Biffle Embarrasses the Field at pocono
Greg Biffle's Winning Pit Stop. Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
Greg Biffle said he was embarrassed by the performance of his No. 16 Ford in the early going of the Sunoco Red Cross 500 at Pocono Raceway today. But by the end of the race it was Biffle embarrassing the rest of the field by opening up a 5 second lead over 2nd place Tony Stewart.
“This one’s for Jack,” Biffle said as he streaked toward the checkered flag. Team owner Jack Roush was injured in a private jet crash earlier this week.
This was one of those races where just when you think you have everything figured out, everything changed.
Greg Biffle never had a winning car until the final pit stop, when he took 2 tires to gain track position. Jeff Gordon, who looked to have the car to beat at that point took 4 tires and re-started 13th. Gordon was never a factor after that.
But it was Sam Hornish who almost walked away with the victory after staying on the track during the final round of pit stops and inheriting the race lead. The race was red flagged for rain with Hornish being shown as the race leader. It looked for a while like the race would be called. But the rain stopped in time and racing resumed.
Elliott Sadler has Engine Problems
Elliott Sadler's Engine
It was Elliott Sadler and Kurt Busch who were caught in the big wreck today. Sadler took one of the hardest hits NASCAR has seen in a long time, crashing his No. 19 straight into the corner of steel and earth reinforced guardrail. The impact was so violent that the engine was ripped from his car and landed several hundred feet down the racetrack. It was almost surreal when the car was towed back to the garage by one tow truck, and then a few minutes later along comes another wrecker carrying the engine.
After climbing from the car with a dazed look on his face Sadler had to lie down on the race track to catch his breath. Eventually he got up and walked to the waiting ambulance under his own power.
As much as anyone wants to complain about the COT — I have to remember that the reason for it is driver safety. Without that car Elliott Sadler does not walk away.
Busch Angry with Johnson
Kurt Busch later blamed Jimmie Johnson for starting the wreck. “Jimmie drove through us,” said an angry Busch.
Jimmie Johnson looked to have the car to beat early in today’s race. Johnson led 96 laps – more than any other driver — but he and Chad Knaus got behind on adjustments to the car as the race progressed and saw what had been a dominating performance turn into a struggle to keep up.
Usually the No. 48 team is the master of keeping up with the race track. But not today.
A Nice Crowd
The grandstands and campgrounds at Pocono were jam packed today. A nice turnaround from last week at Indy. It’s time for NASCAR to re-think holding races at tracks that don’t support it. The fans have spoken with their race tickets.
Have Your Say
I’d like to know what your thoughts are on today’s race. What did you see and how did you feel about it? Your opinion counts – so have at it.
Ban NASCAR Motorhomes for Better Racing
Get rid of the driver’s motorhome lot and you’ll instantly see a pickup in the on track competition level in NASCAR.
Drivers have become a little too friendly with each other – and that has led to too much give and take on the race track. When drivers become too friendly with each other they are less likely to race each other hard when it counts.
Drivers don’t need to be pals, buddies and friends. They need to be rivals, foes and enemies to the bitter end.
When drivers spend the weekend camping out in the infield they end up visiting with other drivers in the motorhome lot. They grill steaks, tell stories, play video games and gather up for poker.
NASCAR drivers have become just a little too friendly with each other.
When Jimmie Johnson goes over to Jeff Gordon’s motorhome for dinner the day before a big race it makes it that much harder for Jeff to give Jimmie the bump and run on race day.
When Kyle Busch shows up at Dale Earnhardt Jr’s motorhome for online racing that makes Junior think twice before moving Kyle out of the racing groove.
There was a lot more racing and a lot less giving up positions before drivers started bringing their motorhomes to the racetrack.
NASCAR, ban the motorhomes and let’s have at it boys.
NASCAR’s Secret Penalty System is Wrong
Did NASCAR fine Dale Earnhardt Jr for something he said? Or was it Kyle Busch, or Jimmie Johnson?
NASCAR Director of Corporate Communications Ramsey Poston has admitted that two star drivers have been fined for making remarks about NASCAR and the way it runs races. But Poston did not say who was fined or what was said that NASCAR didn’t like.
