pandr
09-01-2011, 03:59 PM
Rewind: No, wrecking isn't racing, just part of it
By Jim Utter - charlotteobserver
Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011
Wrecking isn't racing, only a part of it
Those still complaining about the racing at Bristol Motor Speedway don’t really want to see a race. What they want is a demolition derby.
While that may be what they have become accustomed to over time at the highly banked short track, it is not a true battle of fast cars and driver skill. That is what was on display Saturday night, particularly in the closing laps with winner Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth.
And that is why it was a great race.
Average finish an impressive number
Drivers have won four straight Cup races before, but the list is very short. And aside from those, it's hard to imagine a four-race streak any more impressive than Keselowski’s. He's finished first, second, third and first for an average finish of 1.75.
There are championship seasons that have not produced statistics as good as those.
Bonus lineup stands at 4
The field is set for next weekend’s Sprint Summer Showdown.
A win at Atlanta by one of four drivers – Keselowski, Paul Menard, Marcos Ambrose and Kyle Busch – would trigger a $3 million bonus.
The premise was that the winning driver, his designated charity and a fan would each get $1 million. But since Keselowski has won twice in the program's five races, two fans would split a $1 million share.
NOTES
It turned out a draw
Tony Stewart had a bad race, but so did Clint Bowyer. And Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s wasn’t much to crow about, either.
Earnhardt was the best of the three and finished 16th. Bowyer was 26th and Stewart 28th.
In the end, Earnhardt (ninth) and Stewart (10th) didn’t change their respective positions in the series standings and remain eligible for the Chase with two races left.
Bowyer dropped from 11th to 12th and is 22 points behind Stewart.
“It is no different than it was last week,” Stewart said. “The feeling is the same way; you still want to make it. We’re working hard at it.”
They’re tied at the top
Jimmie Johnson’s fourth-place finish combined with Kyle Busch’s 14th allowed Johnson to move into a tie with Busch atop the series standings.
Technically, Busch remains the leader by virtue of the tiebreaker, three wins to Johnson's one.
“We were knocking on the door all night long and right there fighting for it,” Johnson said. “Great stops on pit road. I had a lot of fun here at Bristol.”
Busch lost momentum after cutting a tire while racing three-wide for position late in the race.
“We never gave up, but we just never could get the car to where it would feel like it had in the past,” Busch said.
Pit road change at Bristol?
It was easily apparent during Saturday night’s race that drivers were using the knowledge of the timing lines on pit road to their advantage.
NASCAR calculates pit road speeds by taking an average between scoring lines. Drivers are given a 5 mph tolerance over the posted speed limit.
A large gap between scoring lines allowed drivers to speed up considerably and then slow dramatically before the next line.
Cup director John Darby said the sanctioning body was considering changes before the series returns to Bristol next season.
“What we are likely to do is install a few more scoring loops on pit road in order to create more segments,” he said.
"It's also one of the advantages that teams realize through qualifying and it shows just how competitive things are."
Things are looking up
Jamie McMurray has had a terrible season, but there have been a couple of bright spots recently.
McMurray ran strong in Saturday night’s race at Bristol and finished fifth – his second top-five finish in the last five races. They are also his only top-fives of the season.
“Once we got moving forward, I had what I thought was one of the best cars on the track,” he said. “Once we got up to the top-four, we were kind of equal to everybody.”
KEY MOMENTS
Lap 5
Jeff Gordon takes the lead for the first time. He would lead a race-high 206 of 500 laps and finish third.
Lap 34
Brad Keselowski takes the lead for the first time, electing to remain on the track while several drivers pit early for fresh tires.
Lap 106
During a round of stops, Kurt Busch is penalized for speeding on pit road. It was the first of two speeding penalties he had to overcome.
Lap 414
Kyle Busch slams the wall and brings out a caution. Taking only two tires, Martin Truex Jr. takes the lead and has Keselowski alongside on the restart.
Lap 421
Keselowski quickly makes his way around Truex for the lead and pulls significantly ahead. He isn’t seriously challenged again and cruises to his third win of the season.
NEXT RACE
AdvoCare 500
Where:* Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Ga.
When:* 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
TV:* ESPN.
Radio:* Performance Racing Network.
