Kyle Busch criticizes underdog teams after Vegas race

The massive divide between NASCAR’s heavyweights and the underdog teams just scraping by received renewed attention following Kyle Busch’s damning assessment of how backmarkers raced in the playoff opener over the weekend.

Busch rallied from an early incident at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that dropped him two laps off the pace to stunningly position himself for a top-five finish. Instead, he ran into the back of Garrett Smithley, who was 12 laps down in 35th place.

Busch, the regular-season champion, dropped to a 19th-place finish and went from first to fourth in the playoff standings. Clearly aggravated after Sunday’s race, he was blunt about the incident with Smithley, who was among 23 drivers on the track that day who are not in the 16-driver playoff field.

“I was told he was going to go high. I thought he was going to go high,” Busch said of the instructions he received from his spotter. “We went middle because I thought he was going to go high. Killed our day. I don’t know. Should have run fourth probably. Instead 19th. We’re at the top echelon of motorsports, and we’ve got guys who have never won Late Model races running on the racetrack. It’s pathetic. They don’t know where to go.”

The comments have drawn sharp criticism, with some saying they came off as entitled simply because another driver didn’t get out of Busch’s way. Some responses came from some lesser-known drivers on underfunded teams and helped spark a debate over on-track etiquette during the playoffs.

Tommy Joe Martins, an Xfinity Series driver when he can piece together a deal to get in a non-competitive car, on Tuesday supported “my friend” Smithley and called him a “really good racecar driver.”

“This fear for any of us driving for a small team: become a controversy,” Martins posted on Twitter. “We all just want to race & be respected. Stuff like this proves how bitter the divide is between 2 sides of this garage. It’s depressing to me.”

Smithley will be Rick Ware Racing’s driver for Saturday night’s race at Richmond Raceway, the second event in NASCAR’s 10-race playoff series. It will be his 13th career Cup Series start; he has one top-five finish in 133 starts across the Xfinity and Truck series.

Busch has always driven for one of NASCAR’s top teams. His break in the Cup Series came with Hendrick Motorsports and he was then hired at Joe Gibbs Racing, which has won 14 of 27 races this season and placed all four of its drivers in the playoff field. Busch has 207 victories across NASCAR’s three national series and won the 2015 Cup championship.

His criticism of the smaller teams and the drivers trying to claw their way up to Busch’s level prompted a lengthy rebuke from Smithley.

He noted that, unlike Busch, who followed his older brother, Kurt, into a ride at NASCAR’s top level, Smithley “didn’t grow up in a racing family, and we certainly didn’t have the funds to race. The only race car my parents ever bought was a used Bandolaro race car when I was 15. I didn’t think I had a chance starting that late.”

Smithley said he won enough races that a local golf cart shop owner stepped in as a sponsor, bought him a Legends car and helped Smithley move up to touring level. Then he decided to relocate to North Carolina, the hub of NASCAR, and try to make it in the big leagues.

“When I decided to move to Charlotte to pursue a career as a professional driver there is no doubt I had to basically give up the chance to win races in order to ‘fund’ getting the opportunity to race,” he continued. “I am one of only a handful of drivers that actually has never spent any of my own money to race. So spending money to go win in a late model was never an option, because the only way I can afford to race is if someone else pays for it.”

Smithley said he sells his own sponsorship, which he then brings to a team in order to secure seat time. He said most companies and sponsors prefer to back “someone like Kyle” to get the marketing value they want.

“Nobody that is considered ‘in the way’ wants to be,” he wrote of the incident with Busch. “We are simply doing the best we can” and “I do think I can be competitive in the right equipment and I will even go a step further and say, with time and equal funding my teams with Rick Ware Racing, Johnny Davis Motorsports can be competitive, too.”

NASCAR is attempting to address the current model and financial distributions, and team owners such as Bob Leavine of Leavine Family Racing have repeatedly said they believe a balance can be struck between the wealthy front end of the garage and the small teams in the back that spend each week short on tires, parts, personnel and everything else needed to be competitive.

Any solution will not come quickly.

