This week, the Crappafoni Pictures crew is in the lengthy shadow of Philly to bring you this week's heaping helping of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, Philly-style, with plenty of cheesesteaks and crab cakes and washed down with PLENTY of Miller Lite (be sure to drink responsibly). Enjoy!
THE GOOD
Kurt Busch: he gets this spot as this week's winner. While he had a strong car throughout the day, it was in the second half of the race that the Double Deuce got better. Props to the crew for making the necessary adjustments to get the car better. The real key was getting past Jimmie Johnson on a late restart to take the lead. He was able to hold off JJ and Carl Edwards, who was making a late charge.
Jimmie Johnson: JJ started sixth, and was solid throughout the race weekend. He led early through a round of green flag pit stops. Solid, not spectacular. He sorely needed a top 3 run and got it at one of his favorite tracks. With the runner up finish, he moves up five spots in the standings, to fifth, 13 points behind co-leaders Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards.
Carl Edwards: he looked like he had the car to beat throughout the race. But he got popped for speeding on pit road, and had to serve a drive through penalty that put him a lap down. He subsequently became the beneficiary of a free pass to get back on the lead lap. Then he made his charge. He was 20th on the final restart. He finished third. Good job Carl!
Kasey Kahne: he was finally able to put together a solid run from start to finish and avoid the bad racing luck that has plagued him for much of the season. Although he didn't lead a lap, he was solid throughout. Well done.
Richard Petty Motorsports: with AJ Allmendinger (7th) and Marcos Ambrose (9th) having strong runs, it was a strong team effort. Ambrose passed Kevin Harvick on the white flag lap to gain a position to finish 9th.
Honorable Mention: Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, and Kevin Harvick.
THE BAD
ESPN'S coverage: normally I would put the first start and parker here, but the coverage was PUTRID. While I like the Nonstop Coverage, CUT AWAY from the commercials when a caution comes out!! Sheesh!! I'm not so sure I'm looking forward to Fox's All-Waltrip All The Time Coverage next year, though.
Travis Kvapil: he was the first start and parker. He drew the short stick at the start and parkers' meeting held in the Todd Bodine Meeting Room before the race. He ran a grand total of 12 laps before declaring himself done for the day and hotfooting it out of town with his earnings.
Stewart-Haas Racing: it was a horrid day for both Ryan Newman (p23) and Tony Stewart (p25). As bad as they were, it could have been worse had it not been for some late cautions. I'm sure THEY hotfooted it out of Dover shortly after they took the checkered flag. Stewart even lost his points lead and maybe a bit of his swagger he had built up after winning the last two races.
THE UGLY
Weather: the race was run under cloudy and occasionally rainy conditions. In fact, there were a couple of cautions for sprinkles. Hopefully the weather will be better in Kansas next week.
Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to come in with yours.
Showing posts with label Kurt Busch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kurt Busch. Show all posts
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly -- 2011 Toyota Save Mart 350
This week, the Crappafoni Pictures crew is in Wine Country for NASCAR's lone visit to NoCal. This week's The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is served up with dungeness crab, clam chowder in bread bowls, and washed down with the wine country's finest wine. Enjoy!
THE GOOD
Kurt Busch: the Double Deuce has gotten better and better since his on-race rant a couple of months ago. He's looking like the Busch of 2004, when he won his only Cup championship while driving for Jack Roush. Kristen, I know you must be a happy camper--I can picture your smile from here in Victory Lane! Wish I were there to experience it, but I plan on being there next year. For Busch, this is his first win of the season, and his first Cup win on a road course. It is kind of unusual for him to get his first win of the season this late in the season. He is definitely gaining momentum as the Chase nears. The car was stout all day long, and he dominated the race. He could pick any groove and the car would run perfectly. He easily led the most laps, with 75. A shout out also goes to Steve Addington, his crew chief, and the crew members of the Double Deuce!! GOOD JOB GUYS!!
Jeff Gordon: the Vallejo native had a junk car to start with, but through a combination of pit strategy, good pit calls by Alan Gustafson, and good pit stops, the #24 car got better as the race went on. He had something for the elder Busch brother, but it was too little, too late, as he was gaining a second a lap on him.
Carl Edwards: if there's one thing I learned about him, it's that he's a vastly UNDERRATED road racer. While he's not won a road course race at the Cup level, he's won at the Nationwide level, so he knows how to get it done. The 99 team struggled all weekend to get speed and grip. He started mid-pack (23rd, to be exact) and quickly worked his way to the front. While he didn't lead a lap, he still keeps the points lead going into Daytona. Very solid third place run today.