A secret penalty system is a little bit suspect. NASCAR needs to be more transparent. If they are covering up the fact that divers are being punished it makes people wonder what else is being kept under wraps.
One driver was fined as much as $50,000 for making comments disparaging to NASCAR, according to the Associated Press.
Poston defended NASCAR’s actions as protecting its brand.
“It is the sanctioning body’s obligation on behalf of the industry and our fans to protect the sport’s brand,” Poston said. “Any action taken by NASCAR has nothing to do with the drivers expressing an opinion. It’s focused on actions or comments that materially damage the sport. We have specifically discussed this in meetings with teams, drivers and stakeholders.”
If a driver makes comments that are not true, and that drive fans and sponsors away from NASCAR, then they should be fined. But the fine and the reason for it should be made public.
But if a driver is stating a fact or arguing his point he should not be fined for it. There is a line somewhere – we just don’t know if that line was crossed because all this was handled in the back room.
Where do you think that line is? What should drivers be allowed to say without fear of retribution? Do you agree with NASCAR’s secret penalties?
Dale Earnhardt at a Loss for Words
Dale Earnhardt had to climb out of his No. 3 Chevy and turn the wheel over to relief driver Mike Skinner in the 1996 Brickyard 400. Earnhardt was recovering from injuries suffered in a previous race and drove the car until the first caution in order to get credit for starting the race.
You can see the emotion on Dale’s face. He could hardly speak and very obviously did not want to give that car up.
On a side note – take a look at the people in the grandstands. They had a very impressive crowd that day.
What the video and you’ll understand how badly Dale wanted to race.
NASCAR’s Power Shift
Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
McMurray’s Indy Win Shows NASCAR’s Shift of Power.
Jamie McMurray’s win Sunday at the Brickyard was a popular one among NASCAR fans and drivers.
Many of McMurray’s on track competitors stopped by at the end of the race to congratulate him. And race fans that would normally be pulling for Dale Earnhardt Jr, or Kyle Busch, or Jeff Gordon were happy to see McMurray win if their driver could not.
That was McMurray’s 2nd big win this year. The first being the Daytona 500.
But beyond that, McMurray’s win signals a fundamental shift in power among NASCAR teams. Hendrick Motorsports is not what it used to be. And neither is Roush Racing.
McMurray gave Roush their last victory, and that was at Talladega last year.
Even the Joe Gibbs Racing hot streak seems to have cooled off.
But McMurray’s team has rallied. Not long ago both Chip Ganassi and Teresa Earnhardt were almost out of business. Instead they merged their two teams to form Earnhardt Ganassi racing. Now they are poised to be the next big thing.
Richard Childress Racing has also seen a resurgence this year. And it doesn’t hurt that Childress has partnered with Ganassi and Earnhardt to form ECR Engines which produces engines for both teams. Judging by the performance of the Earnhardt Ganassi teams and the RCR teams the ECR engine shop produced the most reliable and most powerful engines for Indy.
McMurray wasn’t the only fast car powered by ECR engines. His teammate Juan Pablo Montoya led the most laps. Kevin Harvick finished 2nd with an engine from the same shop. 4 of the top 6 finishers were powered by ECR engines.
And don’t forget that David Reutimann scored a win for Michael Waltrip Racing not long ago at Chicago.
The competition level has evened out lately. The powerhouse teams have fell off – and the guys who used to be underdogs are now contenders. And I am not sure exactly what to attribute it to. What about you?
Why Dale Earnhardt was the First Man to Win NASCAR’s Brickyard 400
First of all let me apologize for asking a tricky question like “Who was the first man to win the Brickyard 400?”
Now let me tell you the back story of where all this is going. 
Jeff Gordon did in fact win the first Brickyard 400 on August 6, 1994. But the question was not who won the first one.
Dale Earnhardt won the second Brickyard 400 on August 5, 1995.
Earnhardt was making the TV talk show rounds to talk about the race the following week when he proudly proclaimed “I’m the first man to win that race.”
The host looked a little puzzled and asked Earnhardt about Jeff Gordon’s win the previous year. Dale simply flashed that sly trademark grin of his and said “Wonderboy?”
