RACING
VORTEX
RACING VORTEX |
Forget about Kurt Busch being the innocent looking, baby-faced driver who sounds much more mature than his listed 23 years of age. Forget about the scene when ESPN was interviewing him after Bristol when he was holding his little puppy dog. Forget about seeing him with that straw hat looking like he�s about to log on to NASCAR.com to make his selections for fantasy racing. Turns out that somewhere under that innocent looking face is a pretty arrogant driver. Let us reset, with five laps to go in last weeks all-star race Robby Gordon tries to get pass Kurt Busch and gets spun out in the process. No big deal, Robby Gordon spins out in every race. Doesn�t matter that you hear Gordon�s crew chief saying �Don�t worry, he�s like that�. Did not think much of it at the time.
Then came the post-race interviews, where KB �confesses� to �using Robby Gordon� as a caution, so Ryan Newman�s two second lead could be wiped out and there could be an exciting finish. That was a violation of rule #1 in NASCAR (or any other type of racing). And it seems like Robby was going to give Kurt the benefit of the doubt. But in one sentence, Kurt Busch lost a lot of friends, about the worst thing you can do in this sport. Everyone was lauding Busch at Bristol for out banging Jimmy Spencer in the late stages, and were ridiculing Spence for calling the kettle black. Now we can mention KB in the same breath. Most blew off Jeff Gordon�s now famous �I�m dealing with a wild man� during the Daytona 500, turns out he�s right. And somewhere up above Dale Sr., must be laughing, he gave Kurt the one-fingered salute last year at Daytona. Worst of all, Busch has drawn the ire of one Richard Childress who said up front that �he will kick Kurt�s ass and you can put it in the Bible�. There is some people you simply don�t want to mess with.
Look for Kurt Busch�s fantasy stock to take At least a small hit due to this. He now has 39 rival drivers that will not help him out on Sunday. Any chance someone not wearing the Rosch colors has a chance to do him wrong and get away with it, they will. Busch is a great driver, and proved it for most of the evening on Sunday. He�s still very worthy of playing in salary cap games (Ned Jarrett, CDM) where is value is still low. But be warned that his stock has just taken a hit.
NASCAR�s longest night officially begins just before 6 PM EDT with a track temperature of 123 degrees. Mike Skinner, Joe Nemechek, Kurt Busch, and Jeremy Mayfield change engines earlier in the weekend and start from the rear. Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, Sterling Marlin, Tony Stewart, and Ryan Newman are the five drivers eligible for the million dollar bonus. Robby Gordon has a fine eighth place finish at Indy earlier in the day and makes it to the track in plenty of time, but also starts at the rear (missed drivers meeting). First eleven laps go uneventfully until Kurt Busch spins off Turn 4, but does not hit anything, JJ lets him remain on lead lap. Jerry Nadeau loses a tire on pit road (penalty) while Kevin LePage (one race deal) becomes the first car to go behind the wall. As a gaggle of cars develop on the backstretch, Jeremy Mayfield gets loose off Four and also spins, and does hit the water barrels, bringing out the second caution. Most cars pit at that point, Newman 16.0, Craven 16.1, Johnson 17.4. ARCA champ Frank Kimmel stays out and leads a cup race for the first time in his life. Todd Bodine will be back in business in the #26 car next week. Kimmel leads, then Ricky Craven, before JJ re-inherits the lead. Ward Burton drops a cylinder and spends several laps on pit road. An already fatigued Robby Gordon moves all the way up to seventh. Michael Waltrip is already showing signs of another strong run and is in the top five. Ryan Newman�s set up is all wrong with the car he won the All-Star race with, and is in 33rd (EVENTUALLY LAPPED), while Kevin Harvick is running even looser a lap down in 40th. Sterling Marlin, who started 35th is up to seventh after just 50 laps while a loose-running Jeff Gordon drops to 18th. Kevin LePage comes back, but not for long as the motor blows and spins out in his own oil, bringing out Caution #3. Johnson 15.3, Craven 16.4, Marlin 18.0 (falling from 5th to 11th), Kenseth has the best stop and comes out second after a 14.8. Tony Stewart is reporting a loose condition and has spring rubbers removed.
