March 26, 2006
Kurt Busch Bumps & Wins at Bristol
(Filed under: Race Recap)It was a typical day at Bristol with sheet metal bending all the way to the end when Kurt Busch tapped former teammate Matt Kenseth for the win. Kenseth was slowed up by Dale Jarrett who was fighting to stay on the lead lap. Kenseth couldn't get around him and Busch lost patience. Kenseth lost two more positions, but ended up finishing third after putting the same bump on Jeff Gordon, who ended up 21st. Of course Gordon also but the bump on somebody, sending the lap down car of Martin Truex, Jr., around. Truex, Jr., came back at Gordon a few laps later, roughing him up until Tony Stewart tapped him and Truex, Jr. careened off the wall on his way to a 38th place finish.
And those were just the highlights in a typical day at Bristol. You gotta love this place.
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Posted by kevin at 5:49 PM | TrackBack
March 20, 2006
Kasey Kahne Wins at Atlanta
(Filed under: Race Recap)Kasey Kahne continued his strong start to the 2006 season with a win today in Atlanta. Other drivers continued strong early season showings, including Mark Martin (second) and Jimmie Johnson (sixth). The trifecta of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart all ran well, placing third, fourth and fifth respecitvely, something Chevy fans haven't seen in a while. Paul Menard and Kyle Petty had strong showings with seventh and eighth place finishes--it sure is good to see Petty in the top 10.
But it wasn't such a good day for a few others, including Bobby Labonte (led early but his engine gave out), Carl Edwards (fastest car until he ran into Dave Blaney on pit road and then blew a tire), Greg Biffle (led a race-high 128 laps but then ran out of gas and finished 16th) and, of course, Kurt Busch, who was run into the wall by Kevin Harvick and the two exchanged some choice expletives (what, Busch has a temper?).
Of course the biggest headlines of the day went to Bill Lester who became the first black driver to race in a Cup series event since 1986. He finished six laps down in 38th place, but it was still a historic run. It's good to see more--OK, any--diversity in NASCAR, but it's kind of pathetic that something like this is getting so much attention.
Posted by kevin at 10:24 PM | TrackBack
March 12, 2006
Jimmie Wins Again at Vegas
(Filed under: Race Recap)Jimmie Johnson continues his streak, scoring his second win in three races, and another example of pulling a strong finish from a car that wasn't entirely dominant. He was certainly up front all day, but the only lap he lead all day was the one that counted.
Matt Kenseth stole most of the show but couldn't hold off Johnson on the last corner of the last lap. Shucks. But the second place finish will certainly help in the points.
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Posted by kevin at 10:02 PM | TrackBack
March 4, 2006
Why Not More Road Courses for NASCAR?
(Filed under: Tracks)With the Busch series going international this weekend and visiting Mexico there's a lot of talk about future tracks and where NASCAR could expand to (and God help me if I have to hear one more person complain about forsaking the heritage and tradition of the south--get over it already). Felix Sabates seems to think NASCAR Nextel Cup will be in Mexico in the next five years and Europe in the next several decades.
But not at the Autrodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course where the Busch series runs. Supposedly NASCAR doesn't want to add more road courses. Apparently two out of 36 races is just enough? I don't get it. The biggest complaint leveled against NASCAR from outsiders is that the drivers only turn left. Boring. When I drive a car a road course is much closer to the kind of driving I do. I'd rather watch the drivers do what I do then go in circles. Can't we at least mix it up a little more?
Everybody pisses and moans when legacy tracks get cut down to only one race per year, but nobody complains that we only visit Watkins Glenn or Infineon once. How about some variety?
I'm watching the Busch race tomorrow simply because it's a road course. Bring on the right turns!
Posted by kevin at 6:55 PM | TrackBack
