Kurt to leave SHR 2019

Switchback said:
No big surprise here. I always assumed his attitude is what got him the boot from HMS.
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If you look at the long list of HMS drivers, Kyle and Geoff Bodine are the two that stand out to me as the LEAST like the others. Post 1992, Kyle is DEFINATELY the odd one out at HMS. On a team that had Gordon, Johnson, Labonte and Vickers (the family pet project) I'm sure Kyle's attitude was not embraced. I have no idea how the timeline went, but the light bulb went off for me that Kyle was not long for HMS after he wrecked himself and Kurt out of the All-Star race, and the TV showed Rick Hendrick and Alan Gustafson in DEEP conversation behind the pit box. I turned to my wife and said "What do you want to bet Rick fires Kyle and hires Dale Jr.?" On the bright side for Kyle, that firing probably increased the edge he already had, and it was just in time for the rise of the JGR/TRD combination. I think Keselowski's whole Cup career has been partially driven by being so butt hurt over losing the 5 car to Mark Martin. I was a big Kes fan, but I'm not sure long term he would have been a good fit for HMS either.
 
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wi_racefan said:
I'm definitely not a Kyle fan but I think he probably has a better mechanical understanding of the car than most guys in the field. In some ways he reminds me of Smoke and seems like he doesn't seem too interested in what the trophy (or money is) he just want to race and win
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yep Kyle wants to be the crew chief and driver. Rusty Wallace was like that and when the car is off it is always the crew chief's fault or whatever is handy to blame it on. Some think Rusty wasn't a jackass, but he and Kyle are two peas in a pod as far as I am concerned. When Rusty started slowing down and getting beat later in his career it really got bad, It's coming with KDB.
 
Revman said:
Why do you think he wouldn't? Just because of what you see in an interview? Because of the way he looks? The way he acts? This is the kind of crap I can't stand. You judge the man's character by what you see on TV, and what you want to believe. You don't know Kyle. I have it on good authority that the guy might race for Top Ramen.
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I asked a question, I didn't state it as the gospel truth. :D
 
[QUOTE="Revman, post: 1445578, member: 8012"]I have been told by many that KB is extremely smart about his race cars. ... I think almost everyone on here agrees with that.
.but you know, it is easier for Disliker Nation to ingest the narrative that KB is spoiled, rich, hates everybody, knows nothing about race cars, doesn't care, and is a complete jerk. We would rather embrace the romanticism of a kid stuck in NASCAR when he really wants to be on a dirt track with the common people filling the stands....[/QUOTE]
I think your so defensive about Kyle that you wouldn't recognize a compliment if you tripped over it. You would be a real bad defense lawyer. :biggrin:
 
Revman said:
My experience has been quite the opposite.
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Don't confuse fan experiences with what it's like to work for him, with him or near him. One of the guys I worked with briefly was the biggest rah rah guy you could find when there was a TV camera or when he was greeting or hosting fans, and he was VERY good with the sponsor types and had some sponsors that sort of boggle the mind considering the time and place. When they weren't around, he was one of the biggest A-Holes I ever met, and his wife and father weren't much better. He was such a jerk, he made Bill and Billy Venturini look like choir boys. One night I was pitting a car that his dad was spotting for. He pissed the entire crew off so bad on the radio, that everybody took off their radios and walked out during the race, leaving only me and the car owner in the pit. If that car would have had to come in one more time, it would have been one of those " Morgan Shepherd specials".
 
Formerjackman said:
Don't confuse fan experiences with what it's like to work for him, with him or near him. One of the guys I worked with briefly was the biggest rah rah guy you could find when there was a TV camera or when he was greeting or hosting fans, and he was VERY good with the sponsor types and had some sponsors that sort of boggle the mind considering the time and place. When they weren't around, he was one of the biggest A-Holes I ever met, and his wife and father weren't much better. He was such a jerk, he made Bill and Billy Venturini look like choir boys. One night I was pitting a car that his dad was spotting for. He pissed the entire crew off so bad on the radio, that everybody took off their radios and walked out during the race, leaving only me and the car owner in the pit. If that car would have had to come in one more time, it would have been one of those " Morgan Shepherd specials".
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Oh, no question. I think in many professions working with or for somebody is a different experience than social stuff.....and given that, I think that we are all too quick to pass judgement on the sliver we see. My statement was only intended to be a statement of fact--based on my context.
 
Allenbaba said:
It was much more fun & innocent before Reddit got a hold of stuff.
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The nascar subreddit has paid for sponsorship for some drivers, as well as being responsible for securing sponsorship for a couple of teams that wouldnt otherwise be able to find it.

Gotta take the good with the bad.
 
Revman said:
One of the things I was told by someone who would absolutely know is that when they decided to split Kyle and Steve Addington it was primarily because Kyle was bringing so much technical feedback so quickly that they would get lost because Addington tried to address all of the data Kyle was feeding. Rogers did much the same thing. Stevens is more about Kyle telling him what he is feeling, and he makes the decisions. I have been told by many that KB is extremely smart about his race cars. ....but you know, it is easier for Disliker Nation to ingest the narrative that KB is spoiled, rich, hates everybody, knows nothing about race cars, doesn't care, and is a complete jerk. We would rather embrace the romanticism of a kid stuck in NASCAR when he really wants to be on a dirt track with the common people filling the stands....
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I enjoy your writing but you seem obsessed with the haters. They will always be there, it is part of the deal, winning a lot brings on the hate.