Clint Bowyer: he has struggled on road courses in the past, but he's getting better. Today and throughout the weekend, he was strong. He had a good qualifying run (he started 9th) and was in the top 10 for pretty much the whole race. Could this be the race that the 33 team turns its season around on? It remains to be seen, but today is a good start.
Marcos Ambrose: he'd run strong, then get shuffled back, then run strong again. To finish in the top 5 is a testament to the stout car (and driver) he had today. He was patient, didn't panic, and took what the car gave him. He didn't try to overdrive the car, and the result was a top 5 finish, even though he didn't lead a lap.
Kevin Harvick: Mr. Where Did He Come From? strikes again. He started somewhere around San Rafael (actually, 26th, but it seemed like he started from there). He was hanging around mid-pack throughout the race until very late. With Happy's pit strategy, he was banking on a late caution, which happened when Brian Vickers exacted payback on Tony Stewart after an earlier incident between the two drivers. Harvick pitted, took four fresh tires and fuel, and was the first one out with those four fresh tires. He started 13th, and finished 9th after that run to the checkered flag. Great job by the 29 crew for turning a marginal top 20 car into a top 10 car. Harvick finished 9th and led six laps in the process. (This was prior to the final caution.)
Joey Logano: good job by the kid in getting his first career pole, and when you run JPM off the course, you earn your spot here. I'll say this: he's got spunk, and when he stood up to Harvick last year, he gained a lot of respect in my book, and I'm a Harvick fan.
Honorable Mention: Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex, Jr., Brad Keselowski, and David Gilliland.
THE BAD
P.J. Jones: he was the first start and parker. He drew the short stick today at the start and parkers' meeting, held in the Todd Bodine Meeting Room. Jones ran a grand total of FIVE LAPS (at least he beat his two-lap effort of a couple of years ago) before declaring himself done for the day and hotfooting it out of town with his prize money.
Casey Mears: it's pretty bad when your only mention is for running out of gas and stalling at the entrance to pit road, and you bring out the first caution. I think he thought he might lead a lap by being the last driver to pit during a round of green flag pit stops. I don't think the Geico gecko likes THAT kind of publicity. Casey Mears' Great Adventure ended up putting him two laps down, and he never recovered. He actually had a pretty good car, and had he pitted one lap earlier, would have been in contention for a good finish. A bad also goes out to his crew chief, whose name escapes me at the moment. He would finish 34th, with those two laps down. (Thirty-three cars finished on the lead lap.)
TNT'S coverage: while it was better than last week, I never got the explanation or the replay of Dale Earnhardt Jr's mishap that ended up with a hole in the side of the engine of the 88 car. I'd have liked to know HOW that happened!!
THE UGLY
Juan Pablo Montoya: he was this year's Jeff Gordon, in the sense that he had several drivers mad at him during the race, most notably David Gilliland and Kasey Kahne. JPM punted Kahne for NO reason other than being impatient. Late in the race, HE got spun out and dropped from a sure top 10 to end up finishing 22nd.
Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to come in with yours!
THE GOOD
Kurt Busch: the Double Deuce has gotten better and better since his on-race rant a couple of months ago. He's looking like the Busch of 2004, when he won his only Cup championship while driving for Jack Roush. Kristen, I know you must be a happy camper--I can picture your smile from here in Victory Lane! Wish I were there to experience it, but I plan on being there next year. For Busch, this is his first win of the season, and his first Cup win on a road course. It is kind of unusual for him to get his first win of the season this late in the season. He is definitely gaining momentum as the Chase nears. The car was stout all day long, and he dominated the race. He could pick any groove and the car would run perfectly. He easily led the most laps, with 75. A shout out also goes to Steve Addington, his crew chief, and the crew members of the Double Deuce!! GOOD JOB GUYS!!
Jeff Gordon: the Vallejo native had a junk car to start with, but through a combination of pit strategy, good pit calls by Alan Gustafson, and good pit stops, the #24 car got better as the race went on. He had something for the elder Busch brother, but it was too little, too late, as he was gaining a second a lap on him.
Carl Edwards: if there's one thing I learned about him, it's that he's a vastly UNDERRATED road racer. While he's not won a road course race at the Cup level, he's won at the Nationwide level, so he knows how to get it done. The 99 team struggled all weekend to get speed and grip. He started mid-pack (23rd, to be exact) and quickly worked his way to the front. While he didn't lead a lap, he still keeps the points lead going into Daytona. Very solid third place run today.
Clint Bowyer: he has struggled on road courses in the past, but he's getting better. Today and throughout the weekend, he was strong. He had a good qualifying run (he started 9th) and was in the top 10 for pretty much the whole race. Could this be the race that the 33 team turns its season around on? It remains to be seen, but today is a good start.
