Credit: Autostock

Busch is the champion, like it or not

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- I tried to tell my Uncle Billy Bob not to worry, Kurt Busch isn't going to ruin NASCAR. But he wouldn't listen. He rarely does, even when his hearing aid is on.

"That boy just ain't right," ol' Unc would say.

Why not, Uncle BB?

Lee Montgomery

"For one, look at 'is ears. Looks like he mom grabbed him a few too many times."

But what does that have to with ability to drive a racecar? I'd think that once his helmet was over his head, his ears would be flattened.

"I just don't like 'im. Seems like NASCAR done fixed it so that boy could win. And this durn Chase. They done fixed it. I like it the ol' way."

Well, TV ratings were up. And how is the Chase any different from baseball or football or basketball? They have playoffs, too, and no one claims they are manufactured.

"Well, I don't like them udder sports."

But you watch them, right?

"Only the Braves. Seems like they lose every year."

Kind of like the Cubs.

"The who?"

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Cubs. You know, Chicago? Baseball team. I'm told Kurt is quite fond of them.

"They can have each other."

Perhaps.

"See? That's what's wrong with that boy?"

Because he likes the Cubs?

"No, why don't he like a normal team like the Braves?"

Normal?

"Yeah, you know, a regular ol' American team."

But the Braves are in the National League.

"Smart aleck."

So I've been told. But because he doesn't like the Braves, he isn't normal?

"Naw, that ain't it. It's a lotta things. I mean, if Junior hadn't up and cussed on TV -- and they shoulda forgiven him since he was talking' about his daddy -- Kurt wouldn't had led the points."

Well, yes, but Earnhardt Jr. finished a lot farther behind than 25 points.

"Don't matter. It was fixed."

Do you have any proof?

"Everybody knows NASCAR is a Ford sport. They done won the title two years in a row."

You are right about that. But doesn't it say something about the strength of Roush Racing that Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch won back-to-back titles?

"It says somethin' don't smell right."

I don't know. I think the Chase worked out pretty well. You had three guys finish within 16 points of one another, and the championship wasn't decided until the final lap.

"But it was fixed."

I don't see your proof. Or do you mean "manufactured"?

"Yeah, NASCAR done fixed the points how they wanted 'em. Kurt wouldn't have come close to the championship had NASCAR fixed it."

But that's called a playoff. In baseball, the team with the best overall record didn't win the World Series.

"Don't matter. They don't all play each other at the same time."

Well, that would be a funny sight to see every baseball team on the same field. It'd be chaos.

"Kinda like my weddin'. You remember the time -"

Please, spare me the details again.

"Fine, but I still say it was fixed."

That's the way the playoffs work.

"I believe ol' Gordon woulda won the title. At least that's what my friend Cletus' son says."

Cletus' son is correct. Had the points system stayed the same as last year, Jeff Gordon would have had the most points at the end of the year.

"So he's the champion."

No, that's Kurt Busch.

"Told you it was fixed."

Do you hear Jeff complaining?

"I don't like him either. Ain't he from California?"

So who was your choice to win the title.

"That Johnson fella. Or Junior, of course."

Jimmie Johnson is from California.

"I knew there was something about him I didn't like."

So Dale Earnhardt Jr. then?

"Yeah, he's the only real racer out there. Had he won it, it might have been the same as back when his daddy was winning."

You're saying Busch's championship isn't the same as anyone else's?

"Nope, not since it was fixed."

But he has the trophy and the big check.

"Maybe he can get his ears fixed."

Maybe you can get your brain fixed.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the writer.