Newman pulls ahead of Johnson on restart, desperately trying to get his lap back. Joe Nemechek (#25 car) makes an unscheduled pit stop while Kurt Busch has recovered from his early spin, moving up to 12th position. Kenseth closes in on the #48 while both put Newman a lap down. Jeremy Mayfield returns, but soon after heads back to the garage. Then defending (1999 and 2001) champion Jeff Burton makes an unscheduled stop and goes a lap down. Caution #4 occurs when Ryan Newman�s motor lets go (again). Kenseth 14.8 (comes out first), Rudd 14.3, Johnson 17.0, Martin 15.8. #2 starter Elliot Sadler is reporting an engine problem as Kurt Busch moves into the top five. Ricky Rudd and Mark Martin knock Kenseth down to fourth before Ward Burton cuts a tire and finds the wall, bringing out the yellow as no one gets a lap back. Matt Kenseth�s crew throws a 15.8 while Ricky Rudd wins the race off pit road with a 15.2..The weekly Steve Park spin brings out the sixth caution. Kenseth with a 14.3 as Johnson (15.4) wins the race off pit road. Other pit times include Dale Jr. 15.4, and Ricky Rudd 21.2 (dropping from 1st to 11th). John Andretti is having a fine run in the top ten as green flag racing resumes, still being dominated by the #28 and #48 cars. Johnson led 91 of the first 106 circuits while Rudd led 49 of the following 58 laps. Twilight conditions come into play as we reach the race�s halfway point. Dale Jr. is still running strong until the lapped car of Ron Hornaday (#49) gets loose and gets Junior into the wall, leading to a �toe out� condition with the right front. By the way, it must be noted that Hornaday is running much more competitive than the usual driver of the #49. Jeff Burton was running well trying to get a lap back but the motor�s causing problems and crew chief Frankie Stoddard decides to have the #99 go behind the wall. Johnson�s lead goes up to 6.5 seconds while the team is already busy calculating fuel milage. Green flag stops are made during the long run with Ricky Craven pitting in 15.4., Mark Martin 16.3, Kenseth 14.8, and Busch 18.0. Johnson makes his first mistake of the night overshooting his pit. The 21.2 stop leaves him three seconds behind Kenseth in second, a deficit the #48 would make up quickly. Bobby LaBonte, and even Dave Blaney lead laps before Blaney finally comes to the attention of Robin Pemberton. The front fender is pulled out on Dale Jr�s machine, but the team elects not to adust the tie rods under green. Jeff Gordon�s team also makes a wedge adjustment. Kevin Harvick heads to the garage as only 19 cars remain on the lead lap. Dale Jr. is still having problems and is down to 15th. Blaney is forced to make an unscheduled stop (vibration, junk lugnut). Jeremy Mayfield finally brings out the yellow on Lap 256, narrowing missing Dale Jarrett. Kenseth�s team elects not to take out a spring rubber and pits in 15.3, Rudd 14.8, Johnson 15.9, Marlin has the best stop at 14.3 � moving up from 8th to 5th. Guess that conditioning coach is helping that crew. Bobby LaBonte is forced to back up towards his pit, as a tire is loose (air wrench broke a lugnut), and comes completely undone before he can get back in (penalty). Dale Jr. has an extended stop as well.
