On guitar smashing, bell ringing
It’s tempting to use this space to boast of a good prediction made before the season that Tony Stewart would win a race and make the Sprint Cup Chase for the championship.
Stewart won Sunday for the first time as a driver/owner. He’s first in points, so the Chase looks to be a lock.
Kurt Busch, however, kept that prediction from being perfect when he drove his Dodge to victory March 8 in Atlanta. I said Stewart would win before anyone does driving a Dodge. But I was close.
My ego must be contained because of three items that can’t be ignored:
• GUITAR ZERO — We start with the behavior of Las Vegas native Kyle Busch, who smashed the champion’s "trophy" guitar after winning Saturday’s Nationwide race so he could share pieces of it with his team.
The unique Gibson Les Paul electric guitar adorned with artwork by Sam Bass is one of racing’s more cherished trophies.
Busch was wrong to disrespect the trophy and the famed artist.
I, however, seem to be in the minority among co-workers who love Busch’s antics. They might like what he did because they aren’t big racing fans and enjoy any time a driver does something to embarrass himself or the sport.
They get plenty of material from Busch, who is the world’s best racer right now. Unfortunately, he too often acts like a petulant teenager, and at 24 he’s not a teenager.
We hope Kyle follows the lead of older brother Kurt Busch, who has matured the past few years into one of the sport’s most eloquent spokesmen.
And while Kyle has won three Cup races to Kurt’s one this year, big brother is fifth in points with Kyle in ninth.
• NITRO BELL RINGER — Drag racing took over Wall Street on Wednesday. Who ever could have imagined that would happen?
Top NHRA executives and representatives from one of its major sponsors were joined by several racers to ring the bell that opened Wednesday’s session at the New York Stock Exchange.
A giant banner promoting the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series nearly covered the facade of the landmark building.
It delivers major league credibility for the series.
Racers begin competing today at nearby Englishtown, N.J., so getting a slot to ring the bell this week was important timing for the NHRA. A source told me that a group of businesswomen were scheduled to ring it that day but yielded to the NHRA when they learned how strong a role women play in drag racing.
The day provided great exposure for the NHRA, including footage of two Top Fuelers on CNN Wednesday morning that were displayed with other pro cars in front of the Exchange. Other national news media also showcased the cars and drivers.
Participating drivers were Antron Brown, Ashley Force Hood, Eddie Krawiec, Morgan Lucas, Tony Pedregon, Karen Stoffer and Bob Tasca.
The photo of the drivers on Wall Street is something NASCAR only can dream of. The drag racers included two black men, two women and a Hispanic.
NASCAR’s most visible woman at races? Miss Sprint Cup.
• GRAND MARSHALS — The honor of instructing drivers to "start engines" took on new proportions when Shaquille O’Neal bellowed "Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines" before Saturday night’s IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway.
On Sunday, Kid Rock will give the command before Sunday’s Sprint Cup race in his home state of Michigan. He must have promised not to add any f-bombs to the most famous words in racing — and he won’t need to mention "ladies."
Moments later, new Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz will wave the green flag to begin the race as the honorary starter for the LifeLock 400.
It could lead to Schwartz endorsing the LifeLock service that protects against identity theft: The Lions went 0-16 last year, and if we win one game someone actually might want to steal my identity.
His career gets off to a good start Sunday because he’ll be part of someone winning.
Jeff Wolf’s motor sports column is published Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0247 or jwolf@reviewjournal.com. Visit Wolf’s motor sports blog at lvrj.com/blogs/heavypedal/ throughout the week.