Marcos Ambrose: he'd run strong, then get shuffled back, then run strong again. To finish in the top 5 is a testament to the stout car (and driver) he had today. He was patient, didn't panic, and took what the car gave him. He didn't try to overdrive the car, and the result was a top 5 finish, even though he didn't lead a lap.
Kevin Harvick: Mr. Where Did He Come From? strikes again. He started somewhere around San Rafael (actually, 26th, but it seemed like he started from there). He was hanging around mid-pack throughout the race until very late. With Happy's pit strategy, he was banking on a late caution, which happened when Brian Vickers exacted payback on Tony Stewart after an earlier incident between the two drivers. Harvick pitted, took four fresh tires and fuel, and was the first one out with those four fresh tires. He started 13th, and finished 9th after that run to the checkered flag. Great job by the 29 crew for turning a marginal top 20 car into a top 10 car. Harvick finished 9th and led six laps in the process. (This was prior to the final caution.)
Joey Logano: good job by the kid in getting his first career pole, and when you run JPM off the course, you earn your spot here. I'll say this: he's got spunk, and when he stood up to Harvick last year, he gained a lot of respect in my book, and I'm a Harvick fan.
Honorable Mention: Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex, Jr., Brad Keselowski, and David Gilliland.
THE BAD
P.J. Jones: he was the first start and parker. He drew the short stick today at the start and parkers' meeting, held in the Todd Bodine Meeting Room. Jones ran a grand total of FIVE LAPS (at least he beat his two-lap effort of a couple of years ago) before declaring himself done for the day and hotfooting it out of town with his prize money.
Casey Mears: it's pretty bad when your only mention is for running out of gas and stalling at the entrance to pit road, and you bring out the first caution. I think he thought he might lead a lap by being the last driver to pit during a round of green flag pit stops. I don't think the Geico gecko likes THAT kind of publicity. Casey Mears' Great Adventure ended up putting him two laps down, and he never recovered. He actually had a pretty good car, and had he pitted one lap earlier, would have been in contention for a good finish. A bad also goes out to his crew chief, whose name escapes me at the moment. He would finish 34th, with those two laps down. (Thirty-three cars finished on the lead lap.)
TNT'S coverage: while it was better than last week, I never got the explanation or the replay of Dale Earnhardt Jr's mishap that ended up with a hole in the side of the engine of the 88 car. I'd have liked to know HOW that happened!!
THE UGLY
Juan Pablo Montoya: he was this year's Jeff Gordon, in the sense that he had several drivers mad at him during the race, most notably David Gilliland and Kasey Kahne. JPM punted Kahne for NO reason other than being impatient. Late in the race, HE got spun out and dropped from a sure top 10 to end up finishing 22nd.
Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to come in with yours!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly -- 2011 Budweiser Shootout
Race fans! Let us here at Crappafoni Pictures be the first to welcome you back to a new season of NASCAR, which means a new series of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. We bring you this served with the local flavor of the track. For Daytona, it's served fried-fish style, and washed down with PLENTY of Budweiser. Because of the small field of the Shootout, there will be fewer entries in each category. Enjoy!
THE GOOD
Kurt Busch: as the race winner, he gets first billing. He had the best car when it counted. He was also fortunate when Denny Hamlin advanced his position below the double yellow line. In NASCAR, that's a no-no. This is Busch's first restrictor plate win in any race. A good start for the Double Deuce as they embark on their relationship with their new sponsor, Pennzoil.
Jamie McMurray: he was content to be tethered to the Double Deuce's rear end. While he didn't lead a lap, he was strong throughout on his own merit.
Ryan Newman: Rocketman was just that, a rocket. He led a good part of the final portion of the Shootout before being passed by Busch and McMurray. This bodes well for him at the 500.
The racing itself: in a short segment, no one really checked out. It wasn't until near the end of the race that you had drafting partners checking out.
RCR Racing: Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick were drafting partners for the first segment, and Burton led more than half the laps in that segment. When Burton was drafting with Clint Bowyer in the second segment, they fell off a bit. Jeff Gordon, who had a bit of a slow car, paired up with Harvick and almost immediately they went to the front. At one point, Gordon was leading, followed by the three RCR cars. An extra Good goes out to Harvick, who had a stout car, as evidenced by his pushing the Jeffs to the front.
THE BAD
None: there were no start and parkers in the Shootout.
THE UGLY
Regan Smith: he brought out the first in-race caution on Lap 28, shortly after the 50-lap segment began by making contact with Carl Edwards and causing a multi-car accident.
Kasey Kahne: his Shootout was over almost as soon as it started. Not a good start for the #4 Red Bull Toyota. His luck's GOTTA change soon!
