Memphis, Memphis, Memphis Busch race, how do you put it into words to even come close in describing this 4 hour race… one word, nightmare. This Memphis race prompted one question that should be asked to all race fans and it so happened to be last night’s WindTunnel question of week - What is your NASCAR caution flag threshold? Do you make it to the end, and if not, when do you change the channel?
The answer ironically depends on the racing series, I can stand more caution flags in a Cup Series event rather than either a Truck race or a Busch Series and even more depending upon which racetrack they are at. However while last Sunday’s Cup race at Martinsville nor yesterday’s race at Atlanta didn’t come close to my threshold, the Memphis race did (no exact number), 25 cautions is too much for this race fan to sit though period. Halfway though of 8 laps of racing followed by caution after caution, I was done and asleep, I wake to see the final 10 laps that took awhile.
Believe it or not, the only thing that kept this racing fan from changing the channel in the final laps was seeing who won and I’m glad to say that David Reutimann survived to capture his first career Busch Series victory, that’s was cool to see and if that wasn’t enough, the two front runners of Reutimann and Bliss also came home with something that most drivers including Edwards didn’t have, clean cars… enough said.
Atlanta 500, you know for awhile this race was the complete opposite to the Memphis race, but how quickly things change, one would have though that it was a fuel mileage race, but thank god for the 10 to go caution flag so fans might see another historic finish, however caution breed cautions and Denny Hamlin’s non-picked up ended the day for Truex Jr. and others, caution again and of course on the restart, its over for Dale Jr. when he losses a rear wheel and its Jimmie Johnson winning… didn’t I type that same result the last week at Martinsville…
So now it’s a three-man chase for the Nextel Cup with just three races to go (Texas, Phoenix and Homestead…) with Jeff Gordon slightly over teammate Jimmie Johnson, but don’t count out Clint Bowyer, he’s the wild card and 111 points can be made up in three races, mark my words, Clint Bowyer is still in this.
Dale Jr's #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet COT test car earlier today at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Credit: Racing One/Getty Images)
You know, Ironically nether the Busch, Truck or Nextel Cup Series races were the biggest story of the weekend, that honor goes to - Testing the COT in Atlanta with your 2008 drivers, different, maybe this should have happened the Monday after the finally in Homestead, no not that, nether seeing Dale Jr. in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevy for the second time this year. Here’s one headline I was thinking late last week, Dale Jr. saying “Damn now that’s an engine” as he gets out of his #5 All-Star Racing Hendrick Chevrolet COT earlier today while testing at Atlanta...
- Racedriven
