Auto Racing

CONCORD, N.C. — Three security guards followed Kyle Busch around Lowe's Motor Speedway, where his safety was presumably still in danger from a victory-starved "Junior Nation" incensed over the late-race accident that cost Dale Earnhardt Jr. a victory.

Grow up, folks.

What happened with three laps to go Saturday night in Richmond was nothing more than hard racing, and persecuting Busch for it is hypocrisy at its worst. Sure, it's been two long years since Earnhardt last visited Victory Lane, and the checkered flag was certainly in sight as he and Busch jostled for position in their determined bid to claim it.

But as they battled for the lead on old tires in the waning laps of a slug-it-out short track race, Busch went a tad too high and creeped into Earnhardt's space as they entered the third turn. It sucked the air from the back of Busch's car, causing his rear to wiggle. In his effort to save it, he made contact with Earnhardt, who was drifting into Busch's line anyway.

The touch — which was so clearly a racing accident and anything but intentional — caused Earnhardt to spin up the track and back into the wall, stretching his losing streak to an agonizing 72 races. He was devastated and his fans were enraged, prompting Richmond security to escort Busch out of the track for his own protection.

Where was the outcry, though, when Earnhardt dumped Busch last October in Kansas?

That accident in the early laps of the third Chase race effectively ended Busch's title hopes, dropping him from 10 points out of the championship lead to sixth in the standings, 136 out.

The irony of the whole situation is that Earnhardt's anger was never even really directed at Busch. His problem lies more with Denny Hamlin, who intentionally brought out a caution that set the circumstances for Earnhardt to wreck.

Hamlin was going to win Saturday night's race until a slow leak in his right front tire allowed Earnhardt and Busch to pass him with 18 laps to go. As the tire continued to deflate, a frustrated Hamlin struggled to find a clear lane to head into the pits.

So he simply stopped his car on the track and waited for NASCAR to call the caution. The yellow came out, Hamlin was penalized two laps for his intentional maneuver, and the stage was set for Earnhardt and Busch to race for the win.

Earnhardt viewed Hamlin's deliberate act as unprofessional, and recognized the role it played in him losing the race.

"Everybody knows the deal on that one. Everybody knows that's wrong," he snapped at reporters Saturday night after finishing 15th. "Y'all know what to write. I ain't writing it for you."

But there are no beer cans being hurled at Hamlin. No need for security, either.

That's all being saved for Busch, who had the nerve to chase Earnhardt for a win.

Shame on him.