This week, the Crappafoni Pictures crew is IN Sonoma, bolstered by a visit from the blogger jon_464 and various friends, to bring you this week's version of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, served up on a silver platter with Dungeness crab, and washed down with plenty of NoCal's finest wines. Enjoy!
THE GOOD
Jimmie Johnson: after much debate between this blogger and friends, this blogger wasn't even going to put JJ in this category. But after seeing the highlights, this blogger relented. He led the most laps, most of which came early on. He was the beneficiary of Marcos Ambrose's stall on a late caution, giving credence to Kevin Harvick's theory that JJ has a golden horseshoe stuck up his @$$. He should also be put in The Lucky category, as he was the beneficiary of several late cautions.
Robby Gordon: this was the smartest race he ran in a LONG time. Like Johnson, he was the beneficiary of late cautions, as this extended his fuel mileage. He kept the #7's nose clean and was rewarded with a runner up finish. This was ENORMOUS for the team, as he is safely in the top 35 now.
Kevin Harvick: he was strong all weekend, and was consistently in the top 5 for much of the race. Although he didn't lead a lap, he stayed out of trouble and even escaped two big skirmishes. It was a HUGE points day for Happy, as he is now over 100 markers ahead of Johnson.
Mattias Eckstrom: the Swede made his Cup debut and was stout. If not for Jeff Gordon going idiot and punting him, Eck would have certainly had a top 10, maybe a top 5. Perhaps Red Bull should put him in the 82 next year, replacing Scott Speed.
Marcos Ambrose: for the second half of the race it looked like the affable Aussie was about to get his first Cup win, as he had the best car at that point. But due to a bonehead decision by his crew chief to cut the ignition to save gas, Ambrose stalled the car and by the time he got it refired, several drivers had passed him under caution. Good rally by Ambrose to finish sixth.
Honorable Mention: Jeff Gordon, Jan Magnussen, Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Stewart, Boris Said, Juan Pablo Montoya.
THE BAD
Frank Kerr: he's the genius crew chief that told Ambrose to shut off the ignition. BAD decision Kerr; you cost your driver the race.
Joe Gibbs Racing: between Joey Logano (33rd), Denny Hamlin (34th), and Kyle Busch (38th), I think it's a weekend they don't want to hit "rewind" any time soon. It's even worse when the Kid finishes the best of the three! I think they want to hit the Fast Forward button at the start of the race and hold it until it's over. At least Hamlin didn't have to worry about overheating issues.
THE UGLY
Joe Gibbs Racing: see above.
Jeff Gordon: he was seemingly involved in EVERY dustup; actually, he was involved in three cautions, including punting Eckstrom for no apparent reason when the Swede was in the top 10 at the time. Jeff, you know better than that, especially coming from NASCAR's elder statesman. You looked like an impatient rookie in his first Infineon start at times.
Those are my nominees for the race. Tez and I are at the hotel bouncing ideas off each other as I write this.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
I have been told that I'm one of those people who like to focus on the positives....and here it is; you can cancel my session tomorrow morning now, Kristen, LOL!
Jon and I were wondering whether they short pitted Ambrose to keep him ahead of Jimmie at that last stop, that's the only possible reason we could see as to why he needed to save fuel. Hope Sonoma ain't going to be Marcos' Montreal or I'm in for another 2 years of heartbreak :|
Was *hugely* impressed with the Swede and the calmness Robby displayed (I can't believe I just wrote 'calm' and 'Robby' in the same sentence). It's a very subdued, and sunburnt, Aussie tonight.
I don't know if you were able to see Truex's blast on TV. He laid it on Gordon, and promised a payback next week!
I'll give him a 'Good' just for that.
Good morning guys! Ok Tez, you are canceled which is good since I might need the time for Kurt! LOL
My understanding was Marcos did not short pit - he came in 2-3 laps before JJ I think and our crew thought he had plenty of fuel to the end - JJ and Marcos were the only cars we were concerned with...shouldda been worried about #24!
Eck and Robby were impressive, as was JJ to be honest - he stepped up at the road course. Kurt too which is why it really hurt to be taken out.
I think Gordon wont get to lap 5 at Louden!
Great weekend! Safe travels home you two!!
Hey Tez, I finally made it home just before 7 this evening. Had a great time! Thanks for bouncing those ideas off me, they certainly helped in this edition!
Gene, I didn't get to see Truex's blast on Gordon, but I imagine if it's Jeff Gordon that Truex blasted, he's going to have to pick a number and wait in line for retaliation, as he has a LONG list of guys ahead of him that want to punt Gordon after his shenanigans at Sonoma.
Hey Kristen! I'm glad Tez cancelled his session so Kurt can have his session, LOL. But I think that it will be closer to the Chase that guys will retaliate on Gordon. Bristol and Richmond would make the likeliest tracks for that. And you can never count out The Glen.
If we could only get thess great comments from Facebook to Blogspot, we'd be able to get to 100 comments in no time. (Well, maybe 50.lol) This was on your story on my profile:
PATS FORLIFE: "Bev. Still would not count the 48 out nor would i the 18 and 11 lots of racing left but yes this year whoever gets the cup will have to really drive for it couze few hungry men are after the same prize."
Bev, just direct them here!
Did some one mention retaliation? Maybe the last few races will be action packed.
Photogr, Truex mentioned the R word more than once, directing it towards Jeff Gordon. Stay tuned for this one. In my blog, I told Truex to pick a number and wait, because there's PLENTY of other drivers ahead of him to settle their beefs with Gordon, particularly Kurt Busch.
Post a Comment