Jess
RESULTS
1. Jeff Burton
5. Dale Jr.
12. Kurt
13. Martin
20. David (2 LD)
23. Michael (3 LD)
37. DJ (10 LD)
39. Brian (OUT)
42. Casey (89 LD)
It's Bristol, baby!
With this new car it seems like cautions don't come out quite as much as they used to, so there was a surprisingly long green-flag run at the start of the race when you'd usually be pretty safe in making a bet for a wreck within five laps or so. In a way it's nice because it sucks when a driver gets taken out before he can show what he has, but in another way I was worried since a bunch of our guys started in the back and if their cars weren't handling well they'd be a lap down fairly quickly.
Thankfully David and Michael began to work their way forward and barely missed going a lap down, but their MWR teammate making his last career start in a points race didn't fare so well.
Poor DJ! And he just lost out on the Lucky Dog!
Meanwhile Casey was running in the top 10, which really made me happy since he desperately needs a good run to accumulate some points.
Things got very interesting a bit later when on Lap 100 Michael took the field to green after staying out under caution. Smart! Those five points could mean the difference between being locked in or having to qualify in. I was actually very impressed with the way Michael held on, even though when he was being passed and was riding up high holding the leaders down it made me feel sick!
Luckily it all worked out well and he settled down in the top 20. Great call, Paul Andrews!
Bristol is Bristol and on short tracks a lot of cars get out a lap down - David and Martin were passed by the leader and fell off the lead lap. It was disappointing but all you can do is hope for a free pass or that lots of cars go a lap down so there are plenty of guys to pass on the same lap as you.
On Lap 189 the first big wreck of the day occurred when Jamie McMurray lost his temper with Dario Franchitti. Franchitti had gotten loose under the #26, pushing McMurray up the track. Instead of just getting his rhythm back, McMurray apparently thought that the #40 deserved payback, so he turned a dead left and took Dario and himself out.
Oh yeah, the ensuing wreck also involved Ken Schrader (who had been running great, by the way), Paul Menard, Ryan Newman and Bobby Labonte. Casey also got a little bit of this mess, but not enough to send him packing. And people think Big Ones only happen at restrictor plate tracks? McMurray - duh. Say hello to being a star car.
During the next green run Dale Jr. and Kurt - two drivers who are famously good at this little bullring - entered the top 12 and top 10, respectively. Casey was put a lap down but was still in the top 20. Until...
Paul Menard dumped Dario Franchitti in Turn 1, causing me much anger when I saw the aftermath on the frontstretch. Drivers began to check up like they're supposed to, all drivers unless your name is Juan Pablo Montoya. Montoya, a lap down, shot underneath leader Denny Hamlin, shoving Hamlin up the track. Right into Casey. The #5 slammed into the wall.
What the frick?! Both Casey and Hamlin suffered a lot of damage and NASCAR just let Montoya stay on the lead lap! 
Casey's day was ruined. He had been running high enough to be around 25th in points. I swear, what does he have to do to get some good luck?
In a few minutes I had more to be upset about when David pitted. He was still only a lap down and frankly belonged on the lead lap, since he was zipping off times as faster or faster than the leaders. The #00 boys were going to give him a great pit stop so he could get the free pass. Looking good, sounding good..."One lap penalty." What? Apparently the official said David was pitting outside the box so they held him there for an extra lap. Ryan, who is usually calm and cheerful, screamed out a word I won't repeat and pretty much broke my heart.
He sounded so upset I thought he was going to cry. I wanted to cry, too. Two laps down. Nonetheless, this team didn't give up and their 20th-place finish was a relief.
The Lap 291 caution was a very odd one involving Kyle Busch's steering. He just spun out for what looked like no reason - it was very odd. DW tried to explain (he was very sick and could hardly talk, poor thing!) that sometimes the steering will fail at Bristol and there's nothing you can do when that happens. Can we put Kyle on the same list as Casey when it comes to luck?
Later on, Jimmie Johnson plowed into DJ and the #44 somehow held on. Poor Dale wasn't having a good day as a result of pitting under green earlier for a loose wheel - a problem Michael was also fighting. I really wish DJ could have had a better day for his last start, but it was something out of his own control.
