Tony Stewart finally wins his very first Nascar race at Talladega Motor Speedway after 20 attempts at the two and five-eighth mile stock car track."Smoke" hadn't won a race this season , his last coming a year ago on a road course at Watkins Glen in New York.
Travis Kvapil started the race from the pole in the # 28 Yates Ford and held onto the lead the first eight laps of the race... in the meantime Jimmy Johnsons' Hendricks owned car falls back losing the draft and a lap completely despite an attempt from teammate Ken Schrader moving backwards to help aid Johnsons car.Not exactly what one would expect from the team that is in the top position of the Chase for the Championship.
Goodyear tire problems reared it's ugly head again this season as half a dozen vehicles blew out front and rear tires through-out the day. The most serious incident caused a crash involving the leader at the time Denny Hamlin in the #11 Gibbs race car slamming into the outside retaining wall resulting in a trip to a local hospital for observation. Bump drafting and tight side by side racing was believed to be the cause and not the compound of the tire having any significant wear problems.
Stock Car Racing fans witnessed a record number of lead changes through 188 laps of the AMP Energy 500 in what could be considered the most competitive race we've seen this season.
One aspect of racing action at Talladega Alabama that fans, drivers and crew chiefs anticipate is what is called: "The Big One" meaning a wreck that involves numerous race cars .Todays race didn't disappoint . Twice , Nascar Sprint Cup stock cars came together in wrecks that took out 9 of the 12 championship contenders.The first incident occured around lap 70 when Brian Vickers #83 Red Bull car blew a right front tire from the middle lane of three wide racing at the time slamming Martin Truex Jr. and then the wall taking out 9 competitors and requiring officials to draw out the red flag to clean up all the debris .
As the laps wind down Stock Car racing fans know that the intensity builds within the minds of the drivers to head for the front of the pack and with just 14 laps remaining the #99 car of Carl Edwards who had been content to run in the back all day long to avoid trouble, hooked his teammate Greg Biffle and caused the second "Big One" taking out Dale Earnhardt Jr. ,Matt Kenseth,Kevin Harvick and six others .
The race ended with a little bit of controversy with David Regan being forced down below the yellow out of bounds line and actually jumping ahead of Tony Stewarts' # 20 Subway car at the checkered flag.
How'd you feel about the finish ? Good call by NASCAR !
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment