I'm sure that everyone is familiar with the saga
that's been playing out in his personal life, & I expect that there are many
different opinions about the way it's gone so far.
I know his fans are excited about seeing him back
in the car, & I can appreciate that.
Much has been said, & written about his strong
showing in his first race of the season. That's really not surprising to me.
I've never questioned, nor heard anyone else question his
talent.
What I do have to question is his mental state.
We've all seen the well documented anger issues that have been played out in the
public arena for almost as long as he's been in the sport. I won't rehash them
again. If you care enough to be reading this, I'm sure you're well aware of all
of them.
He's where he is for two main reasons. First
because of his talent, & secondly, because Gene Haas, has deep enough
pockets, to be able to fund his car without having to seek outside sponsorship.
There are at least a couple of other owners who could afford to do the same
thing. But he's already been fired by one of them, & I doubt the other
would ever consider it. I'm pretty certain that getting full time
sponsorship, in a top ride for him at this point would be next to
impossible.
If for any reason he does lose this ride. His
next one will probably make James Finch's 51, look like a top tier
team.
Enough about Kurt Busch, the driver, I want to
focus on Kurt Busch, the man.
He tried to spin the lack of criminal charges, as a
vindication for him.
In actuality, it was far from it. It was an
admission from the prosecutor that he didn't think he "could meet the
high burden of proof to secure a conviction". Prosecutors, like race
drivers, hate to lose. At no time did he say anything that could even be
construed as thinking that Kurt was innocent. One of the things that worked in
Kurt's favor was his celebrity. That had to have made the prosecutor even more
hesitant to open a media circus, when he didn't feel his case was rock
solid.
What I really wonder is did Kurt just miss the best
opportunity he was going to have to really deal with the anger issues that have
plagued him for so long?
Suppose Ms Driscoll's statement about him wishing
he had a gun so he could kill himself were in fact true. Guns not being all that
hard to get. Suppose the next time he feels that way, he does have one at hand.
Depression is serious business, & not something easily shaken
off.
I would love to see Kurt get some real help
with his anger issues, not because NASCAR, or any other outside entity requires
it, or to protect his career. But because he realizes that he can't really
reach his full potential as a person unless he can shed the emotional
baggage that he seems to have been carrying around for so long.
His position now is that he's pretty much painted himself onto a corner. He
can't really seek help, without tacitly admitting that the incident did
happen. But without a fundamental change, it's just a matter of time
before the next blowup, & he's had enough bites of the apple.
There's not much left but the core.
John "dawg" Chapman
I can be reached for comments
