The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly -- Coca-Cola 600

After two exhausting days, the Crappafoni Pictures crew FINALLY serves you up a soggy, rain-soaked version of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, mid-Atlantic style.

THE GOOD

David Reutimann: as the winner of the race, he automatically gets first billing. He was running well all day, staying in the top 10 much of the day. Yes, it was a rain-shortened win, but NASCAR made the right decision to call the race, as more rain was on the way. He had a good car, and a bold gamble by crew chief Rodney Childers paid off. Childers instructed Reutimann to stay out on the last caution while a lot of other cars pitted. Now it pays off in Reutimann's first Cup win. He becomes the sixth driver to get his first Cup win at the 600. Good job David!

Ryan Newman: the pole sitter led the first two laps and overcame a pit road mistake to finish second. He was stout, other than that mistake.

Robby Gordon: his third place finish was his best result since Watkins Glen in 2005, when he finished second while driving for Richard Childress Racing. Like Reutimann, he stayed out while the leaders pitted and benefitted from the rain.

Carl Edwards: while he didn't lead a lap, he got stronger as the race went on. Would have been a factor had it not been for the rain, as the #99 crew had the car dialed in to the changing conditions.

Kyle Busch: he led the most laps in the race (173) and was stout for the first 200 laps or so.
Brian Vickers: he led 33 laps en route to a top 5 finish. He was at or near the front since the drop of the green flag.

Honorable Mention: Kasey Kahne, Juan Pablo Montoya, Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano.

THE BAD

Richard Childress Racing: they have been bad for a number of weeks now. Until they improve their performance, they will continue to be in the Bad category. When your best finishing driver is 25th (Jeff Burton), you deserve to be in this category.

Weather: it played havoc with both the Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series races. Fortunately, the NNS race was well past the halfway stage before weather played a factor. The Cup race was postponed to today, and weather was again a factor today, eventually cutting short the race.

THE UGLY

Kevin Harvick: even before he and Sam Hornish Jr made contact, Harvick was already backing up from the green flag. He and Hornish made incidental contact in lap 2, cutting a tire and forcing Harvick to the pits. He was never a factor and finished three laps down in 41st. When Tony Raines and Scott Riggs are outrunning you, you belong in the Ugly category. Raines even LED a lap!! HE got the five bonus points!! You're not making the Chase this year; start working towards 2010. Consider this year as a gigantic test session. Start throwing out some CRAZY set-ups to see if they work. Couldn't hurt; hell, it might even help! You're my driver through thick and thin, and it's all going to turn around at some point this season.
Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to come in with yours!