Kyle Busch Could Use a Little Class

(Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

This year's rendition of the Firecracker (Coke Zero) 400 produced the type of finish some fans love to see. A daring pass for the lead while taking the white flag eventually resulting in a massive pileup while taking the checkered flag.

And the driver on the short end of the stick was Kyle Busch.

Busch made one of the most impressive passes of the race to storm past Tony Stewart with a mere one lap later. By the time the drivers made it back around to the same spot, Stewart was the victor while Busch rested in the heap that remained of his car.

For Busch it was a bitter finish...but a self-induced one. Blocking with all his might, Busch slid up to block while Stewart was already beside him. The resulting contact sent the Interstate Batteries Toyota slamming into the outside retaining wall.

Stewart went to victory lane, Busch went to the infield care center.

And in that victory lane, Stewart was perhaps the most apologetic he had been his entire life. In all his years of Sprint Cup racing, I am not sure the media has ever seen a somber Tony Stewart until Saturday night.

The regret was evident in his face, his mannerisms, and his words. It was not something that he meant to do and offered every type of condolences he could muster.

And so the night ended with a somber Stewart in victory lane and a frustrated Busch leaving the track without a word to the media. For once, it was understandable why Busch did not want to speak to the media.

During the week we were informed that both drivers were "on the same page" regarding the incident and it was thought that the matter was now put behind them.

Apparently, at least to Busch, that is not the case. While interviewed Thursday at Chicagoland Speedway, Busch stated emphatically that Tony dumped him for the win. Additionally when asked about Tony's call earlier in the week, he stated "...So it didn't mean a whole lot to me. I guess he was checking on me to see if I'm alive."

Really Kyle? This driver, a former teammate mind you, apologized repeatedly over the course of several days regarding an accident he was not in fault at.

A driver who could have been celebrating his team's first ever victory at Daytona, but instead held a quiet celebration considering the circumstances of the win.

And yet this is how Busch responds to the situation. It is amazing someone of his stature can remain so opaque to a situation. It is equally amazing that he could not show even the slightest bit of class that Stewart did.

Perhaps this is how Busch shall go through life forever, indignant to his own faults and mistakes.

I, for one, will no longer cheer for him under any circumstances. That privilege has been finally lost after his actions over the past week. I know this matters little, if any, to him personally, but one can only take so much dis-respectfulness from another individual.

Sadly, I have the feeling this will not be the last we see, or hear, of this.

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