Author: Ron Thornton

Well, we learned that we got ourselves a real Chase for the 2010 Sprint Cup championship that should last until the final lap of next Sunday’s finale in Florida. Instead of calling the engraver to start putting Denny Hamlin’s name on the trophy, he heads back east with a slim 15 point margin over Jimmie Johnson, with Kevin Harvick just 46 away. That fat lady who does all the singing when it is time to turn out the lights at the end of the party has to wait just a bit longer before she can begin to warble.

We learned again that sometimes you can be the star of the show but it means squat if you have to surrender the lead you had held most of the day in order to take on fuel when others do not. Hamlin went with a gas and go with 14 to go that allowed his competitors to dodge a bullet, unlike one of Dick Cheney’s buddies, and stay in the hunt. Instead, the lead (rhymes with led) went directly into Hamlin’s foot, and he wasn’t happy about it.

We learned that Harvick would finish sixth, but he had to dig like hell to do that. We hear he won’t be stealing the pit crew from team mates Clint Bowyer or Jeff Burton even though a hung lug nut dropped him from sixth to 19th with 81 laps to go. Happy probably wasn’t as he had to make up a lot of ground just to get back to where he had started from. If nothing else, it should serve notice as to what Hamlin and Johnson can expect if they should stumble at Homestead.

We learned that putting Jeff Gordon’s over the wall guys with Johnson was good for the defending champ, and not so good for the other four time king. Jimmie gained spots in the pits and finished fifth, Gordon lost a few and wound up 11th. That is the difference between being in the Chase, and being in the running for the title.

We learned that Carl Edwards still knows how to do his flip as he won for the first time since they raced at Homestead in 2008. Not only that, but he rushed through the gate into the stands to find himself in the middle of the most traffic he has seen since Talladega. He might have got mobbed by the fans, but it sure looked easier to do than trying to climb the fence, ala Tony Stewart. I wonder why Smoke never thought of going through, instead of up?

We learned that when you add a gas can to the 18.7 gallons already in the tank, a car might get really good fuel milage. However, the tank left hanging on Kasey Kahne’s spoiler was empty and apparently violated the rule about leaving the pits with equipment. I am happy to report that when he came back in to have it removed, he didn’t flip off anyone and was allowed to leave.

We learned that Krissie Newman did not give birth during the race, that Ron Hornaday did not have to replace Ryan behind the wheel, allowing the Rocketman to finish second. NASCAR’s own baby boy, the 20-year old Joey Logano, was third.

We learned that some of the boys thought the track was wider than it was. Jamie McMurray’s spoiler was left hanging after he bounced off the fence, but he still managed a top ten. You begin to wonder if the templates only slow down a car, while beating the crap out of it on the track makes improvements Smoky Yunick could have only dreamed about.

We learned that if you wait long enough, good things can happen. You might have read my thoughts as to just how awful the team of Rusty, Brad, and Ray have been on the ESPN broadcasts. Well, last Sunday was their finest hour as they provided commentary that was both informative and entertaining. Yes, I was shocked, too. While none of them are in the same league as Kyle Petty, the trio actually gave me info on Sunday that my mother-in-law (who thinks an Allmendinger is what you use to get the nut out of the shell) could not.

We learned that while Chad Knaus exiled his #48 boys to Team Gordon, he once found himself on the bench on the big day. Jeff Gordon won the Daytona 500 in the late 1990’s, but tire changer Knaus had been replaced before the race and wasn’t even at the track. Better things lay ahead, as this will mark the ninth straight year his driver will have finished in the top five in the season standings. That is almost as impressive as four straight titles. Almost.

Of course, five straight championships has even a better ring to it. Will it happen, as Johnson heads to a track he has never won at, where fifth in 2009 was his best finish there in five years? Hamlin won that race last year, has three top threes in the last four held there, and looks like the smart choice to dethrone the king. Then again, a problem in the pits, with a tire, with an engine, or with someone around you, and history won’t mean a thing except for the 2010 champion.

So, what did we learn from Texas?

