating who was at fault in the incident between Robby and Michael. Which is something I think is ridiculous. At some point or another every single driver has made a mistake, shown poor judgement, or otherwise done something to cause a wreck. Things happen on the track, sometimes very unfortunate things and no driver is perfect. So I find the obsession with fault-finding, stringing some drivers up by the ankles and making them into villians a little excessive. Today's goat is tomorrow's hero and tomorrow's hero is next week's goat.

Punishments will come on Tuesday and I will have my fingers crossed that Michael isn't one of the drivers who will be penalized.