I’m Just Sayin’: Busch Should Meet with Media

5

By Jared Turner

Drivers had better meet media obligations

Scrutinized for claiming over his in-car radio that NASCAR “fixes” races, Kyle Busch avoided being penalized for questioning the integrity of the sport at Auto Club Speedway. Busch did not avoid penalty for blowing off his post-race media obligations, however. After losing the lead on the final lap of the XFINITY Series race due to a tire failure that Busch believed should have triggered a caution, Busch chose not to come into the media center – a requirement of second-place finishers unless otherwise instructed by NASCAR. Busch’s failure to comply resulted in a $10,000 fine and being placed on probation for the next four races. So what can be gathered from NASCAR’s ruling on Busch’s actions? You can say pretty much whatever you wish about the sanctioning body as long as it’s inside your car. But failure to meet the press is a big no-no.

Danica Patrick is still a hothead

Notoriously one of NASCAR’s most temperamental drivers, Danica Patrick lived up to her reputation at Auto Club Speedway by getting out of her car and gesturing at Kasey Kahne after the two collided just moments earlier. The move – which bucks NASCAR’s policy that forbids drivers from walking onto the track after getting out of a wrecked car – earned Patrick a $20,000 fine and four-race probation period. Maybe the next time Patrick feels she has been wrecked, she’ll think about the consequences of letting her temper get the best of her at Auto Club.

NASCAR should never abandon Easter tradition

While much has changed about NASCAR in the past 15 years or so, one thing that has remained the same is the Sprint Cup Series having the Easter weekend off. Let’s hope it always stays that way. After racing on five consecutive weekends (actually six for those who participated in the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona), everyone is in need of some rest before jumping full bore into the short track-heavy portion of the schedule.