• NASCAR Nation cannot have it both ways. Either you're on board for hard-nosed racing, or settle into the La-Z-Boy for more neutered racing.
Jeff Gordon's late-race tactic was no different than those utilized by Dale Earnhardt, and for all those who complain about NASCAR being vanilla in the years since Earnhardt's death, Sunday should have been a feel good flashback to the glory days.
• Speaking of Gordon, he'll top the $75 million mark in career earnings on Sunday. Entering New Hampshire he has won $74,895,269. In case you're curious, Richard Petty took home $8,541,210 in his 35-year career. And for what it's worth, Gordon is still a few weeks shy of even turning 35 years old.
Duane Cross wonders -- "Why was it OK for Dale Earnhardt to bump a rival out of the way to win a race, but when Jeff Gordon does it, fans throw a fit or worse?"
I'll take a shot at that one and try to help you out! When Dale, Sr. did it, it was at 80mph, coming out of a corner at Bristol, where there is virtually no other way to pass.
When Jeff Gordon did it, it was at 140mph, going into a corner at Chicagoland, which has four grooves for passing.
Dale, Sr. was in a situation where he could not pass without bumping, and the bumping was not done to deliberately wreck the other guy, although it sometimes did happen. Flash was in a situation where he could have passed Robot cleanly (he is the greatest driver ever, correct?), and by giving the bump where he did in the turn deliberately punted Robot into the infield.
I am not a fan of Flash or Robot, so I have no dog in this fight. And I enjoy watching the bump-n-run at Bristol! But like Shrub (Kyle Busch) said, "(For reasons of safety because of the high mph) There is no place for it on the 1.5 milers."
Now that I answered your question, will you answer mine? How convoluted is it for the #24 fans to blame the #17 for the wreck?! Yup, yup, yup, Robot wanted to lose. No? Ahh, then it must have been a conspiracy by Robot to make Flash look bad. Still no? There has to be some reason Robot wanted to wreck, because Flash wouldn't have deliberately caused it!
Jeff Gordon said -- "He can say whatever about payback. I'm not going to question it because whether it is or whether it isn't, it's not even an issue anymore. What happened at Bristol, it happened -- just like what happened here. It's a non-issue. It's racing."
O-K. If it is "just racing," and "a non-issue (not worthy of payback)," and "just like what happened at Bristol" then why did you get out of your car at Bristol and shove him? Me thinks you're trying to have it both ways!