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Hanahan

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    Daytona Fail

    Monday, July 6, 2009, 08:33 AM EST [NASCAR]

    The 400 miler at Daytona on Saturday night certainly provided an exciting finish as Kyle Busch caused the 'big one' and took three hellacious hits in less than five seconds. All in all the race was a good one to watch mainly because the caution would come out every time the drivers needed to stop for tires. Tires looked to be a major factor, as cars with the right setups didn't have tire problems while those who missed the setup were hanging on for dear life, or suffering blowouts.

    Back to Kyle Busch, once again Saturday night he proved that he still has a lot to learn about plate racing. Yes, he has won at Daytona and Talladega, but in both of those races last year he didn't have to pass anyone or block anyone on the last lap. That's where he falls short.

    At Daytona last year a caution came out during the green, white, checkered just as it looked like Carl Edwards would pass him for the win. Edwards was denied the win because of the yellow flag. At Talladega last year Busch also won during a G,W,C finish. Having to only hold of Juan Montoya....not exactly a plate race master himself.

    For the last three years, if he's not leading, Busch has made very poor decisions at the superspeedway tracks. His finishes have suffered as a result of those poor choices.

    Two years ago, at the July Daytona race Busch let Jamie McMurray outdrive him to the checkered flag. Think about that one, Jamie MCMurray OUTDROVE anyone let alone Kyle Busch. Three years ago, in the Daytona 500, while Matt Kenseth and McMurray were causing the 'big one' on the last lap coming off of turn four. Kyle turned left and lost it while in the inside lane. The wreck was just starting in the outside lane. He could have held his line and finished in the top five easily.

    This year it seemed that the McMurray finish was on his mind, as Busch wanted no parts of a side-by-side drag race with Tony Stewart to the finish line. Turns out that his chances would have been much better doing that than coming down into Stewart's car and causing the 'big one'.

    The problem is that Busch has so much talent that he thinks his talent will override that restrictor plate....wrong! The draft and aerodynamics mean more than talent at the plate tracks, re: McMurray.

    Talent doesn't always win out at Daytona. Three time champions, the Labonte brothers never won at Daytona. Darrell Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt each took 20 years to win the Daytona 500. Mark Martin has never won at Daytona. While Mike Waltrip has two 500 victories, wth!

    Busch has a hot setup at the plate tracks....for now. That won't last forever. He needs to study up, and learn more about the drafting techniques involved in a shootout than trying to rely solely on his talent.

    3.7 (2 Ratings)
    [ 12 comments ] Leave a Comment

    I'll comment here since I couldn't figure out how to post one on your other blog.

    Great post once again Hanahan!

    Restrictor plate racing is the one weakness of Kyle. I do think that he had a car to win the 500 back in February if he hadn't been taken out in the Big One.

    P.S. How did you manage to put that cool logo at the top of your Spinout blog???

    gonger93
    July 08, 2009
    09:56 AM EST

    Vol....A testament to the COT. Just a few years ago, any one of those three hits could have caused serious injury to a driver. Of course, the only thing that can hurt Kyle is Kryptonite...LOL

    RL...Last year at Talladega, Edwards stayed in the back, didn't even pit with leaders. Brilliant! What happens when he finally decides to go racing? He causes the 'big one'. Maybe because he hadn't been up there all day?

    NASCAR knows that the fans would rather see close racing and maybe a 'big one' than watch a caution free, strung-out race.

    CR....Doubt Kyle is worrying about what anyone says about him...LOL. I can't lay any blame on Tony. Tony's car was just so much faster than Kyle's, that it surprised him at the end....right after he turned right.lol

    Stork...I believe if Kyle was loose, it was because of driving way past the edge to try and win.

    As far as Tony's humble demeanor afterward...it was about as believable as Kyle apologizing for that restart wreck that he didn't start last week

    Hanahan
    July 06, 2009
    06:23 PM EST

    Degraff....I think Kyle misjudged how fast that Tony came up on the outside of him. Kyle certainly took three good shots, and still walked away.

    F2....I haven't seen the framexframe yet. I don't think Kyle was trying to save a loose car....I think he was trying to block, and paid the price.

    gray....I agree with your last two comments. You can always delete your first comment, and people won't think you're a complete moron.

    Hanahan
    July 06, 2009
    06:05 PM EST

    I think I will wait till the Frame by Frame comes up. I didn't get to watch until last night, and I watched the replay about 15 times. My opinion is that Tony got him loose with the touch just before the big right hand turn. Was Kyle blocking or trying to correct the car?? Only Kyle knows. If it was just a block and Kyle wrecked himself (like Edwards at Dega') why would Smoke have been so apologetic??

    I do think however that no matter the cause it wasn't an intentional type incident. Just two guys going for the win.

    storkjrc
    July 06, 2009
    12:17 PM EST

    Hanahan, way to dump on your driver man. You're not helping Kyle's headache if he reads your blog. LOL

    Tony was very agressive on Kyle's bumper when they came out of turn 4. I don't think Tony touched him in the turn, but was close enough to get the 18 squirly, and when he did touch him, Kyle went left a little. I thought it was great driving by Smoke, and Kyle did a great job until he turned right.

    CR_Racing
    July 06, 2009
    11:53 AM EST
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