NASCAR BLOG

Kyle Busch’s post-race expletive-ridden comments about team mate Denny Hamlin this past weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway was just another example of how NASCAR teams aren’t always the best of friends. Denny Hamlin refused to allow Busch (his brother Kurt eventually won the race) to pass him during the All Star Race on Saturday, which caused Busch to slam his Toyota M&M Pretzel car into the wall. Busch apparently went looking for Hamlin at his trailer after the race. Giants of the sport, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, have also been after each other recently. NASCAR.com did an excellent piece, featuring writers Bill Kimm and Mark Spoor, asking the question if teammates should race differently against one another. I see the point that the drivers are paid by team owners and therefore are expected to do what is best for the team, but no one can deny that people love NASCAR for the drivers. NASCAR drivers got to where they are, because of their inane desire to finish in first. If there’s too much of team mentality on the racetrack it’ll take away from the sure competitiveness of the sport. Besides, all this team-on-team controversy is endlessly entertaining. I hope there’s more to come.

The Joe Gibbs Racing Driver, Denny Hamlin, made the ninth victory for JGR in the Nationwide Series this season. He won the 200- mile race last Saturday at the Dover International Speedway. It was his second win in the nationwide series this year. The race was uneventful, according to Hamlin, as he was leading in most of the laps and the only surprise in the race was the sixth position attained by the debutant driver Joey Logano. Hamlin predicted a top-seven finish for Logano and earned $200 by betting with his fellow drivers about the finishing position of Logano. Hamlin said that he wishes to come to Dover Speedway in different cars. The fans who had bought tickets to watch Hamlin race got their money’s worth.