Those are my nominees for the Shootout. Feel free to come in with yours!
THE GOOD
Kurt Busch: as the race winner, he gets first billing. He had the best car when it counted. He was also fortunate when Denny Hamlin advanced his position below the double yellow line. In NASCAR, that's a no-no. This is Busch's first restrictor plate win in any race. A good start for the Double Deuce as they embark on their relationship with their new sponsor, Pennzoil.
Jamie McMurray: he was content to be tethered to the Double Deuce's rear end. While he didn't lead a lap, he was strong throughout on his own merit.
Ryan Newman: Rocketman was just that, a rocket. He led a good part of the final portion of the Shootout before being passed by Busch and McMurray. This bodes well for him at the 500.
The racing itself: in a short segment, no one really checked out. It wasn't until near the end of the race that you had drafting partners checking out.
RCR Racing: Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick were drafting partners for the first segment, and Burton led more than half the laps in that segment. When Burton was drafting with Clint Bowyer in the second segment, they fell off a bit. Jeff Gordon, who had a bit of a slow car, paired up with Harvick and almost immediately they went to the front. At one point, Gordon was leading, followed by the three RCR cars. An extra Good goes out to Harvick, who had a stout car, as evidenced by his pushing the Jeffs to the front.
THE BAD
None: there were no start and parkers in the Shootout.
THE UGLY
Regan Smith: he brought out the first in-race caution on Lap 28, shortly after the 50-lap segment began by making contact with Carl Edwards and causing a multi-car accident.
Kasey Kahne: his Shootout was over almost as soon as it started. Not a good start for the #4 Red Bull Toyota. His luck's GOTTA change soon!
Those are my nominees for the Shootout. Feel free to come in with yours!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly -- 2010 Coca-Cola 600
This week, the Crappafoni Pictures crew is in the capital of NASCAR, Charlotte, NC, for this week's The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, complete with Carolina-style BBQ, a side of Cupcakes for dessert, and to wash it all down with Miller Lite beer, of course!
THE GOOD
Kurt Busch: as the race winner, he gets first billing. He had the dominant car of the race, leading over 200 laps. Props to crew chief Steve Addington and the Brew Crew for putting Busch in a position to win. Next stop is Pocono, where he's even more dominant.
Jamie McMurray: he had a strong car, and led several laps, but when it was money time, the 1 crew had a bad pit stop that cost him five positions. Good job Cupcake!
Kyle Busch: early on it looked like he had the car to beat. At every 100 mile interval it was either he or brother Kurt that was leading; that's how dominant the Busch Brothers were. This caps an amazing month in which a Busch Brother won every race at either the Nationwide or Sprint Cup level.
Mark Martin: he was the beneficiary of a gutsy call by crew chief Alan Gustafson to stay out on the final caution. He made the track position stand up for a fourth place finish. This was a case in which he turned a 15th place car into a fourth place car.
David Reutimann: the defending race winner was stout throughout, rarely staying outside of the top 5. He led a few laps during green flag pit stops. Good job David!
Honorable Mention: Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman, Paul Menard, Matt Kenseth, and Kevin Harvick.
THE BAD
Dave Blaney: he drew the short stick at the start and parkers' meeting in the Todd Bodine Meeting Room. He was the first to start and park, turning in a cool 25 laps before calling it a night.
Kyle Busch: on the final restart, he turned right into Jeff Burton, cutting his left rear tire and costing Burton a shot at winning. Burton wasn't pleased, and he let Busch have it after the race. Good for Jeff!
THE UGLY
Kyle Busch: rarely do I put a driver in all three slots, but Busch deserves all three today.
Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to chime in.
THE GOOD
Kurt Busch: as the race winner, he gets first billing. He had the dominant car of the race, leading over 200 laps. Props to crew chief Steve Addington and the Brew Crew for putting Busch in a position to win. Next stop is Pocono, where he's even more dominant.
Jamie McMurray: he had a strong car, and led several laps, but when it was money time, the 1 crew had a bad pit stop that cost him five positions. Good job Cupcake!
Kyle Busch: early on it looked like he had the car to beat. At every 100 mile interval it was either he or brother Kurt that was leading; that's how dominant the Busch Brothers were. This caps an amazing month in which a Busch Brother won every race at either the Nationwide or Sprint Cup level.
Mark Martin: he was the beneficiary of a gutsy call by crew chief Alan Gustafson to stay out on the final caution. He made the track position stand up for a fourth place finish. This was a case in which he turned a 15th place car into a fourth place car.
David Reutimann: the defending race winner was stout throughout, rarely staying outside of the top 5. He led a few laps during green flag pit stops. Good job David!
