Monday, November 03, 2014

COMMENTARY: A Few Random, Tongue-In-Cheek Thoughts In The Aftermath Of Last Night's AAA 500

A little butt-whipping never hurt anyone. In fact, moderate physical violence cleaned up my personal act on a number of occasions. 

A full 100% of the people whining about NASCAR drivers being bad role models for the impressionable youth of America watched EVERY SINGLE SECOND of last night’s donnybrook, without changing the channel.  

Brad Keselowski is the most over-aggressive, inconsiderate, self-centered, bulldozer-driving, “I’d wreck my grandma for a win” a-hole in the history of NASCAR. Unless you count Curtis Turner, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. and Ernie Irvan. If you count them, he’s fourth. Maybe fifth. Bobby Allison could be pretty tough, as well. 

If the late Dale Earnhardt, Sr. had done what Keselowski did last night, they’d erect another statue in his honor. 

Let one overexcited Kasey Kahne crewmember throw a punch at Brad Keselowski, and everyone wants to compare NASCAR to professional wrestling. Why doesn’t anyone ever compare the National Hockey League to the WWE? Those guys fight all the time! 

With partial credit to the NRA, it seems to me that fender flares don’t cut tires. Drivers running into each other cut tires. 

WARNING! The next paragraph contains a word that may be objectionable to some readers. If you’re a mollycoddled sissypants who does not wish to be subjected to this potentially offensive word, skip the next paragraph.  

Television has bigger problems than the word, “Dipshit.” The Kardashians, for instance. 

See? I KNEW you would read it!!! 

Kevin Harvick’s “If you are going to run into people all the time, you have to fight your own fight” statement was pretty bad-ass. It would have been even MORE bad-ass if he hadn’t pushed Keselowski from behind, then beat feet for the safety of his motorhome. But I quibble… 

Is it too late for Phoenix and Homestead to add more seats? 

“Holding onto each other and grabbing… that's one thing. When punches are landed, it's a different scenario.” – NASCAR’s Robin Pemberton. Apparently, those same guidelines apply to honeymoons.

48 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:13 PM

    Nicely done. Kevin is an instigator, but we all knew that. Says Jeff deserved the opportunity to talk, but Kevin never gave Logano that opportunity after he intentionally wrecked him at Pocono.

    FenderBumper

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  2. Jeremy12:31 PM

    Amen Godfather. "If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver." --Ayrton Senna. And I also hope that the instigating pit crew members get suspended and fined out the ying yang.

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  3. When Jimmy went South and Jeff went North, Brad thought, "Go West, young man, go West!" It's what any driver would (should) do in that situation. It's called racing for a win. Jeff then came down on Brad whose bumper was already in front of the 24's left front tire. Jeff didn't expect anyone to be there. Sorry, Jeff, but this one's on you.

    PS I'm a 21 year fan of the #24.

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    1. Anonymous2:05 PM

      Agreed, if Jeff should be mad at anyone it should be his spotter...

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  4. Brad did nothing wrong. The hole was there. Go for the win. I love his attitude of not taking any crap. Bad Brad rocks!

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  5. Anonymous12:34 PM

    Moody, you're absolutely right - "Kardashians" is a word that may be objectionable to some readers.

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  6. Anonymous1:01 PM

    A few years back Brad got put on his roof for being a "dipshit". It looks like he hasn't learned. In a day when cars cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and sponsorships are harder and harder to find, having one driver wrecking everyone so he can get "the win" doesn't wash. If Brad gets put on his rood again in the next two races, don't be suprised. Maybe this time he'll learn.

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    1. Anonymous1:42 PM

      My guess is that he won't learn until Roger Penske tells him that the things he is doing are unacceptable and if they don't stop he will lose his ride. Brad's actions can and possibly will get someone hurt and that is a black eye that NASCAR does not need.

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    2. Anonymous8:14 PM

      As a season ticket holder who spends my hard earned dollars & takes time off from work and my family to attend 2 race weekends per yr, this is EXACTLY what iI demand to see for my hard earned dollar. On a green white checker finish, there better damn well be a battle for and calculated (sometimes poorly) risks taken for the win. THIS is how and why i I justify writing checks for race tickets and overpriced hotel rooms. THIS is what I love NASCAR. Maybe its time you turn the channel & find an old F1 or INDY race being replayed. Maybe that will grab your passion. Eric in PA

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    3. Anonymous10:48 AM

      Really? Big E was considered a god for putting people into the wall to win races. This isn't even close to that but Kes is a punk for doing it? And the guy that put Kes on his roof if I remember correctly, was in the wrong on that one too. Bad example. We get it. You don't like Kes, but this is all on Jeff. He should be blaming himself for leaving the hole open knowing Kes was right there.

      I'm really getting tired of these millionaire drivers complaining because someone makes contact with them. Its racing. Suck it up or get a real job like the rest of us. Maybe the drivers need to start sharing some of the blame for people being turned off to the way the sport is now, if you can actually call this a sport now.