Dale was a master of intimidating his rivals both on and off the track, and the rivalry between Earnhardt and Gordon was about as hot as it gets at that time. One of the two had the car to beat almost every week.
Dale’s Wonderboy comment was just another of his calculated moves to gain a slight edge over Gordon.
Congratulations to mamadonia. Your name was selected from all the correct answers.
NASCAR Is Too Easy on Carl Edwards
NASCAR penalized Carl Edwards 60 Championship Points and placed him on probation until December 31, 2010 for knocking Brad Keselowski into the wall and causing 9 other drivers to wreck on the last lap at Gateway International Raceway Saturday Night.
Edwards was also fined $25,000.
After Edwards took the checkered flag he admitted that he intentionally dumped Keselowski in order to collect the win.
Probation and a 60 point penalty did not go nearly far enough. NASCAR should have parked Carl Edwards for a minimum of one week. And that includes Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series racing.
This was the second serious crash Edwards has intentionally caused this year. Does someone have to be seriously injured or killed before NASCAR parks Carl Edwards?
Edwards needs to sit at home for a while.
NASCAR added insult to injury by placing Brad Keselowski on probation alongside Edwards. But Keselowski was not penalized with points or fines.
NASCAR, why would you put a driver on probation for being wrecked on purpose?
When Edwards turned Brad Keselowski sideways Saturday night and Kieslowski’s car was nailed at high speed one man said “Don’t kill my boy!”
That man has 87 NASCAR racing starts. He is also Brad Kieslowski’s father, Bob.
Bob Keselowski has threatened to dust off his firesuit and take care of Edwards himself. I don’t think he will have to. Someone will put Carl Edwards in his place soon enough
Who do you think will take care of Carl Edwards first?
First Man to Win the Brickyard 400
This contest is closed. For the answer please click here.
Update: Here’s a hint — it is not Jeff Gordon.
NASCAR Indy Trivia Contest
Who was the first man to win NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?
Big Bill France first approached the bigwigs at Indy about running a stock car race at Indy in the 1950’s – but the Indy folks would have nothing to do with the rowdy stock car crowd.
So Big Bill decided to build his own track. You might have heard of it. A little place called Daytona International Speedway.
It would take about 40 years for the folks at Indy to come around and invite the NASCAR drivers over for what was originally going to be a one race deal called the Brickyard 400.
But the bosses at Indy didn’t really want the race to be a success. They even blocked off 20,000 seats from ticket sales so that the Brickyard 400 wouldn’t outsell the Indy 500.
So here’s the trivia question. Who was the first man to win NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 at Indy.
Think you know who it was? Leave your answer below. We’ll draw from all the correct answers. The winner gets a license plate featuring the first man to win the Brickyard.
Is wrecking someone for the win okay in NASCAR?
Carl Edwards thinks so. Edwards was running 2nd when he intentionally caused a 10 car crash on the final lap just before the finish line.
Brad Keselowski had the lead coming to the checkered flag at Gateway Saturday night when Carl Edwards hooked the rear of Brad Keselowski’s No. 22 Dodge — on purpose — just a few yards from the finish line.
Edwards move sent Keselowski hard into the wall before bouncing back into the racing groove where the No. 22 car slammed into him like a freight train.
10 cars were involved in the last lap melee caused by an over-eager driver who hadn’t seen Victory Lane in a while. That was a pure desperation move by Carl Edwards.
That kind of racing was not what NASCAR had in mind when they said “have at it boys, and have a good time.”
Some people say that what Carl Edwards did was jus Saturday night short-track racing. Well let me tell you something. When somebody pulls a move like that at a Saturday night race at a local track they don’t get away with it for very long. Usually they don’t get out of the track in one piece – and when they show up to race again someone usually takes care of it, especially when you wreck 10 cars.
This is not the first time Edwards has intentionally wrecked Keselowski. But this time there were 9 other drivers involved. Last time Edwards was immediately parked, but so far no response from NASCAR on the latest incident.
Carl Edwards is supposed to be one of the 43 best race car drivers in the world. So why does he have to intentionally wreck Brad Keselowski to win the race?
Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
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