Phoenix Int'l Speedway - Subway Fresh Fit 500
Danni
RESULTS
1. Jimmie Johnson
7. Dale Jr.
8. Martin
11. Casey (1LD)
18. David (1LD)
23. Kurt (2LD)
24. Michael (2LD)
25. Brian (2LD)
Wow. This is the first race in memory that we've missed all the pre-race ceremonies, the green flag and half of the first lap! Incredibly poor planning by FOX. This move will ring in their brains for quite some time, from both NASCAR and baseball fans.
So when we finally got to watch racing, it didn't take long for a debris caution to come out, during which Dale Jr. and Casey took the time to pit and improve on their cars. With fresh tires, Junior tore through the field back to the front. Meanwhile, David was also moving into the top-20.
The race was fun to watch, but it was fairly uneventful. Judging off of TrackPass, there was plenty of passing and racing - just not at the front. A lot of fans would brush Saturday night off as boring, but that's because FOX isn't doing a very good job of showing anyone outside the top-10 when it's not a big name doing embarrassingly bad.
Long green flag runs put the cars running near the back a lap down, including Michael and Brian. Cars began pitting under green when a caution came out, relegating a bunch of drivers, including David, to the tail end of the lead lap. Junior marched to the front and took the lead after a restart of Lap 124. About ten laps later, the biggest wreck of the race occurred when Ryan Newman blew an engine and oiled up the track (David remained on the lead lap as a result, yay!). Several cars spun on the slick track as Newman continued to drop oil on his way to pit lane. On approach to his stall, he went too fast and ended up spinning out.
I know he must have been frustrated, but man...don't endanger people when you know you're leaking fluid all over. The red flag came out because of the huge mess.
Dale took the lead again after he stayed out during a later caution. Meanwhile, Martin complained of a carburetor problem that was causing the engine to miss. Kurt was struggling greatly with an extremely tight car, while Brian was wickedly loose. Eventually, Kurt would get the free pass, but the leader soon went by him again. He just hasn't gotten a handle on the new car and will be testing all during the off-week so hopefuly the #2 crew will discover what they've been missing since Daytona.
On Lap 233, Junior brought the field to the green after Kasey Kahne blew a tire. The race would go yellow free till the end, which I think a lot of teams weren't expecting. The problem - most couldn't make it on fuel. Ugh. The dreaded fuel-mileage race.
Mark Martin took over the lead from Junior. You could almost feel the tension from all Junior fans - and I'll admit that I felt a twinge of anxiety. I'm not against the #8 winning, but to pass Junior to do it makes me a little sick inside. It's hard to explain. I know that Junior is in a better situation at Hendrick Motorsports despite all the fans whining that he hasn't won yet or Tony Jr. is an idiot crew chief. It would just make it look like he should've stayed at DEI and I don't want to see that lie rubbed in his face.
However, Mark losing the race I think has confused every race fan. He isn't running full-time and the car is in good shape in points. But they made him pit. I just don't get it. WHY? Take a risk! People who need points, like Dale Jr., didn't have that luxury. If anyone can save fuel it's Mark. Upon hearing the radio communications, I realized that there is absolutely no trust between Mark and Tony Gibson. I think that Mark is almost like Mikey now - if he can't have Ryan Pemberton, that one great crew chief, nobody else works.
Some guys did indeed save enough gas to win! It was comical to watch Jimmie Johnson crawl around, probably just above minimum speed to take the checkers in first. Casey did the same and although he did not run where he finished, this was another good points day for that team.
David was having a pretty solid day that is typical of he and the #44 bunch. Then, while running close to 15th, he pretty much lost his brakes with about a quarter of the race to go. It was really frustrating because he had been hardly using them in the first place! He also had problems with Paul Menard again.
But all in all his finish was great considering the team is now back in the top-35! Great effort!!
I guess it could have been worse for Kurt, Michael and Brian. Michael seemed to have a better time than usual, so hopefully this means things will look brighter going in to Talladega.
#44 Quotes of the Race
After Elliott Sadler wrecked and was scraping along the wall.
Shawn: "Nah, give him (Menard) room David. Come on now, stop! David! We had a car against the wall and you had to give him some room."
David (interrupting with much indignation): "-across the apron! Everybody else he lets go, as quick as he gets to me, he runs on the apron."
Shawn: "Let him go dude, you're on the lead lap and he ain't, let him go."
David (angry): "That's my fuckin' point!"
Shawn: "We just need to finish, we don't need to get caught up in no crap."
David (sharply): "'Kay?! (darker) Then I'd say what you do, if you wanna keep us safe here, you go down there and please tell them to cut me a little slack. That's all I'm asking. That's all you need to do. End of discussion. Droppin' it right now. Done talkin' about it."
Ryan (quickly): "10-4, drop it drop it! How many green flag laps was that right there?"
It's kind of amazing how David can go from on wit's end to completely calm in seconds. This audio actually upset me emotionally. I guess you'd have to hear David's voice to get the full effect. It just confounds me that Menard will do anything to try and piss him off, risking his own day in the process. A driver can only take so much until he snaps. Menard is lucky David has some self-control!