Myselves, I really don't hate Kyle and I have always respected him more than Kurt on all levels. I am definitely a Samantha fan. I only hate the constant GOAT campaign by his fans.
 
BobbyFord said:
My concern is what a driver is like behind the wheel. I’m never going to sit and visit with any of these guys.
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I have always thought the personal obsession some carry on is creepy. People wanting to know everything about them and their daily routine.
If I saw one of them at a restaurant, the last I would do is interrupt them.
Everybody deserves a little space.
 
Greg said:
I have always thought the personal obsession some carry on is creepy. People wanting to know everything about them and their daily routine.
If I saw one of them at a restaurant, the last I would do is interrupt them.
Everybody deserves a little space.
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I don’t “follow” anyone on social media. I don’t read anyone’s Tweets.
If I’m going to hear anything from a driver it’s generally going to be during pre or post-race interviews.
 
Allenbaba said:
For the record, I know Kyle's fun to pile on, but he's FAR from the only jerk in the garage, driver or otherwise. In fact I could even make a case that at least he's genuine. He says what's on his mind. There are many people in the garage, especially exec types, whose true nastiness comes out behind closed doors and behind your back.
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I'm going to ask but feel free not to answer. What type of guy is Kasey Kahne generally know as? I have my opinion but I figure a nice guy would have more friends.
 
Greg said:
I have always thought the personal obsession some carry on is creepy. People wanting to know everything about them and their daily routine.
If I saw one of them at a restaurant, the last I would do is interrupt them.
Everybody deserves a little space.
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I agree, I have no desire to meet anyone famous unless I have an actual reason to interact with them that has nothing to do with there Fame.

On a side note. This spring i had a couple of different meetings and several more communications with a guy over some work my business did for him. He was a great guy, nothing about him stood out to me as unusual. When everything was completed I went to make an invoice for him, I googled his name to get an address. Not being much of a sports guy, I was totally surprised to find out this guy has a couple of super bowl rings and was the highest payed player for a certain team while he was there.

I can tell you from this interaction that not all professional sports players are jerks. He couldn't have been a nicer or more down to earth guy.
 
Controlling your tongue and actions when mad is one of the hardest things to do in life.It doesn't take much to just say whatever is on your mind, true character comes out when you are stressed or angry.I have always admired those people in life that could react in a decent way when most would not.Terry Labonte was usually one of those people, I could name several others.That is why I am not a Kyle fan and probably never will be,I absolutely respect his talent but not the way he handles defeat or frustration.
 
Greg said:
I enjoy your writing but you seem obsessed with the haters. They will always be there, it is part of the deal, winning a lot brings on the hate.
Myselves, I really don't hate Kyle and I have always respected him more than Kurt on all levels. I am definitely a Samantha fan. I only hate the constant GOAT campaign by his fans.
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Thanks Greg. I'm really not wrapped up in the haters. Most of my stuff is just kind of picking the scab the way they pick mine. Samantha is absolute gold. Wonderful person. As for the GOAT.....I never really think of him that way. Hall of Fames confuse me as well. Thanks again for the nice words. Never want to ruin anybody's experience around here, and glad that maybe I add to it all from time to time.
lisa said:
Would you like Kyle if he wasnt in a Toyota?
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I would like Kyle, but I would see him as another driver MY TRD powered Toyotas would need to beat. I would not root for him. I would see him the way I see many non-Toyota drivers---I like them, but they are not on MY team. I don't want to know a world where Kyle Busch isn't in a Toyota. ;) It would be rough.
machinistman3 said:
Controlling your tongue and actions when mad is one of the hardest things to do in life.It doesn't take much to just say whatever is on your mind, true character comes out when you are stressed or angry.I have always admired those people in life that could react in a decent way when most would not.Terry Labonte was usually one of those people, I could name several others.That is why I am not a Kyle fan and probably never will be,I absolutely respect his talent but not the way he handles defeat or frustration.
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That is really fair, and a great post. I am kind of on the other end of things. I have a career where I have to bite my tongue constantly. I live vicariously through Kyle letting it all go regardless of how it is received. That is my rush.
Greg said:
I have always thought the personal obsession some carry on is creepy. People wanting to know everything about them and their daily routine.
If I saw one of them at a restaurant, the last I would do is interrupt them.
Everybody deserves a little space.
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I agree 100000%.
kk5fan said:
I'm going to ask but feel free not to answer. What type of guy is Kasey Kahne generally know as? I have my opinion but I figure a nice guy would have more friends.
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I know that this was directed to @Allenbaba, but I'd like to throw my two cents in. He rode an elevator in Fontana when he was with Hendrick with my wife and son and talked extensively about his practice times and what he was looking for in his car. Not as jacked as I have seen my son with Toyota experiences, but pretty jacked about the exchange. Additionally, the next day, Kasey recognized my wife and son from the previous day, and joined them for breakfast. I am not a big breakfast guy, so I missed out on all of this. So, my two cents....pretty damn nice guy. Do you think my family and I would like to see him in a Toyota? Oh hell yes. :D
 
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