Kurt Busch

I've been one of Kurt Busch's harshest critics the past couple of years.

At first I thought it was great that he would stand up to the authoritarians who
run NASCAR and tell them to "lick my salty balls" over the radio. Someone needs
to stick a pin in the puffed-up heads of Mike Helton and the France progeny and
tell them they're ruining a great sport, but that's beside the point.

But after that, I got tired of Busch's attitude, and while I am definitely not a
Jimmy Spencer fan either, I was on Spencer's side in their confrontation.

It almost looks like Mr. Excrement may have knocked some sense into Kurt Busch.

I still can't claim to be a fan of KB, but it's pretty obvious that he has
matured. He conducts himself with dignity in his interviews, he seems to have
his temper in check, he hasn't done anything outrageous on the track this year,
and in general has been a credit to the sport. He may not be earning my support,
but he is earning my respect. I want to take my hat off to him. And I want to
admit that perhaps I was a bit too harsh on the young man in the past.

Tony Stewart's antics, and those of Kevin Harvick, never bugged me as much as
Busch's did. (Robby Gordon, on the other hand... LOL).

Out of the 10 championship contenders, I'm rooting for Mark Martin to win this
year. But I think Busch would make a decent champion. Last year I wouldn't have
said that.


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"Chuck Steak" <Chuck_Steak@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:9rOdnZNeUIvX9OjcRVn-qg@rcn.net...
> In article <Xrbdd.68084$ci3.4048189@twister.southeast.rr.com> ,
> "SimRacer" <simracer68@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >"H.B. Elkins" <hbelkins@mis.net.restrictorplate> wrote in message
> >news:cl38jt0ofk@drn.newsguy.com...
>
> >> I still can't claim to be a fan of KB, but it's pretty obvious that he
has
> >> matured. He conducts himself with dignity in his interviews, he seems
to
> >have
> >> his temper in check, he hasn't done anything outrageous on the track
this
> >year,
> >> and in general has been a credit to the sport. He may not be earning my
> >support,
> >> but he is earning my respect. I want to take my hat off to him. And I
> >want to
> >> admit that perhaps I was a bit too harsh on the young man in the past.
>
> >Promise not to tell anyone and I'll tell you that I've had similar
thoughts
> >about Bush the past little bit. I listened to him in the booth during the
> >NBS race this past Friday night and thought to myself, that it sounds
like
> >he's grown up a little bit/matured, whatever you wish to call it.
>
> >I too was critical of his antics and on-track actions for the longest
time,
> >but maybe he's turned a corner and is going to be one of these guys that
> >makes it a long time in the sport now. A year or two ago, I would'nt have
> >give you a plug nickel for him. We'll see. I can't "ever" pull for him
and
> >him in a Ford, but at least just seeing him on TV doesn't irk me
now...lol
>
> It's nice to hear that....
> H.B. knows what I'm talkin' about!
>
> I think Kurt came on strong in the beginning,
> and obviously turned a lot of people off on him.
> But that isn't uncommon for young stars, in any sport.
> It's pretty tough being thrust into such a high profile
> business, that relies largely on public opinion,
> at a young age.
> He has been working on that a lot.
> Other teams caught on to that whole scenario before the
> Roush camp.
> Hendrick has a fantastic mentoring program for their 'newer' drivers.
> And it pays big dividends for both the owner and the drivers.
> As does Evernham.
>
> I still think Kurt is one of the better drivers out there.
> His performance speaks for itself.
> He had a tough start, through his own doing, public opinion wise,
> and that does take a while to correct.
> There are people that just get set in their ways,
> follow the crowd, and never notice change.
> Then there are others, like yourselves, that may
> not ever become fans, at least acknowledge an attempt to change.
>
Oh, yeah, I'll never technically be a fan of a Ford driver (old school,
brand loyal, silly old me) but I call it like I see it when it comes to
drivers. And Kurt has been the one to rub me wrong the most of the latest
crop of young guns, but his TV broadcast work, various TV
interviews/appearances, et al, has shown a softer, more mature acting and
responsible sounding young man. I won't pan on him until he acts up on the
track again...but then again, I pan on all the drivers who act dumb on
occasion, even Junior. But also then again, my jabs, or panning on guys,
still doesn't approach the vile level of some of the other folks around
here. I doubt I'll ever call for KB's death or banishment from the sport,
depends on whether or not he ever personally does something to me, which I
highly doubt seeing as how I live across the state from him (provided he has
a domicile around Charlotte like most drivers do during the season at
least).

Claud Spinks <coachspinks@yahoo.com> wrote in news:417572E4.8000900
@yahoo.com:

> He was forced
> to grow up and mature.