Well, we learned that if you were going to have an old fashioned wild west shootout, there was no better place to decide matters. Who represented the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly on Saturday afternoon was determined simply by who you liked best, who you wanted to get the gold when it was all over. So we watched as Blondie, Tuco, and Angel Eyes took up their positions.

We learned that, unlike in the original, the bad man sometimes wins. In this version, it was Blondie and Tuco lying in the dust when the credits rolled. Denny Hamlin came alive late and roared off into the sunset to pick up his 8th win of the season, 16th of his career. At least I didn’t have to stick around to watch his post-race interview. There are some drivers I like, some I don’t mind, and a very few I just can’t stand. You can guess where Angel Eyes, er, Denny stands with me. I’m not saying he would not be deserving. I am just saying that I would not be happy about it.

We learned that sometimes unhappiness comes in the form of bad things happening to nice people. Jeff Burton made a mistake and tried to drive beside Jeff Gordon to let him know that. In doing so, he made another mistake, destroyed both cars, got Mr. Gordon upset, got into a slight physical confrontation with the aforementioned Mr. Gordon, and generally gave us all something to talk about it. Bad for the Jeffs, good for us stiffs.

We learned that one man’s misfortune is another man’s new pit crew. Jimmie Johnson’s boys were, well, the pits, costing their driver positions on the track. Right after his team-mate got Burtonized, and faster than you could say Donald Trump, the Lowe’s boys got fired and the Dupont lads got hired. Things went better for Johnson, while his old crew took care of the custodial duties in cleaning up the #24 pit box. Johnson still finished 9th, three spots behind Kevin Harvick. Hamlin is our new series leader, Johnson 33 back, and Harvick 59.

We learned that Greg Biffle was the star of this movie, but after losing a couple of gears his fate would be 5th. Meanwhile, with Gordon’s tough experience, Carl Edwards is now fourth. Should Hamlin finish last the next two races, with the other two contenders just about as unfortunate, and if Carl wins by leading the most laps the final two races, he would be our new champion. Then again, a rose could bloom from my butt. Hey, it could happen.

We learned that in this old world there are few things as traumatic as seeing a guy give the finger to another guy. Kyle Busch got caught speeding, got parked a lap and, after saluting the official with one certain digit with his in-car camera rolling, got parked for another two laps. Oh, the humanity! Sure, there may be those who have lived such a sheltered life, who have such tender sensitivities, that they may view the punishment as deserving. For such people I can only say [middle finger extended].

We learned that NASCAR is still trying to figure out how to keep Cup drivers from winning the Nationwide series. Here is the solution. You take away from any driver’s Nationwide point total the number of Cup points they have earned that season. That should do it…and you are welcome. By the way, that would have given Justin Allgaier the honor, as it should be.

Two races to go as we head to Phoenix where Hamlin has never won, though has finishes between third and sixth in six of his previous ten starts there. It is where Harvick as claimed a couple of victories over the years. However, it is also where Johnson has won four of the last six held there. It is a track on which he has chalked up eight straight top fives, a dozen top tens in 14 tries, and a worst finish of 15th. I wouldn’t exactly count out his drive for five just yet. You could see Blondie rise up yet again as they go for a few dollars more this Sunday. Enjoy the week.

So, what did we learn from Talladega?

Well, we learned it still provides the most exciting racing in NASCAR. Forget about the PVR, I watch every minute, every lap, and every lead change. Who is going to win? Watch the final corner of the final lap and just maybe you might have an idea. You might even watch the end and still need a replay to figure out who finished first.

We learned that was exactly what needed to happen Sunday afternoon as the big wreck on the final lap froze the field, but where and when? We watched as A.J. Allmendinger took flight and laid an all mighty dinger on the wall before coming to rest. We watched to see if Kevin Harvick was still in front, but when they checked the tape it was Clint Bowyer a third of a car length ahead when the caution came out.

We learned that Bowyer didn’t need no replay to be sure he was going to be shaking the suds in Victory Lane. As the officials watched the tape, we watched Bowyer burn his donuts. For the 31 year old, it marks his fourth career win and second of the season. Sure, it may be too late for this season, but it comes as a reminder that he promises to be in the hunt again in 2011.

