Clint Bowyer Claims Classic Richmond Victory
Saturday May 3, 2008
The 2008 Dan Lowry 400 just may go down in history as one of the best ever at the historic Richmond International Raceway. Denny Hamlin dominated but couldn't close the deal. Then two of NASCAR's best battled for the win and wrecked each other allowing third place Clint Bowyer to slip past and claim victory.
Before Junior Nation gets all excited I want to go on the record here as saying this was just a hard racing incident. Dale Earnhardt Jr didn't give Kyle Busch any extra room, and at that point in the race he shouldn't. But, when Busch got a little loose underneath him there was no room for him to correct and he moved up into Junior.
Busch has a reputation for being over aggressive. I don't believe that was the case in this incident. This was just two drivers racing inches apart for the win with less than three laps to go.
Comments
I’m done with KYLECAR or (NASCAR to some of us)
I dont think this is just a hard racing accident.Kyle has been commenting on camera a few times that jr gets to much publicity. He is jelous and didnt want jr to win. But as a fan i have been very disapointed in jr not showing any back bone!!! please show some passion jr for your fans!!! Does any body agree or am i alone??
He could have had more of a back bone but I think I admire his class and in the interview he looked pretty choked up. I think we all were.
I agree with Sam. Of course Kyle is jealous. He used to race for Hendrick before he was REPLACED BY JUNIOR. All you have to do is read or watch Kyle’s comments to see he is proud of wrecking Junior. But I do have to disagree with you, Sam, on Jr. not showing passion. You could almost feel Jr’s heart break when he spoke after the race. And Jr’s right, Kyle definitely needs some security tonight.
Jr does have class but no one remembers how classy you were when you loose.All they remember is who won.After all isnt that the point of racing.
I think it was a racing hard accident at that point in the race.The thing that was bad was how unprofessional LARRY& DARRELL were about how KYLE would get out of Richmond from Dale Jr. fans.
Get a grip waltrip,even hammond originaly said kyle turned into jr.until you spouted off…. thousands watched that little weasel turn into him…. lets call a spade a spade d.w. quit defending rooooowdy bush. if that would have been smoke turning into jr. you would have ranted and demanded nascar to fine him and deduct points…..
I don’t think it was anyone’s fault. It was just racing hard. Jr. was in the lead and Kyle was coming fast. Jr. was trying to protect the lead and Kyle was racing to get there.Noone races for second, if they do, then they need to go back to gocarts. I must admit, Jr showed some real class when he said that the accident was just hard racing.
lets review:hamlins tire goes down(cant win)jrs car too slow!(have to block to win)kyles car fast!(pic jr win race)kyle pics!(to far inside of jrs car)jr gets picked!(doesnt stand on gas too keep car off wall)kyle turns right!(jr in way, hasnt stood on gas too keep car off wall)kyle, ut-o (mabe should have turned left too miss jr).boyer laughs,thanks for the win boys!!!
I agree with Dan. DW has been a “schrubby” fan all year. As soon as Kyle was near Jr I said he was going to wreck him. That’s the kind of driver he is. Its all about paybacks. Hamlin dominated that race but when his tire was going down he should have been professional enough to leave the track instead of getting a caution to leave. That started this. Kyle got his chance to get close and wrecked him. Maybe “schrubby” should improve his driving skills to hold 1st in points instead of cheating to stay there.
Just another thought…listen to the video where Kyle commented about his incident with Steve Wallace. “I don’t care how many cars I wreck…” THAT IS MY POINT; Nascar wake up; Hamlin is his team mate. They knew the only way Busch could catch him was with a caution..well? We all love good racing but Jr is behind you and moving up Kyle. Race fans do want good racing but JR RACES HONEST AND CLEAN and that will prevail and the Cheater knows it…just a matter of time!
If i recall kyle said he would wreck anyone…what has this kid done? NOTHING When you have won 50 races PYLE and been around 10 years then you might be somthing..or end up like your brother…one hit wonder..Jr should have gone out and punted PYLE….Dw should marry the kid.he loes him that much
I have been a NASCAR fan for most of my 61 years and thought last nights race was boring until the end. Junior should have won, but don’t blame Kyle. I take Junior at his word about Kyle, but think it is time to muzzle the DW, or give him a brain transplant. Maybe with Digger. THE REAL PERSON TO BLAME for the (fill in the blank) outcome of the race was Hamlin. He was so obsessed with back to back wins that he endangered everyone by staying on the track with that leaking tire. He never once attempted to come in and get it changed. The outcome could have been worse, if it had blowen causing him to spin out in front of the whole field. To bad NASCAR can’t penalize him. For that matter he should have been black flagged.
Kyle needs to be neutered
No respect, No good old Saturday nite race, just run over each other. Anyone can do that. The kid just don’t know and just don’t get it.I wouldn’t be suprised if he got ran over next week by the entire field.