With two-thirds of the race done, night has fallen with the track temperature dropping 30 degrees since the start. Jeff Green has a problem on the restart as Jeff Burton, who had just returned to the track, blows his motor for good, bringing out another yellow as no one gets a lap back. Johnson assumes a two-second lead in just three laps on the restart. Kurt Busch blows by a suddenly ill-handling #17 machine as we pass the the three-quarters point. Kenseth ends up making an unscheduled stop as a piece of metal has cut down a tire, and now needs a caution after everyone else pits. Busch is closing in Johnson, as Chad Knaas has ordered JJ to ease up to conserve fuel, as estimates have the #48 being 8-10 laps short at the end. Casey Atwood is having a fine run in 13th (previous best this year 18th) as the leaders come in for green flag stops. Busch sails through his pit (with Rusty Wallace supposedly in his way) and his pit takes 29.1, Busch is also reportedly down a cylinder. And to make matters worse the #97 is forced to make a drive-thru as a tire was out of the box. Atwood also stalls in his pit. The good news is that Johnson is leading after 500 miles, the bad news is the 500-mile leader has failed to win this race the past four years. Motor lets go on Stacy Compton. The caution Matt Kenseth needs, and Jimmie Johnson doesn�t, occurs when JJ taps into the lapped car of Hut Stricklin, and has to slow considerably to avoid the #23. Johnson is still in first as they head into the pits for final stops. Kenseth 16.6, Craven 16.8, while Johnson overshoots his pit again, the team also makes an air-pressure adjustment and comes out in ninth with only 37 laps remaining.
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Kenseth didn't look too anxious to overtake Martin late... |
Martin and Kenseth were followed by Ricky Craven, Ricky Rudd, and Jeff Gordon, who came on late to nip Tony Stewart at the line for fifth. That makes Gordon, along with Martin, Kenseth, Craven, and Rudd eligible for the next bonus race. Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Michael Waltrip, Bill Elliott, and Rusty Wallace round out the top ten. So JJ�s last two mistakes costs him a chance of grabbing a potential million at Daytona in July, a track he dominated back in February. Other notables include Sterling Marlin (11th), Terry LaBonte (12th), Kyle Petty (13th), Bobby LaBonte (14th), John Andretti (15th), Robby Gordon (16th), Casey Atwood (17th, best of season), Dale Jarrett (19th), Jeff Green (20th), Dave Blaney (21st), Jimmy Spencer (25th), Kurt Busch (31st), Kevin Harvick (34th), Dale Jr. (35th), Jeremy Mayfield (39th), Jeff Burton (40th), Ryan Newman (41st), and Ward Burton (42nd).
After the race, Mark Martin�s Ford failed post-race inspection, coming up 1/8 of an inch short. The team was fined $50,000 for the infraction, but the victory and points stand, along with the million dollars and the chance to win another mill at Daytona. Just as with Junior at Talladega last fall, not a huge price to pay at all. Martin also does move up to third in the point standings, 143 points behind Sterling Marlin, while Matt Kenseth is in second, moving within 87 points of the lead. Rounding out the top ten are Jeff Gordon (-191), Jimmie Johnson (-197), Rusty Wallace (-199), Tony Stewart (-231), Kurt Busch (-246), Ricky Rudd (-280), and Bill Elliott (-348).
The exclusive KACSPORTS NASCAR Top twenty rankings - based on recent and season events read as follows (along w/point standings and week 10 KACSPORTS rankings)�
1. (1) Marlin, 2. (2) Kenseth, 3. (7) Stewart (+2), 4. (5) Johnson (+4), 5. (4) Gordon (-1), 6. (3) Martin (+3), 7. (8) Busch (-1), 8. (6) Wallace (-1), 9. (9) Rudd (+4), 10. (17) Newman (+8), 11. (13) Craven (+4), 12. (12) Dale Jr. (-9), 13. (11) J. Burton (-2), 14. (15) Jarrett (-2), 15. (10) Elliott (+1), 16. (14) Waltrip (NR), 17. (20) Spencer, 18. (19) Blaney (NR), 19. (21) B. LaBonte (-9), 20. (24) Mayfield (NR)
Dropped out: W. Burton (14th), T. LaBonte (19th), Harvick (20th)
DOVER PREVIEW
More proof on the growth of this sport. In 1986 Dover Downs raceway�s capacity was just over 22,000, the harness races was as popular as NASCAR�s two outings a year. Today Dover International Raceway holds 140,000, and is enclosed nearly all the way around. And as far as the horses are concerned, I think they have been sent out to pasture. This used to be an even more grueling race than the 600, with 500 1-mile circuits. This has mercifully been reduced to 400 miles in the past few years. Now for the drivers to watch�
Dale Earnhardt Jr. � You could make Junior a pick just for being due. But there�s move evidence, this was by far Dale�s favorite non-plate track, qualifying 11th and 3rd, and finishing third and first in 2001. The fall win was the memorable first post-Sept. 11 race.
