Jimmy Spencer: 'Kurt's suspension is long overdue'

NASCAR on Monday suspended Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet, until June 13 following a confrontation with a reporter after Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway.

Busch, who already was on probation following an incident at Darlington Raceway last month, will sit out this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway.

Jimmy Spencer, SPEED analyst and former driver, offers his perspective on Busch's situation and the resulting punishment:

"Kurt Busch's suspension is long overdue, and that is coming from someone who learned his lesson after sitting out a race for punching him a few years ago.

"Kurt has been given plenty of chances to right his wrongs and put himself back on the right path, but he has failed to take advantage of any of those opportunities.

"NASCAR had to do something to restore a sense of respect toward the sport on Kurt's behalf because he seems to consistently flaunt his disrespect for everything and everyone in this sport. Maybe sitting out and watching the race from the pit box or his couch will wake him up to how great he really has it.

"If Kurt is under the microscope, it is because he has put himself there by acting as if the rules don't apply to him. But the rules apply to everyone, and if you cannot treat your fellow competitors, crew members and members of the media in a respectable manner, you do not deserve to race. He's a hell of a driver, but until he gets his temper under control, he has no business in a race car.

"Speaking from experience, I can say that my suspension was extremely upsetting to me, but it made me a better person off the track. That's what Kurt needs now, and I hope this helps him. It seems to have straightened his little brother, Kyle, out, and I hope the same is true for Kurt."

Jeff Gordon: "We need wins."

   Jeff Gordon clearly had a car on Sunday that could contend for the win at Dover (Del.) International Speedway and you could hear the disappointment in his voice when he described afterwards how another chance at a victory slipped away.

   Gordon spoke to members of the media immediately after the race:

   Gordon: The fastest car doesn’t always win the race. And we’re sitting here in 13^th or whatever; it’s silly.

   Q: AS BAD AS YOUR MISFORTUNE WAS, IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO WORK OUT AND YOU WOULD BENEFIT FROM IT.

   Gordon: Until that debris caution? Yeah, I can’t wait to see that debris on TV. I’d like to see it because I certainly never saw it. I’m not going to make any comments until I see what they’re reasoning for it was. I don’t know who you blame if there really wasn’t much out there because all the media has been talking about all week long is oh, there’s no cautions, there’s no cautions. It used to be debris cautions. So, who do you blame that on?

   Q: IS IT FRUSTRATING BECAUSE YOU WERE IN THE LEAD AND THEN YOU HAD THE TIRE PROBLEM AND YOU WERE MAKING YOUR WAY BACK?

   Gordon: Ultimately, we put ourselves in this position to get his finish. So, that’s very frustrating. We’ve had things out of our control this year. And I’m not really sure what happened. But obviously something happened. And then I don’t know. I don’t know what happened. But we definitely had a loose left rear. It didn’t go on right to begin with and the left-rear tire-changer knew that. And so when I started to complain about it, we knew that there might be an issue there and there was. So, in some ways we got fortunate today. I could have stayed out there and wrecked because it wasn’t really vibrating. It was getting real loose.

   Q: WERE RESTARTS AS CRITICAL AS THEY LOOKED?

   Gordon: You know, it was the greasiest restarts that I’ve ever felt here. There was just zero-grip for the first three, four, or five laps. So you really couldn’t even race one another on a restart because you were so out of control. And there’s a lot of rubber laid down on the race track and then the way the rubber on the tires matched up to it after you got going there was horrendous. Other than that, the tire was awesome. I really liked it. We ran great with it and the restarts were definitely hairy.

   Q: YOU’VE HAD SO MANY FRUSTRATING MOMENTS THIS SEASON. DOES THIS ONE TAKE THE CAKE? OR HAVE YOU JUST HAD SO MUCH CAKE THAT IT’S ALL THE SAME?

   Gordon: It’s always more frustrating when you’ve got a car that can win; and you show it by going up there and taking the lead. We don’t care about finishing top 15 or top 10 right now. That does nothing for us. We need wins.

Anger issues resurface for Kurt Busch

DOVER, Del. -- Kurt Busch, who's already in trouble with NASCAR, was at it again Saturday at Dover.

Busch, who was put on probation by NASCAR after he did a post-race burnout in Ryan Newman's pit stall at Darlington in May, was asked by Sporting News reporter Bob Pockrass if the probation had an effect on how he raced Justin Allgaeir in Saturday's 5-Hour Energy 200 at Dover International Speedway.

"(Probation) refrains me from not beating the --- out of you right now, because you ask me stupid questions," Busch said in an interview that was also filmed by Speed. "But since I'm on probation, I suppose that's improper to say as well. If you could talk about racing things, we could talk about racing things, Bob."

Pockrass replied that the question was about racing.

"It's not racing," Busch said. "You're in this just to start stuff. That's all you're out here for."

