The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly -- Toyota/Save Mart 350

This week, the Crappafoni Pictures crew presents the wine (or whine) and cheese version of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, served up Northern California style.

THE GOOD

Kasey Kahne: as the race winner, he automatically gets first billing. He led the most laps in the race and had the best car out there. He was able to hold off a hard-charging Tony Stewart on several late-race restarts. The win was the first for Richard Petty as a car owner since John Andretti’s win at Martinsville in April 1999. For Kahne, it was his first win on a road course, and he led the final 38 laps of the race. More importantly, the win moves him into 13th place in the standings. Good job Kasey!

Tony Stewart: Smoke had a strong car as well, as he led 11 laps. He kept waiting for Kahne to make a mistake, but it didn’t happen. He was strongest in the middle thirds of the race.

Marcos Ambrose: he had to start at the rear of the field due to an engine change. But he kept plugging away and kept moving up. Plus he was the beneficiary of a caution flag that occurred shortly after he left the pits on a pit stop. He moved way up when several drivers ahead of him pitted during that caution, and he stayed out. He tied his career-best finish of third.

Jimmie Johnson: while he’s not the best on road courses (he’s never won at Sonoma or The Glen), he gets this spot because he dramatically improved on his average finish at Sonoma before this race. While he never led, he hung around and the crew kept working on the 48 to make it better, and the results showed.

Denny Hamlin: another driver with an unexpected result on a road course. Hamlin was stout, leading 33 laps and hanging around the top 5 much of the race.
Honorable Mention: Juan Pablo Montoya, AJ Allmendinger, Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Elliott Sadler, Patrick Carpentier, and Max Papis.

THE BAD

PJ Jones: he did Todd Bodine one worse. He only completed TWO laps before he was done for the day, finishing in an amazing 43rd place. Dead Freaking Last. Dude, next time you pull this crap, give up your spot in the field to someone that wants to RACE. That was a disgrace to NASCAR and sports in general. That left a BAD taste in my mouth.

Dave Blaney: another S & P—this time he completed an amazing FOUR laps to finish 42nd and run off with his paycheck. Both he and Jones probably did faster times running off with their prize money than doing laps on the track DURING the race. Perhaps the FBI should issue posters with both Blaney’s and Jones’ faces on them with the caption: WANTED: ROBBERY AND GRAND LARCENY.

THE UGLY

Jimmie Johnson: it’s rare that I put a driver in both the Good and Ugly categories, but I do this week. Johnson was trying to pass Kurt Busch in the esses. First of all, it’s next to impossible to pass in the esses. Busch was running very well, and his chances of winning evaporated when Johnson punted him and sent him into the tire barrier to bring out a caution at Lap 90.

Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to come in with yours! For all you fellow bloggers that made it to Sonoma, I had a GREAT time! Thank you for a memorable weekend!

Gas and Go--Sonoma

This week's version of Gas and Go takes us to the California Wine Country; more specifically, Sonoma in the Napa Valley of Northern California. For us NoCals, it's the only time NASCAR comes to our neck of the woods. Here are a few observations about Sonoma and the track.

1. Infineon Raceway opened in 1968 under the name Sears Point Raceway on 720 acres of a former dairy farm. The Raceway hosted its first race, an SCCA Enduro, on December 1, 1968.
2. Infineon Raceway hosts 340 days of racing activity each year, making it one of the busiest tracks in the nation. It is also one of the premier racing venues in the nation.
3. The road course features more than 160 feet of elevation change: Turn 3a is 174 feet and Turn 10 is just 14 feet. So not only does a driver have to make both left and right turns, he also has to deal with the vast elevation changes, further testing his mettle.
4. Drivers will make 1,100 turns on the course should they complete all 110 laps.
5. The Toyota/Save Mart 350 is one of the few races measured in kilometers. The race spans 110 laps, or 218.9 miles or 352.21 kilometers.
6. Ricky Rudd won the inaugural Winston Cup race at Sears Point in 1988. He would win his second Sonoma race 14 years later, in 2002. It would end up being his last career win.
7. The late Dale Earnhardt won his only road course race at Sonoma, in 1995.
8. Vallejo's own Jeff Gordon holds the career record for wins at Sonoma: five, including three in a row from 1998-2000. He also won in 2004 and 2006. Home cooking has served him well there. In addition to his five wins, he has also started from the pole five times (1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, and 2005). Could a sixth win be awaiting him in front of his home fans? (Infineon is Gordon's home track)
9. Juan Pablo Montoya won his first Cup race at Sonoma in 2007. He started 32nd, the farthest back that a winner has started. Typically, a prospective winner would want to start within the top 10.
10. Look for the usual suspects to run well: Gordon, Mark Martin, Montoya, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch (the defending race champion). My dark horse: Jamie McMurray. He always seems to run well at Sonoma, and is frequently the best running Roush driver there.

Predicted Race Winner: Juan Pablo Montoya.

