D-Day, Dover style
...Or should we say Double-D Day, as in Demolition Derby? I will confess up front that I slept through most of the first 320 laps and didn't see how it was that nearly everyone was a lap or more down. I'm fighting off a summer cold that has left me pretty wiped. But I was awake for the last 78 laps, which by themselves took about as long as the rest of the race. What a bizarre mess this one was -- at least three leaders eliminated from contention while they were leading, more time spent under cautions or red-flag conditions than under green, and an unlikely winner in victory lane.
I've been reading some of the message boards this afternoon, and most of the comments were very critical of gNA$hCAR's decision to run a couple dozen laps under caution after the Ryan Newman incident while officials sorted out the running order. Seems there needs to be a better way. What a stinker of a way to finish a race.
Speaking of stinkers, Glenn's Ten didn't fare too well (2 for 10). I've got a lot of commentary for so little success:
* Ryan Newman (winner) -- 24th, I tuned in about the time Ryan's comedy of errors began, except none of it was very funny. He had the field a lap down when he came in for a green flag stop, missed the entrance to pit road and spun out, hitting the commit cones and whacking the safety barrier. Then under caution he ran out of gas and had to be pushed into the pits. He was penalized for speeding off pit road, among other things, and by the time it was over he was a lap down in 14th. Then after the restart he got involved in the Big One that took out half the field. The fact he wound up with a mid-pack finish shows just how high the attrition was. I did like his comment when asked what happened to precipitate his disastrous day: "The driver ran out of talent," he said.
* Jeremy Mayfield -- 8th, Caught up in the big wreck while leading. They patched him back together enough to still claim a decent finish.
* Elliott Sadler -- 18th, Got in trouble early and ran laps down rest of the afternoon. Decent finish all things considered.
* Jamie McMurray -- 15th, Another victim of the big crash.
* Tony Stewart -- 2nd, Clearly had the best car much of the race, but got a lap down and then didn't have the benefit of time to get caught up. Good effort holding off Little E at the finish.
* Jeff Gordon -- 36th, Can it get much worse? Two weeks in a row with finishes in the 30s. Cut down a tire that took him out on lap 222.
* Jimmie Johnson -- 32nd, Was sitting pretty for a big points day until the big wreck, which had his team loading up early. Consequently, he lost ground to Dale Jr., who salvaged a good finish. More on that in a moment...
* Bobby Labonte -- 25th, The sponsors, MBNA, have gotta be pleased with this showing, especially at their namesake race.
* Matt Kenseth -- 22nd, Was set for a top five when fate intervened in the form of oil from Casey Mears' car. #17 was torn up beyond driveability.
* Kurt Busch -- 12th, Kurt could have given me another top 10 car, but he was too torn up from the big wreck and got passed by a few faster cars in the closing laps.
REST OF THE TOP 10:
* Mark Martin -- 1st, The Viagra Ford was in the right place at the wrong times and missed all the mayhem. Didn't have the best car, but he had plenty of luck. Good to see Mark back in victory lane.
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- 3rd, Dangitall, if he didn't turn a lousy day into a great one. Not only did he overcome early difficulties that had him down to 37th at one point, but he had a car good enough to win if he'd just had more time. Instead of losing the points lead, thanks to all the misfortune of his nearest competition, he now has an almost-100 point lead.
* Jeff Burton -- 4th, Where'd he come from? Didn't recognize that all-white paint scheme. Has to be a confidence booster. Best finish of the year, but at the end he was griping about losing third to Earnhardt because the car wouldn't go. Hey Jeff, you're lucky the car was still going at the finish.
* Scott Riggs -- 5th!!, Top rookie. You know it's a weird day when the #10 gets a top five.
* Michael Waltrip -- 6th, This could be a trend. Think he's got incentive after Little E's vote of no-confidence regarding Mikey's future at DEI earlier this week?
* Terry Labonte -- 7th, Not too often Texas Terry gets to be the Hendrick standard bearer.
* Scott Wimmer -- 9th, Another rookie seldom seen in these parts.
* Kevin Harvick -- 10th, Somehow he salvaged a decent day. Missing the big wrecks helps.
OTHER NOTABLES:
* Dale Jarrett -- 11th, No one notices anymore when he has a good day.
* Jimmy Spencer -- 17th, Sorry I dissed him in my preview.
* Kasey Kahne -- 21st, This one's gotta hurt. He had the race all but won until he hit Casey Mears' oil slick and spun into the wall while leading with 19 laps to go. He'll get victory #1 eventually.
Next week... The longest road course race that isn't -- Pocono.
