THE GOOD
Tony Stewart: Smoke led the most laps, he was stout from the start, and he was able to solve his restart problem just in time. Early on it was Smoke and his ex-teammate at Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, swapping the lead. Then Carl Edwards entered the picture. Smoke was able to check out shortly after the final restart and win comfortably.
Carl Edwards: this team is getting closer and closer to that win. He ACTUALLY led laps; in fact, he led more laps THIS race than in the previous 46 RACES put together! I think he surpassed Mattias Eckstrom in total laps led this year. Sarcasm aside, the 99 team is peaking at the right time. Edwards WILL be a factor in the Chase.
Jimmie Johnson: he bounced off the schneid at the right time. He was at the point for a short time en route to a third place finish and a berth in the Chase. He had been in a funk since winning at Sonoma. Perhaps this will right his ship.
Jeff Burton: he pitted for four fresh tires on the final caution. Smart move. He picked his way through the field as a result. He took advantage of a contretemps between Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne in the process to finish fourth.
The Busch Brothers: when you have both brothers finishing this well (Kyle, 5th; Kurt, 6th), they've earned a spot together in the Good category. Kurt in particular battled back from a lap down to lead at one point. Kyle managed to avoid the engine issues that plagued his other teammates and was strong all race, even leading at one point.
Denny Hamlin: he was stout at the beginning, and was leading the most laps in the race when his engine blew without warning, bringing out a caution.
Honorable Mention: Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Marcos Ambrose.
THE BAD
ESPN: or more specifically, the coverage. WTH was that, cutting away from Smoke's moment in the sun (or in this instance, the moon) to go to SportsCenter?
Kevin Harvick's Pit Crew: Harvick LOST positions in the pits consistently. He was able to overcome that on the track because he had such a stout car, not unlike Michigan. A Bad goes to Harvick himself for missing the committment cone on a pit stop and going from the top 10 to the 30's because of that one mistake. (He cut the left front tire and tore up the bumper in the process and finished the race in the pit.)
THE UGLY
Engine issues: several drivers had them, most notably Denny Hamlin. Because of Hamlin's blown engine, the guys that would normally start and park stayed out a LOT longer than usual, relegating Hamlin to DFL status. The normal start and parkers saw their opportunity to finish a lot higher than usual due to the regulars having issues.
Those are my nominees for the week. Feel free to come in and comment!
11 comments:
Well it was a long race and a nail biter at the last with Smoke having bad restarts. However, his car was strong enough to get the lead back when it counted.
One think that alarms me when watching the races is the many empty seats. Perhaps if the economy ever rebounds that might not be the case any more but that might no happen until after the 2012 Presidential elections and we get some new blood in Washington.
Good race. Kind of long. But it could have been longer if not for the lengthy green flag run at the beginning. I thought Newman was strong, and seemed to be in good spirits in the garage with Kasey after the "pay back" from Khane.
Hope Harvick and crew got rid of whatever bad mojo fell on them tonight!
Photogr, I started watching about a third into the race and I thought it was long! Kudos to Smoke for figuring out his restart problem just in time. As for the empty seats, that's what I was thinking. It's going to be this way until we get this fraud and usurper out of the White House.
CR, there was some excellent racing, particularly in the last half of the race. Newman WAS strong, and possibly could have contended for the win if not for the dust up with Kahne. I think Newman expected Kahne to pay him back, and he got it. As for Harvick, he owned that mistake of overshooting the committment line and probably forgot about this race, other than the fact he had a stout car and was making up positions on the track. I think that with Johnson not winning, the 29 crew breathed a HUGE sigh of relief.
hate to rain on your parade, but the only races ABC will be broadcasting are next week's race at Richmond and the Saturday night race from Charlotte. All other races will be on ESPN (and even when they're on ABC, it's still the same announcers and reporters).
I checked the TV listings for September 19 (the New Hampshire race and start of the Chase). In my area, the ABC affiliate will be showing infomercials all afternoon- so obviously no conflict with another sporting event.
Nice rundown, Jon.
I don't know if the tires were bad or good. I have never seen so much dirt-tracking on an asphalt track. So many drivers, so out of shape, and straightening them back out. Amazing.
good - Kasey tried to do his best Harvick impression until Newman went doofus on him...Ambrose for progressing his way through the field to nab a top 10.
bad - Mark Martin....sorry, but that kind of drive is exactly why you won't be in the Chase. Never a factor, though he did stay out of trouble but it wasn't enough.
ugly - Speed's engine bay after that massive meltdown :o
Yep, photogr....I didn't think the seats would be full! The ones would could afford it were probably in the suites, the ones who couldn't afford it were probably still there in the camping section, after hocking everything they owned to party to the 8 bands that played!lol
Where do you think Jamie went wrong? :(
Hey jon!
I wasn't able to watch the races this weekend so not in a position to comment but I wanted to thank you for your Good, Bad and Ugly anyway... At least I can get a view of the racing from a friend's perspective...
Thanks!
AW CRAP SB! I was under the impression that ABC was going to take over once the Chase started. Can we end the season already and award Kevin Harvick the 2010 Sprint Cup Championship? Please?
Gene, thanks. It definitely had that dirt track feel, with so many drivers getting loose and no matter what adjustments they made, they got looser as the evening wore on.
Tez, that was a bad break from Kasey's perspective, and worse for me because I had him on my fantasy team! Ambrose pulled a Harvick--started towards the back and worked his way up slowly. Maybe they had lunch together during the week and some of Harvick's mojo rubbed off on Ambrose? And did Speed's engine give up the ghost or what?
Beverly, I didn't think it would be full, but I thought there would be a larger attendance than that. (DO NOT get me started on Obama and his INTENTIONAL destruction of all things American!!!!!!)
Hey Dwindy! Anytime! Hope you had a great Labor Day holiday!
Hey Jon - sorry so late to comment...
Even when the races are on ABC they still cut the post race and put it on sportscenter. I commented on this to the NASCAR fan council on how it was unacceptable so surely it will be changed by next week! LMAO!
Why was that race SO LONG?? Oy, took forever to get to the good racing at the end. Maybe I am just burnt on NASCAR.
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