Yesterday my young son and I did our normal Sunday (and sometimes Saturday) thing, camping out on the couch to watch "our guy" race. Well as many of you know Dale Jr. was having a pretty good race in spite of a few bumps and bruises along the way which is oh so typical of a short track race.
At one point just after battling pretty hard with Junior, a radio transmission from Rusty's car to his crew was overheard and broadcast. In this broadcast you, I and everyone else heard Rusty clearly make a comment about sending Junior home in a helicopter. It was clear to me and by their words and actions the TV crew, that Rusty had just threatened bodily harm to a fellow competitor, even worse to "our guy". I didn't say a word hoping it went over the head of the seven yr old sitting beside me, but it didn't. He calmly got up and headed off to his room, I went in a couple of minutes later only to find him curled up his bed crying out of control. Rusty was clear enough that even a seven year old understood his threat/intention to hurt Jr. When he calmed down enough to talk about it he said it felt as bad as the day Dale Sr. had died. I guess too little time has passed since the passing of Dale Sr., at least not enough to take away the horror of that fatefull race in Daytona that took his life.
Shame on you Rusty Wallace and any other competitor that would speek of such a horrible act. Being competitive is one thing but to threaten another competitor in such a way is unacceptable. Nascar fined Tony Stewart for an altercation at the track (and as they should) but in my mind what Rusty did is far more serious.
Will Nascar deal with it, who knows, but I certainly hope so.
Rick.

I hear the broom sweeping it under the rug.

When your driving on the edge of control, with people rubbing you, Money and reputation at stake, and millions watching. You would say stuff you didnt mean as well.

Ive seen Jr do crap to my driver during the season that would make me want to put him in a Helicopter. However thats part of the fun in racing and especially nascar.

It would suck if evertime someone rubbed there would be 10min of sorries. Nascar is a rough sport where emmotions get high, I dont really care for rusty but from what ive seen over the years, the last thing i would expect him to do is put someone in a helicopter.

Wht I heard is that Rusty was going to "give Jr. the helicopter" meaning to turn him around like what happend to several guys yesterday. Give him a 360

I do not think that any of the drivers would want to put someone in the hospital. There are allot of people I am not fond of, but would never wish that on any of them.

I wasn't able to see Sunday's race unfortunatly. If this is something that Rusty said it is just stupid. It wouldn't matter who it was directed at IMO.

Bumping and tradin' paint is part of racing, but actually saying something like that is something entirely different.

I agree with ARCTICZRT600, Nascar won't even acknowledge this alleged event.

Mich Yamaha, your right, there is a difference between what should and what should not be said, even in the heat of the moment. Lets not forget these guys do this stuff for a living and if anyone should know better/be able to keep their cool, its them. I don't think the announcers took Rusty to mean spin him around either.

No way Machzzzz, your driver started it (by the way-who is your driver).

I watched the race, but must have missed that part when I was in the garage detailing my sled. I'd be really surprised at Rusty if that's what he meant. Hopefully he did mean the 360 idea, but I guess if that's what ya heard, that's what was said. That's very sad.

Machz, these guys are adults, and telling your crew you're going to send a guy to the hospital is not appropriate, if that's what was said. Calling someone names, or even banging metal is understandable in the heat of competition. That type of comment would not have meant so much if he would have said it to his face, but saying it to someone in private is worse, seems to have more intention. Hope he didn't really say that.

Did NASCAR.com have anything on this?

Originally posted by JIM FRITCH@Oct 21 2002, 07:14 PM
*SNIP*
Did NASCAR.com have anything on this?
Not as of yet and I don't expect to see anything there either. Maybe on the jayski nascar site?

That would explain why my sister calls him Krusty Wallace.

Its like road Rage. The person may be the nicest person, but when he or she is behind the wheel worried about her life and the welfare of his or hers family things can become heated and they say stuff they dont mean.

Im sorry but in Nascar or any racing event when the next turn could be your last your gonna say stuff you dont mean. Just like Ricky Rudd called out robbie gordens number at sears point. My point is that it happens.

