Race Fast, Race Responsibly

Ask any auto racer or motorcycle racer and they will tell you that to be fast, you have to be on the edge. Racing fast is all about being on that fine razor’s edge of adhesion, or power, or control.

Pushing 200 mph is no place for irresponsibility or silliness. Forget that – pushing 150 mph is no place for it. It doesn’t matter if the car is open wheeled or not, though the ramifications of two (or more) open wheeled cars coming together can create some serious drama quickly. Just reflect on the sad events that took place in Las Vegas recently when Dan Wheldon was killed in a horrific multi-car accident.

Racers will tell you that accidents are a part of their sport. Every racer will tell you that. The teams and series organizers do what they can to remove as much danger as possible and to keep the drivers out of harm’s way.

But racing fast also requires some level of responsibility, to yourself and to your fellow drivers. Which brings me to the saga of Kyle Busch.

Kyle Busch has a history of shenanigans behind the wheel. He was once again involved in a behind-the-wheel drama involving Ron Hornaday. It just so happens that Hornaday was in the championship hunt when it all took place.

The on-board radio conversation says a lot.

Busch was banned for the weekend. Then he issued an open letter of apology. I guess if you say sorry, everything will be alright, yes?

He was eventually fined $50,000. His title sponsor, Mars (M&Ms being one of their products) dropped him for the remainder of the season. That’s all fine and good, but irresponsible behavior behind the wheel of a 2000 pound assault weapon simply isn’t acceptable in any racing division at any level.

I can tell you right now that if that idiocy happened in an open wheel car, someone would be dead right now. It is a miracle that Hornaday wasn’t injured in the accident.

How many times does this behavior have to happen before either someone gets hurt, or Busch is permanently removed from the sport? After this incident, this guy should never be allowed to race again – apology letter or no apology letter. Real racers deserve better of their fellow competitors.

Photo credits: Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway