Ricky Craven: NASCAR can’t afford Kyle Busch to change

D

Digger

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If Kyle Busch were to wake up tomorrow morning and say, “You know what, I really need to conform to points racing in an effort to secure a spot in the Chase,” I truly believe the sport would suffer.

One of the main reasons people tune in to watch sports is because they don’t know the outcome or how we’ll get there. This unpredictability is crucial to the entertainment aspect of sports, and, like him or not, Kyle Busch provides more of it than any other driver in NASCAR.

When people talked about last Saturday’s finish at Daytona, they were most likely talking about what Kyle Busch did on the final lap. In my view, rather than lock in the 170 points paid for second place, Kyle did what he has always done – throw caution to the wind, sacrificing man and machine in an effort to get to the finish line before anyone else.

I’m sure some people thought he got what he deserved (though I don’t believe that), but there is no denying he provided a very, very exciting finish, and product. It was just another example of why I believe Kyle Busch is a big reason people watch NASCAR racing.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news?slug=rc-kylebusch070909&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
 
I have been saying this all along, nASCAR really needs Kyle continue to be the arrogant, ****y punk, who drives like it like he stole a bulldozer. Leave Kyle along, he is just fine. Especially when he wrecks alot more than he wins.
 
I hate to admit it but I agree.

I miss the old Tony! :D
 
Smoke14 said:
I hate to admit it but I agree.

I miss the old Tony! :D
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Tell me about it. I guess you can't rant and rave when you own the team, and you pay the Goodyear bill!!!

Still, old Tony is mild compared to Shrub.
 
GREAT AMERICAN RACE FAN said:
Tell me about it. I guess you can't rant and rave when you own the team, and you pay the Goodyear bill!!!

Still, old Tony is mild compared to Shrub.
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Mild?

Shrub gets wrecked, reporter sticks mic in his face and he refuses to comment.

Old Tony gets wrecked, reporter sticks mic in his face. Old Tony grabs mic and shoves it up reporter's ass. LOL.
 
Tony has too much on the line right now to be his old angry-self. Maybe in a couple years when his team isn't doing so well you'll see him come back, but probably not like he was before. He's in a different role, and has much more to lose then he did with JGR.

Kyle needs to keep being an arrogant punk. He gets people talking, and every sport needs a villain. He just needs to know when to stop (ie getting someone hurt or killed).
 
AndyMarquisLIVE said:
Mild?

Shrub gets wrecked, reporter sticks mic in his face and he refuses to comment.

Old Tony gets wrecked, reporter sticks mic in his face. Old Tony grabs mic and shoves it up reporter's ass. LOL.
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Now that was funny!

I heard today that Shrub's novelty sales are second only to Tony. Some people must love "bad boyz". Wait ten years. Kyle will have a couple of championships under his belt and everyone will love him.
 
Smoke14 said:
Now that was funny!

I heard today that Shrub's novelty sales are second only to Tony. Some people must love "bad boyz". Wait ten years. Kyle will have a couple of championships under his belt and everyone will love him.
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Your joking right. Jr outsells everyone by a 2 to 1 margin. at Pocono there were 5 trailers selling jr stuff and the most any other driver had was 2 trailers.

I agree though on Daytona. I wouldn't mind seeing that every race and I suspect that we will see more of it if Kyle keeps on blocking like that.
 
Let me clarify...

Tony's sales have increased this year by percentage more than any other drivers. Kyle is second in increases...

However, I did hear a month back that Stewart's products passed JR's in sales at Michigan.
 
Smoke14 said:
However, I did hear a month back that Stewart's products passed JR's in sales at Michigan.
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I doubt that.

Smoke is probably more popular now then he's ever been, but that's still nothing compared to the sales that Jr pulls in. At Chicagoland they had 4 Jr trailers selling merch, and there were crowds 4-5 deep at each. Not only that, but they were smart and divided up the merch, so each trailer had something different. Thus you had to go to all 4 to see everything they were selling.

Shrub and Smoke had lines too, but they were nothing compared to Jr. Say what you want about his driving, but no one can argue that he moves stuff off the shelves.
 
foehammer111 said:
I doubt that.

Smoke is probably more popular now then he's ever been, but that's still nothing compared to the sales that Jr pulls in. At Chicagoland they had 4 Jr trailers selling merch, and there were crowds 4-5 deep at each. Not only that, but they were smart and divided up the merch, so each trailer had something different. Thus you had to go to all 4 to see everything they were selling.

