Kyle Busch vs. Danica Patrick Sometimes my assistant and I get to chatting late at night. Recently it was a "what do you think would happen if..." conversation spurred on by rewatching Michael McDowell's fantastic post-wreck interview on Speed Report. "It's my fault - not her fault at all - and very unfortunate for her. I'm sure I'll catch a little bit of heck from this, but Danicamania crowd, I'm sorry. Okay? I'm sorry. Don't hate me. Junior nation, don't hate me. I love you guys. I love everybody. 100% my fault."
This was said not just to the reporter on hand, but straight into the camera.
Has there ever before been someone so completely apologetic to another driver, that driver's fans, the team owner, his fans, and the entire world all at once? I'm surprised he didn't take responsibility for her wreck at Daytona, too, and the bad haircut she got once when she was eight years old! That's when my assistant wondered how Kyle Busch would have reacted in that situation. Or if there could ever, at any time, in any situation, be something to bring that kind of apology out of Kyle Busch. The consensus among us two was probably not. But how would he have reacted in a situation of having wrecked Danica? My opinion is that I think he'd be surprised at what would happen next. The "what if" scenario painted by the assistant is that Kyle Busch is leading a Nationwide race, he comes up on the lapped car of Danica who doesn't want to let him by. The second-place car is breathing down his back and she's holding him up. He's gotta do what he's gotta do, and he pushes her out of the way. She wrecks. What would happen next? My opinion: The crowd goes wild. Suddenly it's the Darrell Waltrip vs. Rusty Wallace wreck all over again, but this time the aggressor comes out the hero. The crowd is cheering for Kyle Busch and everyone stands amazed. Kyle isn't sure what to think, the Danica camp can't believe what they're hearing, and the tide turns for the bad boy Busch who has just become the hero. I think race fans as a whole are about sick to death of the hype and the oversaturation in the media of all things Danica, and even if the guy that took her out was Kyle Busch, I think he'd become a hero. And as Dennis Miller used to say, of course that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. Jeff Gordon vs. Jimmie Johnson Moving along, his next "What if...?" came about after discussing the assertion that my final paragraph in CHEERS and JEERS a couple of weeks ago was a slam to Jeff Gordon. First let me say, it wasn't intended as such. I began by appreciating his return to aggressively pursuing wins and the championship that has eluded him. I called him the greatest natural talent to ever race in the series. And I went on to try and gain some sympathy for how the poor guy must be feeling a bit overlooked at HMS where once he was king. Somehow that translated to a slam. Go figure. A scenario was proposed to me, then, that we're at Homestead, and Jimmie's leading with Jeff behind him. Whoever wins the race wins the championship. "Who wins?" My answer was easy. "Who's running in third?" "You think Jeff Gordon wreck Jimmie Johnson for that win?" "Of course!" I said. He works for Hendrick and Rick gets that championship whether there's a 24 or a 48 on the door. I flash back to poor Mike Skinner who once misspoke and regretted it forever after. Yes, I think it's possible that Jeff might wreck his own mother for that fifth championship if he had to. Gently, of course.. maybe just rattle her cage... but he'd do it. Don't you think? [Ed note: This was written prior to the 99 v. 12 wreck. Since the precedent has now been set with a non-penalty for payback, I wonder how many more cages might now be rattled, especially as we head to Bristol...]
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