An angry Kenseth said the wreck was a clear case of retribution. "Obviously, it is retaliation for retaliation,'' said Kenseth, as his Roush Fenway Racing crew scrambled to repair severe radiator, suspension and body damage. “I saw (Vickers) coming and lifted at least 10 car lengths before where I normally would lift. He drove in there at 165 miles per hour and cleaned us out. It was so premeditated.”
The former Sprint Cup Series champion called upon NASCAR to sanction Vickers, saying, “It surprises me that they didn't do anything. I am disappointed, but I expected it.'' He also compared Sunday’s incident to the recent crash between Kyle Busch and Ron Hornaday, Jr., that resulted in Busch being parked for two races, fined $50,000 and placed on NASCAR suspension for the remainder of the year. "If NASCAR is going to start parking people for being mad 25 seconds after you wreck and wrecking somebody, then you would park somebody for (what happened today,” he said.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby said the sanctioning body viewed Sunday’s crash as a racing incident, adding, “Had we felt it was more than a racing incident, we would have reacted.”
Kenseth killed his case by saying he lifted so much earlier than he normally did. It's as if he was daring Vickers to wreck. Be careful what you wish for, Mr. Kenseth.
ReplyDeleteYou're spot-on, Michael. Unfortunately, it seems too many people see the 83 hit the 17 and immediately think it's completely the 83's fault. Seems like the thought process is "What kind of bully would hurt a poor, innocent Chase driver like Matt Kenseth?"
ReplyDeleteAll you have to do is watch it....he hit him twice before pile driving him into the corner.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with Michael and Steve. Too bad the media made Matt out to be the victim and Brian the villain...
ReplyDeleteVickers pushed him with smoke boiling off Matt's tires,shown clearly in the picture above.He pushed him a long way like that all the way to the wall.
ReplyDeleteVickers is a joke,no worries one more race and hes done !!
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ReplyDeleteTo the bozos that claim "Kenseth killed his case by blah blah blah", its amazing how all the other drivers managed to avoid him (sorry to try and invoke logic). The smoke coming from the front tires of Kenseth while being pushed into the wall kills Vickers claim that he didnt mean to get into him. If you don't like Matt Kenseth thats fine, but at least have enough integrity about you to state the obvious (Steve, Michael, and Lucy)
ReplyDeleteIn another article regarding this incident a statement was made: A NASCAR official later told ESPN that officials actually never saw the incident.
ReplyDeleteIs NASCAR serious? They missed this? After hearing a statement like that from NASCAR, it has become quite obvious to me why the grandstands are not full every race weekend. That was the most obvious payback in recent memory and NASCAR turns their head the other way.
Have at it boys ! Watch who you mess with, it may come back one day. A little more respect when racing each other and these thing don't happen. Oh.... And I like Both drivers !! I love it !!
ReplyDeleteDarby, Helton and the rest of the NASCAR officials must have been hittin their "special sodas" pretty hard to have missed Vickers obvious punt of Kenseth into the wall. This sport becomes more like the WWF every week.
ReplyDeleteHow about some of the media growing a pair and holding Darby & Helton's feet to the fire on this one? Come on guys!
Vince, I was actually paying attention to you, right up to the "WWF" reference. Too bad.
ReplyDeletethe reference to wwf is an insult, to the wwe. vince mcmahon told us long ago it was a show. vince and his boys lie to us every monday night in the effort to entertain us. bzf, helton etc. lie to us on a constant basis, but they expect us to believe them.
ReplyDeleteIf you truly think NASCAR equates to the WWE -- pre-determined results and all -- I wonder why you would possibly waste your time watching.
ReplyDeleteI'm becoming so tired of Nascar having a etch-a-sketch rule book. Why even have a rule book if it's not going to be used in a consistent manner? According to many, Vickers had been basically boasting that he was going to punt Kenseth the first chance he got. So, how can the powers that be not see that this move was premeditated? While I'm not a Kyle fan, I now see he may have gotten a raw deal in this debacle. Despite the fact that KB did his deed during a caution, Vickers action was no less of a violation, and even more so when you factor in the high speeds during green flag racing. Nascar, once again, made a huge mistake, and it's just another reason why fans are even more disillusioned with the sport.
ReplyDeleteOK, Dave. Not implying NASCAR pre-determines the results, just that they are extremely erratic in their rules enforcement. Same last year with Carl putting Brad in the fence at Atlanta. That should have resulted in a suspension or parking for Carl, but he got a slap on the wrist.
ReplyDeleteNo one can tell me that NASCAR is consistent in their rulings. Because they most certainly are not. It's no wonder the sport has trouble attracting new fans. The rule interpretation changes weekly and from one driver/team to then next. All I'm asking for is some consistency.
I've been a NASCAR fan since my teens at Bowman-Gray Stadium in the 60's and this current batch of "gentlemen" running NASCAR are incompetent at best.
You grew up at Bowman Gray and think today's Sprint Cup Series is like the WWE? YIKES!
ReplyDeleteYup, from High Point and spent every weekend in the summers from 64-69 at Bowman-Gray. Lots of good memories watching the old school mods there. Also seeing Petty, Allison, Pearson, Turner, etc racing real stock cars there twice a year.
ReplyDeleteStevie Wonder could have seen this action was done on purpose.
ReplyDeleteDon't you think a professional NASCAR driver has the skill set to avoid running into someone with such force - and then to continue in the gas while Matt's tires boil smoke. Like it has been said. Matt will be back in 2012, I don't think Brian will.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching Vickers recently, I could see how it could have been accidental contact. He has been accidentally contacting quite a few cars lately.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, it is my opinion that he dug deep and found the skill necessary to intentionally wreck Kenseth.
It was clearly reported(on TV at least) that Kenseth was having brake issues and was running higher on the track and backing up the corners farther than pretty much anyone else. Eventhough it's tough to judge intent, the evidence to me very strongly suggests that with the 17 running far outside of the preferred line that the 83 almost surely ran up on him with the idea to wreck him. Then the 200 yard push with the brakes locked on the 17 and spewing smoke like a locomotive while the 83 appeared to be wide open is enough to show me(and apparently a lot of people) what Vickers' intent was. But since I'm just a disappointed Kenseth fan and not a NASCAR official I guess I'll have to live with their call.
ReplyDeleteVickers got him. Good on him.
ReplyDeleteRay Charles could see that that Vickers meant to take Matt out.
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