Dude, Where's My Car?
Dude, where's my car?
By Mark DeCotisFlorida Today
Kevin Harvick's change of heart might have saved his career.
Of all the sins committed at Bristol on Saturday night, the biggest was one that in the end didn't occur.
But had it, the once-promising career of Kevin Harvick could have and should have gone up in smoke.
Harvick, who failed to qualify for NASCAR's championship playoff in 2004 and is all but mathematically eliminated this season, has made no secret recently of his disenchantment with how business is being conducted by the man who signs his paychecks -- Richard Childress.
And Saturday night, thanks to the brainless antics of Dale Jarrett -- more on him in a minute -- Harvick was involved in a wreck not of his making and saw his shot at the playoff disappear.
Understandably upset because Harvick is a racer and racers want to race -- and win -- Harvick stormed to his hauler. Had the drama ended there, little or nothing further would have come of it.
But, it didn't and Harvick came as close as one can come to committing one of the unpardonable offenses of racing, refusing to get back into his car for no other reason than just being ticked off.
As his crew worked to repair the Chevy, Harvick stewed and by two accounts -- the TNT race broadcast and reporting at www.thatsracin.com -- when it came to getting back in the car, he initially refused. Things progressed to the point that his team went looking for a fill-in and Scott Riggs -- whose MB2/MBV Racing Chevy earlier had blown an engine -- was ready to climb into Harvick's car.
Whether Childress -- a man not known for backing down to anyone -- soft-sold Harvick or held the ultimate "come to Jesus" meeting in the hauler isn't known, but Harvick got back in the car, avoiding major embarrassment for himself and his oft-beleaguered boss.
It appears that Harvick has been looking for any excuse not to return to Childress when his contract is up after 2006 and came so close Saturday to giving Childress a perfect reason not to offer him a renewal.
What was he thinking?
Along those lines, what the heck was Jarrett's thought process as he lie in wait to wreck Ryan Newman, who punted him on lap 210, on lap 317? The melee collected not only Newman, damaging his chances at the playoff, but Jarrett as well, and Harvick.
Didn't Jarrett stop to think that by punting Newman he could also wreck himself and miss the playoff again? Apparently not -- Jarrett left the track on Saturday night without comment -- and that's shocking coming from a racer of his experience.
Such moronic behavior hasn't been seen since the first playoff race of 2004 when Robby Gordon intentionally wrecked Greg Biffle, collecting championship contenders Tony Stewart and Jeremy Mayfield in the process and ruining their chances at a title run.
One would expect such behavior from upstart Carl Edwards -- and he didn't disappoint by wrecking both Petty cars, Kyle Petty and Jeff Green, in separate incidents on Saturday night. But at least Edwards got firmly lectured post-race by Petty and Edwards has had it coming.
One would hope Childress did the same with Harvick, but who is going to read the riot act to past champion Jarrett?
NASCAR? Hello? Anyone home?
Mark DeCotis is a 27-year veteran of the newspaper business and has lived in Florida since 1985. He is sports editor of Florida Today's four weekly newspapers.
By Mark DeCotisFlorida Today
Kevin Harvick's change of heart might have saved his career.
Of all the sins committed at Bristol on Saturday night, the biggest was one that in the end didn't occur.
But had it, the once-promising career of Kevin Harvick could have and should have gone up in smoke.
Harvick, who failed to qualify for NASCAR's championship playoff in 2004 and is all but mathematically eliminated this season, has made no secret recently of his disenchantment with how business is being conducted by the man who signs his paychecks -- Richard Childress.
And Saturday night, thanks to the brainless antics of Dale Jarrett -- more on him in a minute -- Harvick was involved in a wreck not of his making and saw his shot at the playoff disappear.
Understandably upset because Harvick is a racer and racers want to race -- and win -- Harvick stormed to his hauler. Had the drama ended there, little or nothing further would have come of it.
But, it didn't and Harvick came as close as one can come to committing one of the unpardonable offenses of racing, refusing to get back into his car for no other reason than just being ticked off.
As his crew worked to repair the Chevy, Harvick stewed and by two accounts -- the TNT race broadcast and reporting at www.thatsracin.com -- when it came to getting back in the car, he initially refused. Things progressed to the point that his team went looking for a fill-in and Scott Riggs -- whose MB2/MBV Racing Chevy earlier had blown an engine -- was ready to climb into Harvick's car.
Whether Childress -- a man not known for backing down to anyone -- soft-sold Harvick or held the ultimate "come to Jesus" meeting in the hauler isn't known, but Harvick got back in the car, avoiding major embarrassment for himself and his oft-beleaguered boss.
It appears that Harvick has been looking for any excuse not to return to Childress when his contract is up after 2006 and came so close Saturday to giving Childress a perfect reason not to offer him a renewal.
What was he thinking?
Along those lines, what the heck was Jarrett's thought process as he lie in wait to wreck Ryan Newman, who punted him on lap 210, on lap 317? The melee collected not only Newman, damaging his chances at the playoff, but Jarrett as well, and Harvick.
Didn't Jarrett stop to think that by punting Newman he could also wreck himself and miss the playoff again? Apparently not -- Jarrett left the track on Saturday night without comment -- and that's shocking coming from a racer of his experience.
Such moronic behavior hasn't been seen since the first playoff race of 2004 when Robby Gordon intentionally wrecked Greg Biffle, collecting championship contenders Tony Stewart and Jeremy Mayfield in the process and ruining their chances at a title run.
One would expect such behavior from upstart Carl Edwards -- and he didn't disappoint by wrecking both Petty cars, Kyle Petty and Jeff Green, in separate incidents on Saturday night. But at least Edwards got firmly lectured post-race by Petty and Edwards has had it coming.
One would hope Childress did the same with Harvick, but who is going to read the riot act to past champion Jarrett?
NASCAR? Hello? Anyone home?
Mark DeCotis is a 27-year veteran of the newspaper business and has lived in Florida since 1985. He is sports editor of Florida Today's four weekly newspapers.
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