Has NASCAR gotten too nice?
I'm sure you can list off some of the best sports rivalries. For us older types, it was Ali vs Frazier. More recently, Mayweather vs McGregor. Yankees vs Sox, Cavs vs Warriors, Red Wings vs Maple Leafs, Steelers vs just about any team in the NFL.
You get the idea. Rivals that just hate each other. Not sure NASCAR has anything like that. Certainly, nothing like Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough.
Most times, the hype and bravado leading up to the contest is far more entertaining than the actual event. Case in point - the twitter spat between Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch leading up to the playoff opener at Chicagoland Speedway.
RELATED: Busch/Keselowski feud plays out on Twitter ahead of Chicago race
The tweets were flying when Keselowski hinted that NASCAR was showing favoritism to Toyota Racing during practice runs. Kyle Busch quickly responded with a profane tweet, then quickly joined by Denny Hamlin.
We are all in for a rude awakening.
Haven't seen NASCAR let a manufacturer get this far ahead since the 70s https://t.co/LttpCz9vJZ— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) September 15, 2017
? STFU https://t.co/EjexBIHWwE
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) September 15, 2017
.@NASCAR is showing favoritism to @ToyotaRacing ?? when did this start? #encumbered. Concentrate on your own program bro.
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) September 15, 2017
That's some good stuff. It had fans, the media, and even other teams weighing in and taking sides. NBC Sports reports that Pete Pistone, co-host of SiriusXM NASCAR Radio's "The Morning Drive" bemoaned the lack of a good old fashion feud.
"We need more (rivalries)," Pistone said. "We got all excited at Chicagoland because Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch started to swipe at each other on Twitter. We need more of that kind of stuff, not less. Let's have more rivalries in this sport."
There's no question interest in the race took on another dimension with the back-and-forth. And with NASCAR having attendance issues and television ratings woes, they need all the dimensions they can get.