It happens every weekend. During driver introductions, a name is called and the stands erupt with a shower of boos.

Whether the name is Busch, Gordon or Montoya; Hardcore Race Fans throughout the NASCAR Nation stand up each week and let their voices be heard.

After last weekend’s performance in both the Nationwide and Cup Series races, it is a safe bet that Kyle Busch will undoubtedly be booed when his name is called at Darlington Raceway.

A post-race scuffle with Steven Wallace on Friday night and contact with fan-favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. while battling for the lead with only a handful of laps to go has Busch on many fans’ ‘Most Hated’ list. Busch, only 23-years-old, has quickly become one of the sport’s most booed competitors. His admittedly ‘Rowdy’ style of racing has earned him wins in all three of NASCAR’s top divisions, but also a reputation amongst the fans.

Although he has his own crowd of Hardcore supporters, many in the stands see the youngster as brash and disrespectful on the track. Whether this is how his fellow competitors feel or not does not matter in this case, the fans have a voice and will use it every chance they get.

Following their short confrontation following the Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond International Raceway, Steven Wallace summed it up by saying, “I’d say it’s pretty bad when they call drivers introduction, everybody in the grandstands boos you.”

However, Busch is not alone when it comes to a rain of boos from the grandstands. Week-in and week-out drivers such as Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya and Tony Stewart receive a mix of boos and cheers as they are introduced to the crowd. Fans have their reasons for booing, and it usually depends on the driver.

For example, many people booed Jeff Gordon in his earliest days for being different than the typical NASCAR driver. Known as ‘The Kid’, Gordon entered the sport at a time when Earnhardt was the man and ‘The King’ was just stepping aside. This young driver was not from the South and had an attitude and an ability unseen before NASCAR.

The kicker of it all was that he could drive. Challenging Earnhardt, Wallace and Elliott right off the bat, Gordon began to grow a huge fan base, but also a crowd that wanted ‘anyone but Gordon’.

Over the last two seasons, Juan Pablo Montoya has been the target of booing from the fans. Many fans resent his association with NASCAR and think he should go back to open-wheel racing. Others don’t like the fact Montoya is from South America – although many fans probably could not tell you where. Last year at Darlington Raceway, as they introduced Montoya to the sell-out crowd, I couldn’t help but notice amongst the boos a voice yell, “Go back to the Mid-East!”

Even the man himself, Dale Earnhardt, was showered with boos each weekend. Although he had a fan following almost unseen in NASCAR history, he also had the reputation of ‘The Intimidator’. Earnhardt never shied away from using his bumper to get past a competitor – take for example his run-ins with Terry Labonte at Bristol – only to sum up the incident with a smile, saying, “I didn’t mean to wreck him. I just wanted to rattle his cage.”

This was great for those hordes of Earnhardt fans, but for those other fans in the grandstands and watching at home, this was no way to race. Each week as they called Dale Sr.’s name, the crowd would explode with a mix of boos and cheers, almost unheard of today. He would always smile and wave and – like most every driver – never let it get to him. Most drivers admit even though they get booed almost every week, at least fans are making noise.

If the fans are making noise, that means they know who you are and you are at least doing something right. I must admit, in my earliest days of attending races even yours truly – a Hardcore Rusty Wallace fan for many years – was known to boo the great Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon.

For whatever reason they do it, NASCAR fans will always exercise their right to voice their opinions. Fan involvement is what has built this sport, and what will keep it going for many years to come.

So go out there and cheer for your favorite driver and boo the ones you don’t like – that’s what being a fan is all about – just don’t throw anything on the track.