If I was the owner of the car that Kyle Bush drives,,He would not have a ride this morning!!! When are the other car owners going to do something about this Kid that has wrecked more cars in the last 2 years than anyone else????? Kyle has taken himself out of more races ( not to mention how many other cars have been taken out because of Kyles actions on the track). I can’t understand why D.W thinks this KID is so great. If
Kyle thinks he is such a great driver now ,, I would like to see him race with the Black #3 just one time. Nascar officals need to do something about this “KID” that thinks he is so good.
Yeah I love the way everybody at Fox takes up for Busch.
rowdy needs some lessons, if jr. was the type driver sr. was there sure would be pay back next week. but all the same i am very,very glad he is not his dad, he is a classy kid and will be rewarded soon!!!!!!!! b ut remember d.w. did say after it happened ( and before they had time to change it for tv) that rowdy should have done that. also larry mac changed his bush turned his wheels right to he lost it. i believe his first story!!!!1
GO KYLE YOU THE MAN
That Shrub of a driver wrecked Junior plain and simple, one reason to like him, if only for a moment.
that was the most bull i ever seen. i have met dale and if he dont have a back bone i have one for him, because klye wreaked him because he is so jealious over dale and he has it coming. i have no more reason to play fair. you suck kyle
KYLE NO 1YOU THE MAN
any one that thinks kyle bush is the man must not know much, he sucks the only time he wins is win he wreaks some one. come on look at the facts
Hamlin is the first no-class punk saturday night racer. When he pulled his funny-boy trick it was a given that ky boy was going to wreck Jr. You see it every week when they show ky sideways most of the time out there.Those two two common-taters showed their true colors.Mc-R said it right the first time when we all saw the 18’s tires turned right. Ky used Jr’s car to keep himself from being totally out of control.He showed no class in the interview either. I like what Wallace did to him, again no-class on ky’s part. Why do you think Hendricks got rid of him. Give me M. Martin, J. Burton vs Jr.and you would have had an exciting finish and no wrecked equipment or hard feelings. Ky needs to go bacy to those saturday night races. That big nose could get an ajustment like the one his brother got.
I agree with bobby. If that was any other driver rregardless of the outcome it would have been just as good and exciting of a finish.Kyle is a big eared horse face punk who needs punched in his big nose, thats the only thing that will set him strate.His brother found that out!!!
As much as I haate Kyle, I think it was just racing. Jr. was classy in his interview and showed emotion. If his dad were around, he would be wrecking kyle next week if Kyle were to do that to him. I am extremely glad Jr. is not like Sr. because I really hated Sr. after ‘99 Bristol race after he took out Terry (my favorite driver) and then said “I didnt mean to wreck, just meant to rattle his cage a little” and everyone, icluding Terry thought he was full of crap.
Anyway Kyle needs to keep on doin what hes doin and Jr. just needs to forget and try this Saturday at Darlington. And Jr. fans just need to calm down and realize it was just racing. Thats all I gotta say about that. Oh and poor Denny. His luck was similar to somthing F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen used to have on a regular basis but it changed last year after he won the World Championship. Maybe Denny’s luck will get better and he can win the Sprint Cup.
I hate to break up this Dale-Kyle fight but I’d just like to point out that Clint won the race and now 3 of the top 5 cars in the standings are from RCR. The only problem I had with the race was that Clint drove that ugly maroon car instead of the JD car.
Saturday’s race highlighted the main reason I dont actually attend as many races as I used to: Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans. I actually like the guy and have enjoyed watching him race and attempting to step into the rather large shoes his father left for him to fill. However, most of his rabidly loyal fans are inconsiderate jerks, with no regard for the other people around them. The trash throwing episode after the “incident” was classic. I have actually had jr. fans boo me and throw trash at me at a race because Terry Labonte, (several laps down at the time), following orders from Hendrick pushed J. Gordon off the track and into the pits after running out of gas late in a race. The unruly performance of jr.’s fans have convinced me to always be mindful of my back when at a race and to never, ever take my kids to one. I had always looked forward to the day they were old enough to go, but these idiots have ruined that idea. Getting into the why’s and who’s fault really does not matter. I stood in the stands and watched Earnhardt Sr. take a certain win from my driver on the last lap by driving under him and way too fast. The only thing that kept him from wrecking himself was spinning Terry. I dont recall throwing a single piece of trash, or looking for an Earnhardt fan to take it out on.
NASCAR: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, You have got to stop these morons before someone gets hurt.
My apologies to all Jr. fans who can hold their liquor and act responsible.
