NASCAR’s “Young Punks”
By: Andy Kondratick
Ask yourself this… Did Ricky Rudd deserve what Kevin Harvick did to him?
My answer to that question would be an emphatic “No!” Harvick seems to have forgotten the word respect and Childress better get a handle on this young lad and remind him where he is. Yes, Kevin is a good driver. He figures because he has accomplished so much in such a short time that he is owed some respect. Well, I hate to break it to you buddy, but you ain’t been round these here parts for very long and respect is something you earn over time and by your actions not just by accomplishments alone.
Ricky Rudd has been driving in this sport for a long time and has always managed to be an aggressive but respectable driver, even during his lean and hungry years as an owner/driver. If Harvick had been mature enough to step aside, view the replay then give a reaction, he would be 35k richer for it and would probably be more focused. Instead he chose to be a young punk and go after someone without full knowledge of what really happened and got his gang of misfits, that he calls a crew, to stomp around like children and deface Rudd’s car after being all charged up by their leader and driver. Not to mention the fact that he never gave Rudd a chance to respond to the incident nor did he bother to act like a respectable, firm, seasoned NASCAR driver.
I am a bit confused by Harvick though. He did the right thing by getting out and talking with Kenseth after the Busch race on Friday night at Richmond, saying his piece and leaving the situation. That he did perfect in my opinion. The little bump on pit road was acceptable also but what he did on Saturday night was completely immature and unacceptable.
Please don’t get me wrong. I am a big fan of Harvick’s. I think he is a talented driver who will be great some day. Someday being the key word. No doubt that Kevin is a good driver but in order to be a great driver you have to have experience on and off the track. You have to know how to handle yourself in every situation you can possibly imagine and hope you do the best to keep respect for yourself and your fellow competitor. That is what makes a good driver great. That is what makes a seasoned driver a veteran driver. That is what makes a veteran driver a champion.
Harvick wasn’t the only one out of the Childress “Reform Camp for Bad Boys” to be involved in post race pouting and stomping. Robbie Gordon had a hissy after Jeff Burton got under him in turn four and got loose which pushed him up into Robbie. In a post race interview Jeff Burton claimed 100% responsibility for the accident, like a good veteran driver will, and apologized on national TV to Robbie and his entire team. Just like Rudd did even after all the melee on pit road. Two veterans claiming responsibility for their actions and two young guns taking their licks is a long standing respectable way of doing things. Not two young punks hunting down a couple of old timers and beating them up for their wallets.
What can be learned by all this? I think it is pretty simple. If Kevin and Robbie continue to act this way I believe they will lose the respect of all the drivers and the fans won’t be far behind. Come on guys! You are both much better than this.
This has been one fan’s opinion…
Rogue Reporter Andy
September 15, 2003 -
I can’t say I am surprised by the latest happenings in NASCAR this past couple of weeks and I am certainly one of those people who likes to see some post-race action. I like to see a driver stand up for himself when it is warranted. The problem I have is when standing up for ones self turns into a weekly event.