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StumblePublished Monday, Aug. 10, 2009 | 8:47 p.m.
Updated Monday, Aug. 10, 2009 | 9:05 p.m.
“This is my house,” said Tony Stewart about Watkins Glen on Monday after crushing the rest of the field to get his fifth win at this track. Stewart, who is now 260 points ahead of Jimmie Johnson, is on his way toward denying a fourth consecutive title to the No. 48 team.
Stewart’s mastery of the Glen brings up an interesting point about the road-course specialists we hear about each season. It’s inevitable that prior to every road-course race there's a lot of discussion about the road-course specialists who parachute in to compete in the two road-course races each year. The discussion of these drivers usually includes the speculation that one of them could have a chance to win on these tracks. But time after time we see that the road-course specialists who win are the drivers that are in Cup on a full-time basis.
The second most outstanding performance from Monday’s race was the forward charging effort by Carl Edwards. Edwards, who’s not known for having prowess on the road courses, managed a third-place finish after starting in the 33rd position. That’s tremendous.
The Heluva Good at the Glen had a Talladega moment in a violent wreck involving Jeff Gordon, Sam Hornish, Kasey Kahne and Jeff Burton. Once again we saw the safety benefits of the COT in action, but the real question is how this wreck will affect Gordon’s back problems. You know he wasn’t joking when he said he’s glad the next race isn’t at Bristol.
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Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers are all less than 100 points behind the 12th-place driver Matt Kenseth. Despite Kyle’s underperforming car at Monday’s race, he was able to manage a fourth-place finish. Kyle is consistently able to do more with an underperforming car than most drivers. He’s got four more races to make the Chase and I think he can pull it off.
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Last week Ryan Newman told the Charlotte Observer that he thinks the Cup races are too long. Newman’s comments were about how the drivers’ approach a 500-mile race, but I couldn’t help but wonder if shorter races could increase TV viewership. There are an increasing number of things NASCAR has to compete with for viewers’ attention. And as people’s choices increase, it could become more difficult for NASCAR to rebound from its current viewership slump. Maybe shorter races could help. But I doubt this will happen anytime soon. Shorter races could mean fewer commercials and I don’t think the powers that be are interested in less revenue. Besides, 500-mile races are a tradition and some fans may not want to get less racing for the price of admission.
hornish and jeff's crash as bad as you'll see. hope their both ok. kyle's problem is he goes back to big tracks where he's had problems controlling himself. tony looks like favorite for championship.
NASCAR is run by the same whites only good ole boy network in Washington, dumb and dumber. I mean, last year the same type of wreck pretty boy was in this year happened last year and the day before this year. When you put up tire walls, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know anything hitting it will bounce like a pinball in a pinball machine. The same no ideas people running against the W.H. are the same fools putting up rubber walls to create stupid wrecks.
Ummm, bubba, when's the next gun show? Coo coo coo!! Boogity, boogity, boogity, let's go huntin boys!!
I hope Na$car doesn't become like the NBA (just show up for the last two minutes).
How about two, 150 mile races, back to back, top 12 from each transfer to a 50 lap final. The final segment has to be long enough to require a fuel stop, but short enough that tire strategy is still in play. It would take as much clock time as a 500 (plenty of commercials) but it would invest more excitement incrementally through the race. Obviously similar to the "All Star" format which is always well received by the fans.
I think we'll see those barriers changed before someone really gets hurt.
I love Tony, he reminds me of fat Elvis.
Tony as a fat Elvis? That would be a good cartoon.
LOL, Vegas should adopt Tony and do a fundraiser for him to get Elvis (king of Rock)sideburns. Petty "The King" is more the Michael Jackson Pop King (skinny and sunglasses).
Wow, "The King" as Michael Jackson? That's a cartoon that would get people stirred up.
I would hate to see the races shorted and prefer to stick with the traditional 500 miles. Part of what makes the driver an athlete is their ability to withstand the physical challenge of a 500 mile race. If we shorten them, are we heading in the direction of several short races at one event? Stick with tradition boys and girls, the true fans are still there.
Shortening races, breaking races into segments and adding transfer spots are sure ways to drive off the hard-core fans. It's OK for the all-star race, which is once a year, but true fans wouldn't put up with that nonsense.
NASCAR needs to stick with and/or get back to its roots instead of trying to cater to those with ADD who can't sit through a 500-mile race. What's next? Shorten major league baseball games to 6 innings?
I like the daytona or allstar format.
Maybe 2 100-mile qualifiers, than a 200 miler with the top 15 from the first 2.
Who needs/wants M. Waltrip, J.Andretti, j. Nemechecks types causing wrecks and getting in the way?