Have at it, boys
Encyclopedia
"Have at it, boys" was a quote formerly used by NASCAR
to describe the philosophy that the Sprint Cup Series drivers used starting in the 2010
season to solve their disputes on the race track. This practice was abandoned near the end of the 2011
season. It was a standard part of NASCAR policy until Dan Wheldon's death co-incided with Kyle Busch's cross-series ban for one weekend because he intentionally wrecked Ron Hornaday
in a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.
said those words during the 2010 pre-season Sprint Media Tour in Concord
, North Carolina
. Racing without significant penalties for the drivers seemed to be the definition of this catch phrase. People were beginning to follow the sport more thanks to this new "attitude" towards racing competition. The final laps of the 2011 Showtime Southern 500
saw Kyle Busch get tangled up with Kevin Harvick
and Clint Bowyer
. Many run-ins in the past have involved Jeff Gordon
; especially during the 1997 Winston Cup Series season. With the fans' interest at heart and the increased safety of the new car
, NASCAR refused change the way they policed the racing events; at least until the untimely death of IndyCar Series driver Dan Wheldon
and the 2011 Kyle Busch
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series incident at Texas Motor Speedway
provoked NASCAR into bringing stiff penalties back into the motorsport. After a racing incident with series regular and championship contender Ron Hornaday, Busch deliberately turned him into the outside wall under caution, ending Hornaday's title hopes. NASCAR black-flagged Busch for the rest of the race. This incident was almost as atrocious as the 2001 Daytona 500
; which killed Dale Earnhardt
on turn 4 of the 200th lap.
Even in this "have-at-it" era of racing, there were clear limits to what drivers can do to each other. "One of the limits is if drivers put each other into danger" Brian Z. France explained in an interview after the Harvick-Busch incident at pit road. This also applied to the Hornaday-Busch incident at the 2011 WinStar World Casino 350K race. After Dan Wheldon's death and Kyle Busch's one-weekend ban for intentionally smashing into another vehicle, the "have at it, boys" era officially came to an end. NASCAR took this action under rules that allow it to park a driver in order to ensure the "orderly conduct of the event," an action which is not appealable. Since the drivers didn't solve this problem amongst themselves, the drivers did not "have at it;" NASCAR's officials had to solve this problem without any input from the drivers themselves.
NASCAR's action mathematically eliminated Busch from contention for the Sprint Cup in 2011, though any realistic chance of him winning it ended earlier in the Chase.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
to describe the philosophy that the Sprint Cup Series drivers used starting in the 2010
2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season was the 62nd season of professional stock car racing in the United States. Beginning at Daytona International Speedway, the season included 36 races and two exhibition races. The season concluded with the 2010 Ford 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway...
season to solve their disputes on the race track. This practice was abandoned near the end of the 2011
2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season was the 63rd season of professional stock car racing in the United States. The season included 36 races and two exhibition races, beginning with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway and ending with the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The...
season. It was a standard part of NASCAR policy until Dan Wheldon's death co-incided with Kyle Busch's cross-series ban for one weekend because he intentionally wrecked Ron Hornaday
Ron Hornaday
Ronald Hornaday, Jr. is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. He is the father of former NASCAR driver Ronnie Hornaday, and son of the late Ron Hornaday, Sr., a two-time Winston West Champion. Adding on to the family legacy, Ron is a four-time champion in the Truck Series, his most recent...
in a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.
Summary
Racing fans and NASCAR fans have jointly accused the NASCAR in prior seasons of racing to be "too sterile" and "too calm." Robin PembertonRobin Pemberton
Robin Pemberton is an American motor racing official, currently the vice president for competition of NASCAR. He has held that position since 2004....
said those words during the 2010 pre-season Sprint Media Tour in Concord
Concord, North Carolina
Concord is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. According to Census 2010, the city has a current population of 79,066. It is the largest city in Cabarrus County and is the county seat. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Racing without significant penalties for the drivers seemed to be the definition of this catch phrase. People were beginning to follow the sport more thanks to this new "attitude" towards racing competition. The final laps of the 2011 Showtime Southern 500
2011 Showtime Southern 500
The 2011 Showtime Southern 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on May 7, 2011 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Contested over 370 laps, 3 laps over the advertised distance, it was the tenth race of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season out of thirty-six....
saw Kyle Busch get tangled up with Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
and Clint Bowyer
Clint Bowyer
Clint Bowyer is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #15 5 Hour Energy Toyota Camry in the Sprint Cup Series for Michael Waltrip Racing. Early in his career, he drove for Richard Childress Racing. He won the 2008 Nationwide Series championship....
. Many run-ins in the past have involved Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
; especially during the 1997 Winston Cup Series season. With the fans' interest at heart and the increased safety of the new car
Car of Tomorrow
The Car of Tomorrow, sometimes called CoT or "Car of Today", is the car style for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Larger and boxier than the design it replaced, the Car of Tomorrow is safer, costs less to maintain, and was intended to make for closer competition.The car was introduced in the 2007 Cup...
, NASCAR refused change the way they policed the racing events; at least until the untimely death of IndyCar Series driver Dan Wheldon
Dan Wheldon
Daniel Clive "Dan" Wheldon was a British racing driver from England. He was the 2005 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champion, and winner of the Indianapolis 500 in both 2005 and 2011...
and the 2011 Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series incident at Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
provoked NASCAR into bringing stiff penalties back into the motorsport. After a racing incident with series regular and championship contender Ron Hornaday, Busch deliberately turned him into the outside wall under caution, ending Hornaday's title hopes. NASCAR black-flagged Busch for the rest of the race. This incident was almost as atrocious as the 2001 Daytona 500
2001 Daytona 500
The 2001 Daytona 500, the 43rd running of the event, was held on February 18, 2001 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida over 200 laps on the 2.5 mile asphalt tri-oval. Bill Elliott won the pole. The race will be forever remembered for the final lap...
; which killed Dale Earnhardt
Death of Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt was an American race car driver who gained fame driving stock cars for NASCAR and winning seven championships. He was involved in a car accident during the last lap of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2001. He was taken to Halifax Medical Center,...
on turn 4 of the 200th lap.
Even in this "have-at-it" era of racing, there were clear limits to what drivers can do to each other. "One of the limits is if drivers put each other into danger" Brian Z. France explained in an interview after the Harvick-Busch incident at pit road. This also applied to the Hornaday-Busch incident at the 2011 WinStar World Casino 350K race. After Dan Wheldon's death and Kyle Busch's one-weekend ban for intentionally smashing into another vehicle, the "have at it, boys" era officially came to an end. NASCAR took this action under rules that allow it to park a driver in order to ensure the "orderly conduct of the event," an action which is not appealable. Since the drivers didn't solve this problem amongst themselves, the drivers did not "have at it;" NASCAR's officials had to solve this problem without any input from the drivers themselves.
NASCAR's action mathematically eliminated Busch from contention for the Sprint Cup in 2011, though any realistic chance of him winning it ended earlier in the Chase.