NASCAR - Chicago Deja Vu

I've somehow undergone a big transition over the past couple of years when it comes to what type of tracks I like. I used to love the 2-mile tracks like Michigan and California. I used to despise Bristol. Now, I've pulled a 180. I'm actually looking forward to next Saturday's race in Tennessee and planning on NOT watching the race over Labor Day in California (I'd rather sleep). While Michigan isn't exactly the yawner we saw in California earlier this season, it certainly would have been close if not for the rash of blown tires and J.J. Yeley trying to wreck every car in his stable this weekend. Passing was somewhat aplenty, although you wouldn't know it since NBC seems to forget there are actually 43 cars on the track. Did they even mention Tony Stewart at all during the race until he finished third??? I swear they only focused on 5 cars the entire race. Forget about all the battles going on behind the leaders. Hey, NBC, was Bobby Labonte in the race? Derrick Cope? Brian Vickers? Kyle Petty? Dale Jarrett??? (Besides the UPS commercials, did anyone actually see the 88 car on TV yesterday? I didn't.)

I love the high speeds the NASCAR chassis hit at Michigan, but the track is SO wide that it's like watching a few cars racing on a California freeway - almost like there is no danger factor present when, for example, the IRL cars run there.

Three jeers to NASCAR for wayyyyy too many "debris cautions." I wanted to throw my remote at the TV when they threw a caution for - and I'm serious here - a piece of duct tape that was flapping on the track in front of the starter's tower. No kidding.

Tough luck for David Gilliland. This kid has had one hell of a whirlwind year - one most drivers would probably kill for. But, the Yates 2006 Bug bit him pretty hard in his first race. Let's hope he doesn't get too discouraged.

How about Elliot Sadler pulling a near upset for the pole? While I think Sadler wanted to prove a point, I'm guessing the Evernham camp finally put its nose to the grind and gave him the best car they've put together all year.

Congrats to Matt Kenseth on another victory. He and Dale Jr. certainly had the cars to beat yesterday, but Earnhardt used up his lucky charm on Saturday when he won the Busch race (which I missed completely). Methinks Junior will have a short race next Sunday if Carl Edwards has anything to say about it!

Misc. thoughts:

• Man...another top 5 for Mark Martin. He's amazingly consistent, but you have to wonder why he hasn't visited Victory lane in a long time...
  
• Busch Brothers - instead of a 1-2, they got a 39-40!
  
• Will someone please tell NBC to put Bill Weber in a closet the rest of the season? I don't know why he never bothered me before this year, but he's incredibly annoying to listen to. Let Wally do the talking and bring Alan Bestwick back in the booth.
  
• Robby Gordon 12th. Nice!
  
• Jeff Burton....this guy can't buy a break right now. Wins pole again and is one of the first ones out with a DNF.
  
• Ray Evernham is doing a lot of damage to his reputation and to his organization. But more on that in my next post later this morning.