My NASCAR Race Blog

No one likes a rain shortened race, except perhaps the race winner. But when it’s the Daytona 500, it is especially aggravating. Somewhere I read the suggestion that the race should be run earlier in the day and taped if the networks want to show it later, during prime time. At least that way there would be a better chance for the whole race to be run. All in all, though, it was a pretty good week of racing leading up to the 500.

I was pleased to see Jeff Gordon running up in the front, and of course, winning one of the Duals. Hopefully that is a portend of things to come this season.

I should mention that Matt Kenseth won the 500. So I just did. And Junior? Sometimes he is his own worst enemy, although one of the pit issues was not necessarily all his fault. Why on earth the pit crew kept servicing his car when the official was telling them his car was over the white line? Where was the crew chief? Surely it is someone’s job in the pit box to be watching the line official!

Tags: Dale Earnhardt Jr, Daytona, Daytona 500, Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth by Colleen
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I read several articles last week, prior to the Martinsville race, about Mr. Martinsville. How Jimmie Johnson currently held that title, previously held by Jeff Gordon, and so on. So, did Denny Hamlin become the new Mr. Martinsville, since he won on Sunday? Not given that Gordon finished second and Johnson fourth.

Other items of note at Martinsville:

• Kyle Petty not qualifying. Has Kyle lost some of his drive for racing? He does a great job as a commentator behind the television camera. Perhaps it is time for him to think about letting someone else drive full-time for Petty Enterprises?
• Kyle Busch shows (once again) his lack of maturity in the Craftsman Truck race Friday night.
• Those Hendricks Teams seemed to have Martinsville figured out – they finished second, fourth, sixth and seventh!
• We are all just holding our breath, waiting for Junior to post his first win with the 88. It is nice to see him having so much fun racing this year, although he still has a tendency to complain (whine?) when his car is not running just as he thinks it ought to be.
• Jamie McMurray finishing so well that he’s now out of the “go or go homer’s” next week! Great job, Jamie!
• Matt Kenseth needs to develop a little subtlety. Revenge is sweet, but not if NASCAR penalizes you two laps for it!
• Stolen swaybar or just a mislaid part? Roush vs. Toyota? More to come with that saga, I am sure!

Tags: Dale Earnhardt Jr, Denny Hamlin, Hendricks, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Kyle Petty, Martinsville, Matt Kenseth, Petty Enterprises, Roush, Toyota by admin
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Isn’t it interesting that we did not hear race winner Ryan Newman’s name mentioned during race week as a potential winner?  Winning the 50th running of the Daytona 500 was a fantastic way to end his long dry spell.

Of all the Hendrick’s cars, only Junior fared well.  I certainly hope that is just a fluke and not an indication of future problems.  Gordon was running well, though, until he had that suspension issue.

It certainly was an interesting start to this 2008 season.

Tags: Dale Earnhardt Jr, Daytona, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman by admin
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