The relief of victory
Well, that must be a first. In the history of gNA$hCAR has there ever been a race in which the winner has put the victory celebration on hold to answer a call of nature? I don't think I've heard a post-race press conference where the bulk of the questions focused on the condition of the driver's stomach as opposed to his winning strategy. Just when you think you've seen it all.
Tony Stewart never fails to entertain, even when he feels like crap -- or is that, even when he feels like taking one? Had he done a Burnheardt and let them pull him from the car about 20 laps in, as was the plan for a while, we might have gotten to see Boris Said in the Home Depot Chevy. No such luck. At least one road ringer did well, however. I'll waste no more time getting to the recap:
GLENN'S TEN (6-for-10):
* Jeff Gordon (winner) -- 21st, What a way to lose. His car was about a 3rd placer all day, and that was where he was destined to finish as he clawed his way forward in the late laps after having led for a few laps. But the transmission crapped out with seven laps to go. It's hard to win on a road course with only 4th gear. Missed chance to grab the points lead.
* Jimmie Johnson -- 40th, Not a good day for Hendrick. The engine gave up on lap 24. Second DNF in a row for the points leader.
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- 5th, A worthy effort. Finally overcame the bad luck he's had on the road courses. Even pushed Casey Mears across the line. What a sport.
* Tony Stewart -- 1st, Tony dominated the race as he gutted out the win (pun intended). Seems like Tony always performs better under pressure, whether it is probation or constipation. Career win number 19.
* Matt Kenseth -- 9th, Wouldn't you know he'd sneak in? Another top 10 for the "boring" defending champ.
* Kurt Busch -- 10th, Got in when Gordon slipped back. Like Kenseth, had a very quiet but solid day.
* Kevin Harvick -- 6th, Harvick has the mettle to be a good road racer. He's gonna win one of these eventually.
* Mark Martin -- 3rd, I'll stick a feather in my cap for calling all the Rousch top 10 finishers. Mark Martin often does well at these tracks, so this finish is no surprise.
* Rusty Wallace -- 25th, What's with that Kodak paint? Put him back in the Miller blue. Not a good day for Penske -- this was their highest finisher.
* Robby Gordon -- 16th, This has to be a disappointment. I didn't see how he wound up here, but I think poor pit strategy and traffic were contributing factors.
REST OF THE TOP 10:
* Ron Fellows -- 2nd, One of the few ringers to make the field, he started dead last and might have been able to challenge Tony for the win if he'd had a caution or another couple of laps to work with.
* Casey Mears -- 4th!, First career top 5. Led for a while and seemed a candidate for a win. Almost blew the good run when he ran out of gas coming to the finish line. Junior gave him a push after the checkers.
* Jeremy Mayfield -- 7th, Sneaks into 10th in the points, thanks to Ryan Newman's woes. I'm bummed.
* Ricky Rudd -- 8th, I thought about picking him, but I never trust his equipment to last.
OTHER NOTABLES:
* Bobby Labonte -- 11th, Close, but no cigar.
* Jeff Burton -- 12th, Good riddance to Rousch. Expect him to turn things around with Childress #30 starting next week.
* Jamie McMurray -- 13th, Good finish keeps him in the race to the Chase.
* Kasey Kahne -- 14th, Ditto. Now leads Ryan Newman.
* Ryan Newman -- 26th, *Sniff* Who's feeling crappier than Tony Stewart tonight? Yeah. It will be a crime if Ryan fails to make the Chase, but that's where he's headed. The car was junk all day, with brake problems and contact with another car that left his right side crunched-in, much like his season.
* Dale Jarrett -- 27th, We'll add his name to the growing membership in the Brian Vickers fan club. Brian lost it in the bus stop and knocked the two of them into the gravel trap. Dale was down a lap early because of it and never recovered. High attrition helped a bit.
Next week... Maybe Ryan's season isn't toast yet. It's back to Michigan!