Your comments and takes are always welcome!

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly -- Autism Speaks 400

While the Fox Sports crew is bidding farewell to its NASCAR coverage for the 2009 season, the Crappafoni Pictures crew isn't. NOOOOO! We will be here throughout the season to bring you The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. This week's version comes served up with Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and crab cakes. Enjoy!

THE GOOD

Jimmie Johnson: as the race winner, he automatically gets first billing. He led 298 of 400 laps en route to the win. Is there a track where he DOESN'T win at? As long as he and Chad Knaus are together, the 48 team will continue to pile up wins and it won't surprise me to see Johnson finish his career with a triple digit win total. One word of advice, though: LOSE the beard.

Tony Stewart: Smoke led six laps en route to his second place finish. He almost made two tires work, losing a spirited battle with JJ with two laps to go. He's getting closer to that first points win as an owner/driver. Started 31st and finished 2nd, a +29 difference.

Greg Biffle: the Biff led 41 laps and had a strong car all day. He started fifth and finished third, a +2 difference.

Matt Kenseth: he led a number of laps en route to his fourth place finish. He started at his car number, 17, and gained 13 positions. Props also go out to his crew for consistently quick pit stops throughout the race.

Kurt Busch: for a time it looked like he had something for Johnson. But after the last pit stop, the Blue Deuce went backwards. He rallied in time to finish fifth.

Honorable Mention: Carl Edwards, Casey Mears, Mark Martin, Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Burton, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, and Regan Smith. These lead lap drivers all gained at least six positions from their original starting positions.

THE BAD

David Gilliland: it didn't seem that long ago I was lauding Gilliland and putting him in the Good category for solid top 20 runs on a very underfunded team early in the season. He led one lap under caution and guess what? He parked the car after leading the lap. At least Tony Raines had an excuse: he was in an accident after his right front tire exploded and tore up the #37 Long John Silver's Chevrolet. I think Gilly drew the short stick at the Start and Parkers pre-race meeting, held in the Todd Bodine Meeting Room.

Jeff Gordon: I debated about putting him here. But because he finished two laps down and didn't run well all day, I had to. A sub Good for salvaging a 26th place position. He also lost the points lead to Tony Stewart.

AJ Allmendinger: after a strong qualifying run, he proceeded to go backwards at the drop of the green flag. He dropped 22 positions en route to a 29th place finish, four laps down.

THE UGLY

Paul Menard and Robby Gordon: these two hooked up in a pretty good wreck. Thank goodness for the SAFER barrier in the inside wall, as Gordon hit the wall hard. A sub good to both drivers as they were able to finish the race after significant repairs. Another sub good to NASCAR for putting the barrier along the inside wall.

Those are my nominees for the week. Feel free to come in with your nominees for the race.

Gas and Go--Dover (Spring Race 2009)

A few quick takes and observations on this week's race from Dover International Speedway, including some historical perspective.

1. Dover International Speedway first opened in 1969 as Dover Downs (still my preferred name for the track), a unique dual purpose speedway designed for both horse and auto racing. Richard Petty won the first NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup) race, the Mason-Dixon 400, on July 6, 1969.
2. All non-NASCAR sanctioned events are dropped from the schedule after 1971 to focus exclusively on the two 500 mile races.
3. The first of the two 500 mile races exclusive to the track was run on June 4, 1972, as the Mason-Dixon 500. Bobby Isaac was on the pole and Bobby Allison won in a Chevrolet from the outside pole.
4. Bobby Allison leads in all-time Cup wins at the track with seven. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with four wins.
5. Thinking of you: Joe Ruttman.
6. Ruttman won the very first Busch Series (now Nationwide Series) race, the Sportsman 200, in June 1982. How time flies!
7. Dover Downs becomes NASCAR's first concrete paved speedway in 1995.
8. The Craftsman Truck Series (now Camping World Truck Series) had its first race at Dover in September 2000. Kurt Busch won that first race from the pole.
9. Dover Downs becomes Dover International Speedway in 2002. Jimmie Johnson swept the Dover races in that year as a rookie.
10. Kyle Busch won last year's race, and David Reutimann sits on the pole for this year's race.
11. Look for Reutimann to be strong all race long, as well as Busch, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, and Jeff Gordon.

Predicted Race Winner: Carl Edwards.

Post-meeting thoughts

Today, NASCAR had its town hall meeting involving the owners and drivers. While it was a good thing, I can't help but think that Brian France has no intention of dealing with NASCAR's key issues. I can't help but think it was all for show to the press, to give them the impression NASCAR was listening and dealing with its key issues.

Until I plainly see that NASCAR has a comprehensive drug testing program, and give the crew chiefs a little leeway for them to adjust the new car, the meeting was much ado about nothing. It was basically a dog and pony show.

