The Hot Pass: Only winning matters to Busch
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Race Trax:
News:
- Don't expect return of Southern 500
- Roush driver wins ARCA race
- Stewart wins wreck-filled N'wide race
- Biffle sets record, wins pole
Analysis:
Fantasy:
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With the crowd on its feet, anticipating the end of Earnhardt's 71-race winless streak, the No. 88 extended its lead over Busch by 0.7-seconds until Hamlin faded into the Turn 4 wall to bring out the 10th caution of the day on Lap 391.
Earnhardt led the pack to the restart on Lap 395, but could not hold off Busch, who had been stronger than the No. 88 through the corners. The two drivers came off Turn 2, down the backstretch with Busch on the inside but the No. 18 slid up into the No. 88 in Turn 3 and sent Earnhardt spinning into the wall.
"We just didn't give each other enough room getting into Turn 3," Busch said. "I didn't feel like I slipped, but we just kind of banged simultaneously and that's when I got loose and got corrected and he was gone."
The cheers changed to jeers and a mass exodus began in the stands as Earnhardt fell from first to 16th as the leaders drove by him on Lap 398 of the advertised 400 laps. Debris was strewn in Turn 2 and the disappointed throngs of Junior Nation reminded Busch he was No. 1, albeit not with their index fingers.
Busch quipped, "Everyone is driving around the racetrack scared to death of wrecking Dale Earnhardt Jr., so why would I be any different?"
And with those few words, Busch proved he didn't care who was behind the wheel or he would have tempered his entry into the corner more judiciously. He made it clear that he would not be intimidated by the Intimidator's son or anyone else on the racetrack.
"It would not make me a race car driver that's for sure," said Busch, who finished second and took the points lead from Jeff Burton. "If I went out there on that final restart and just gave way to the 88 car, then that would not be a true race car driver.
"I had to do what I had to do to win for my team. That's what I was out there and set forth to do was try to get a win. Unfortunately, circumstances happened."
Earnhardt's point of view did not differ greatly from Busch's. He concluded the incident was simply unfortunate.
"I wasn't good on the bottom so I moved up to the top to run as good as I could up there," said Earnhardt, who finished 15th but remained third in the standings. "He had been running the bottom, so I figured we would race that out. I got a great run around one and two, and nearly got by me. He gave me room off the outside of two so I wouldn't say that was intentional going into three because if he had wanted to, he could have just thrown me into the fence off two. We had been racing each other earlier and had no problems.
"The worst part about it is that I have been priding myself on running good all year and I was in position for a win. I ran hard and got wrecked. I had a top-three car and should have finished in the top three. So, I was going for the win. Just ended up on the hook today. Just disappointed."
Security was heightened for the top finishing drivers in the infield. Eventual winner Clint Bowyer, who scored his second career victory Saturday night as the race went 10 laps into overtime, was surprised with the safety measures following the event.
"I told the cops, I don't know why they were escorting me in here," said Bowyer who jumped from seventh to fourth in the point standings."I told them they better get on and escort Kyle Busch out of here."
Earnhardt maintained his cool after the race. Although he had not watched a replay of the incident between himself and Busch, he agreed with Bowyer.
"Whether it's fair or not, (Kyle) is going to need some security," Earnhardt said.
What's my line?
Bobby Labonte said talk of him re-signing with Petty Enterprises was premature, even though it was widely reported early Saturday by the Associated Press.
"There's opportunities in a lot of things right now," Labonte said. "We're just trying to weigh some options out and see what's there. Nothing has come out of my mouth to say that (I've renewed my contract) so stay tuned."
Robby Loomis, Petty Enterprises vice president for racing operations, would not comment on the finality of Labonte's contract but described his driver as the quarterback he wants to build the No. 43 around.
Loomis knows it would take time to rebuild following the company's move from Level Cross to Mooresville, N.C. last year, but reiterated that all the employees remain "on a mission to win".
"That hasn't changed," Loomis said. "We're committed to strengthening the program and moving the program forward at a consistent rate. We've ramped up our personnel. The engineering and our pit crews are stronger. The more attractive we make the Petty brand, it will just add to the company's value."
Pinball wizard
What should have been Patrick Carpentier's best experience on an oval ended prematurely on Lap 228 after the driver of the No. 10 Dodge was tagged from behind and spun into oncoming traffic. The rookie was a victim in the 11-car wreck in Turn 3 that was described by competitors as "Talladega-like."
After qualifying a career-high fourth in a Sprint Cup race, Carpentier was scored 43rd — his worst finish of the season.
"It was a pinball ride," Carpentier said. "I mean, down the backstretch I saw the crash happening. I was trying to go to the inside to avoid it, slowing down and I think I got hit from behind, spun around and then hit the inside rail almost accelerated back to corner three and got into the cars and everybody got into me.
"It was a pretty hard hit. Thanks for the carbon fiber seat that they've got inside the car now. It was not too bad. Knocked the wind out of me, but we're okay. These wrecks happen fast and just trying to avoid it."
Line of the race
"He's an idiot. He's trying to kill him. I thought I was seeing things."
— Radio communication by Jimmie Johnson after Michael Waltrip rammed Johnson's teammate Casey Mears into the Turn 1 wall on Lap 355. NASCAR parked Waltrip for the evening following the incident.
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