The much-publicized run-in between Kyle Busch and David Reutimann in last Sunday's Cup race at Kansas Speedway has reignited a debate that has raged on and off since the inception of the Chase in 2004.
By Jim Utter
McClatchy News Service
Fontana, Calif. -- NASCAR has already said it is considering making some changes next season to the format of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
What we've learned in the last week is that it's also possible to change the Chase from within.
The much-publicized run-in between Kyle Busch and David Reutimann in last Sunday's Cup race at Kansas Speedway has reignited a debate that has raged on and off since the inception of the Chase in 2004.
Is it fair for drivers not in the Chase -- in this case Reutimann -- to have the ability to impact the title fortunes of those in it -- in this case Busch -- by their actions on the track?
While Busch was the first to make contact with Reutimann last week, he claimed it was unintentional. There was no doubt, however, that Reutimann's retaliation later in the race was well-timed.
Busch, who was running in the Top 10 much of the race, ended up with a damaged car and a 21st place finish. He lost four spots in the series standings, falling to seventh, 80 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson.
"I don't know why here lately, everyone who gets spun on accident feels like they need to go out there and really turn guys around," said driver Denny Hamlin, Busch's teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing.
"We're all race car drivers, we're all on the edge at all times and when someone makes a mistake, why didn't he deserve to get caught a break, he messed up.
"That part's tough for me to swallow. These guys want to go out there and change how the Chase ends up they can definitely do that."
Neither Reutimann nor Busch have been apologetic about their actions of late week but both did have a sit down on Friday with John Darby, the Cup series director, regarding their run-in.
In fact, all eyes will be on the pair of drivers in Sunday's Pepsi 400 at Auto Club Speedway to see if a repeat episode is in store.
Asked on Friday whether the incident between Reutimann and himself could escalate in the last races of the season, Busch offered a stern response: "Certainly could happen."
There were no NASCAR penalties assessed for last week's actions and in reality nothing that transpired was any worse than NASCAR has allowed all season long.
The difference is during the Chase the stakes for some are much, much higher.
"You certainly don't want to be involved in the conversation as to why a guy didn't win the championship because you wrecked him or whatever. But, that goes both ways," explained driver Jeff Burton.
"You have to drive people with respect all the time. You can't pick and chose when you want someone to respect you. And you can't pick and choose when you are going to respect them.
"It has to be all the time or none of the time."
It was clear to many drivers, and emphasized by Reutimann himself, that his retaliatory strike against Busch last weekend wasn't a response of that single incident on the track. Reutimann believed he had been slighted by Busch in the past and Sunday's incident was simply the last straw.
"I don't think obviously there is more that has happened than just last week," Kevin Harvick said. "Those weren't just feelings from last week, I don't think."
In any case, Busch and his No. 18 JGR team find themselves climbing a much higher hill in the season's last seven races to reach a Cup championship.
"We've got way too much catching up to do versus where we could have been. If I gave myself a fifth-place finish, which we could have either been better than that or maybe a couple spots worse than that, we'd be I think second or third in points right now," Busch said.
"Now we have to step it up and we have to win or finish second or third. We've got a lot more to pick up."
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.