Time will tell. Right now he's still on the hot seat to a certain extent, and
is undoubtedly on his best behavior. let's see what next season brings.

-Bob

"Ms.Goodwrench" <msgoodwrench29DEL@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9587808E99E1msgoodwrench29@130.133.1.4...
> "Patrick" <josemanuda@hotmail.com> wrote in news:41753b1e$1_4@127.0.0.1:
>
>>
>> "H.B. Elkins" <hbelkins@mis.net.restrictorplate> wrote in message
>> news:cl38jt0ofk@drn.newsguy.com...
>>> I've been one of Kurt Busch's harshest critics the past couple of
>>> years. <snip>
>>> But after that, I got tired of Busch's attitude, and while I am
>>> definitely not a
>>> Jimmy Spencer fan either, I was on Spencer's side in their
>>> confrontation.
>>>
>>> It almost looks like Mr. Excrement may have knocked some sense into
>>> Kurt Busch.
>>
>> I think that was THE critical turning point in Kurt Busch's "road to
>> redemption"
>>
>>
>
>
>
> That, and the literal insult to injury at being booed at races
> afterward!
LMAO You got that right!




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"Claud Spinks" <coachspinks@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:417572E4.8000900@yahoo.com...
> to grow up and mature. Very similar to what happened with TS. He was made
> to calm down and he became a much more consistant driver. Some old


I agree! Does anyone think it took Kurt Busch "fewer" lessons than TS???
Has TS reached the point of maturity that KB has?? I have a picture of me
putting my hands around KB's neck (dummy on display) at Michigan. I'm sorry
to say, I might actually "like" the guy now! YIKES, did I just say that???




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"H.B. Elkins" <hbelkins@mis.net.restrictorplate> wrote in message
news:cl38jt0ofk@drn.newsguy.com...
> I've been one of Kurt Busch's harshest critics the past couple of years.
>
> At first I thought it was great that he would stand up to the
authoritarians who
> run NASCAR and tell them to "lick my salty balls" over the radio. Someone
needs
> to stick a pin in the puffed-up heads of Mike Helton and the France
progeny and
> tell them they're ruining a great sport, but that's beside the point.
>
> But after that, I got tired of Busch's attitude, and while I am definitely
not a
> Jimmy Spencer fan either, I was on Spencer's side in their confrontation.
>
> It almost looks like Mr. Excrement may have knocked some sense into Kurt
Busch.
>
> I still can't claim to be a fan of KB, but it's pretty obvious that he has
> matured. He conducts himself with dignity in his interviews, he seems to
have
> his temper in check, he hasn't done anything outrageous on the track this
year,
> and in general has been a credit to the sport. He may not be earning my
support,
> but he is earning my respect. I want to take my hat off to him. And I
want to
> admit that perhaps I was a bit too harsh on the young man in the past.
>

I've gone on record here at our idyllic little lake and said essentially the
same thing H.B. I don't think the criticism that Kurt took early on was too
harsh - I think he got what he deserved with the attitude he put out. Like
you however, I have seen the change in him and have acknowledged it. It's a
big thing to face the humiliation he has and to turn himself around. I'm no
fan of his, but he is a hell of a driver who likely will win a Championship
simply because he really wants to win. He deserves the credit for picking
himself up by his bootstraps and realizing the world does not turn around
him.
--

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@sprintmail.com

On 19 Oct 2004 0733 -0700, H.B. Elkins
<hbelkins@mis.net.restrictorplate> wrote:

>I've been one of Kurt Busch's harshest critics the past couple of years.
>
>At first I thought it was great that he would stand up to the authoritarians who
>run NASCAR and tell them to "lick my salty balls" over the radio. Someone needs
>to stick a pin in the puffed-up heads of Mike Helton and the France progeny and
>tell them they're ruining a great sport, but that's beside the point.
>
>But after that, I got tired of Busch's attitude, and while I am definitely not a
>Jimmy Spencer fan either, I was on Spencer's side in their confrontation.
>
>It almost looks like Mr. Excrement may have knocked some sense into Kurt Busch.
>
>I still can't claim to be a fan of KB, but it's pretty obvious that he has
>matured. He conducts himself with dignity in his interviews, he seems to have
>his temper in check, he hasn't done anything outrageous on the track this year,
>and in general has been a credit to the sport. He may not be earning my support,
>but he is earning my respect. I want to take my hat off to him. And I want to
>admit that perhaps I was a bit too harsh on the young man in the past.


I agree 100%. I have been surprised how much he has matured
this year! Good for him! Keep up the good work!


\\/ayne //\ann
http://www.thepoliticaldigest.com/