This week, the Crappafoni Pictures crew is in Thunder Valley for one of NASCAR's crown jewel races, the Bristol night race from the Bullring, for this week's The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, complete with plenty of BBQ and washed down with plenty of NOS Energy Drink. Enjoy!
THE GOOD
Kyle Busch: as the race winner, he gets first billing. WOW. What a weekend! To say that he was awesome is an understatement. He won EVERY race in dominating fashion. He became the first driver to win all three of NASCAR's touring division races on the same weekend. That may well be the good of the year. And an extra good goes to Hanny for winning the Kylefecta! Regardless of whether or not you like Kyle, you have to admit he is an amazing talent. One year, he's going to be the first driver to win both the Cup and Nationwide championships in the same year. Busch has won three of the last four Bristol races.
David Reutimann: he led a number of laps, and hung out in the top 5 all race long. He was strong, but was racing for second, as it was all about Kyle.
Jamie McMurray: he had a strong car and it looked like he had something for Kyle. But on the last pit stop, he felt like the left front was flat and was not able to catch Kyle.
Clint Bowyer: he had a GREAT run at the most crucial time. He was on the Chase bubble and came through with a solid fourth place finish. Even more important, he's 100 points ahead of 13th place, so he has a bit of breathing room.
Kasey Kahne: a very strong run by the #9 Ford. He was in the top 10 for much of the race. Unfortunately, it was too little too late, as his chances of making the Chase got dimmer.
Jimmie Johnson: he was stout at the beginning, and it looked like he was going to run away with the race if not for JPM spinning him out. He was the best car in the first half of the race.
Honorable Mention: Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Greg Biffle.
THE BAD
Michael McDowell: he ran a grand total of 16 laps before declaring himself done for the day. NASCAR stated it was due to an "engine". But in reality, he drew the short stick at the Start and Parkers meeting held in the Todd Bodine Meeting Room before the race.
Jamie McMurray's crew: they certainly did him no favors by making small mistakes on EACH pit stop, causing him to lose positions on each stop. A sub-Good to Jamie for making up positions on the track. If they were HALF as good as Kyle Busch's crew, Jamie Mac would be celebrating in Victory Lane with his crew.
Juan Pablo Montoya: I've gotta call him out for turning Jimmie Johnson when there was room for JPM to check up and let Johnson go. But from JPM's perspective, perhaps there was some bad blood from a previous race and he decided to take matters into his own hands.
ESPN's coverage: TOO MANY DAMN COMMERCIALS! Enough said.
THE UGLY
ESPN: I'm already longing for DW and Company's coverage next season! Yeah, DW may be a bit bombastic, but he has a certain charm to him. Rusty's got the charm of a pissed-off rattlesnake.
Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to chime in!
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15 comments:
Good recap, Jon. I can't fault JPM entirely. That incident was similar to Kyle and Brad's on Friday night... when you cut in front of someone you better be going faster than they are.
I would give Kyle a semi-bad for running over Jen Jo Cobb in the trucks, and for dumping BK. Kyle got loose in front of BK causing him to get hit, not BK's fault at all.
I didn't see the Trucks race because it came on at 4 pm here, in the middle of my work day. Ditto with the NNS race. (Was REAL busy this week with work!) If Trucks or NNS has races on weekdays, I'm usually working and am unable to see the races. But on the race tonight, he was spot on.
is it possible to give a sem-bad for Roush-Fenway? At times, Carl and Matt were near the front but by the end....not the greatest of showings on a track that has generally proven to be really good for them.
also have to give a bad to the #47 crew....he was about 4 seconds from getting lapped before the final stop yet when that caution flew, he was not even in place for the lucky dog. Considering he was running 10th when he pitted and wound up 20th, I reckon that assessment is fair, lol
Guess Ryan Newman held up 37 faster cars tonight, since he finished 6th. At least that's what Gene "Rusty" Haddock would say. Congrats to Kyle for the sweep.
@ CR... only 36... he was faster than Jr.
Too bad Bristol isn't in the championship races...
What do 11, 13, 23 and 35 have in common? That's where the four HMS drivers finished... What's up with those guys??? Maybe a bad? Maybe a multiple bad? lol
Was Kyle a gentleman or what? I know, I know, he rubs you the wrong way. All these guys have confidence, but Kyle exudes it and I think it ticks off everyone else... Oh Well!
I had to work last night so I've got the race on my VCR and am watching as I type!
Thanks jon!
Tez, RFR was spotty at best. You mentioned the good runs by Edwards and Kenseth. Biffle was unusually bad and Ragan brought up the rear. As far as Marcos' crew, I'd say that's a pretty fair assessment.
CR, Newman was solid all race long, as was his teammate Smoke, before Smoke got rammed into by the 26. It was very rarely that Newman was outside the top 10. And as for Jr, he WAS in the top 10 for much of the second half of the race before he faded and finished 13th.
Dwindy, HMS has been off their game for some time. RCR has passed them and I'd say even Roush Fenway and Gibbs Racing. It appears that only Gordon and Johnson will be in the Chase representing HMS. RFR will have three drivers and RCR will have all three of its drivers in the Chase. I like Kyle's brashness and candor--it's good for the sport. And I think he's peaking at the right time. Thanks for the read and comment.
Can we add a new category to the GBU- the Idiotic? This would be for the driver, crew chief, commentator, etc. that makes you say "Do you even know what you're doing" at some point during the race.
My nominee for this week would be ESPN pit reporter Jamie Little who congratulated Coach Joe Gibbs for the sweeping all three races as an owner. Uh, Jamie, Coach Gibbs doesn't own the #18 truck. Kyle does.
Oh- and a very good to the broadcast crew. Kyle, and Coach Gibbs for not using the term "Kylefecta"- which we all know is property of the Beagle(royalties for use of the term may be paid in Greenies).
:o)
Good job, Jon! Yes, Jamie really shined last night, didn't I?
SB, that's a great idea! But you can excuse Jamie Little for being a bit ignorant of her facts--she has a wedding to prepare for. (As evidenced by the HUGE boulder on her left ring finger.) Joe Gibbs USED to own the #18 truck until Kyle Busch formed his own team and paid him for the use of the #18. I'm also glad they didn't use the term "Kylefecta" (Trademarked by the SpeedBeagle).
Beverly, thanks. Jamie McMurray ran well and I thought he had something for Kyle but he had a bad set of tires that slowed him down. Jamie Little was off her game a bit. (Must be due to her thinking of her upcoming nuptials.)
Sorry so late to comment Jon - It was Jamie that drove thru his pit box the first time, not his pit crews fault.
While I tend to love Kyle I thought him dumping BK and bragging about it was not a shinning moment. I wish he could have won the NW race out right not by wrecking his stiffest competition. That would have been way more impressive.
Wow, what serious comments from Kristen? PMSing today?lol j/k
Kristen, you're right. My bad. And Jamie's bad as well for overshooting the pit box! That was a glaring oversight. But there were other slow stops that he had to overcome on the track. Your comments are always welcome here!
Maybe Bev - just couldn't think of anything zippy to say today! LOL
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