Boy, they really showed him.

They pulled their colors off the car for two weeks, but will be back for all of next year. And for those two weeks, another sponsor had stepped in.

Way to go, M&Ms. (Yes, I’m being sarcastic).

After a ridiculous flurry of rumors about Busch on the heels of his dumping of Hornaday (He’s losing his ride! He’s losing his sponsor! Blah, Blah, Blah!), M&Ms released a ridiculous statement that they did not condone his actions, but believe their pulling of sponsorship for two weeks will help keep Kyle in line in the future.

“While we do not condone Kyle’s recent actions, we do believe that he has shown remorse and has expressed a desire to change,” said Debra A. Sandler, chief consumer officer, Mars Chocolate North America. “We believe our decision will have a positive impact on Kyle and will help him return next season ready to win.”

Oh, please, get over yourself.

Kyle is a winner. If you think you’re the only company that will sponsor him, you’re wrong. Trust me, he'd have other takers if you left.
Kyle’s got a long future in the sport, and if you think you’re too good for him, feel free to leave.

There’s no denying Kyle stepped in it pretty deep with his actions against Hornaday, but this sanctimonious crap from sponsors makes me sick.

NASCAR is a rough sport; guys hit each other into the wall when they get mad. It happens. This isn’t a nice, happy family once the green flag drops. M&M’s said they’ll be back in 2012 with the expectation that “no future incident take place.”

But what does that mean? Can Kyle never hit anyone ever again? If so, he can kiss his chances to win a title goodbye. Sometimes, you do have to nudge by a guy to get a position; especially on the short tracks.

I don’t like the idea of sponsors dictating how drivers can race; and I don’t like the idea of sponsors trying to neuter someone like Kyle Busch, who is one of the more exciting drivers on the track each week.

I recognize he shouldn’t do anything stupid like he did in the Truck race, and he deserved the parking last week, his $50,000 fine and probation until the end of the year.

But the way M&M’s worded that statement really rubs me the wrong way.

Ride offer from Kyle to Hornaday?

The most interesting note to come out of the whole Busch saga is a tidbit spilled by Kevin Harvick, Hornaday’s truck owner until year’s end.
Next year, with no KHI truck team, Hornaday needs a ride, and Harvick said an offer came from Busch to drive for him.
“It’s pretty common that people know that I don’t care for Kyle regardless of whether he is in trouble or out of trouble, but that’s the guy (Hornaday) I feel like has taken the brunt of everything that happened last week. As far as the way it was handled, it’s not my situation. It’s not something that I feel like I need to weigh in my opinion on, whether it was too much or not enough; it’s just unfortunate for Ron more than for anybody. And I think as you went through the week, hearing the phone calls that were made to Ron from Kyle at the first part of the week and trying to give him the No. 18 truck ride for next year and all the things that he tried to do, he knew how wrong it was, hopefully.” “Yeah, as far as I know, (team manager) Rick Ren called Ron and offered him the No. 18 truck for next year. At first it started just with him calling Ron trying to get Ron to call NASCAR so he wouldn’t lose his job. That was how all that progressed.”

Not sure if Harvick is just making things up, but I would actually like to see Hornaday drive the #18 next year. Could be a winning combination and would help keep Kyle out of the truck races.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Denny Hamlin, on whether a sports psychologist – like the one he uses - would help Kyle Busch.
"Mine is a little different. We both have screws loose -- it's just that some are tighter than others. And, they're in different
places. For us, mine's more on performance and finding what the heck is going on and things like that. His is not.”

Obama, Biden coming to Homestead
No, not the president and vice president (they’ll probably show up at a race next year as the election draws closer).
This year, first lady Michele Obama and VP Joe Biden’s wife Jill will be grand marshals at Homestead. The women will “recognize service members and military families from the local community in pre-race ceremonies and at a special BBQ lunch. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will also invite a military family to join them as they serve as Grand Marshals for the race and give the command to start engines.


Kid Rock To Open NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony
For historical reference on this next item, let me just explain that I am from Michigan and first heard Kid Rock when he was a skinny rapper with a Kid and Play high-top hairdo. So when I got the news that “world renowned” artist Kid Rock would perform at NASCAR’s award ceremony this year, I chuckled a bit.

But I suppose the Kid has grown up quite a bit, and his music has grown a bit since the early 1990s, so if you’re masochistic enough to want to sit through the borefest that is the Sprint Cup awards ceremony, at least Kid Rock’s performance might liven things up a bit. The event is set for Dec. 2 in Las Vegas.

And if you’re not a Kid Rock fan and have more country sensibilities, country mainstay Reba McIntyre will also perform and host the event.

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