POINT STANDINGS
1. Jeff Burton
3. Dale Jr. -86
14. Martin -318
17. Kurt -364
20. Brian -387
24. Casey -474
30. David -551 (34th in owner points +16 from 36th)
32. Michael -600 (32nd in owner points +70 from 36th)
1. Jimmie Johnson
7. Dale Jr.
8. Martin
11. Casey (1LD)
18. David (1LD)
23. Kurt (2LD)
24. Michael (2LD)
25. Brian (2LD)
Wow. This is the first race in memory that we've missed all the pre-race ceremonies, the green flag and half of the first lap! Incredibly poor planning by FOX. This move will ring in their brains for quite some time, from both NASCAR and baseball fans.
So when we finally got to watch racing, it didn't take long for a debris caution to come out, during which Dale Jr. and Casey took the time to pit and improve on their cars. With fresh tires, Junior tore through the field back to the front. Meanwhile, David was also moving into the top-20.
The race was fun to watch, but it was fairly uneventful. Judging off of TrackPass, there was plenty of passing and racing - just not at the front. A lot of fans would brush Saturday night off as boring, but that's because FOX isn't doing a very good job of showing anyone outside the top-10 when it's not a big name doing embarrassingly bad.
Long green flag runs put the cars running near the back a lap down, including Michael and Brian. Cars began pitting under green when a caution came out, relegating a bunch of drivers, including David, to the tail end of the lead lap. Junior marched to the front and took the lead after a restart of Lap 124. About ten laps later, the biggest wreck of the race occurred when Ryan Newman blew an engine and oiled up the track (David remained on the lead lap as a result, yay!). Several cars spun on the slick track as Newman continued to drop oil on his way to pit lane. On approach to his stall, he went too fast and ended up spinning out.
I know he must have been frustrated, but man...don't endanger people when you know you're leaking fluid all over. The red flag came out because of the huge mess.Dale took the lead again after he stayed out during a later caution. Meanwhile, Martin complained of a carburetor problem that was causing the engine to miss. Kurt was struggling greatly with an extremely tight car, while Brian was wickedly loose. Eventually, Kurt would get the free pass, but the leader soon went by him again. He just hasn't gotten a handle on the new car and will be testing all during the off-week so hopefuly the #2 crew will discover what they've been missing since Daytona.
On Lap 233, Junior brought the field to the green after Kasey Kahne blew a tire. The race would go yellow free till the end, which I think a lot of teams weren't expecting. The problem - most couldn't make it on fuel. Ugh. The dreaded fuel-mileage race.
Mark Martin took over the lead from Junior. You could almost feel the tension from all Junior fans - and I'll admit that I felt a twinge of anxiety. I'm not against the #8 winning, but to pass Junior to do it makes me a little sick inside. It's hard to explain. I know that Junior is in a better situation at Hendrick Motorsports despite all the fans whining that he hasn't won yet or Tony Jr. is an idiot crew chief. It would just make it look like he should've stayed at DEI and I don't want to see that lie rubbed in his face.
However, Mark losing the race I think has confused every race fan. He isn't running full-time and the car is in good shape in points. But they made him pit. I just don't get it. WHY? Take a risk! People who need points, like Dale Jr., didn't have that luxury. If anyone can save fuel it's Mark. Upon hearing the radio communications, I realized that there is absolutely no trust between Mark and Tony Gibson. I think that Mark is almost like Mikey now - if he can't have Ryan Pemberton, that one great crew chief, nobody else works.
Some guys did indeed save enough gas to win! It was comical to watch Jimmie Johnson crawl around, probably just above minimum speed to take the checkers in first. Casey did the same and although he did not run where he finished, this was another good points day for that team.
David was having a pretty solid day that is typical of he and the #44 bunch. Then, while running close to 15th, he pretty much lost his brakes with about a quarter of the race to go. It was really frustrating because he had been hardly using them in the first place! He also had problems with Paul Menard again.
But all in all his finish was great considering the team is now back in the top-35! Great effort!!I guess it could have been worse for Kurt, Michael and Brian. Michael seemed to have a better time than usual, so hopefully this means things will look brighter going in to Talladega.
#44 Quotes of the Race
After Elliott Sadler wrecked and was scraping along the wall.
Shawn: "Nah, give him (Menard) room David. Come on now, stop! David! We had a car against the wall and you had to give him some room."
David (interrupting with much indignation): "-across the apron! Everybody else he lets go, as quick as he gets to me, he runs on the apron."
Shawn: "Let him go dude, you're on the lead lap and he ain't, let him go."
David (angry): "That's my fuckin' point!"
Shawn: "We just need to finish, we don't need to get caught up in no crap."
David (sharply): "'Kay?! (darker) Then I'd say what you do, if you wanna keep us safe here, you go down there and please tell them to cut me a little slack. That's all I'm asking. That's all you need to do. End of discussion. Droppin' it right now. Done talkin' about it."
Ryan (quickly): "10-4, drop it drop it! How many green flag laps was that right there?"
It's kind of amazing how David can go from on wit's end to completely calm in seconds. This audio actually upset me emotionally. I guess you'd have to hear David's voice to get the full effect. It just confounds me that Menard will do anything to try and piss him off, risking his own day in the process. A driver can only take so much until he snaps. Menard is lucky David has some self-control!
POINT STANDINGS
1. Jeff Burton
3. Dale Jr. -86
14. Martin -318
17. Kurt -364
20. Brian -387
24. Casey -474
30. David -551 (34th in owner points +16 from 36th)
32. Michael -600 (32nd in owner points +70 from 36th)