Joey Gase penned a similar tale of his struggle to make it in NASCAR. Gase and Smithley were both running near each other when Busch ran into Smithley. Gase’s post included photos from late model races he won, noted he needed outside financial support to continue his career because his father worked in a coal power plant and his mother was a hairstylist and couldn’t afford for Gase to race as his childhood sport.

“We have to work for every sponsor we get and I am proud to say I have 30 different sponsors this year and would not be here without them,” Gase wrote.

Royals drop close one by the Bay

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Matt Olson had never hit a ball to the second level of elevated bleachers, even in batting practice.

He sure found a timely moment to accomplish the feat, hitting a tying homer leading off the seventh before Seth Brown hit a go-ahead double two batters later, leading the Oakland Athletics past the Kansas City Royals 2-1 on Tuesday night.

“That was one of my better swings,” Olson said with a smile, offering little more explanation except that the ball doesn’t usually carry like that at night.

Olson’s drive to center reached the Coliseum seats above the luxury suites — a spot only a handful of sluggers have visited. Jorge Lopez (4-8) then hit Mark Canha with a pitch before Brown doubled.

“The home run that Oley hit inspired everybody,” manager Bob Melvin said.

A.J. Puk (2-0) followed Brett Anderson and struck out two over two shutout innings for his second major league win. Liam Hendriks struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 23rd save in 29 opportunities.

Hendriks’ 116 strikeouts as a reliever this season passed Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers — 115 in 1975 — for most in franchise history.

The A’s, who hold the top AL wild-card spot, bounced back after their six-game winning streak was snapped by Monday’s 6-5 loss to the Royals in the series opener.

Kansas City’s Nick Dini hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth for the game’s first run.

Anderson allowed five hits over five innings and would have liked to go longer, but Melvin is trying to get some younger pitchers like Puk and Jesus Luzardo key experience down the stretch. The left-hander has received three or fewer runs of support in 16 of his last 22 starts.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to go longer but having a couple lefties throwing upper-90s after you is never a bad option,” Anderson said.

Lopez — who has only won on the road this season — missed a chance at winning three straight starts for the first time in his career. Demoted to the bullpen for an extensive stretch midseason, he has been steady of late.

The right-hander allowed two runs and four hits in six innings in his first career start against the A’s and second appearance.

“The last three, four starts I’ve been doing the same, trusting my sinker and have that power curveball after those sinkers,” Lopez said. “That’s a team that will challenge you. You just have to stay down in the zone and try to make them uncomfortable.”

Ryan McBroom doubled leading off the fifth and advanced on a single by Cheslor Cuthbert before Dini’s sac fly for Kansas City, which took pregame infield practice — a rare sight for September.

Majors hits leader Whit Merrifield, coming off three consecutive two-hit games for the Royals, went 0 for 4.

SEPTEMBER SURGING

The A’s improved to 12-4 in September, second in baseball only to Milwaukee’s 13-3. The Brewers beat San Diego at home.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: RHP Mike Fiers underwent an MRI exam for nerve irritation in his hand, and then threw a bullpen session. He is scheduled to make his next start, likely one of this weekend’s games against Texas. Fiers left his start Saturday in the second inning because of numbness. … Melvin was a late arrival after receiving another round of injections in his troublesome neck. … OF Ramon Laureano had a night off from starting after playing four of the previous five games, though he came in late. Laureano was activated from the injured list Sept. 6 after missing 32 games with a stress reaction in his lower right leg and Melvin is being careful to not overextend him.

UP NEXT

Right-hander Homer Bailey (13-8, 4.76 ERA) pitches for the A’s against his former Royals club, opposite lefty Danny Duffy (6-6, 4.55 ERA). Bailey was acquired by Oakland in a trade July 14. He was the winning pitcher in a 19-4 victory at Kansas City on Aug. 26. Duffy is 4-0 with a 2.89 ERA over eight appearances and seven starts vs. Oakland.

Play group planned

A “community play group” filled with games, stories, educational activities and free dental screenings, is open to any child 6 years and younger Friday morning on the Allen County Courthouse lawn.

The event is sponsored by Talk, Read, Play Allen County, a consortium of agencies that deal with early childhood education services.

The partnering agencies that make up Talk, Read, Play Allen County each have come up with different activities for Friday’s event.