Honorable Mention: Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman, Paul Menard, Matt Kenseth, and Kevin Harvick.
THE BAD
Dave Blaney: he drew the short stick at the start and parkers' meeting in the Todd Bodine Meeting Room. He was the first to start and park, turning in a cool 25 laps before calling it a night.
Kyle Busch: on the final restart, he turned right into Jeff Burton, cutting his left rear tire and costing Burton a shot at winning. Burton wasn't pleased, and he let Busch have it after the race. Good for Jeff!
THE UGLY
Kyle Busch: rarely do I put a driver in all three slots, but Busch deserves all three today.
Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to chime in.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly -- All-Star Race 2010
This week, the Crappafoni Pictures crew is in the cradle of NASCAR, Charlotte, NC, to bring you this week's The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly in high-def crystal clarity (We're too cheap for this trendy 3-D stuff; hey, I'm just telling it like it is!), complete with a North Carolina-style BBQ, grilled corn, and all the fixin's. Enjoy!
THE GOOD
Kurt Busch: as the race winner, he gets first billing. He did win the first segment of the Challenge, and was near the front for the whole 100 laps. Props go out to the Brew Crew(looking forward to seeing you guys at Sonoma) for doing a GREAT job in fixing the Blue Deuce during the 10 minute break after he slapped the wall hard. The Deuce may not have been a thing of beauty to look at, but for Roger Penske, it was the most beautiful sight in the world when the Deuce took the checkered flag. Good job Kurt and Crew!!
Martin Truex, Jr.: he was the winner of the transition race. That alone deserves a Good slot. While he hung out at the back in the Challenge, that strategy kept him in good stead, particularly when the Big One hit very early in the final segment of the race. Had there been one more lap to go, I think Truex could have pulled it out. This bodes well for Truex and the NAPA crew as the Chase nears. Another Good goes out to Truex for having the fastest lap of the race.
Joey Logano: although he didn't lead a lap, he managed to pick his way and did a great job in not being a part of the Big One. That alone put him in a position to win, and although he didn't win, he learned a lot about the race and what he can do in the future. Good job Joey!
Denny Hamlin: he led two laps and was in a position to win it, but he slapped the wall late and lost his momentum. He got into an on-track tiff with his teammate Kyle Busch when Busch had a run on him and Hamlin cut him off. I don't blame Hamlin; he's trying to win the race, and there was no contact made.
Greg Biffle: he raced his way into the Challenge with a second-place finish in the transition race. For awhile, it looked like he had a car that could win the All-Star Race. He avoided trouble for the most part and had a solid finish. Good job Biff!
THE BAD
Joe Nemechek: he was the first to start and park in the Showdown. You're beyond Field Filler Joe now; you're Start and Park Joe. You went from Front Row Joe to Field Filler Joe to Start and Park Joe. IT'S A FREAKING DISGRACE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE START AND PARKERS IN THE ALL-STAR RACE!! AT LEAST GIVE AN HONEST EFFORT!! NASCAR SHOULD WITHHOLD YOUR EARNINGS FROM THE RACE; YOU STOLE MONEY FROM THEM YOU BASTARD!! AT LEAST NORM BENNING PUT FORTH AN HONEST EFFORT WITH AN UNDERFUNDED TEAM AND RAN ALL 40 LAPS OF THE RACE!!
THE UGLY
Start and Parkers: WHY do we have to have these guys in the All-Star Race? If you can't run a full race, THEN DON'T RUN THE RACE AT ALL!!!
Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to come in with yours.
THE GOOD
Kurt Busch: as the race winner, he gets first billing. He did win the first segment of the Challenge, and was near the front for the whole 100 laps. Props go out to the Brew Crew(looking forward to seeing you guys at Sonoma) for doing a GREAT job in fixing the Blue Deuce during the 10 minute break after he slapped the wall hard. The Deuce may not have been a thing of beauty to look at, but for Roger Penske, it was the most beautiful sight in the world when the Deuce took the checkered flag. Good job Kurt and Crew!!
Martin Truex, Jr.: he was the winner of the transition race. That alone deserves a Good slot. While he hung out at the back in the Challenge, that strategy kept him in good stead, particularly when the Big One hit very early in the final segment of the race. Had there been one more lap to go, I think Truex could have pulled it out. This bodes well for Truex and the NAPA crew as the Chase nears. Another Good goes out to Truex for having the fastest lap of the race.
Joey Logano: although he didn't lead a lap, he managed to pick his way and did a great job in not being a part of the Big One. That alone put him in a position to win, and although he didn't win, he learned a lot about the race and what he can do in the future. Good job Joey!