Last year’s winner: Tony Stewart.
C/P Thats Racin
By Jim Utter - charlotteobserver
Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011
Wrecking isn't racing, only a part of it
Those still complaining about the racing at Bristol Motor Speedway don’t really want to see a race. What they want is a demolition derby.
While that may be what they have become accustomed to over time at the highly banked short track, it is not a true battle of fast cars and driver skill. That is what was on display Saturday night, particularly in the closing laps with winner Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth.
And that is why it was a great race.
Average finish an impressive number
Drivers have won four straight Cup races before, but the list is very short. And aside from those, it's hard to imagine a four-race streak any more impressive than Keselowski’s. He's finished first, second, third and first for an average finish of 1.75.
There are championship seasons that have not produced statistics as good as those.
Bonus lineup stands at 4
The field is set for next weekend’s Sprint Summer Showdown.
A win at Atlanta by one of four drivers – Keselowski, Paul Menard, Marcos Ambrose and Kyle Busch – would trigger a $3 million bonus.
The premise was that the winning driver, his designated charity and a fan would each get $1 million. But since Keselowski has won twice in the program's five races, two fans would split a $1 million share.
NOTES
It turned out a draw
Tony Stewart had a bad race, but so did Clint Bowyer. And Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s wasn’t much to crow about, either.
Earnhardt was the best of the three and finished 16th. Bowyer was 26th and Stewart 28th.
In the end, Earnhardt (ninth) and Stewart (10th) didn’t change their respective positions in the series standings and remain eligible for the Chase with two races left.
Bowyer dropped from 11th to 12th and is 22 points behind Stewart.
“It is no different than it was last week,” Stewart said. “The feeling is the same way; you still want to make it. We’re working hard at it.”
They’re tied at the top
Jimmie Johnson’s fourth-place finish combined with Kyle Busch’s 14th allowed Johnson to move into a tie with Busch atop the series standings.
Technically, Busch remains the leader by virtue of the tiebreaker, three wins to Johnson's one.
“We were knocking on the door all night long and right there fighting for it,” Johnson said. “Great stops on pit road. I had a lot of fun here at Bristol.”
Busch lost momentum after cutting a tire while racing three-wide for position late in the race.
“We never gave up, but we just never could get the car to where it would feel like it had in the past,” Busch said.
Pit road change at Bristol?
It was easily apparent during Saturday night’s race that drivers were using the knowledge of the timing lines on pit road to their advantage.
NASCAR calculates pit road speeds by taking an average between scoring lines. Drivers are given a 5 mph tolerance over the posted speed limit.
A large gap between scoring lines allowed drivers to speed up considerably and then slow dramatically before the next line.
Cup director John Darby said the sanctioning body was considering changes before the series returns to Bristol next season.
“What we are likely to do is install a few more scoring loops on pit road in order to create more segments,” he said.
"It's also one of the advantages that teams realize through qualifying and it shows just how competitive things are."
Things are looking up
Jamie McMurray has had a terrible season, but there have been a couple of bright spots recently.
McMurray ran strong in Saturday night’s race at Bristol and finished fifth – his second top-five finish in the last five races. They are also his only top-fives of the season.
“Once we got moving forward, I had what I thought was one of the best cars on the track,” he said. “Once we got up to the top-four, we were kind of equal to everybody.”
KEY MOMENTS
Lap 5
Jeff Gordon takes the lead for the first time. He would lead a race-high 206 of 500 laps and finish third.
Lap 34
Brad Keselowski takes the lead for the first time, electing to remain on the track while several drivers pit early for fresh tires.
Lap 106
During a round of stops, Kurt Busch is penalized for speeding on pit road. It was the first of two speeding penalties he had to overcome.
Lap 414
Kyle Busch slams the wall and brings out a caution. Taking only two tires, Martin Truex Jr. takes the lead and has Keselowski alongside on the restart.
Lap 421
Keselowski quickly makes his way around Truex for the lead and pulls significantly ahead. He isn’t seriously challenged again and cruises to his third win of the season.
NEXT RACE
AdvoCare 500
Where:* Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Ga.
When:* 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
TV:* ESPN.
Radio:* Performance Racing Network.
Last year’s winner: Tony Stewart.
C/P Thats Racin