The Spin Out Zone – Ward Burton Gets Bumped

Hold on – here is the bump and the SPIN OUT!

I guess I need to BUMP myself for giving out bad statistics about Brett
Bodine in my column last week. BOY HOWDY, I heard from the FUKUYAMA fans on this
one (a total of 2), however a few others brought it to my attention that I
missed the mark on this statement; "I didn’t like they way he (Fukuyama)
made the race. Not that I am a big Brett Bodine fan, but Brett (a Winston Cup
regular) found himself going home because he could not qualify based on his
time, BUT Mr. Fukuyama didn’t make it on his qualifying time either. He made the
race because of Travis Carter’s owner points and it put him in the last starting
position." YES, the SPIN OUT GUY can admit when he is wrong! Mr. Fukuyama’s
qualifying time was better than Brett Bodine’s. However, my point was that as a
FAN, I was not impressed with Mr. Fukuyama’s talent and maybe he shouldn’t be
racing in NASCAR’s top racing series. That was based on what I saw at Dover
Downs. I however, said that I was willing to give him another chance to dazzle
me. So I will be watching and if Mr. Fukuyama finishes the next race within the
top 25, I’ll give him some credit right here on THE SPIN OUT ZONE.

I’ve been watching WARD BURTON and searching for something to SPIN this guy
out on for this entire year. Week after week I think I might have him cornered,
however nothing pans out. HECK, I couldn’t even SPIN him out for throwing his
heel shields at Dale Jr. back at Bristol because I agreed with WARD. If I were
put in the same situation, I would have done the same exact thing.

With this new situation with Frank Stoddard, WARD comes out the winner again
and he can share credit with Bill Davis. If you remember a few weeks back, I
begged Frankie Stoddard not to jump on the first ride that came along. Now, he
has ended up with a winning team that has the potential of winning the 2003
Winston Cup Championship. With Frankie’s wife all ready working for WARD, this
team is built around family and should do great things together.

I am sure regular readers of my column are wondering WHAT THE HECK IS UP WITH
THE SPIN OUT GUY? Why so nice?

Well I’ve got to tell you, what WARD did last weekend for a young child while
at the track demonstrates CLASS. Some have it, some don’t, but WARD BURTON went
above and beyond what a superstar is expected to do and he deserves the title
HERO!

The Kansas City Star reported earlier in the week that six-year-old Dusty
Duncan went to get Ward Burton’s autograph before last weekends race in Kansas
City. Dusty suffers from a cleft palate, a condition that affects his personal
appearance and threatens his self-esteem. It’s reported that when WARD was at
his autograph session, he noticed Dusty and according to his mother, Sonja
Duncan, WARD looked over at Dusty two or three times. She said all Dusty could
say was "That’s Ward Burton." Dusty stood in line with his parents was
able to get WARD’s autograph. Afterwards, a security guard stopped them while
they were at a souvenir store and the guard said that WARD wanted their name,
Dusty’s age and phone number. Soon after they gave the guard the information,
the guard returned and took them to WARD so he could talk to them. The family
met WARD in a room located at the store and it’s reported that WARD asked what
was wrong with Dusty? WARD also asked if it could be fixed and then he offered
to pay for it. WARD said on Sunday that he was going to help Dusty and that
something about the boy just touched him. WARD continued and said he was
emotional when he saw him and that he was a sucker when it comes to children.

WARD is a HERO. At the end of the day, a race is just a race, but life is so
precious and in such a small act of kindness, he has touched the life of a child
in such a positive way.

Drivers have a history of doing great things and giving back to their
communities. For this it’s easy to understand why NASCAR is the greatest sport
in America. WAY TO GO WARD!

This weeks SPIN OUT (I MEAN WINNER) goes to – WARD BURTON. You are the MAN!
You’ve won a FAN for life plus a SPIN OUT WAIVE for the next time you do
something wrong!

Until next week, happy bumping and GOD BLESS AMERICA!