The Final Word – A tale of three drivers; one good, one bad, and one acting ugly again

[media-credit id=42 align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]The Southern 500 at Darlington is tradition. Sometimes it is good, such as during the latter portions of the event, and sometimes it is not. Sometimes there are no cautions, sometimes that leaves very few on the lead lap, and sometimes NASCAR has to throw a caution for debris, or too many mosquitos, or whatever they can think of. At least the final hundred miles got interesting.

That was good, as was the win by Jimmie Johnson. Finally, all the trinkets that have been following Rick Hendrick around to celebrate his 200th Cup win would be handed out, the champagne uncorked, and we could begin the countdown to the 268 put on the board by Petty Enterprises. For Five-Time, it marked his 56th career victory and the 11th straight season he has visited Victory Lane. He moves ahead of Rusty Wallace to sit alone in eighth place among all-time winners. As for this year, Johnson is ranked fifth in the standings, which is better than the 16th place team-mate Kasey Kahne finds himself in, despite a Top Ten at Darlington.

Not so for amigo Dale Earnhardt, Jr. He was 17th on the day, his worst result of 2012, yet third in the standings. Still, if you want the one Hendrick driver who has, through no fault of his own, discovered his season sailing down the crapper, you would be looking for Jeff Gordon. He was in the Top Ten at Darlington until he cut a tire. They changed it, they went out, and cut the sucker again. Off to the garage they went to seek answers, laps ticked off, and Gordon was left in 35th place on the track, and 24th in the standings. So, what needs to happy now? The simplest thing, if there is such a thing, would be to win two of the next 15. Two, that is, as long as Ryan Newman doesn’t win another. If not by wins, by points he has to make gains of at least six positions ahead of whomever is sitting in 10th that week, and do it every week until Richmond. It might be easier to win than to peg his way back, to be honest, in a season that has truly been bad to the bone.

We got our good, we got our bad, so let me introduce you to ugly. Kurt Busch had another one pop in the old fuse box in the Southern 500. After a late wreck that had him put Ryan Newman into the fence and bust his own car up, Busch hit the pits. In leaving, he hit the gas, peeled through Newman’s pit box on his way out, and ticked off some big boys. As the cars were lining up to head to the garage after the race, Busch hit Newman’s car again.

I have never met Andy Rueger, but from what I have seen of him on the tube I would want such a meeting to take place on very pleasant circumstances. The gasman for Newman appears to have had enough of Mr. Busch and his bovine excrement. He went looking for the boy, who kept behind a wall of crew men who probably would not get paid if Kurt got all crunched up and kicked to the curb by Mr. Rueger. Too bad they didn’t just step aside.

Kurt Busch, the man who irritated Dale Earnhardt enough to get the finger from the legend during the last race of his life. Kurt Busch, the weasel who thought he could run his mouth off at Jimmy Spencer only to have the big guy put his fist to Busch’s reset button. Kurt Busch, who took on the personality of Hal the computer after the fans sided with Spencer, actually won the 2004 crown before putting a fork in a year early to his Roush tenure to join Penske. Kurt Busch, who’s real personality was publicly exposed last season as he verbally abused Dr. Jerry Punch while awaiting being interviewed on ESPN. Kurt Busch, who Penske punted after last season, the man who was going to seek professional help, the 33-year old driver exiled to an underfunded outfit to try to reclaim his career, once again demonstrates what a swell boy his momma and poppa raised.

This Saturday, they run the all-star race at Charlotte. Johnson, Gordon, and Busch will all be there. Two will be among the fan favorites. Enjoy the week.