COME-TO-JESUS MEETING???

When I heard this expression "Come-to-Jesus" meeting in a blog last week, I thought it was one of those "real" meetings like when Joe Gibbs invited Dale Jarrett to a Christian Athletes half-time show at the Super Bowl where DJ became a Christian. But it seems, it's just a name for a "good-talking-to" when drivers need an attitude adjustment! THAT'S RACIN's David Poole was known for calling it a "Come-to-Jesus"-style meeting when drivers were taken out to the woodshed for bad tempers and bad attitudes. So I started doing some research.

Did you know that Kyle Busch spotted a fan, crying in the stands and tried to hand her the checkered flag through the fence at Bristol? or after the uproar over smashing the guitar trophy, he donated some money to give 150 guitars to two area high schools?

How sweet! Seriously, something has changed him. I first noticed the change when at Bristol, rookie Chase Austin pulled in front of Kyle and put him in the wall. Kyle was leading the race but afterward, all he said about it was, "mistakes happen sometimes -- I've made plenty. We'll go on and get them next week." Wow!

It's claimed Kyle Busch had a "Come-to-Jesus" meeting with his spotter and public relations manager during the off week between Chicagoland and Indianapolis. Kyle had radioed in to his crew during the race that he "didn't care what they thought, the car was junk!" He didn't know until it was too late that the car had lost spring rubbers from the suspension but the damage was done. He had already spouted off at his team. So came the discussion on how to not wear all of his emotions on his sleeve. Kyle admitted that maybe the reason he's won some races is because of "who he is," but maybe that's a lot of the reason why he's lost some races is because of "who he is."

The same expression was used after Robby Gordon sent Joey Logano all the way off the track and into the tire barriers and then Joey's car caught on fire. Someone said it was time for NASCAR to have a "Come-to-Jesus" meeting with Robby. Joey's hilarious response was "You can't fix stupid!"lol

And what about the "Come-to-Jesus" meeting at Michigan with Brian France because of the drivers "speaking out" against the Car of Tomorrow? France had just told the drivers at the end of 2008 that they needed to show more emotion. He even hinted that Jimmie Johnson's personality wasn't compelling enough to get more fans to jump on the band wagon. Now Brian is telling them to keep quiet!lol

I suppose it is a catchy phrase but somehow, a "Come-to-Jesus" meeting brings to mind people's hearts being changed out of their own convictions, not someone else's. Whatever works! I would just hate to see the drivers turned into clones!!!lol