It's not the first time Busch has had a run-in with the media. He had two confrontations with reporters at last season's Richmond race and was also seen on video verbally abusing ESPN reporter Dr. Jerry Punch. -- David Scott

Global Rallycross course at Charlotte gets a fix

   The frontstretch jump planned to be used as part of the Global Rallycross race set to debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway was removed from qualifying runs Friday night out of fears cars bottoming out upon landing could damage the track surface.

    Several officials involved in the competition confirmed to The Observer on Saturday participants were notified the jump would be reconfigured for Saturday night's competition to avoid any potential damage to the track..

   Charlotte Motor Speedway is hosting the first race of the 2012 series schedule.

    The race is still expected to begin on schedule later Saturday night after the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

    Global Rallycross, a mix of motorsports and action sports featuring action sports stars such as Brian Deegan, Ken Block, Travis Pastrana and Tanner Foust, competes on a custom-built, three-quarter-mile course constructed along the frontstretch and pit road of the 1.5-mile speedway.

    The course features hairpin turns, crossover jumps and chicanes and water features all designed to test drivers’ focus and control.

   Photo of original jump configuration, courtesy of Ford Racing:

  

Is your name on the Brickyard 400?

   Country music stars, The Band Perry, visited Indianapolis Motor Speedway last weekend to announce the finalists for Crown Royal's Your Hero's Name Here" contest, which will name the July 29 race.

   The five finalists are : Dale Beatty, veteran and co-founder of the nonprofit organization Purple Heart Homes from Statesville, N.C.; Lindsey Marquez, ICU nurse from Sun Prairie, Wis.; Curtiss Shaver, Fire Lieutenant and EMT from Troy, Ala.; John Thomas, Deputy Sheriff from Sarasota, Fla.; and Brandon Veatch, veteran and Purple Heart recipient from Bloomfield, Ind.  

   In addition to having their name on all race signage, TV broadcasts and apparel, the winner will experience a true VIP experience – from waving the green flag to start the race to delivering the trophy in Victory Lane.

    Adult consumers can log on to Facebook.com/CrownRoyal and click the “Crown Your Hero” tab to vote for the hero they think is most deserving of naming rights to the race. Voting runs through June 28. The grand prize winner will be announced in early July.

NASCAR pleased with All-Star Race

   Jimmie Johnson certainly was pleased with the format of this year's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race since he claimed his third victory in the event and its $1 million top prize.

   NASCAR liked how the night played out as well.

   "I thought it was probably one of the more competitive All-Star Races I've seen throughout the night," said NASCAR's vice president of competition, Robin Pemberton. "If there is something to look at it's what some of the competitors did by winning and laying back.

   "But that was part of the format and sometimes the format gets tweaked. When you look at those 20-lap segments, I thought the racing in them was better than I've seen in a long time for an All-Star Race."

   Pemberton said NASCAR liked the format because it produces something similar to four heat races.

   "I thought it was good to give something for somebody to go win," Pemberton said. "Now, whether you disagree with the placement of the drivers when they come down pit road, all-in-all, I think there was good, competitive racing."

   Pemberton said series officials will meet before the end of the year, review the race and the format and consider changes.

Want to see a NASCAR driver this week at Speed Street?

   Food Lion Speed Street is delivering the drivers who know speed best. From 2011 Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart to Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth and more, the three-day festival will play host to autograph and question-and-answer sessions May 24 - 26 in uptown Charlotte.

   Scheduled driver appearances

The lineup of attendees is below (subject to change):


Thursday, May 24
Driver/Guest, Time and Location of Appearance
Donny Schatz - World of Outlaws - Creative Loafing Display – Autographs
1 – 3 p.m.

Kyle Petty - SPEED and TNT analyst - Motorola Display - Autographs
1 – 3 p.m.

Mackenna Bell - NASCAR Whelen Late Model Series - Revolution Racing Display – Autographs
2 - 3 p.m. and 5 – 6 p.m.

Trey Gibson - NASCAR Whelen All-American Series - Revolution Racing Display – Autographs
2 - 3 p.m. and 5 - 6 p.m.

Cale Gale - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - Creative Loafing Display – Autographs
4 - 6 p.m.

Johanna Long - NASCAR Nationwide Series - Creative Loafing Display – Autographs
4 - 6 p.m.

Jeremy Clements - NASCAR Nationwide Series - Creative Loafing Display – Autographs
4 – 6 p.m.

General Mills Characters - Food Lion Kids’ Zone presented by General Mills – Appearance
Tony the Tiger & Ernie the Elf, Kellogg’s Display – Appearance
WBTV News Anchors - WBTV Display – Autographs



Friday, May 25

Driver/Guest, Time and Location of Appearance
Amber and Angela Cope - NASCAR Nationwide Series - Creative Loafing Display – Autographs
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Matt Kenseth - No. 17 Best Buy Ford - Kellogg’s Display – Autographs*
Noon – 1:25 p.m.

Kyle Busch - No. 18 M&M’s Toyota - Food Lion Cooking Stage – Appearance
Noon – 1 p.m.

Ross Chastain - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - Creative Loafing Display – Autographs
1 – 3 p.m.

Jennifer Jo Cobb - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - Creative Loafing Display – Autographs
1 – 3 p.m.