We learned that Dale Earnhardt Jr could drive the big track like the Junior of old. We also learned that sometimes even masters of the bump draft can screw up, as Junior ruined his day, that of Jeff Burton, as well as Jamie McMurray’s. Oops.

We learned that David Reutimann has become a darn good driver. He has been one to notice most of this season, and he had a whole lot of television exposure during the race last weekend. He wound up fourth, right behind Juan Pablo Montoya and the two leaders.

We learned a cut tire early can finish you. The lack of cautions kept Tony Stewart from getting back on the lead lap until the end, where he finished 31st.

We learned that, unless you are Stewart, you can lose the draft, fall off the lead lap, yet still manage to get things back together in the end to be ninth, two positions behind Jimmie Johnson. Denny Hamlin falls 14 points behind the defending champ, with Harvick 38 away, but things could have gone much worse for the Pied Piper. Just ask Tony.

We learned that two car drafts was the way to go, and go they did. It provided the push that determined the top four on the day. It could have helped Johnson move further ahead, but team mate Jeff Gordon begged off, citing his engine was blowing up. It didn’t. Jeff would wind up between Johnson and Hamlin, in eighth, when it was all over.

We learned that one may qualify 13th for Talladega, but when things get started, they get the heck out of Dodge. As they came to the line, Jeff Fuller yanked his Toyota out of line and faded to the back before the green flag waved. The Joe Nemechek owned entry only lasted two laps, leaving due to a rear end problem. Sure, I believe that. Don’t you?

We learned that Talladega is the bull riding event of this rodeo. It is the Australian rules football game of NASCAR. It is where, when asked if they would like to participate, grown men look at each other and exclaim, “Hell no!” There is something about watching people do things we don’t have the guts to do ourselves. I’m not sure I would like to run those high banks in a go-cart all by my lonesome, never mind in the middle of a 43 car field going 200 mph with my competitors within a yard from each of my fenders. I’m just content to watch.

We learned that you should not drive your pick-up truck with your new Speed Energy drink logos upon it to an event sponsored by Amp Energy drink. Robby Gordon did and his truck got towed off. It should be a fun time for all those Chevrolets, Dodges, and Toyotas that pull into Homestead for the Ford 400. Load ‘em up boys!

Happy Birthday to my sons, who turn 16 on Wednesday. They have started taking their turns behind the wheel. Neither are ready yet for Talladega, but neither is their dad.

Three races to go to determine a champion. When they were in Texas this spring, Hamlin won, Johnson was second, Harvick seventh. A year ago, Hamlin was second. In the spring of 2009, Johnson was the runner-up. Something tells me we will still have a lot yet to figure out after they get done with Texas this Sunday. Enjoy the week.

So, what did we learn from Martinsville?

I learned I like what I saw from that short track. Even though we had some long runs for leaders, there seemed to be a lot of ebb and flow for position all over the track. We had some beating and banging, some who bumped and others who bashed, and tires that went down and cars that went around. It was like watching Talladega in miniature.

We learned that the fat lady has quit warming up and returned to her dressing room. She won’t be warbling anytime soon after Denny Hamlin got back to the front in the late going to snap up his seventh win of the season, and 15th of his career. Now, only six points seperates him from Jimmie Johnson in the standings. Not even 30 years old, there is no denying how good Hamlin has been during his five full seasons. One day, he might not even irritate me.

We learned that even though Kurt Busch has tried to be a model citizen, he can still be an irritating SOB. Just ask Jeff Gordon. He comes in a little hot and gives Busch a shot, who returned the favor by wrecking that other four-time champ. Over the radio Kurt said he was trying to stay off of him. Kurt was lying.

We learned that, unlike F-1, no team mate is just going to pull over for another. Kevin Harvick was third on Sunday, just 62 points out, but Jeff Burton didn’t exactly pull over to give his mate a free pass. They did more rubbing than a pair of freezing boy scouts trying to light a fire. I’m guessing Mr. Childress had a few things to say on Monday to his lads.

