 |
| Police and NASCAR officials try to restore order after the pit road brawl where Clint Bowyer's crew members attempted to attack driver Jeff Gordon after Gordon wrecked Bowyer, effectively ending his Chase championship chances. (photo courtesy Getty Images). |
Controversial Wreck Leads to Jeff Gordon Nearly Mugged by Clint Bowyer's Crew
(BleacherReport.com)
BY ON NOVEMBER 11, 2012
There is no other way to say it, no better way to describe what took place two laps from the finish Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway.
Jeff Gordon was nearly mugged, plain and simple.
The offenders weren't some scraggly thieves looking for Johnson's wallet for a quick cash score.
Rather, the offenders were nothing short of the kind of hooligans you'd find in the most egregious soccer matches in either Europe or South America.
Those offenders were disguised as members of the No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing team, but in reality, they were nothing more than out and outright thugs.
Sure, 30 or 40 years ago, when drivers had a dust-up on the race track, they'd more often than not settle their differences man-to-man and fist-to-fist behind the nearest hauler. Who can forget the infield skirmish between Donny Allison and Cale Yarborough in the 1979 Daytona 500?
But this is modern day NASCAR. We've come a long way—or at least I'd like to hope we have—than from things like the Allison-Yarborough throwdown in the infield of Daytona International Speedway 33 years ago.
Yes, this is modern-day NASCAR. This is not the wild, wild West, this is not pro wrestling and this is certainly not what NASCAR is supposed to be about.
I get that Bowyer and his crew were upset. But at the same time, these are supposed to be grown men, individuals that are supposed to represent Michael Waltrip Racing and several key sponsors in the finest and most upstanding ways.
I can only imagine how officials from 5-Hour Energy, Bowyer's primary sponsor, must have reacted when Bowyer's crew rushed to try and attack Gordon.
Jeff Gordon was nearly mugged, plain and simple.
The offenders weren't some scraggly thieves looking for Johnson's wallet for a quick cash score.
Rather, the offenders were nothing short of the kind of hooligans you'd find in the most egregious soccer matches in either Europe or South America.
Those offenders were disguised as members of the No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing team, but in reality, they were nothing more than out and outright thugs.
Sure, 30 or 40 years ago, when drivers had a dust-up on the race track, they'd more often than not settle their differences man-to-man and fist-to-fist behind the nearest hauler. Who can forget the infield skirmish between Donny Allison and Cale Yarborough in the 1979 Daytona 500?
But this is modern day NASCAR. We've come a long way—or at least I'd like to hope we have—than from things like the Allison-Yarborough throwdown in the infield of Daytona International Speedway 33 years ago.
Yes, this is modern-day NASCAR. This is not the wild, wild West, this is not pro wrestling and this is certainly not what NASCAR is supposed to be about.
I get that Bowyer and his crew were upset. But at the same time, these are supposed to be grown men, individuals that are supposed to represent Michael Waltrip Racing and several key sponsors in the finest and most upstanding ways.
I can only imagine how officials from 5-Hour Energy, Bowyer's primary sponsor, must have reacted when Bowyer's crew rushed to try and attack Gordon.
No comments:
Post a Comment
What do you think? Leave Your Comment Here:
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.