Denny Hamlin: he led two laps and was in a position to win it, but he slapped the wall late and lost his momentum. He got into an on-track tiff with his teammate Kyle Busch when Busch had a run on him and Hamlin cut him off. I don't blame Hamlin; he's trying to win the race, and there was no contact made.
Greg Biffle: he raced his way into the Challenge with a second-place finish in the transition race. For awhile, it looked like he had a car that could win the All-Star Race. He avoided trouble for the most part and had a solid finish. Good job Biff!
THE BAD
Joe Nemechek: he was the first to start and park in the Showdown. You're beyond Field Filler Joe now; you're Start and Park Joe. You went from Front Row Joe to Field Filler Joe to Start and Park Joe. IT'S A FREAKING DISGRACE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE START AND PARKERS IN THE ALL-STAR RACE!! AT LEAST GIVE AN HONEST EFFORT!! NASCAR SHOULD WITHHOLD YOUR EARNINGS FROM THE RACE; YOU STOLE MONEY FROM THEM YOU BASTARD!! AT LEAST NORM BENNING PUT FORTH AN HONEST EFFORT WITH AN UNDERFUNDED TEAM AND RAN ALL 40 LAPS OF THE RACE!!
THE UGLY
Start and Parkers: WHY do we have to have these guys in the All-Star Race? If you can't run a full race, THEN DON'T RUN THE RACE AT ALL!!!
Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to come in with yours.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly -- Kobalt Tools 500
This week, the Crappafoni Pictures crew is in the heart of the South, the ATL, for this week's edition of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, complete with all the fixin's. Enjoy!
THE GOOD
Kurt Busch: as the race winner, he gets first billing. He led 130 laps and benefited from a bottleneck on the last restart when Juan Pablo Montoya spun his tires. With the win, Busch moves up to tenth in the points standings, and reestablishes himself as a title contender. Good job guys!
Matt Kenseth: he hung around the top ten for most of the race, then when it was go time, he went. Although he never led a lap, he was pretty consistent. Kudos go out to the #17 crew for consistently good stops.
Juan Pablo Montoya: this was a MUCH needed strong run by JPM. He led three laps, got the five bonus points, and was consistently in the top 5 throughout the race. The real test is in two weeks at the bullring known as Bristol.
Kasey Kahne: he led the most laps (143), but was snakebit by that bottleneck on the final restart. Another driver that needed a strong run and got it. The ATL was the tonic this team needed.
Paul Menard: I'm usually putting this guy in the Bad or Ugly category, but not today. He had a VERY strong run, even leading a couple of laps. He belongs in the Good category today.
AJ Allmendinger: the Dinger started out slowly, but got better as the race went on. He escaped a mini-Big One late in the race.
Richard Petty Motorsports: a GREAT day for The King, with drivers finishing 4th through 6th. Even Elliott Sadler had a top 20 run, finishing 19th.
Kevin Harvick: his car was a piece of crap to start with. He started 36th and was stuck in the lower half of the standings, even falling a lap down at one point. Late in the race, he got a wave around, then got a quick caution that he sorely needed. The 29 crew showed their mettle in sticking with the car, and it got better as the race went on. It also helped that many other drivers had tire issues, and Harvick didn't. To battle back to a ninth place finish is nothing short of amazing. Harvick keeps his points lead going into Bristol, with Kenseth in second place. Could this be the year that Happy dethrones JJ as champion?
Honorable Mention: Brian Vickers, Greg Biffle, and Scott Speed.
THE BAD
Carl Edwards: what was that, racing and eventually dumping, Brad Keselowski? You were OVER 100 laps down. Yes, Kes made contact with you early in the race, but you should have remembered from Talladega last year he doesn't back down. NASCAR was right in parking your ass for dumping Kes, costing him a top 10 finish. I'd say a one-race suspension is appropriate.
Michael McDowell: he was the first start and parker. Thanks for playing.
THE UGLY
Carl Edwards: see above.
Tires: there were MANY drivers that had tire issues. Even Jimmie Johnson was having issues. The issues affected Hendrick and Gibbs drivers the most.
Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to come in with yours!
THE GOOD
Kurt Busch: as the race winner, he gets first billing. He led 130 laps and benefited from a bottleneck on the last restart when Juan Pablo Montoya spun his tires. With the win, Busch moves up to tenth in the points standings, and reestablishes himself as a title contender. Good job guys!
Matt Kenseth: he hung around the top ten for most of the race, then when it was go time, he went. Although he never led a lap, he was pretty consistent. Kudos go out to the #17 crew for consistently good stops.