We learned that Mark Martin doesn’t need a car out of a showroom to do well. In a car beat to junk, one that had hit the fence, ripped off its rear bumper, and had its tail shoved up into the air, Martin came alive late to charge to second. Most seem to think the radical redesigning of the auto is what actually did the trick. Today, it looks like something Greg Biffle might take to his little track in the bush for some racing with the boys.

We learned that despite a few dud announcers out there (Rusty, Brad) we can still find a few excellent pre-race features on the tube. The feature on Biffle and his little dirt track for junk yard cars and the one on crew chiefs and their drivers were real highlights. It is interesting what one can come up with when you have competent people running the show. Folks who just might actually be race fans.

We learned that sometimes being a focal point in a race doesn’t mean you’ll be there at the end. Marcos Ambrose (cut tire), David Reutimann (turned into the wall), and Ryan Newman (rear end gear) had their moments in the sun before they got their parade rained on.

We learned that Dale Earnhardt Jr could lead a race. For 90 laps Junior Nation saw their man in front, finishing seventh. Heck, even Kenny Schrader led for a few caution laps before being turned into a pinata. Mind you, in his first Cup race in nearly two years, the 55 year old managed an 18th place result. Man, I sure miss that Inside Winston Cup program.

I am not available to answer anything but a call from nature this Sunday afternoon. It is Talladega, baby! Harvick would love to take the sweep, but this is a track where 1st can be 25th from one lap to the next and back again. It is the one to watch even if you don’t know a Petty from an Earnhardt. It is a race where even Rusty and Brad can’t take away from the action. It is Talladega. Enjoy the week.

So, what did we learn from Charlotte last Saturday night?

Well, we learned that NASCAR’s home track for most teams still provides us with good racing that keeps us watching. Kyle Busch has never won a Cup race there, but he once again was the class of the field most of the night. He might have wound up second, but after leading nearly two-thirds of the way he was the star of the evening.

We learned that nice guys can finish first. You sure get the feeling that Jamie McMurray is a nice guy, one who is thankful for where he is and what has happened to him this season. From not being sure where, if anywhere, he might be driving this year, he has claimed wins at three of the circuits most revered venues.

We learned that Jimmie Johnson can get loose, go for a slide, fade back to 37th place, and still wind up third on the day. Now only two drivers, fourth place finisher Denny Hamlin (41) and Kevin Harvick (77), remain within a hundred points of the defending champion with only five events left in the season. You can almost hear the fat lady warming up.

We have learned that there remain those who believe having a driver seek a fifth straight title as being something of a bad thing. What nonsense. We are in a special era that will be long remembered, just as we presently honor the New York Yankees of the 1950’s and the 1960’s Boston Celtics. True dynasties both, yet neither faced 42 competitors as Johnson has faced each race week. Five straight crowns is something to be celebrated and remembered. I hope we get the chance to do just that.

We learned how important an alternator can be, as did Jeff Gordon. No power, no go, and if that wasn’t bad enough, a late speeding penalty in the pits really put this one to bed. He finished 23rd, and while Gordon remains fourth in the hunt, the 156 point deficit has curtailed any celebrations he might have been planning.

We learned that even in North Carolina, the outside lane made more than a few feel like they were on an Alaskan ice road. Kurt Busch was an early victim, as was Ryan Newman. In fact, the Rocket’s problem became that of his boss when Tony Stewart got run into when the boys hit the brakes. None would be a factor.

We learned that it does not matter how many cars you have in the Chase, you might not win if they come together. Clint Bowyer found Jeff Burton cutting across his bow, and hit ramming speed. Neither would be in the top fifteen, though team mate Harvick managed to finish eighth.

We learned that things are not getting better for Dale Earnhardt Jr, and doubtful they will anytime this season. Charlotte found him 29th, the thirteenth time he has been outside the top twenty this campaign. I wish I knew what the problem was and its solution. Whoever does probably could wind up with a lifetime of free drinks at Whiskey River.

Next up is Martinsville, where legends have been known to win a bunch. Those who have won three straight or more there include Fred Lorenzen, Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, and Jimmie Johnson. Denny Hamlin could join them, having won the last two. As he could soon be the only legitimate challenger left for Johnson’s title, this would be the time. Enjoy the week.