The hands-on activities are geared to promote creative playing experiences, and to offer an “opportunity to connect” between parents, grandparents or other caregivers and their children, explained Beth Toland, early childhood education specialist with Allen Community College. Allen is one of the participating agencies.

“It gives them an opportunity to sit and play with their kids,” and model good playing behavior, Toland said.

Meanwhile, the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas will offer free dental screenings for each child who shows up.

The event runs from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on the courthouse lawn. The event will be rescheduled in case of rain.

Those who need transportation can contact Toland at (620) 901-6304 or toland@allencc.edu.

 

TALK, READ, Play focuses on the critical development in the first 2,000 days of a child’s life, and how that development plays a large role in that child’s future success.

The various services promote social and cognitive development through “meaningful everyday interactions,” according to the group’s mission statement.

Other partners along with ACC and CHC are ChildCare Aware of Kansas and Eastern Kansas chapters, Greenbush Parents as Teachers and Birth to Three Services, the Iola Public Library, the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program’s Early Head Start and Head Start programs, the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center and the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department.

Carol of the Bells

Did you hear the bells ring at noon on Tuesday? Sept. 17 is Constitution Day and the Cofachique Chapter DAR contacted churches in Iola, Humboldt and Chanute to ring their bells at noon in commemoration. Conner and Evan Powe are shown ringing the bell at First Presbyterian Church in Iola. Bells were also rung at Trinity Methodist and Calvary Methodist. 

A look back in time

58 Years Ago

September 1961

Dr. George F. DeTar, 32, Joplin, will open an office in Dr. Gerald Pees’ building at 219 W. Madison. He has practiced in Joplin for the past two years but prefers a smaller town. He and Mrs. DeTar have three children, George Jr., 8, Karen, 2, and Marilee, eight months. They are moving into a house in Wheeler Heights.

*****

The M and M Packing Company, which has been closed by a strike since July 20, re-opened on a limited scale yesterday. A spokesman for the firm said today that nine to 10 men and women, including administrative and supervisory employees, are back to work. Ed Marquis, manager of the company, and Alva Morris, president of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butchers Workmen of America, are understood to be meeting with a mediator from the National Labor Relations Board.

Farm life fun

A pack of 175 first-graders learned firsthand about life on the farm Monday.

The annual Fall Ag Day event, hosted by Strickler Dairy, allowed students from Iola, Humboldt, Marmaton Valley and Yates Center schools to experience the many facets of farm life, from seeing how a full-fledged dairy operation runs to the many careers available in the agricultural community.

 

Iola High School FFA members Hannah Gardner, left, and Becca Sprague give a tour of the cow barn at Strickler Dairy Monday as part of a day at the farm field trip for area first-graders. PHOTO COURTESY OF ISABELLA DUKE

 

The event was split into 11 stations, such as ATV safety, feed bins (to demonstrate the many ways animals get nourishment), Strickler?s milk and cow barns, a roping demonstration and an exhibit that details how working on the farm provides ample opportunities for physical fitness.

The collaboration included several workers from Strickler?s Dairy, Allen Community College ag students and FFA members from high schools from each of the respective participating school districts.

The event coincides with National Ag Safety Week, which runs through Saturday.

Winston Jordan takes a whiff of livestock feed at Strickler Dairy Monday.

 

 Isabella Peres tries her hand at a roping exercise. 

A Look Back in Time

55 Years Ago

September 1964

The second annual Colony Hi-Point Rodeo will be next week. More than 5,000 visitors are expected to attend. The area was built and is owned by Dale Nichols. Floyd Rumford, Jr. of Abbyville will furnish the stock and be in charge of entries.

*****

Dale Creitz, coordinator of music in the Iola public schools, was named coordinator of fine arts for the new Bowlus Fine Arts Center last night at a meeting of the board of education. Creitz will schedule all fine arts events and activities in the new building and will be in charge of student groups and teachers using the facilities.

 

10 — LAHARPE — The largest enrollment in several years was on hand at LaHarpe schools last week as the new academic year got under way. The high school has 71 enrolled and the elementary school 157 for a total of 228, said Supt. Kenneth Hays.