Shrub and Smoke had lines too, but they were nothing compared to Jr. Say what you want about his driving, but no one can argue that he moves stuff off the shelves.
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This is old... Sorry, JR fell off the shelf. I was at Michigan and you could not get close to Smoke's merchandise trailer.

NASCAR team owner/driver Tony Stewart has "pulled alongside -- and is challenging" -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. in merchandise sales, and "by some measures, Stewart is actually ahead," according to Ed Hinton of ESPN.com. NASCAR confirmed that since late May, Stewart has "led all drivers in merchandising through NASCAR.com's Superstore." Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) indicated that at the tracks, Stewart also has "taken the lead from Earnhardt in sales per trailer." While Earnhardt "remains No. 1 year-to-date, and overall," that "doesn't mean Stewart isn't mounting a charge." SHR Chief Publicist Mike Arning said that Stewart's merchandise sales are up 37% over last season, which is "due in part to the fact he has 'new stuff'" after switching teams and sponsors. NASCAR Manager of Business Communications Tom Sullivan: "With his new sponsorship, Tony got a good start this season. But it's really performance on the track that has increased his sales." Hinton noted the boost in merchandise sales could be "more than performance and new stuff," as "Tony the Terrible, Stewart's volatile side, has been missing in action since he began forming the Stewart-Haas team last year." The rising popularity with fans and the sales of Tony Stewart merchandise "just might be accelerating because ... the humble, grateful Tony Stewart is here to stay," and a "man like that, the masses can identify with"
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Smoke14 said:
This is old... Sorry, JR fell off the shelf. I was at Michigan and you could not get close to Smoke's merchandise trailer.
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Link, or it didn't happen. Just putting something in quotes doesn't make it official.

Even if Tony did out sell Dale at Michigan, that's one race out of 36. Smoke wasn't selling at Chicagoland. A track where he's won, and because of his Indiana roots, is popular at.

Then there's online sales to consider. I'll concide the point that Tony may have outsold Dale at Michigan, but one battle doesn't win a war.

;)
 
foehammer111 said:
Link, or it didn't happen. Just putting something in quotes doesn't make it official.

Even if Tony did out sell Dale at Michigan, that's one race out of 36. Smoke wasn't selling at Chicagoland. A track where he's won, and because of his Indiana roots, is popular at.

Then there's online sales to consider. I'll concide the point that Tony may have outsold Dale at Michigan, but one battle doesn't win a war.

;)
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Comng from a Jr fan I could see why you are putting up a fight...
 
Bucky Badger said:
Comng from a Jr fan I could see why you are putting up a fight...
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Let me put it this way, at the real racetracks I see more Kyle fans than I do Junyer fans. The Junyer fans must be scared the drivers will race for the win instead of points race and that they might say something offensive.:D
 
foehammer111 said:
Link, or it didn't happen. Just putting something in quotes doesn't make it official.

Even if Tony did out sell Dale at Michigan, that's one race out of 36. Smoke wasn't selling at Chicagoland. A track where he's won, and because of his Indiana roots, is popular at.

Then there's online sales to consider. I'll concide the point that Tony may have outsold Dale at Michigan, but one battle doesn't win a war.

;)
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Sorry! I didn't realize I was the only one that used search engines...

Bad news for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Forbes Magazine is reporting that he no longer holds the Merchandise King title. Knocking him off the top is NASCAR points leader Tony Stewart. Here’s the Forbes video report.
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http://stewartent.com/tony-stewart-...e-top-of-the-merchandise-mountain/2009/06/24/

http://www.news-record.com/content/..._stewart_chases_dale_jr_in_merchandising_race
 
I would say a big factor in this is that Tony has a new team, number, sponsors, colors..you get my drift. His fans are probably wanting his new gear, especially if they are going to races and want to be seen supporting Tony.
 
Gordon_Fan24 said:
I would say a big factor in this is that Tony has a new team, number, sponsors, colors..you get my drift. His fans are probably wanting his new gear, especially if they are going to races and want to be seen supporting Tony.
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I have to agree. But I remember just last year when another driver switched teams. :wink:
 
On a side note. It's nice to hear from Ricky Craven again. I was at the Martinsville race he won a few years ago. I always liked him.
 
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