Excuse me for my cynicism, but Brian France has given me no reason to be optimistic. At best, his leadership is inconsistent. At worst, he's in over his head. Until France gives me good reason to be optimistic, I will continue to be wary of any of his pronouncements and judgments.

NASCAR Meeting

NASCAR has scheduled two meetings with the owners and drivers for tomorrow. While I think it's a step in the right direction, an even better idea would be to include the crew chiefs in the two meetings.

I remember last year when the drivers were vociferous in their criticism of the Car of Tomorrow. NASCAR basically told them, "Shut your mouth--this is what you got, and this is what we're going to give you. We're not changing it." Kyle Busch said it best after its debut in 2007 at the spring race in Bristol: "This car sucks." Ironically, Busch won the race, holding off Jeff Burton.

THREE AREAS NASCAR NEEDS TO FOCUS ON:

1. The car itself. The car doesn't handle very well. NASCAR needs to take a look at the idea of allowing some leeway for crew chiefs to adjust the car in order to make it turn better. While NASCAR has done a tremendous job of improving driver safety vis-a-vis the new car, it has come at the sacrifice of car handling. Basically, NASCAR needs to stop micromanaging the new car and let the crew chiefs have SOME leeway. The current testing ban has allowed Goodyear to catch up in its research and development of a softer tire for the new car. Perhaps a wider tire could be the solution, but it's still at least a season away, if not longer.
2. Drug testing. I applaud NASCAR for instituting drug testing. BUT, a more conclusive list of banned substances by NASCAR should be compiled and given out to each member of each team, from the driver down to the crew chief, to the crew members, to the engineers, and so on. NASCAR should also institute a 24-hour hotline for any substance-related questions a driver or crewman may have.
3. Schedule. Currently, NASCAR has 36 races, plus two non-points events, the Bud Shootout and the All-Star Race. It's time to revisit the schedule. With 38 events, NASCAR has overexposed itself. Perhaps it's time to pare down the schedule to 30 races and the two non-points events. Reduce the Chase from 10 races to five races. With more off weeks, a race that is rained out could be made up on one of those off weeks. Have your last off week right before the Chase. Have off weeks on Easter and Mother's Day weekends. NASCAR could still start Speedweeks on the first part of February and end the season in early October at the latest. That way, the NASCAR season ends before the baseball playoffs begin.

These are a few suggestions I would make to NASCAR at their meeting tomorrow. Hopefully some progress can be made. We'll see.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly -- Coca-Cola 600

After two exhausting days, the Crappafoni Pictures crew FINALLY serves you up a soggy, rain-soaked version of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, mid-Atlantic style.

THE GOOD

David Reutimann: as the winner of the race, he automatically gets first billing. He was running well all day, staying in the top 10 much of the day. Yes, it was a rain-shortened win, but NASCAR made the right decision to call the race, as more rain was on the way. He had a good car, and a bold gamble by crew chief Rodney Childers paid off. Childers instructed Reutimann to stay out on the last caution while a lot of other cars pitted. Now it pays off in Reutimann's first Cup win. He becomes the sixth driver to get his first Cup win at the 600. Good job David!

Ryan Newman: the pole sitter led the first two laps and overcame a pit road mistake to finish second. He was stout, other than that mistake.

Robby Gordon: his third place finish was his best result since Watkins Glen in 2005, when he finished second while driving for Richard Childress Racing. Like Reutimann, he stayed out while the leaders pitted and benefitted from the rain.

Carl Edwards: while he didn't lead a lap, he got stronger as the race went on. Would have been a factor had it not been for the rain, as the #99 crew had the car dialed in to the changing conditions.

Kyle Busch: he led the most laps in the race (173) and was stout for the first 200 laps or so.
Brian Vickers: he led 33 laps en route to a top 5 finish. He was at or near the front since the drop of the green flag.

Honorable Mention: Kasey Kahne, Juan Pablo Montoya, Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano.

THE BAD

Richard Childress Racing: they have been bad for a number of weeks now. Until they improve their performance, they will continue to be in the Bad category. When your best finishing driver is 25th (Jeff Burton), you deserve to be in this category.

Weather: it played havoc with both the Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series races. Fortunately, the NNS race was well past the halfway stage before weather played a factor. The Cup race was postponed to today, and weather was again a factor today, eventually cutting short the race.

THE UGLY

Kevin Harvick: even before he and Sam Hornish Jr made contact, Harvick was already backing up from the green flag. He and Hornish made incidental contact in lap 2, cutting a tire and forcing Harvick to the pits. He was never a factor and finished three laps down in 41st. When Tony Raines and Scott Riggs are outrunning you, you belong in the Ugly category. Raines even LED a lap!! HE got the five bonus points!! You're not making the Chase this year; start working towards 2010. Consider this year as a gigantic test session. Start throwing out some CRAZY set-ups to see if they work. Couldn't hurt; hell, it might even help! You're my driver through thick and thin, and it's all going to turn around at some point this season.
Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to come in with yours!