Race Weekend Central

What’s Vexing Vito?: Petty Says No to Clint Bowyer

Wow, tough week to be Jenna Fryer, eh? After she poked Smoke with her, “what kind of questions should we be asking you” line at Richmond on Friday after Stewart bristled at the same Chase question he’s been asked for the last eight weeks, she really got her lunch cut by Kurt Busch in the media center.

Busch ripped up a transcript related to a comment he made about being in Jimmie Johnson’s head after she showed it to him. Looking at who else makes up the Chase field – Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Ryan Newman – she might want to have Brock Lesnar fill in for her the next few weeks, or at least hold her recorder.

See also
Bowles-Eye View: Ripping Reporters - Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart Highlight NASCAR Driver/Media Tension

Speaking of which, sucky time to be Clint Bowyer too. A day after he said it was “fair to say” that it would be unlikely he’d be back at RCR for 2012, Richard Petty Motorsports announced they were no longer interested in him. Ouch – did they ask for their remote and copy of Fletch back too? The latest rumors have Bowyer headed to Michael Waltrip Racing with a yet to be named third team. With RCR being able to absorb the Kevin Harvick Incorporated Nationwide team with such ease, you’d think they would have been able to somehow retain one of the most popular and productive drivers in the sport.

What in the f— is going on with Kyle Busch’s hair? Seriously. No joke or comment here, it’s just not working.

Whenever we go to Las Vegas, there is usually a better than average chance you’ll be forced to look at an Elvis impersonator at some point during the weekend, or six-foot-tall showgirls with peacock plumage on their dome pieces.

Since we’re in Chicagoland, we’ll get a short fat guy and a tall skinny guy dressed as The Blues Brothers. While it is one of my favorite movies, I will only subscribe to these antics if the pace car is a 1976 Dodge Monaco ex-police cruiser. And yes, it better have a 440 cubic-inch plant, cop tires, cop shock and cop suspension. It would also need to be a model made before catalytic converters so it runs on regular gas. Also, in some what related news since it takes place around Chicago: Guess what White Sox – you just got smoked by my Tigers. AGAIN.

On a more serious and somber note, condolences to Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, who has left the team following the death of his mother. The thoughts and prayers of NASCAR Nation are with you No. 54.

About the author

Vito is one of the longest-tenured writers at Frontstretch, joining the staff in 2007. With his column Voice of Vito (monthly, Fridays) he’s a contributor to several other outlets, including Athlon Sports and Popular Speed in addition to making radio appearances. He forever has a soft-spot in his heart for old Mopars and presumably oil-soaked cardboard in his garage.

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