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    4. Anonymous12:00 PM

      Really? That was then, this is now. The day of Sr. bashing and trashing is over. Just like so many wanting to go 'back in the day' this so called racing by Brad Boy is just an excuse for bad judgement. We've grown use to minimal injuries and NO deaths since the COT and safety engineering. What will you all say when anger gets in the way of good judgement and someone dies or gets seriously hurt, too bad? You wonder why NASCAR is losing sponsors. This is a good reason. Oh and for you who pays your hard earned dollars to see a wreck at the end, wow, how sad.

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  7. I'm posting this in the warehouse for all the sissypants! I'm still laughing!

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  8. Anonymous1:17 PM

    Good read and I agree with your comments Dave...!

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  9. Audra C1:28 PM

    Thank you Dave Moody!!
    I always look forward to a few words (okay, a lot) from you after race day, and you surely didn't disappoint today!!
    I may not always agree with you, but you keep it real, as it should be!
    Your tongue-in-cheek commentary today was laugh-out-loud funny, even after the 4th reading!!
    Thank you for making my Monday morning (west coast girl here) so enjoyable - What a great way to start the week!

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  10. Anonymous1:32 PM

    Can't have it both ways, fans complain about boring racing, then turn around and say a driver (not their driver of course) is way too aggressive. Here's a thought - Keselowski or another driver fails to make the final four at Homestead. That driver could systematically pick off and ruin the day of each chase contender and settle it all in the garage with repairs.

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  11. Anonymous1:48 PM

    I think BK may well have made good on his escape, had that PR guy not stopped him to give him a hat.

    Rick in Indiana

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  12. Well said Sir Godfather!!! Bring on PHOENIX!!! #4theWIN #harvicknation #4thecup #istandwithSmoke

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    1. Anonymous9:16 AM

      I really don't think Mr harvick will finish the race at phoenix

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  13. Anonymous2:18 PM

    That wasnt a good fight. That was a riot. Someone could have been seriously hurt.
    It kind of turns me off.

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  14. Anonymous2:19 PM

    How about taking everyone up to Jr's place and settling things in the boxing ring ?

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  15. gentlemen have at it....

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  16. Anonymous2:36 PM

    Funny thing is Kevin never "beat feet" anywhere he stayed in the same damn spot the entire time that's clear as day on the video.

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    1. Anonymous7:11 PM

      If you really watched said video, you would notice that Kevin instigated the donnybrook and then DID beat feet to the back of his car which was two stalls away.

      Delete
  17. I can't wait for the fake driver texts from @nascarcasm tomorrow

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  18. Anonymous3:34 PM

    It would've been better had Jeff and Brad had actually exchanged blows instead of the crew members.

    Tenpins300

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  19. Anonymous4:58 PM

    Yawn, yawn, and more yawn. The race was anticlimactic. If you turned it off before the fight there wouldn't have been much to write about except for all the yellow flags and the amount of laps run under yellow.

    Could they have thrown more cautions? Doubtful, but maybe they could have run a few more laps under caution while picking up the non-existent piece of paper that was out on the track. That way the last 250 laps could have been under the yellow. Heck, we could be writing about how much fuel we saved during the race as a part of NASCAR Green. Is it just me or does it seem to take longer and longer every year to get that dang piece of whatever picked-up once the caution flag waves?
    MB

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    1. Anonymous8:34 PM

      Well said Moody.

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  20. Blake Mc6:39 PM

    Everything I've been thinking the last twenty-four hours. Glad I'm not alone and hopefully Brad can have a great run Sunday!

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  21. Anonymous7:48 PM

    This one even made Car & Driver, that's saying something.

    http://blog.caranddriver.com/jeff-gordon-and-brad-keselowski-had-a-big-dumb-fight-at-nascars-texas-500/

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  22. Anonymous9:37 PM

    I have great respect for Jeff Gordon, I think he has done a lot for the sport. But I think he is 100% wrong on this one...and I'm sure once he got home and put his feet up, he realized it.. Bad Brad did his job, he saw an opportunity made special for him. He took it rather than wonder what could have been. I also think Brad was sincerely upset when it didn't work out for Jeff...you could hear him contemplating with his spotter. i don't think he goes out there to hurt anyone..i do think he goes out there to win.

    So you have to ask Jeff about next week....If the 22 car is leading and he is right in front of you with two to go and the 31 car comes around your right, do you back off and let them race it out to insure a fair safe ending or do you bump the 22 up high in hopes he stalls Newman and you get a shot at a fifth championship.

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  23. I do believe that if Dale, Sr. was still alive....he would join up with Richard Petty and give Brad the same talk that they gave to Ernie Irvan. There were no fights in their era...just a good stern talk.

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  24. Anonymous2:56 AM

    I am finding a pattern here..the regular bullies of are getting their arses handed to them via Team Penske..a Ford..the horrors. Now some are running around in the cyber bully land quoting a tweet from the Nascar driver wannabe friend of all bullies himself Marty Smith. Marty Smith is using his medium to say what the bullies want..poor guy is clueless. Who cares..they have found somebody who will not take their guff and is a racer. Their whining has zero validity or merit, although Marty thinks they do. I remember when he interviewed Logano after Fontana, grilled him kinda hard (cause he could) Logano kept his ground and kept it polite. The interview with Hamlin was the most enabling self serving piece of nonsense one with a brain could watch, I thought I was watching a Barbara Walters special complete with the softening lense.Yup, the nuts are running the place. And Harvick, no matter what utter nonsense he spewed in his defense, unless he was aiming for the impaired crowd, nobody brought it.