I got the Nascar incar stations and I have heard Dale Jr say stuff just like that. Im also sure that Dale SR had his moments as well, such as accually spining out other drivers at full speed at Iroc races and numerous nascar races.

Maybe they shouldnt be airing the incar audio. If I were a driver I wouldnt want people to hear what I say. This isnt Lawn Darts, Its nascar.

And even though who my driver is has nothing to do with it but Im a Awsome Bill Elliott Fan and a Sterling Marlin supporter. And yes they also had there poor moments.

I guess so Machzzzz1. I take a scanner to races when I go and it is cool to hear the drivers chatting throughout the race. I guess it really depends on exactly what rusty said.

if its really what rusty said i dont take it seriously as he or any driver would not wish that on anyone of the other drivers, its just racing and the heat of the moment. I am a jr fan and he is an Intimidator just a his dad was and i can see guys gettin pissed with him. I got to watch that race again to see what rusty said for myself.

Originally posted by Machzzzz1@Oct 21 2002, 03:34 PM


Maybe they shouldnt be airing the incar audio. If I were a driver I wouldnt want people to hear what I say. This isnt Lawn Darts, Its nascar.


I know this won't help the situation, but I've heard people complain about what they hear at the races on the scanners. If they don't like it, maybe they shouldn't be listening.

The other week @ Talladega when I was listening to Kevin Harvick when he ran out of gas, sensitive ears wouldn't have liked what he had to say.

I wonder if NBC or Fox has a 7 second delay like they use on radio?

From the look on the broadcasters face I don't think they were prepared for what Rusty had to say. Could be there was a delay in the seven second delay which would have given them enough time to skip over his comments. I would not be surprised if his comments are cut when the race is aired next.
On the other hand if Rusty truly did mean "to spin him out", would we still think it OK if during this induced spin out Jr. was hurt or killed? At what point is it no longer OK?
Its turning into a regular joke as to who will be next to walk up the track and throw their helmet, punch out a reporter, smash into who after a race has ended or sulk like a child when they don't win a race. I know we've heard the excuses up the wazoo, but the fact of the matter is these guys are hired and paid to be professional race car drivers, its long overdue they started acting like it both on and off the track as these guys are role models whether they like it or not.

He meant he was going to spin him, not hurt him.

I seem to remember the rockingham race in the fall of 01 when lil'E was on the rear bumper of the 97 of kurt busch for about 32 laps,and he to was telling his crew over the radio he was wanting to punt him out,I know I was there and scanner was on.nascar kindly told his crew if he did not get away from the 97 he would be sorry.I raced for 5 years, now I turn wrench's. I will tell you if they(the drivers) do not get mad they are not very competitive and they will not last.have you ever been to a "cup race"?if not you are clueless as to the drivers attitudes on the track,the scanner opens the door for all in attendance,I will never watch another race without it on,they all cuss and get mad.its just racing,note if he meant it he would have done it.

Hey, it's nascar not F1. There is a reason that at those short tracks they put in extra re-enfocement is the noses.

It is part of the series, the "bump pass" and the "chrome horn" is a way of life. Look at a snow cross race, body parts hangin out and that goes on in every corner.

While it might not be nice for car in back to do this, it should be expectd by the driver in the front. I am a Rusty Fan, and a Lil E fan, but if Rusty don't like the horn, he should of let em go.

The drivers will not put the horn to em' the first corner, they give em a lap or two. But if the guy in the rear has the better car, the guy in front better expect it.

Big E was the master at this, and won allot of races doing this. They all do it. Done correctly, they will just upset the car. The 24 car put the "helicopter" to 3 cars in the race yesterday, but since he's "Trophy Boy" nothing will become of it.

It is no big deal, he probably meant he should give him a "360". Things like this happen, the important thing is he didnt send him home in the helicopter, and even if something did happen, you no there really is no intent to hurt someone, this is the game they have CHOSEN to play and I for one dont feel bad for race car drivers who are hurt or killed on the track, they fully know the risks, the people who love them are the ones to feel bad for.