I watched that replay a thousand times, and still think Texas Terry got screwed. I don't think it rose to the level of "intentional wrecking," though; The 3 was good at a tap like that, and good drivers could handle it, although they'd lose a lot of spots.
Tonight's wasn't "a tap like that," but a full-on front-quarter-to-side-panel shot, and couldn't have been ridden out without a wreck. Shrub put Junior in the wall with a move clearly calculated to put him in the wall, and that's a foul.
I just hope Junior doesn't start driving like Buschette in response, even if it's the only way to get the points. I hope he's got more class than that, even if Helton is opening the door for demolition derbies.
I know Busch has a bone to pick with Junior -- Earnhardt's driving his Hendricks ride. They should settle it by the same rules, though. You'll note that Junior didn't put him in the wall when he went by him, and I'll note that he'd almost certainly have lost points it he had.
I'll grant that the issue is arguable and nothing either of us says will decide. I just hope the sport isn't compromised by the sort of driver Kyle Busch has shown himself to be, wheeling the talent of the greats with the ethics of a South Congress sidewalk slut...
Busch has done a remarkable job this season without a Hendricks ride. Why should he care?
The old man admitted he wanted to bump Texas Terry out of the way, but didn't want to wreck him. I believe that. Lots of folks don't... and you're right, LaBonte got screwed. It wasn't good for Big E, either.
You don't have to worry about Jr becoming jaded, he's going to be just fine. Just my prediction.
I appreciate discussing it with you. Look back at the threads over the years, and we Nascar fans can be a fairly impetuous group, eh?
Time will tell. Hell, I might even develop a liking for Gordon over time.
Or not.
FWIW, after looking at it some more, I don’t think any of it was intentional; I think Hamlin was trying to stretch out his tire to finish in as good a position as possible, and it just didn’t last. On Shrub’s part, this is nothing new. He just pulled a hot dog move, as he often does. He overdrives his car, and wrecks, or wrecks somebody else. Sometimes it works out for him; sometimes it doesn’t.