Top Row Seat - New Hampshire
Dateline: 07/12/99This week saw the worst side of flat track racing rear it's ugly head as Hendrick Motorsports drivers Jeff Gordon and Wally Dallenbach were both beating and banging their way around New Hampshire International Speedway.
Gordon Volume 1
Many of you will remember last spring's race in Richmond when Rusty Wallace got into the back of Jeff Gordon and sent him into the wall. I had dismissed that incident as "just racing" and received a ton of flaming email from Gordon fans claiming that accidents don't happen and that Rusty had obviously taken Gordon out intentionally.
I'd like to hear from those same fans after this week's incident where the roles were reversed. Rusty believes that Gordon should have lifted and given an inch since it was early in the race. Gordon claims that Rusty "came right down on me."
The replay clearly shows that Rusty did not come down but rather Gordon slid up off the apron. Who do you believe?
Gordon Volume 2
Then the more infamous incident occurred on the final lap when Gordon used the chrome horn in turns three and four to shove Dale Jarrett out of the way and take third place. Both drivers were pointing fingers and taking shots at each other in the media as Jarrett criticized Gordon's passing technique while Gordon claimed that Jarrett had blocked him hard on the backstretch.
NASCAR has their own opinion on the incident and reportedly called Jeff Gordon and his crew chief Ray Evernham into the officials' trailer after the race to discuss the incident.
Hendrick Frustration
In other Hendrick Motorsports observations, every time Wally Dallenbach was on TV he was either hitting someone or getting hit. The most notable incident occurred when he was running hard up on the outside of Ward Burton in turns one and two, got nudged when he ran Ward down onto the apron, and then flipped him (and the TV camera) off out the window.
What is it that is causing all this unusual aggression by Hendrick Motorsports drivers? Jeff Gordon is essentially a clean racer and I have never before seen Wally Dallenbach drive like he did on Sunday.
Certainly neither driver is having a very good year. Gordon is fifth in points and virtually out of the Winston Cup chase while Wally is mired back in twentieth and his sponsor has already announced that they won't be back in 2000.
No matter the reason I hope that both drivers find their patience again as we head back to Pocono and beyond. I'd hate to see any driver get hurt because someone let their frustration show through.
Do you think Gordon and Jarrett will continue this physical battle in Pocono? Why do you think Hendrick Motorsports is leading the league in "paint swapped"? Let the world know what you think on the bulletin board. Or you can talk about all things NASCAR in the chat room Wednesday night from 8-9pm EST.