Juan Pablo Montoya: this was a MUCH needed strong run by JPM. He led three laps, got the five bonus points, and was consistently in the top 5 throughout the race. The real test is in two weeks at the bullring known as Bristol.
Kasey Kahne: he led the most laps (143), but was snakebit by that bottleneck on the final restart. Another driver that needed a strong run and got it. The ATL was the tonic this team needed.
Paul Menard: I'm usually putting this guy in the Bad or Ugly category, but not today. He had a VERY strong run, even leading a couple of laps. He belongs in the Good category today.
AJ Allmendinger: the Dinger started out slowly, but got better as the race went on. He escaped a mini-Big One late in the race.
Richard Petty Motorsports: a GREAT day for The King, with drivers finishing 4th through 6th. Even Elliott Sadler had a top 20 run, finishing 19th.
Kevin Harvick: his car was a piece of crap to start with. He started 36th and was stuck in the lower half of the standings, even falling a lap down at one point. Late in the race, he got a wave around, then got a quick caution that he sorely needed. The 29 crew showed their mettle in sticking with the car, and it got better as the race went on. It also helped that many other drivers had tire issues, and Harvick didn't. To battle back to a ninth place finish is nothing short of amazing. Harvick keeps his points lead going into Bristol, with Kenseth in second place. Could this be the year that Happy dethrones JJ as champion?
Honorable Mention: Brian Vickers, Greg Biffle, and Scott Speed.
THE BAD
Carl Edwards: what was that, racing and eventually dumping, Brad Keselowski? You were OVER 100 laps down. Yes, Kes made contact with you early in the race, but you should have remembered from Talladega last year he doesn't back down. NASCAR was right in parking your ass for dumping Kes, costing him a top 10 finish. I'd say a one-race suspension is appropriate.
Michael McDowell: he was the first start and parker. Thanks for playing.
THE UGLY
Carl Edwards: see above.
Tires: there were MANY drivers that had tire issues. Even Jimmie Johnson was having issues. The issues affected Hendrick and Gibbs drivers the most.
Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to come in with yours!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly -- Dickies 500
This week, the Crappafoni Pictures crew is deep in the heart of Texas for this week's serving of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, served up BBQ-style with grilled corn and all the fixin's. Enjoy!
THE GOOD
Kurt Busch: he gets first billing as the race winner. Between him and his brother Kyle, they led most of the laps in the race. He was able to save fuel due to a great pit stop on Lap 267. Kudos go out to the Blue Crew for consistent pit stops.
Kyle Busch: he led the most laps in the race and had the best car, but fuel mileage bit him in the rear. He was trying to win the Texas Trifecta but came up short, finishing in 11th.
Denny Hamlin: was that the quietest second place finish I've seen in a long time? I think it was, because he was in downtown Dallas (or so it seemed) when Kurt Busch crossed the finish line. Although he gained two positions in the points, it's too little too late.
Matt Kenseth: he had a strong car all race long, and was in the top 10 for most of the race. He may have made the move of the race when he recognized he would be short on his original estimate and pitted with 20 laps to go. That move gave him a third place finish.
Mark Martin: he hung out in the top 10 for the whole race. He was able to stretch his fuel mileage to a fourth place finish and gain HUGE ground on teammate and points leader Jimmie Johnson. Martin took full advantage of the opening left by Johnson.
Kevin Harvick: although he never led a lap, he kept moving up slowly at the drop of the green flag. The #29 kept gaining spots with each pit stop. He ran out of fuel at the end, but had enough to finish fifth.
Honorable Mention: Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Greg Biffle, AJ Allmendinger.
THE BAD
Start and Parkers: you people know who you are. You're a blight on the NASCAR landscape. Perhaps NASCAR should consider reducing the field from 43 to 38 or even 36 cars. But even then, you may get one that qualifies well, then parks after 10 laps. The record to my knowledge is held by P.J. Jones, who parked after TWO laps at Sonoma. I'm waiting for the day when someone parks just before taking the green flag.
ABC's coverage: it was downright HORRID. That's all I'll say about it. I lay the blame on the director or directors for the putrid coverage.
THE UGLY
Jimmie Johnson: he was involved in a three-car accident with Sam Hornish Jr and David Reutimann on Lap 3. Reutimann made incidental contact with Hornish, who then made contact with Johnson. Johnson nearly saved it, then cut across the track and made contact with Hornish. Needless to say, the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet suffered heavy damage. Johnson took a major hit in the points, losing over 100 points to Mark Martin.
Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to come in with yours.
THE GOOD
Kurt Busch: he gets first billing as the race winner. Between him and his brother Kyle, they led most of the laps in the race. He was able to save fuel due to a great pit stop on Lap 267. Kudos go out to the Blue Crew for consistent pit stops.
