NASCAR - No Bang-Ups at Bristol
Did we all watch the same race, or was I dreaming that I saw a tame night race at Bristol on Saturday?? You gotta be kidding me! I'm beginning to think NASCAR drivers are wussing out in light of the Race for the Chase. Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick racing cleanly for the top spot?? No, it must have been a nightmare and there really were 20 cautions and 5 multi-car wrecks. There just had to be.
Alright, all kidding aside, what a yawner of a race on Saturday, huh? Really. I thought we'd have a dramatic race the week before heading out to the snoozer track at California this weekend. But it was not to be. Matt Kenseth and his team are on a tear. It's impressive. I still can't believe he's not in the points lead, but that goes to show you what consistency can do for you (meaning Jimmie Johnson). Anyone sen Tony Stewart's luck? I think he left it somewhere. He was a complete non-factor on Saturday and barely has been for the past month. My prediction? He misses the Chase by less than 100 points.
My Tough Luck Award is a toss-up this week. Mark Martin? He had a strong car in the beginning but he lost the handling and nearly dropped OUT of the Top 10!!! He's been consistent all year and he's now in danger of not even making it. That would just plain suck. I don't know of anyone out there who doesn't want to see Mark not only make the Chase, but win the whole damn thing. Or, does the award go to Mr. Burton? C'mon. He almost gets another pole, leads a ton of laps, only to be a non-factor the last quarter of the race. I don't get it. Maybe nice guys DO finish last in NASCAR? Not that a 9th place finish stinks. But Jeff, you had the dominant car out there all night. What a downer.
On the other hand, how many people are secretly snickering that Kurt Busch has been eliminated from the Chase? You have to wonder about these guys who desperately wanted to switch teams for "better equipment" only to have a worse performance the next year. Mr. McMurray is in even worse shape. At least the past two years he was in contention. This year, he's already been eliminated. Should we take bets on where Elliot Sadler will place in 2007? I won't even talk about Mr. Mayfield...
Finally, let's talk about the one big story that the NASCAR press has practically ignored: Scott Riggs. This guy missed the Daytona 500 this year because he switched teams and didn't get in on previous year owner points. Where is he now? After a 5th place at Bristol, the guy is now 19th in overall points. That's amazing. He's been in contention in a few races, but he's been fairly consistent and has stayed out of trouble all year. I think Riggs deserves a pat on the back for kicking enough ass to pull himself up into the top 20 in driver points. Given the way things stand now, he'll have a hard time breaking past 14th. But given the veterans and talent in the standings below him, Riggs has pulled off one hell of a feat. Let's hope he continues his climb at California, where I imagine his car is going to be a ball-buster. He qualified 14th in February.
Alright, all kidding aside, what a yawner of a race on Saturday, huh? Really. I thought we'd have a dramatic race the week before heading out to the snoozer track at California this weekend. But it was not to be. Matt Kenseth and his team are on a tear. It's impressive. I still can't believe he's not in the points lead, but that goes to show you what consistency can do for you (meaning Jimmie Johnson). Anyone sen Tony Stewart's luck? I think he left it somewhere. He was a complete non-factor on Saturday and barely has been for the past month. My prediction? He misses the Chase by less than 100 points.
My Tough Luck Award is a toss-up this week. Mark Martin? He had a strong car in the beginning but he lost the handling and nearly dropped OUT of the Top 10!!! He's been consistent all year and he's now in danger of not even making it. That would just plain suck. I don't know of anyone out there who doesn't want to see Mark not only make the Chase, but win the whole damn thing. Or, does the award go to Mr. Burton? C'mon. He almost gets another pole, leads a ton of laps, only to be a non-factor the last quarter of the race. I don't get it. Maybe nice guys DO finish last in NASCAR? Not that a 9th place finish stinks. But Jeff, you had the dominant car out there all night. What a downer.
On the other hand, how many people are secretly snickering that Kurt Busch has been eliminated from the Chase? You have to wonder about these guys who desperately wanted to switch teams for "better equipment" only to have a worse performance the next year. Mr. McMurray is in even worse shape. At least the past two years he was in contention. This year, he's already been eliminated. Should we take bets on where Elliot Sadler will place in 2007? I won't even talk about Mr. Mayfield...
Finally, let's talk about the one big story that the NASCAR press has practically ignored: Scott Riggs. This guy missed the Daytona 500 this year because he switched teams and didn't get in on previous year owner points. Where is he now? After a 5th place at Bristol, the guy is now 19th in overall points. That's amazing. He's been in contention in a few races, but he's been fairly consistent and has stayed out of trouble all year. I think Riggs deserves a pat on the back for kicking enough ass to pull himself up into the top 20 in driver points. Given the way things stand now, he'll have a hard time breaking past 14th. But given the veterans and talent in the standings below him, Riggs has pulled off one hell of a feat. Let's hope he continues his climb at California, where I imagine his car is going to be a ball-buster. He qualified 14th in February.
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