The Spin Out Zone — Rusty Wallace Gets Bumped
Hold on – here is the bump and the SPIN OUT!
Party today but dread tomorrow, has got to be the current emotions
surrounding Ford and it’s racing program. With Ryan Newman’s sprint to the top
10 in Winston Cup points over the last several races and adding his first
Winston Cup win last weekend at New Hampshire, a piece of the Ford all star
future may be slipping away.
Rumor has Penske Racing teams Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman switching
manufacturers from Ford to Dodge beginning next year causing a slight dent in
Ford’s future exterior. The manufacturer whose resume includes the powerhouse
teams of Robert Yates Racing, Roush Racing and Penske Racing could loose more
than just a team, they are set to loose ever so important technological
advantages that Penske brought to the table. All three-powerhouse teams provide
their own engine departments, however the power provided by Penske and Yates
surely stands out above the rest. In horsepower, Ford’s loss will surely be
Dodge’s gain.
Another loss, however no near the comparison of loosing a Penske, was the
loss of Ricky Craven and the #32 Tide team. They are moving to Pontiac in 2003.
For now Ford can party hard, because this is their moment! Ford, YOU
currently lead in 2002 Winston Cup wins, a Ford driver currently leads in
Winston Cup points and 8 of the top 15 drivers in Winston Cup points are Ford
drivers. 2 of the 8 drivers happen to be Rusty and Ryan, but if you loose them
to Dodge look at the bright-side Mr. Ford, compared to you’re luck with the NFL,
you’ll certainly find more wins racing in Winston Cup. HEY LIONS – YOU SUCK!
REALLY, REALLY QUICK BUMPS
NBC SPORTS – You’re rain coverage stinks. Take a serious look at the
survey done by NASCAR.com! As of Tuesday, 73% of the FANS want to see more
driver interviews during the rain delay and 16% want to see old races televised.
Need I say more?
JIMMY SPENCER – Thanks for the memories! To make a short story even
shorter, Chip is about to but a FORK in you cause you’re DONE.
TRAVIS CARTER – Fukuyama who? Actually I am surprised you’re not
looking at Masaoki Nagashima because he comes with KRAFT backing in the JAPAN GT
CHAMPIONSHIP series. (Trust me on this one Trav! WINK, WINK!)
FRANK STODDARD – Frankie, PLEASE don’t take the first ride that comes
along. Of course you could always blame it on the REBOUND if you do.
FANS IN THE GARAGE – I invite you to re-read my column
published back on July 3, 2002 called Autograph Seekers Get Bumped. Because it’s
happening! It’s not about the good fans, it’s about the bad apples looking for a
profit! Also I recommend reading Heather Tygrett’s column put out this week at
Insidethepitbox.com called SOLUTIONS TO CROWDED GARAGE AREA. Great column so
grab a cup of coffee, take a moment and live it up!
THE SPIN OUT!
WHAT THE HECK! Now, I feel absolutely stabbed in the back by Rusty. Majority
of the time, Rusty finds himself at the front of the pack running for the win
and he has been very vocal about drivers that have no chance to win basically
slowing down the leader. Back at Bristol just a few races ago, I remember when
Joe Nemechek, being a lap down, was not moving out of the way of a charging
Rusty Wallace who at the time was the race leader. During this time, Joe’s
teammate Jeff Gordon was running in second place had the opportunity to catch up
because Joe slowed Rusty’s pace and eventually Jeff went on to win the race.
After the race, Rusty made it a point to mention that he was slowed down by
Jeff’s teammate and didn’t like it at all. I feel stabbed because DOG GONE IT, I
supported Rusty when he made the case!
So if you were UPSET about it Rusty, WHY in the WORLD would you do it to
Johnny Benson this past weekend?
Johnny Benson, leading the New Hampshire 300 last Sunday was about the lap
Rusty and had over a 1.3 second lead on Rusty’s teammate Ryan Newman. EVERYONE
and I mean everyone knew that the race would end early because the rain was
coming and Rusty had no chance at catching the leaders. Earlier, Rusty and Kyle
Petty tangled putting Rusty was just about a lap down with some damage to the
front of the #2 Miller Lite Ford. However, when Johnny caught Rusty and
attempted to pass, Rusty raced him like there was no tomorrow! By doing this
Rusty slowed Johnny down enough allowing Ryan to catch Johnny. Later after an
incident with the other Wallace brother, Ryan was able to pass Johnny.
Eventually Ryan drove to the win and the race was stopped early due to rain.
RUSTY did exactly what he preached was wrong and for that, he finds himself
on MY hot seat, so BAM there’s a SPIN! Actually, the last two weeks he has
totally disappointed me! In Richmond, Matt Kenseth was leading the race with
less than 30 laps to go, Ryan Newman was running second and Rusty was running
third. I am listening to Rusty’s radio via my Track Pass Membership (an entirely
different subject) and Rusty is asking Roger Penske over the radio to speak to
Ryan about moving over. WHAT? So you own 24% of the DANG team and ask to have
him move over and let you by? GOTCHA far didn’t it? Because just after you got
by Ryan, you found yourself on pit road with a FLAT TIRE!
Here I am on the couch, listening to what Rusty is saying, holding oh so very
tight my Rusty die cast and YES, after I heard him begging Roger to tell Ryan to
move, I grabbed a safety pin and put it to his front left tire. JEZZ, it worked!
Anyway, I am sure you all get my point. When it’s a racing deal, fine!
However when a driver complains about being done wrong, but then goes out and
does it himself to another driver and not to a driver that has done him wrong in
the past, but an INNOCENT driver, IT BURNS ME UP!
This weeks SPIN OUT goes to – RUSTY WALLACE. Hey Rusty, it may be just
racing, but frankness invites frankness!
Until next week, happy bumping and GOD BLESS AMERICA!