On Lap 489 Brian Vickers's day came to an end when he blew a tire and hit the wall hard. He had been battling with brake problems for the majority of the race. I'm very happy that he's run well enough this season to still be well up in points, giving him a cushion in case something like this happens! Martin received the free pass under this caution, giving him the chance to improve his position.
The last few laps at Bristol almost never fail to be exciting and this time was no different! Tony Stewart was leading until Denny Hamlin came flying up and passed him. Soon after Kevin Harvick dove under the #20 and clipped the apron...and shot right up into Stewart, sending him spinning. Yikes! I actually felt rather bad for Stewart, but then again I feel it's a bit of revenge for the Brickyard when Stewart moved Harvick out of the way. Harvick apologized immediately but Stewart's spotter didn't accept it. Typical. But when Stewart hits someone it's no problem. Hmm.
When the green-white-checkered flew Hamlin appeared to have a problem and Jeff Burton blew by him to take the win. That was cool!
I wish Junior could have had a shot but 5th is nothing to be unhappy about - and he was smiling during his post-race interview. Yes, smiling! 
Yay!
#00 Quote of the Race
I don't really feel like putting the transcript of the pit road penalty as David's radio clip, so I'll use Ryan's speech at the end of the race, which I thought was very nice.
"Nice job, man, nice job. You ran a really good race - really good race - we just paid the price for track position the whole time. You did a great job this weekend...I know you know that but I want to tell you that in front of everybody. You did a great job this weekend. Appreciate all the hard work guys and we'll go to Martinsville!"
I. Love. This. Man!!!
POINT STANDINGS
1. Kyle Busch
5. Dale Jr. -96
10. Kurt -177
12. Martin -187
17. Brian -245
26. David -321 (27th in owner points +109 from 36th)
30. Michael -380 (30th in owner points +50 from 36th)
33. Casey -414 (33rd in owner points +16 from 36th)
34. DJ -415 (34th in owner points +15 from 36th)
1. Jeff Burton
5. Dale Jr.
12. Kurt
13. Martin
20. David (2 LD)
23. Michael (3 LD)
37. DJ (10 LD)
39. Brian (OUT)
42. Casey (89 LD)
It's Bristol, baby!
With this new car it seems like cautions don't come out quite as much as they used to, so there was a surprisingly long green-flag run at the start of the race when you'd usually be pretty safe in making a bet for a wreck within five laps or so. In a way it's nice because it sucks when a driver gets taken out before he can show what he has, but in another way I was worried since a bunch of our guys started in the back and if their cars weren't handling well they'd be a lap down fairly quickly.
Thankfully David and Michael began to work their way forward and barely missed going a lap down, but their MWR teammate making his last career start in a points race didn't fare so well.
Poor DJ! And he just lost out on the Lucky Dog!Meanwhile Casey was running in the top 10, which really made me happy since he desperately needs a good run to accumulate some points.
Things got very interesting a bit later when on Lap 100 Michael took the field to green after staying out under caution. Smart! Those five points could mean the difference between being locked in or having to qualify in. I was actually very impressed with the way Michael held on, even though when he was being passed and was riding up high holding the leaders down it made me feel sick!
Luckily it all worked out well and he settled down in the top 20. Great call, Paul Andrews!Bristol is Bristol and on short tracks a lot of cars get out a lap down - David and Martin were passed by the leader and fell off the lead lap. It was disappointing but all you can do is hope for a free pass or that lots of cars go a lap down so there are plenty of guys to pass on the same lap as you.
On Lap 189 the first big wreck of the day occurred when Jamie McMurray lost his temper with Dario Franchitti. Franchitti had gotten loose under the #26, pushing McMurray up the track. Instead of just getting his rhythm back, McMurray apparently thought that the #40 deserved payback, so he turned a dead left and took Dario and himself out.