11— Jim Christy of Iola, new state commander of the American Legion, will be guest of honor Saturday night at a reception to be held by the Leslie J. Campbell Post 15 of the Legion. He was elected state commander on Aug. 1 at the annual state convention in Wichita. He was the first World War II veteran to be elected commander of the Iola Post.

Ringing in autumn at Farmers’ Market

Thursday’s Allen County Farmers’ Market session features the second annual Fall Harvest Celebration.

An evening of pumpkin decorating, shopping and more are on the menu.

In addition, the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility will have caramel apples.

The Farmers’ Market runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. along Jefferson Street on the east side of the courthouse square.

Vendors accept EBT and debit cards and participate in the Double Up Food Bucks Program.

 

Drugmaker files for bankruptcy

NEW YORK (AP) — Purdue Pharma gets its day in court today after the OxyContin maker filed for bankruptcy and negotiated a potential multi-billion dollar settlement to resolve thousands of lawsuits.

An initial hearing will be held in federal court in White Plains, New York, for the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. Purdue filed for bankruptcy protection late Sunday, the first step in a plan it says would provide $10 billion to $12 billion to help reimburse state and local governments and clean up the damage done by powerful prescription painkillers and illegal opioids, including heroin.

These drugs have been blamed for more than 400,000 deaths in the U.S. in the past two decades.

Two dozen states have signed on to the settlement plan along with key lawyers who represent many of the 2,000-plus local governments suing Stamford, Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma. But other states have come out strongly against it.

 

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THIS INITIAL COURT 

APPEARANCE?

These generally focus on housekeeping and ensuring that the company can keep paying the bills as an ongoing operation during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

According to the court docket, Judge Robert Drain will hear motions on authorizing payments of wages to employees, critical vendors, utilities and other key parties.

Fordham Law Professor Richard Squire said Drain will likely hear from lawyers objecting to the filing and describing it as a “bad faith claim.” Drain may table those arguments for another day.

 

WHAT KEY ISSUES WILL THE JUDGE DECIDE?

Drain will eventually decide whether to approve or reject the settlement or seek modifications.

This is hardly a standard bankruptcy case. Because so many states objected to the settlement, it could complicate the process. Members of the Sackler family, which owns Purdue, are still trying to get more states to sign on.

Drain will preside over whether the suits against the Sacklers in state courts will be able to move forward, and what will happen to the company itself. Under the tentative settlement deal, it would continue to operate, but with profits used to pay for the settlement. Another alternative? Drain could order the company to be sold.

A single large settlement often is seen as the best way to resolve cases like these, bankruptcy attorney Jerry Reisman said. He noted that it would essentially put money in a giant pot to be divided fairly, and it would cut the costs of bringing separate cases through different courts.

“Everybody shares in some orderly manner,” he said.

Without a big settlement, all the claimants could wind up in a race to litigate in the other courts and get a judgment before the company runs out of money.

 

WHO IS JUDGE DRAIN?

Drain is a former bankruptcy attorney with a Columbia University law degree. He serves as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of New York.

He has presided over some high-profile Chapter 11 cases involving companies like Hostess Brands and Sears. In the latter, Drain earlier this year gave hedge fund mogul Eddie Lampert a second chance to revive the iconic brand and save 45,000 jobs.

 

HOW LONG WILL THE BANKRUPTCY 

PROCESS TAKE?

A complicated case like this could take up to a year but legal experts believe the parties involved want a fast settlement.

The longer a company remains in bankruptcy, the more is spent attorney fees and other costs. But a modification to the initial settlement to satisfy more cases could delay the case.

Purdue has said that finalizing the settlement could take at least six months.

Quakes rattle Hutchinson area

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A series of three earthquakes have rattled portions of south-central Kansas.

The Kansas Geological Survey says the strongest measured 3.8 and struck around 2:40 a.m. Monday in Chase County. Another trembler with a 3.6 magnitude was reported around 10 a.m. Monday in Marion County, and a third with a magnitude of 2.8 was reported around 10:30 a.m. Sunday in Reno County.The threshold for damage usually starts at 4.0.

Wastewater injection wells from oil and gas production are thought to play a role. A dozen quakes in Reno County have led the Kansas Corporation Commission to analyze recent injection well activity.