Kyle Busch: he led the most laps in the race and had the best car, but fuel mileage bit him in the rear. He was trying to win the Texas Trifecta but came up short, finishing in 11th.
Denny Hamlin: was that the quietest second place finish I've seen in a long time? I think it was, because he was in downtown Dallas (or so it seemed) when Kurt Busch crossed the finish line. Although he gained two positions in the points, it's too little too late.
Matt Kenseth: he had a strong car all race long, and was in the top 10 for most of the race. He may have made the move of the race when he recognized he would be short on his original estimate and pitted with 20 laps to go. That move gave him a third place finish.
Mark Martin: he hung out in the top 10 for the whole race. He was able to stretch his fuel mileage to a fourth place finish and gain HUGE ground on teammate and points leader Jimmie Johnson. Martin took full advantage of the opening left by Johnson.
Kevin Harvick: although he never led a lap, he kept moving up slowly at the drop of the green flag. The #29 kept gaining spots with each pit stop. He ran out of fuel at the end, but had enough to finish fifth.
Honorable Mention: Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Greg Biffle, AJ Allmendinger.
THE BAD
Start and Parkers: you people know who you are. You're a blight on the NASCAR landscape. Perhaps NASCAR should consider reducing the field from 43 to 38 or even 36 cars. But even then, you may get one that qualifies well, then parks after 10 laps. The record to my knowledge is held by P.J. Jones, who parked after TWO laps at Sonoma. I'm waiting for the day when someone parks just before taking the green flag.
ABC's coverage: it was downright HORRID. That's all I'll say about it. I lay the blame on the director or directors for the putrid coverage.
THE UGLY
Jimmie Johnson: he was involved in a three-car accident with Sam Hornish Jr and David Reutimann on Lap 3. Reutimann made incidental contact with Hornish, who then made contact with Johnson. Johnson nearly saved it, then cut across the track and made contact with Hornish. Needless to say, the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet suffered heavy damage. Johnson took a major hit in the points, losing over 100 points to Mark Martin.
Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to come in with yours.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Gas and Go--Loudon (Chase race)
This week's Gas and Go comes to you from Loudon. Since this is the first race in the Chase, it's a special Gas and Go.
- You might not want to win this particular race: only Kurt Busch in 2004 has gone on to win the Championship.
- You DO want to have a good finish to set up the rest of the Chase. Kyle Busch came into the Chase last season on a roll. He suffered misfortune and went into a freefall during the Chase.
- In 2000, Jeff Burton won this race. He led every lap en route to the win, becoming only the fourth driver in NASCAR history to achieve this remarkable feat. He started second, took the lead after the first lap, and it was sayonara to the rest of the field.
- Sadly, with the advent of debris cautions, we may not ever see Burton's feat achieved again.
- Because of the terrorist attacks on 9/11/01, this race was postponed until 11/23/01. Robby Gordon won that particular race, highlighted by a game of bumper cars with Jeff Gordon. The win was Robby Gordon's first NASCAR win, and his first win with Richard Childress Racing. In fact, it was Childress' first win as a car owner at this track. (Kevin Harvick would win this race from the pole in 2006)
- Look for the usual suspects to run strong: Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jimmie Johnson.
- Since this Gas and Go is so late, I won't pick Montoya as my predicted winner.
Predicted Race Winner: Kurt Busch.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Gas and Go--Chicagoland
This week's Gas and Go comes from the heart of the Midwest, Chicago and Chicagoland Raceway. I will offer some insights and takes on this week's race.
- Construction on the site began in August 1999. It wasn't until May 2000 that it was officially named Chicagoland Raceway.
- The Raceway complex consists of a 1.5 mile D-shaped oval, a state of the art NHRA drag strip, and a dirt track. The complex sits on 930 acres, and provides 500 acres of free parking for more than 50,000 vehicles.
- The first NASCAR Winston Cup race took place on July 15, 2001, the Tropicana 400. From sixth position, rookie driver Kevin Harvick won the inaugural race at Chicagoland. He would repeat the feat the following year, starting from the 32nd position.
- Along with Harvick, Tony Stewart is the only other two-time winner (2004 and 2007).
- Hard to believe, but no Ford driver has ever won at this track. Chevrolet has dominated, winning six of the eight races. (Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon are the other Chevrolet drivers that have won.) Ryan Newman (Dodge) won in 2003 and Kyle Busch (Toyota) won last year.
- Could this be the year that Ford breaks its winless streak at the track? Look for Matt Kenseth to be strong.
Predicted Race Winner: Kurt Busch. Busch has been stout at the 1.5 milers, and this time he breaks through.
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