Tony Stewart � Qualified sixth and finished seventh in the spring, started 11th and finished fifth last fall. In addition, the #20 'concrete car' has amassed three wins, and eight top-fives in 13 races while leading 20 percent of all possible laps.
Jeff Gordon � Dominated in the spring, starting second and going on to win, also finished fourth in the fall.
Ricky Rudd � Qualified fifth and finished tenth in the spring, followed by qualifying fourth and finishing third in the fall, not to mention mixing it up with Rusty Wallace, late and after the race. This is also traditionally the part of the year Ricky really gets going, last year Dover, Pocono, Michigan, and Sears Point brought Rudd a tenth, second, first, and fourth.
Ricky Craven � Coming on strong and finished fourth in this race last year.
Dale Jarrett � Talk about consistency. #88 has finished in the top five in this race four consecutive years.
Sterling Marlin � Qualified seventh and finished sixth in the Spring, also finished eighth in the fall.
Ryan Newman � Again, when do heads start rolling in the engine-building department??? I�m going to bet on the #12 making it the distance this week.
Jimmie Johnson � Some wicked stuff came out from TSN correspondent Lee Spencer this week on PRN Radio's Pit reporters. According to Lee, Lowe's stock is going through the roof thanks to JJ while Home Depot (Tony Stewart) stock has kind of been stagnant. Once again, what wins on Sunday gets sold on the floors of Wall Street on Monday.
Kurt Busch � Dover is a concrete track, as is the track he won at Bristol.
Rusty Wallace � Was in it most of the way in September before tangling with Jarrett.
Matt Kenseth � Had problems here in 2001, 17th in the spring, 29th in September. Still can�t go against him right now.
SHAKY PICKS
Bill Elliott � Came away with a 40th and 30th here in 2001.
Jeff Burton � Don�t look for the #99 to rebound this week, JB finished 31st and 21st here last year.
Jimmy Spencer � Crashed early in the spring and placed 37th, did come back with a 13th in the fall. You would think this would be his type of track.
Jeff Green - The only RCR driver currently showing any signs of life. I imagine he will be contending in the Busch race on Saturday, perhaps giving him an edge with the big boys on Sunday.
Kevin Harvick/Robby Gordon - In an effort to shake up the #29 team, both pit crews have been swapped by RCR. The swap does not take effect until after this week's race. If I have that right, that means gasman Chocolate Meyers along with what's left of the old 'Black Aces' will now be with Robby's team. And Harvick is now being rumored out of the #29 (and perhaps to the #28) by years end. Silly Season rumblings don't get any bigger than those involving the Goodwrench and Halvoline cars.
Look for the race to end something like this�
1. Dale Jr. 2. Kenseth, 3. Marlin, 4. Stewart, 5. Rudd, 6. J. Gordon, 7. Jarrett, 8. Craven, 9. Johnson, 10. Busch
Odd for the race is as follows: Stewart 3-1, Dale Jr. 4-1, J. Gordon 9-2, Rudd 5-1, Martin 6-1, Marlin 7-1, Kenseth 8-1, B. LaBonte 9-1, Wallace 10-1, Jarrett 11-1, Johnson 12-1, Newman 13-1, J. Burton 14-1, Harvick 15-1, Craven 16-1, Busch 17-1, Elliott 18-1, Spencer 19-1, Mayfield 20-1, W. Burton 22-1, Nadeau 24-1, Nemechek 26-1, T. LaBonte 28-1, Andretti 30-1, Petty 32-1, R. Gordon 34-1, J. Green 36-1, Waltrip 38-1, Blaney 40-1, E. Sadler 42-1, Atwood 44-1, Skinner 46-1, Park 48-1, Schrader 50-1, Hamilton 55-1, Grissom 60-1, Stricklin 65-1, Compton 70-1, B. Bodine 75-1