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  25. Anonymous7:01 AM

    Geoff Bodine (before he became Geoffery), Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Jimmy Spencer, all would've done the same thing. In this day and age, these new lightweight drivers think that going for the win late in the race is getting close to a driver and 'stealing their air'. boring! Glad to see Brad went for the win! Glad to see Gordon got upset too! Disappointed Harvick didn't take an elbow to the nose when he was playing shit disturber bystander :)

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  26. Anonymous8:35 AM

    OMG!!! That Gordon is such a bad ass!!! Lucky for Kes he didn't get too close to him. Little Jeffy is real tough when his ego is bruised. And that crazy Harvick! What a funny guy getting involved in something that's none of his business. I'm so glad Nascar is manipulating these wealthy drivers so we can all have a good laugh.

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  27. Anonymous8:48 AM

    Moody, I'm usually not a fan of your work, but you got this one right. Especially the part about Harvick, who seems to be an expert on rules of engagement, yet his favorite "jiu jitszu" move has always been to grab people from behind or when they are still strapped in their cars. Yet he's perfectly ok with another man fondling his wife's rear-end...

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  28. Anonymous9:03 AM

    Thank you Dave!. Your list of other "aggressive" drivers was spot-on. Dale Earnhardt Sr. drove like Brad literally all of the time, and got away with it. With him, it was "The Intimidator" label, and he was lionized for it. I'm not saying Sr. was a bad person, just that he got away with things that some people cry about now.

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  29. Anonymous9:47 AM

    As usual Mr. Moody you're awesome. And from reading countless comments from the peanut gallery on many forums it appears this incident may have turned the tide when it comes to the perception of Keselowski. Any other time he's found himself in the center of controversy the outpouring of sentiment has been predominantly negative but not this time. Dare I say it but has the villain become the hero? Go get 'em Brad!

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  30. What we saw on-track at Texas is what people pay good money to see.
    The new brand of "fans" griping about guys driving to win races never saw Cale, or Fireball, or many other greats.

    You can have your politically correct, Driving With The Stars whining...
    "This ain' a tennis match!"

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  31. Anonymous10:52 AM

    I don't know about another statue for the late great Dale Sr., but I DO KNOW he would never need to be pushed in the back or be told to fight his own fight. He'd have handled the deal face to face with NO CREW guys in between. 'Nuff said!

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    1. Remind me of all the post-race fist fights involving Dale Sr. I can't seem to recall a single one.

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    2. Anonymous11:21 AM

      My point exactly, Mr. Moody. It would have been handled without all of that as Dale would not put crew guys in front of himself and another driver who had an issue. That said, there were a couple dust ups in the mid 90s with Sr. One I recall with Rusty at either Richmond or Bristol and another with Ricky Rudd at one of the short tracks.

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  32. tfi racing11:01 AM

    Newman and Edwards are laughing all the way to the bank now.With four of the last eight severely pissed at each other-Keselowski,Gordon,Harvick,Kenseth and Logano and Hamlin are not that popular with those four as well, they may be more intent on keeping each other from winning while Ryan and Carl quietly march towards the front...

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  33. Well Said Dave....as always....!

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  34. Anonymous8:49 PM

    I think Gordon had every right to be upset at Kez, and he handled it about the only way drivers can safely settle their differences without spinning each other out on the track. Kez, on the other hand, saw an opening and went for it, which I don't really have a problem with, but as Harvick correctly pointed out, if he drives like that, he had better be ready to back it up face-to-face with the other drivers. Don't hide behind your crew. I laugh at the penalites handed down today....Nascar was so upset with the drivers they suspended all the tire changers and a gas can man. Kind of like when Kentucky cheats in basketball and Cleveland State gets 3 years probation....
    Behold your creation, Nascar, this is what happens when this many drivers are within reach of the brass ring. NO ONE is backing down. Learn to live with it or change it again, which they probably will.

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  35. Anonymous10:34 PM

    I only hope that Newman or Kenseth win the "championship" so maybe NA$CAR can come up with an even stupider points system, if that is possible.



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  36. Anonymous10:41 PM

    I'm a Nascar fan and have been pulling for Jeff, but was it that wrong for Brad to put it in there when Jeff drifted so high? Is it unacceptable to go three wide at Texas with race ending? I mean, it's not like we were at Bristol or Martinsville right? Oh, that's right they do it there as well.... Brad did what I would have done. Sorry Jeff, but I love your passion!

    Thanks for the post Moody!

    Squeezics

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  37. JC Aikens5:56 AM

    What a week for not having XM radio while the truck is in the shop...

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  38. Anonymous6:56 PM

    Everyone agrees with you I'm impressed. Enjoy your radio show.

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