The Hamlin and Petty Thing - Respect

by Bruce Simmons (brusimm)

I keep hearing and reading how the young guns don't respect the veterans of the series, being as how the Denny Hamlin - Kyle Petty thing seems to be sparking this debate.

From what little I did see of the on-track deal at Dover between them, they both went to move up the track. Kyle to get out of the way, Denny to pass him. Good intentions, bad timing. And this being Kyle's 2nd incident of the day, it seemed his tolerances were stretched thin already. If Denny did call him over to talk about it, Kyle didn't do very well representing the veterans with his conversational skills.

As far as respect goes, when someone stops using words and violates your physical space, if you don't stand up to that kind of treatment, you are only inviting more of it, no matter who it is and no one wants that.