Sam, Lee and all the others that comment in the jealousy of MR WRECK, and Attitude. You all guys are 300% wright I agree with Lee about how the owner of Kyle Bush car should be penalize and Nascar should smell the coffee and start acting against this guys another good comment Denny Hamlin was at fault too day dreaming of his victories instead of pulling out of the track. That is the reason Kyle Bush is no longer with the Hendricks Motor sports his temper and ego needs to come down and he needs to realize that he is not the only good driver in the track. HE NEEDS TO LEARN FROM JIMMIE JOHNSON, KYLE PETTY, DALE EARNHARD,JR, HE IS A KID THAT ONE OF THIS DAYS HE IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE IN THE TRACK OR WHO KNOWS HIMSELF. BEING A GOOD DRIVER IS HAVING RESPECT FOR OTHERS. KYLE IS TIME FOR YOU TO GROW UP AND ACT AS A MEAN NOT A MANIAC. SHAME ON YOU!!! YOU ARE MAD BECAUSE DALE GOT YOUR SPOT IN HENDRICKS, BUT HENDRICKS DRIVER HAVE A LOT OF PRIDE BECAUSE THEY DON’T TAKE REVENGE IN ANYONE AND THEY ARE ALL ONE BIG FAMILY.
I have to agree with TLabonte Fan. I like Jr. alot and have alot of respect for his driving skills, but his fans leave alot to be desired. One thing everyone needs to remember is this was a typical Saturday Night race at Richmond, alot of hard-charging drivers trying to win. –it happens!!!!
busch is an idiot thru and thru . someone needs to kick his ass and set him sraight.
I could not agree more with TLABONTE FAN.I live very close to Lowes Motor Speedway. I used to attend all races there, but because of the JR. fans I no longer go at all.What happened Saturday night was just hard racing and you all need to get over it.Nuf said…..
What in the hell is wrong with you jr and busch hater people. It was just hard raceing and an unfortunate (for both drivers)accident. As soon as it happened I could hear your people screaming and yelling. Try growing up and become real race fans instead of infantile jerks.
I say it’s a good thing that the drivers aren’t as petty, backbiting, close-minded and volatile as some of the fans! Jr. himself said he knew that Kyle got loose under him and that it was as much his fault as it was Kyle’s for pinching him down there. He said so in his post race interview even before he’d seen the replay of the incident based on what Tony Jr. had told him. If they can get mad, accept the facts and then get over it why can’t the fans?
I predicted all of this hatemongering gossip ten seconds after the end of the race and it looks like my prediction was dead on! Some things don’t ever change/grow-up/get a clue/open their minds!
I join TLabonte Fan and Smoke62 in stating that Dale Jr. is a great person and a great driver but his fans truly do leave something to be desired. The shame he must feel when he reads some of the things his fans say on his behalf. But the drivers can’t choose their fans so he’s stuck with them…
All you (anti Jr fans) talking heads are talking the na$ar line!..the Fox people are obviously on the nas$ar payroll. First it was Hendrick to pay off na$car and now it is Gibbs…what a cheap shot with Hambone stopping on the track to give KidKyle the opportunity to win. Didn’t work for the win, but worked for second and the points lead.
I was at the race and am also a Jr. Fan. While I agree that throwing beer cans on the track was infantile there were probably 30,000 jr fans at the race and the throwers were a very small percentage. I was listening to Jr. on my scanner and he was adament with his crew to not say anything that would make thier team look like A#$holes (his words, not mine). I think that he doesn’t want either his fans or other drivers to see him or his crew the same way they saw Kyle Friday night with his comments about Steve Wallace. I don’t believe that he has no backbone. I respect him for remaining reserved and not falling into the same behavior as other drivers often do.
For all the people out there that say Jr. needs to get a backbone; I got news for you, it takes alot more backbone to bite you tongue sometimes and look classy rather than boiling over and acting like a jerk.
I have been a Nascar fan for many years, and I have never written with a complaint or protest before. But what took place May 3, in Richmond is unforgiveable. Denny Hamlin should be fined, and loose driver points, for trying to manipulate the outcome of the race. Kyle Busch should be banned from ANY form of racing. And, lastly Darrell Waltrip should be fired for encouraging Kyle Busch to be so dangerous on the track. Wonder how Darrell would feel if Kyle wrecks Michael? Someone’s going to get hurt or worse, then it will be too late.
First off congrats to Clint. Now to the bull, This whole thing started because of a LITTLE jerk named Denny Hamlin. He should have been made to leave the track since he wasn’t smart enough to do it on his own. We all know he did it just so team mate Kyle Wuss could advance closer to Jr.. As far as all you who say Jr. should have Kyle more room, well he was the leader and Kyle could have lifted. No one dislikes Kyle more than I do but Denny should have his ass kicked first. Kyle shouldn’t be allowed in a car and Gibbs should get rid of him just like Hendricks did. Kyle you have no class on or off the track and what you tring to be a bad boy for - the chicks…They have better class than that.
Just rename the events to Nascar derby and forget the racing.
Why not trade the diver’s finish places when this happens? Quick end to this noncense and back to good racing.