This week, after a week's rest due to the break, the Crappafoni Pictures crew presents to you, BBQ-style, this week's version of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Enjoy!
THE GOOD
Jimmie Johnson: as the winner of the race, he gets first billing. When he topped all the practice sessions, and qualified well, everyone else was in for a LONG weekend. Once again, Chad Knaus proves his genius when he calls for a four tire change on the very last pit stop and gets Johnson out quickly. This was Johnson's first win at Bristol, leaving three tracks that he hasn't won at (Infineon, the Glen, and Homestead). If not for Johnson's 39th place finish at Daytona, he'd be running away with the points lead.
Tony Stewart: Smoke very nearly made two tires work, taking the lead before losing the lead to Johnson with seven laps to go. He was able to hold off Kurt Busch, who also took four tires on the last pit stop.
Kurt Busch: he led the most laps, but wasn't able to pass Stewart and make a charge at Johnson. He was in the top 5 for pretty much the whole race.
The Three Roushkateers: Greg Biffle (4th), Matt Kenseth (5th), and Carl Edwards (6th) became factors later in the race. For a time, it looked like The Biff was going to take the checkered flag. (Secret: I've been waiting for them to finish in consecutive places so I can call them the Three Roushkateers.) An extra Good goes to Kenseth for taking the points lead from Kevin Harvick. (And it KILLS me to say that.)
Dale Earnhardt Jr: here's hoping he uses this race to get momentum for the remainder of the season leading up to the Chase. He's in that top 12 now, and he has a 70% chance of making the Chase. He led a few laps en route to a seventh place finish.
Kyle Busch: he overcame a hard smack into the wall and tire issues for a top 10 finish. (Busch finished 8th.)
HONORABLE MENTION
Jamie McMurray: Cupcake overcame noxious fumes and flu-like symptoms to finish seventh.
Jeff Burton: he posted the best finish by an RCR driver, 10th.
Kevin Harvick: he overcame a poor qualifying effort and slow practices to finish 11th.
THE BAD
Joe Nemechek: he drew the short stick today and was the first driver to start and park. He's not even Field Filler Joe at this point. At least a field filler gives an honest day's effort and runs every lap he can. He ran 30 laps before he called himself done for the day.
Prism Motorsports: I'm going to have to call them out, particularly Dave Blaney, who had a GREAT qualifying run. Blaney qualified third and was the second driver to start and park after 40 laps. Michael Waltrip started and parked after 46 laps. If you're going to be an S/P team like you are now, then run every race. If you're serious about being in Cup as you say you are, then run a part-time schedule like the Wood Brothers, who are STILL competitive in the races they DO enter. You have a competent enough driver in Blaney that can be competitive.
THE UGLY
Clint Bowyer: he had a tough week. First his team, the Kansas Jayhawks, got knocked out of the Big Dance. Then today he blows an engine 56 laps in. (Note to potential S/P teams: run AT LEAST 100 laps; you never know if a former Chaser like Bowyer could blow an engine like he did today.)
The Little Big One: this happened on Lap 342 and involved 13 cars, among them points leader Kevin Harvick. Fortunately, the 29 car only suffered cosmetic damage and the 29 car's handling wasn't affected.
Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to come in with yours.
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8 comments:
Biffle and Martin easily in the bad and ugly for taking out, possibly, the best car in the field (the 47)....no idea what happened after that since I couldn't be bothered watching as closely, lol
Nice recap. That wreck was unfortunate. It seemed every time someone other than the usual suspects (Reutimann, Ambrose, etc.) got close to the front something would jump up and bite them and send them to the back or to the garage.
JON,
THIS IS SCARY BUT I PROMISE I DIDN'T COPY YOUR BLOG, BUT MAN ARE THEY CLOSE
GUNAQUAT
Harvick should get an ugle for Saturday's stunt. Logano gave him the outside lane for 30 laps, but Harvick couldn't get by him so he dumped him.
Good recap Jon - I had no idea Kyle finished 8th because FOX didnt show the cars crossing the finish line yet again...
Disappointed with Kenseth on that last restart - he needed to go and didnt screwing Kurt's chances. No way Smoke was going to let Kurt buy easy to get to his "teammate"
orkediI slept through most of the race but found it suspicious for a late race caution for a rubber hose that just popped up on the track.
Good GBU as always. You could tell just how frustrated Kurt was by being beat out by Johnson on the run to the checkers...
It's sad to see a guy like Blaney who has potential having to be on a start and park team. Maybe he can eventually get a ride with someone like Waltrip or Petty...
Tez, hopefully Marcos can have some of that bad racing luck turned around soon! He was my dark horse top 10 finisher.
jmayer, thanks. If it wasn't for bad racing luck, Reutimann and Ambrose would have no luck at all. They just can't seem to buy a break.
Gunaquat, great minds think alike!
Gene, I didn't see the race, but I'll be sure to see the highlights.
Kristen, thanks. Fox didn't show places 6-10. They showed 1-5 for a LONG time, then they quickly went to 11-20. I had to go to NASCAR.COM for the order of finish. I think Kenseth either spun the tires on that last restart or had a late start.
Photogr, without that last caution, Johnson doesn't win.
Gonger, thanks. Without that caution, Kurt wins that race rather easily. While JJ had a good car, it wasn't the best. As for Blaney, he CAN be halfway decent with the right team. But because of the tough economy, there will be more teams starting and parking.
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