Max Gresham - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - Creative Loafing Display – Autographs
1 – 3 p.m.

John King - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - Creative Loafing Display – Autographs
1 – 3 p.m.

Timothy Peters - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - Creative Loafing Display – Autographs
1 – 3 p.m.

Dakoda Armstrong - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - Creative Loafing Display – Autographs
1 – 3 p.m.

Kyle Busch - No. 18 M&M’s Toyota - M&M's Display – Autographs**
1 – 2 p.m.

Aric Almirola - No. 43 Smithfield Ford - M&M’s Display - Autographs
1 – 2 p.m.

Matt Kenseth - No. 17 Best Buy Ford - Food Lion Cooking Stage – Appearance
1:30 – 1:55 p.m.

Aric Almirola - No. 43 Smithfield Ford - Food Lion Cooking Stage – Appearance
2 – 3 p.m.

Kyle Petty - SPEED and TNT analyst - Motorola Display - Appearance
2 – 3 p.m.

Bryan Ortiz - NASCAR K&N Pro Series - Revolution Racing Display - Autographs
2 – 3 p.m. and 5 – 6 p.m.

Jorge Arteaga - NASCAR K&N Pro Series - Revolution Racing Display - Autographs
2 – 3 p.m. and 5 – 6 p.m.

Doug Herbert - Top Fuel Dragster - N.C. Highway Patrol Display - Appearance
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Kyle Busch - No. 18 M&M’s Toyota - N.C. Highway Patrol Display - Appearance
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Cole Whitt - No. 88 Taxslayer.com Chevrolet - Food Lion Cooking Stage - Appearance
3:15 p.m.

Drew Blickensderfer - No. 31 Wheaties Crew Chief - Cheerios Stage
3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

No. 31 Wheaties Racing Pit Crew - Cheerios Stage
3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Ryan Newman - No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet - Food Lion Cooking Stage – Appearance
5 – 5:30 p.m.

Jeff Burton - No. 31 Wheaties Racing Chevrolet - Cheerios Stage – Autographs***
5 – 7 p.m.

Ryan Newman - No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet - Kraft Display – Autographs****
5:30 – 7 p.m.

Ryan Newman - No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet - Coca-Cola Stage - Appearance
7:30 – 8:15 p.m.

Bobby Labonte - No. 47 Bush’s Baked Beans Toyota - Coca-Cola Stage - Appearance
7:30 – 8:15 p.m.

Brad Keselowski - No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge - Miller Lite Stage – Appearance & Autographs
7:45 - 8:15 p.m.

Todd Peck - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - Stopain Display - Autographs
TBD

General Mills Characters - Food Lion Kids’ Zone presented by General Mills - Appearance
Tony the Tiger & Ernie the Elf, Kellogg’s Display – Appearance, WBTV News Anchors, WBTV Display - Autographs



Saturday, May 26

Driver/Guest, Time and Location of Appearance
Ryan Gifford - NASCAR K&N Pro Series - Revolution Racing Display - Autographs
2 – 3 p.m. and 5 – 6 p.m.

Kyle Larson - NASCAR K&N Pro Series - Revolution Racing Display - Autographs
2 – 3 p.m. and 5 – 6 p.m.

Elliott Sadler - No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet - Coca-Cola Stage - Appearance
7 – 7:45 p.m.

Tony Stewart - No. 14 Office Depot Chevrolet - Coca-Cola Stage - Appearance
7 – 7:45 p.m.

Todd Peck - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - Stopain Display - Autographs
TBD

Tony Stewart - No. 14 Office Depot Chevrolet - N.C. Highway Patrol Display - Appearance
TBD

Kyle Busch - No. 18 M&M’s Toyota - N.C. Highway Patrol Display - Appearance
TBD

General Mills Characters - Food Lion Kids’ Zone presented by General Mills – Appearance

Gecko, Geico Display – Appearance, Tony the Tiger & Ernie the Elf, Kellogg’s Display – Appearance

WBTV News Anchors, WBTV Display - Autographs,

Akinori Ogata, NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, Creative Loafing Display - Autographs TBD

Michael Leavine - ARCA Racing Series - Creative Loafing Display - Autographs  TBD

Scott Speed - NASCAR Driver - Creative Loafing Display - Autographs  TBD

Kerry Earnhardt - Creative Loafing Display - Autographs   TBD

Steve Park - NASCAR Driver -Creative Loafing Display - Autographs TBD
_________________________________________

*Matt Kenseth: Limited Number of wristbands will be distributed.

**Kyle Busch: Autograph session wristbands will be distributed at the M&M's tent beginning at 11 a.m.

***Jeff Burton: Wristbands guarantee an autograph for the first 200 fans in line at the Cheerios Stage beginning at 4 p.m.

****Ryan Newman: There are a limited number of wristbands to be distributed at the Kraft Display starting at noon on Friday, May 25.


Admission to Food Lion Speed Street is free. The festival opens each day at noon. For a schedule of events, visit www.600festival.com.