And Usually Someone Gets Punched in the Pits

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That was a comment I made to a friend of mine in describing why he should attend an auto racing event. Eventually, the temper’s flare to the point where someone wants to punch someone and it usually happens along pit row.

After this weekend’s race South of the Border (no, not the tourist trap along I-95 in South Carolina, but Mexico) someone wanted to punch someone in the pits.

That someone was Scott Pruett and Pruett wanted to punch Juan Pablo Montoya. His teammate.

Here’s the situation. With only a few laps remaining, Pruett was in the lead with Montoya giving chase. Going into the turns, Montoya punts Pruett sending the road course ace for a ride and leading Montoya to his first NASCAR Busch Series victory.

Pruett gave Montoya a “friendly” bump after the race and even booed his teammate after the race. Imagine if, in NFL terms, Reggie Wayne pushing Marvin Harrison out of the way to catch a touchdown pass to win the Super Bowl.

Pruett was hot primarily because he lost a chance to win and he won’t have too many more opportunities. He is a ringer, a road course specialist brought into give team owners a better positioning on tracks where their regular drivers don’t fare as well.

Regardless Montoya could have waited to get around Pruett. There were still plenty of laps left. Besides, team representatives from Chip Ganassi Racing told the drivers not to wreck the equipment.

I don’t think Montoya got the memo on that one, chief.

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