Oh yeah, the ensuing wreck also involved Ken Schrader (who had been running great, by the way), Paul Menard, Ryan Newman and Bobby Labonte. Casey also got a little bit of this mess, but not enough to send him packing. And people think Big Ones only happen at restrictor plate tracks? McMurray - duh. Say hello to being a star car.During the next green run Dale Jr. and Kurt - two drivers who are famously good at this little bullring - entered the top 12 and top 10, respectively. Casey was put a lap down but was still in the top 20. Until...
Paul Menard dumped Dario Franchitti in Turn 1, causing me much anger when I saw the aftermath on the frontstretch. Drivers began to check up like they're supposed to, all drivers unless your name is Juan Pablo Montoya. Montoya, a lap down, shot underneath leader Denny Hamlin, shoving Hamlin up the track. Right into Casey. The #5 slammed into the wall.
What the frick?! Both Casey and Hamlin suffered a lot of damage and NASCAR just let Montoya stay on the lead lap! Casey's day was ruined. He had been running high enough to be around 25th in points. I swear, what does he have to do to get some good luck?In a few minutes I had more to be upset about when David pitted. He was still only a lap down and frankly belonged on the lead lap, since he was zipping off times as faster or faster than the leaders. The #00 boys were going to give him a great pit stop so he could get the free pass. Looking good, sounding good..."One lap penalty." What? Apparently the official said David was pitting outside the box so they held him there for an extra lap. Ryan, who is usually calm and cheerful, screamed out a word I won't repeat and pretty much broke my heart.
He sounded so upset I thought he was going to cry. I wanted to cry, too. Two laps down. Nonetheless, this team didn't give up and their 20th-place finish was a relief.The Lap 291 caution was a very odd one involving Kyle Busch's steering. He just spun out for what looked like no reason - it was very odd. DW tried to explain (he was very sick and could hardly talk, poor thing!) that sometimes the steering will fail at Bristol and there's nothing you can do when that happens. Can we put Kyle on the same list as Casey when it comes to luck?
Later on, Jimmie Johnson plowed into DJ and the #44 somehow held on. Poor Dale wasn't having a good day as a result of pitting under green earlier for a loose wheel - a problem Michael was also fighting. I really wish DJ could have had a better day for his last start, but it was something out of his own control.
On Lap 489 Brian Vickers's day came to an end when he blew a tire and hit the wall hard. He had been battling with brake problems for the majority of the race. I'm very happy that he's run well enough this season to still be well up in points, giving him a cushion in case something like this happens! Martin received the free pass under this caution, giving him the chance to improve his position.
The last few laps at Bristol almost never fail to be exciting and this time was no different! Tony Stewart was leading until Denny Hamlin came flying up and passed him. Soon after Kevin Harvick dove under the #20 and clipped the apron...and shot right up into Stewart, sending him spinning. Yikes! I actually felt rather bad for Stewart, but then again I feel it's a bit of revenge for the Brickyard when Stewart moved Harvick out of the way. Harvick apologized immediately but Stewart's spotter didn't accept it. Typical. But when Stewart hits someone it's no problem. Hmm.
When the green-white-checkered flew Hamlin appeared to have a problem and Jeff Burton blew by him to take the win. That was cool!
I wish Junior could have had a shot but 5th is nothing to be unhappy about - and he was smiling during his post-race interview. Yes, smiling! Yay!#00 Quote of the Race
I don't really feel like putting the transcript of the pit road penalty as David's radio clip, so I'll use Ryan's speech at the end of the race, which I thought was very nice.
"Nice job, man, nice job. You ran a really good race - really good race - we just paid the price for track position the whole time. You did a great job this weekend...I know you know that but I want to tell you that in front of everybody. You did a great job this weekend. Appreciate all the hard work guys and we'll go to Martinsville!"
I. Love. This. Man!!!
POINT STANDINGS
1. Kyle Busch
5. Dale Jr. -96
10. Kurt -177
12. Martin -187
17. Brian -245
26. David -321 (27th in owner points +109 from 36th)
30. Michael -380 (30th in owner points +50 from 36th)
33. Casey -414 (33rd in owner points +16 from 36th)
34. DJ -415 (34th in owner points +15 from 36th)