Kurt Busch

[hemidup]

I'll take a look at this from a different angle.

Take my wife for example. She likes drag racing and I'm her only hero. However, she's a HUGE fan of NASCAR which I'm not. I'm mean she's to the point of driving me nuts. She just loves Kasey Kane and the #9 car. She's got Kasey Kane P.J.'s, Kasey Kane calander, Kasey Kane drink glasses, Kasey Kane jacket, Kasey Kane this...Kasey Kane that... and the dude doesn't even drive a Dodge anymore so I'm sure she's going to go out and buy a bunch of Kasey Kane Ford stuff and bring it in to a Mopar only house.

Point is, If Kasey Kane drove a car down the 1320... good or bad, fast or slow, win or loose, my wife would be watching. She'd MAKE me purchase tickets for the both of us to go to the summer nat's. If some NASCAR drivers came over to NHRA, wouldn't you think their fans would also follow? My wife sure would. How many Danica Patrick IRL fans are now watching NASCAR?

[Jack Matyas]

Dan -- I'm with you on this one .........BTW , I'll be OK with Tiger Woods getting an entry at Norwalk ( or anywhere else for that matter ) as long as he brings his blonde entourage along .

As far as Phoenix goes we all know it was a giant cluster and maybe we can learn from it ..............

As for your Richmond entry -- lets just say you took that very well and should be rewarded by getting Mr.Busch first round at the 'Gators......................

[Bobby DiDomenico]

Originally Posted by Dan Fletcher

I just can't help myself...

Believe me, I love to bitch...I'll happily rail against the machine when wronged, but this isn't worth it. Instead of this, why don't we go back to bitching about how hundreds of racers spent thousands of dollars at Phoenix over the last two weeks and never even got to race. That would seem to me to be a bit more offensive. All Kurt Busch racing SG is going to do is give someone a easy trip into round two...

And BTW, this is coming from someone that they WOULD NOT let race at Richmond last year when I 'effed up and didn't enter on time. I was the defending event champ, current world champ, and former world champ...all recognized as provisional entries, but not after 4pm est on the Monday before the race...

As they say, my $.02...

Dan,

I had that very discussion just last week with a friendly next state racer. The costs that were encurred should never have been, it was not well handled at all.

As to Kurt being easy pickins', well I'm guessing it will be like Danica Mania, she had the best car and crew money could buy to run against a lot of underfunded teams. Don't think they'll want to see the Busch embarrassed. (Hey, maybe they will ask me to run against him so he looks really good!) It makes no difference to me, it is their court and I'm glad he wants to dabble, but there wouldn't have been any of this if they'd have just followed their own rules, or grant exceptions to anyone in a hardship case situation. Like some former multi-time champ hitting the entry key late. I can't understand NHRA not wanting to take your money, heck I'm trying to get our sales staff to take all the free profit business we can get.

But the stupidest thing I've ever heard was on the news last night where the airlines will sell the safety exit row seats for more money. ??? Shouldn't the individuals near the door be the most capable of getting everyone out safely in an emergency? That is why they call it the emergency exit correct? I forget, was it Larry Morgan or Forest Gump who had the clearest observation of the situation?

[Jerry Hatch]

Originally Posted by Dan Fletcher

And BTW, this is coming from someone that they WOULD NOT let race at Richmond last year when I 'effed up and didn't enter on time. I was the defending event champ, current world champ, and former world champ...all recognized as provisional entries, but not after 4pm est on the Monday before the race...

As they say, my $.02...

Very good points Dan. There are many who can make good arugments for both sides of this issue. And as another post pointed out it is still possible for Kurt to earn his required grade point before Gainsville.
What I think a lot of racers would disagree with is the fact the someone of your racing stature and long time supporter (playing by NHRA's own rules) wasn't allowed to race at Richmond, and now the possibility exists that (or to this point the rumor exists) they may relax their own rules to allow a non grade point racer to participate. The fact that the fields are not full shouldn't matter. You were no exception, why should someone else be?

[aspen7709]

I hate to disagree with Dan. We all know that you are a FANTASTIC spoksperson for our sport no doubt. You are the guy we all want to be. BUT we same as you all have to get grade points to compete. Just because he has a wad of cash and celebrity in ANOTHER sport does not mean anything for us. They will interview him on ESPN and he will say ANYBODY can drag race look at me! We as a group will not get any TV time only the lucky guy in the other lane who takes him out will get any tv. Imho it will not help only show a lack of respect for what we do. NASCAR is NASCAR if he wants to change let him do what we have to do and then use his celebrity voice to show how we are disrespected on the divisional level. This will be a racing vacation for him.And as for the NBA and MLB stars racing....well bring them in but let them play by the same rules we do.If you went with a wad of cash and the celebrity rep you have in drag racing (yes Dan you are a celebrity to people like me and others) you would not be able to run in the NASCAR series right away right? and you would still have to "try out" for baseball and NBA right? So how does that translate to our sport? I am not trying to make you or anyone else mad but it is ridiculous to make a big deal out of him coming to race. Make him get a grade point or two and go throught the hoops same as us. Besides this will not help us, only be a highlight reel in is career or a foot note in trivia game .Remember when Richard Petty drag raced?

[Rick Bailey]

Fine, let Kurt race.......could be fun for all to experience, I don't think anyone would mistreat Kurt for the rule bending that going to be allowed for him. Hell sportsman racing can use all the good press it can get.

But at the risk of repeating myself, (another post) The problem will be when another Racer is told No, entry without a grade point. Then guess what.......But you let Kurt race!


Kurt..........if your watching......just go to Atl div this week (as earler posted) and ENTER, you don't even have to race. And then it would "all be good"

Welcome Aboard Kurt.

Rick Bailey

[david ring]

I agree with Dan all the way.

BTW, I saw Greg Biffle when he was a contestant on Speed TV's Pass Time when it was at ZMax Dragway. He did a pretty good job-he even talked about how he'd taken a street car of his to the strip. It was clear he was a fan of drag racing.

BTW, during baseball's spring training there are often celebs who work out with teams-it's great publicity for both baseball and the celebs.

[Evan Smith]

Biffle has a GT500 that runs 10s. I think it is awesome that Kurt is racing Super Gas. You can bet ESPN will be covering him like a hawk and giving the SG class some air time. Besides, can't he use his Champion's Provisional? LOL

[cicero819]

I agree with Dan Fletcher's eloquently written observation, Kurt Busch will bring some much needed new blood to our sport. People who follow Sprint Cup Racing are 85% more inclined to use or support whatever brand their favorite Driver is sponsored, by the same frame of thought they might think ' hey Kurt likes Drag Racing maybe I should give it a try also" don't sweat the small stuff. Same thing for Jeg's, bring in as many Pro's running in the sportsman class, it can only help.

[Ed Wright]

I tried to check how many were entered for Gainsville, but was going to have to sit through the hazmat video forst. I don't run SG, but was wondering if it's full? Is his entry going to keep anybody out? If not, what does it matter? Could be worth some ink.