When David Reutimann wrecked Kyle Busch Sunday at Kansas Speedway, Reutimann didn’t care that Busch is in the Chase for the Sprint Cup and racing for a championship.
In what appeared to be a retaliatory act, Reutimann slammed into Busch about 100 laps after Busch bumped him, causing Reutimann to spin and crash.
The incident infuriated Busch, who salvaged a 21st-place finish despite finishing the race with a heavily damaged car.
Reutimann didn’t care. Intentional or not, he sent a message to Busch and other drivers.
“I don’t care if you’re in the Chase or not. You need to think about who you’re running over when you’re running over them,” Reutimann said Sunday at Kansas Speedway. “I don’t care who you are. If you’re in the Chase, you have as much responsibility to drive with respect as I do to everybody else.”
The Busch-Reutimann incident raised a question that has lingered since the creation of the Chase.
Should Chase drivers get more respect and more leeway on the track than other drivers during the 10-race playoff?
And should non-Chase drivers refrain from retaliating or getting even with Chase drivers during the final 10 races?
Or should all 43 drivers be treated the same in every race, regardless of the implications?
Team owner Michael Waltrip quickly defended Reutimann on Monday.
“There are 43 drivers on the racetrack each Sunday, and there is no delineation between Chase participants and non-Chase participants when it comes to respect,” said Waltrip, who owns Reutimann’s No. 00 Toyota.
Waltrip is right.
Though Chase drivers might have a bit more at stake during the final 10 races, does that entitle them to more respect, more leeway or more racing room than other drivers?
And why should the rules change after 26 races?
If it’s acceptable to retaliate and take a driver out during the first 26 races, when a spot in the Chase is on the line for many, why should it be any different during the Chase?
Though positions on the track might be more valuable for some during the Chase, what about drivers and teams that are desperate to win a race or run well to attract or save a sponsor?
“All organizations have a lot at stake each week as we are all measured by our performance and finishing position,” Waltrip said.
Reutimann may have set a precedent for such actions at Kansas. When NASCAR declined to penalize Reutimann, it sent a message to other drivers that it’s OK to retaliate during the Chase – even against Chase drivers.
That means other Chase drivers should stand guard and keep a watch over their shoulders.
Drivers like Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon each have had feuds this season that could lead to payback.
Harvick has taken out Joey Logano twice this year, nearly starting a brawl between the two teams at Pocono Raceway. If the two tangle again, Logano likely won’t hesitate to retaliate, potentially damaging Harvick’s title hopes.
Edwards has had a season-long feud with Brad Keselowski, sending Keselowski spinning into two frightening crashes. Though both drivers are on probation, Keselowski must feel he owes Edwards a bit of payback. He could get some serious revenge during the Chase.
Gordon, meanwhile, has ticked off a few drivers this year, mainly Martin Truex Jr. for an incident at Infineon Raceway in June and Juan Pablo Montoya on multiple occasions.
Neither driver is likely to cut Gordon any slack, even during the Chase.
Reutimann’s action against Busch at Kansas could have far-reaching and long-range implications.
And it could turn the Chase into a free-for-all.
