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Hullabaloo Blows Through Dover

CHARLOTTE, NC (June 2, 2013) – Controversy.

According to the trusty Webster Dictionary on the office shelf, it means disagreement, argument, dispute or debate. A newer, on-line version of the venerable tome also lists ‘hullabaloo’ as synonymous with the word controversy.

In case you haven’t noticed, NASCAR has had a hullabaloo this season.

This weekend’s events at Dover were just the latest chapter in NASCAR’s chaotic 2013 season. It started on Friday when Kyle Busch won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Busch led the final 32 circuits in capturing his second Truck event in four starts this season. He also won the most recent NCWTS event at Charlotte two weeks ago.

Friday’s win over ignited a firestorm of fan and media comment over the fairness of having NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers compete in lower divisions against inexperienced drivers in less capable or underfunded equipment. As David Newton quoted one fan in an ESPN story, Busch beat a “bunch of old men and children” in the Truck Series race at Dover.

I’m not going to bang the drum here about not allowing Cup drivers to compete in the lower divisions. I’ve wasted tons of column inches on the subject over the past 25 years. I’ve never been for it, never will be.

I will offer an observation however. Regardless of division, Busch is NASCAR’s best driver right now. His aggressive and sometimes volatile personality also makes him the target of all kinds of media and fan comment barbs, some deserved and some not. Frankly, I believe a lot of the criticism is just misplaced jealously and envy that Busch is as good as he is. Forget the fact he can be an ass – a trait we all share at times. The boy can flat out drive.

That said, I’m guessing there would be less controversy over some Cup driver other than Busch – dare I say Dale Jr. – was winning tons of races in the Nationwide or Truck division. Everyone would be soiling themselves they’d be so giddy.

Bottom line advice on this controversy – get over it. NASCAR isn’t going to change this rule. Think about it – if NASCAR let Tim Flock race with his pet monkey Jocko Flocko in his car, it pretty much tells you they are going to let anyone race anywhere, anytime as long as someone is willing to pay to watch it.

The foul wind over Busch kicking the old farts and taking the kiddie’s candy was nothing compared to the stench NASCAR created when it black-flagged Jimmie Johnson late in Sunday’s Cup event at Dover.

In case you missed it, Johnson was gunning for a record eighth Dover Cup victory when NASCAR ruled he jumped the green flag on a restart. Instead of being in a position to win, Johnson had to serve a drive-thru pit road penalty because of the perceived infraction. He would eventually finish 17th.

Again, a loud chorus over the controversy raged as the media pundits and race fans waxed mightily – especially in social media like ‘Twitbook’ where there is no ‘restrictor plate.’ There, words like “fixed, fake and phony’ – and a bunch I won’t reprint here – were used to describe NASCAR’s call on Johnson.

Did NASCAR really knuckle Johnson on purpose? Are they as tired of seeing ‘Five-Time’ and his Hendrick Motorsports mates win again as – based on a large number of posts – the fans seem to be?

Probably not.

Really? I don’t believe NASCAR is that calculated. After all, if you view the total body of decisions, penalties and fines they have randomly handed out over the years, you have to come to the conclusion that there’s no rhyme or reason to their methods.

It’s just NASCAR folks.

For good measure, NASCAR technical inspection found Brad Keselowski’s car too low in post-race inspection after he finished fifth in Sunday’s Dover Cup event.

Dover controversy number three – a NASCAR trifecta.

The penalties for the infraction – which have come in bunches for the 2012 and defending Sprint Cup champion this season – will be announced later this week.

Earlier this year, Keselowski was brash enough to suggest NASCAR was targeting his team. He’s blasted the sanctioning body in everything from Twitter to USAToday leading to yet another controversy that NASCAR has it in for him.

Maybe, maybe not.

You can be sure NASCAR isn’t too pleased with Keso and his new wave media blasts. Are his comments enough for NASCAR to single him for penalty?

Again, probably not.

Then again, loose lips sink big ships.

In spite of these sideshows and controversies, Dover wasn’t a complete cluster. It was, after all, the final episode of ‘Hee Haw Goes Stock Car Racing’ as FOX now gives way to another network to telecast the Cup events.

Boogity, Boogity, Boogity.

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