Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch have just been downgraded to the undercard in NASCAR's contentious Summer Slam Series.
Make way for Greg Biffle and Boris Said.
Their post-race road rage at Watkins Glen on Monday had all the feisty elements necessary for a full-blown rivalry. It doesn't get any better than Said calling Biffle a "scaredy cat" and asking people to text him Biffle's address so he can make an unexpected house call and show him a little vigilante justice.
NASCAR officials are investigating the incident because punches were thrown. Biffle popped Said a few times while Said was in his car. Said then got out of his car and had to be restrained from going after Biffle.
The bar most certainly has been raised, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Busch.
"He is the most unprofessional little scaredy cat I've ever seen in my life,'' Boris huffed after the race. "He wouldn't even fight me like a man after. So if someone texts me his address, I'll go see him Wednesday at his house and show him what he really needs."
Later in the evening, Biffle tweeted this: "The roadcourse ringer' caused that wreck," later adding, "Then Mr. Class pulls in behind my truck after the race today?! Shouldn't you go check on David & David? How unprofessional & disrespectful!"
Biffle was referring to David Reutimann and David Ragan, Biffle's Roush Fenway Racing teammate. Said made contact with the back of Ragan's car on the final lap, causing Ragan's car to slam into the guard rail. Reutimann's Toyota flipped upside down and into a protective barrier. Both cars were totaled.
The bigger picture here, beyond the two guys who obviously hate each other, is the "roadcourse ringer" factor. It happens every time when NASCAR decides that making an occasional right turn isn't such a bad thing, and goes road racing at places like Watkins Glen. The occasional road course specialist like Said shows up. Hijinks ensue.
Said has absolutely no vested interest in the Sprint Cup standings or loyalty to teammates. Said has only raced twice this season — both road courses — and is 714 points behind leader Kyle Busch. Whether the big wreck was simply a by-product of hard racing or an interloper pushing the envelope is impossible to sort out, but the question begs to be asked.
NASCAR drivers get into each other all the time and tempers flare, but at least it's all in the family.
Road courses certainly throw a great curve in the long grind of left-hand turns, but it also invites drivers who are just passing through.
It's like this: Some folks prefer beer. Some folks prefer wine. But trouble often brews when you mix and match.
gdiaz@tribune.com Read George Diaz's blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/enfuego
Don't look for road-racing in Chase
Although there has been an occasional push from a driver to include a road course in the Chase — I recall Ryan Newman suggesting that Daytona's road course could be a viable venue — don't expect any changes in the current format.
The road racing question understandably popped up at Watkins Glen last weekend.
"There's nothing on the table today," NASCAR president Mike Helton said. "We wouldn't stack races up in the Chase for the benefit of the Chase. The Chase is the last 10 races of the season. But as the evolution of changes go on, who knows what could end up as the last 10 races."
The makeup of the 10 last races that set the Chase for the Championship just happened to coincide with the existing schedule, Helton said.
The feeling isn't unanimous. Jeff Gordon — who holds the record for Cup victories on road courses — argued last week that "in order to make the championship fully complete and find out the true best team and driver, the only thing that I think we're missing in the Chase right now is a road course.
"I feel like the Chase has about everything, from short tracks to superspeedways to intermediates, so I think it's pretty complete right now, but if you wanted to look at just one little thing that was missing, it would be a road course.
"I guess as exciting as the road courses have been here lately with these double-file restarts, I think the fans would be for it as well whereas, in the past, you haven't seen that kind of action. Most people would say that a road course isn't as traditional as the ovals are in our sport, so why have one in the Chase? I could see one in there."
No. 4 for Gibbs: After failing to snag Carl Edwards as the fourth driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, President JD Gibbs has not ruled out plans to add a fourth Sprint Cup team. "…it all has to come together," he said. "You have to have a driver, which is key. You need the right partner to sponsor the team (and) you have to have the right crew. If all that comes together, we're good to go. We can go quickly. But we've also learned that if all that doesn't come together, we're better off waiting, instead of trying to force something to go together. That's where we are right now. We can go quickly if it all lines up, and that's our hope."
HANS upgrade: Continuing its push for safety, NASCAR officials recently approved the Sport II HANS device for competition in all NASCAR series. The upgrade includes a lower rounded collar and is lighter, which allows for a better fit. "No matter what type of car, what kind of track, drag strip or off-road event, a head and neck restraint should be included in any driver's safety equipment," said Gary Milgrom, vice president of HANS Performance Products. In large measure to the mandatory use of the HANS device —coupled with SAFE barriers — NASCAR hasn't had a fatality during a race since Dale Earnhardt crashed on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.
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