Sadler trashes the competition in Fontana
An interesting race Sunday. For a while it looked as if they wouldn't need the lights to complete this 250-lapper, but a flurry of cautions near the end slowed things down enough that they didn't have to shoot off the fireworks during a southern California sunset. I had a chance to attend this race, but I decided a few months ago to opt out. I'm sorta glad now that I did, because my guy Jeff Gordon had an awful day when all was said and done. In fact, the five Hendrick cars got aced out of the top 10 entirely.
And what was with all the garbage flying arounfd the infield? They had to throw a caution about 100 laps in just so crews could remove the accumulation of hotdog wrappers and plastic bags that were clogging the grills of the cars and raising water temperatures to unbearable levels.
Speaking of trash, my picks this week belonged in the can. I was a miserable 2-for-10 (ugh!) and probably couldn't have done worse if I'd just grabbed numbers out of a hat. Hey! Maybe I'll try that sometime...
GLENN'S TEN:
* Jeff Gordon (winner) -- 37th, He was destined for a top 5 before the engine blew. But even before that he had trouble when he ran into debris from Greg Biffle's cut tire. Jeff was fastest on the track at one point after repairing the damage, but it just wasn't meant to be.
* Jimmie Johnson -- 14th, He ran in the top 10 for a bit, but the car simply wasn't that strong. The cautions didn't help.
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- 34th, Don't know why I picked the #8 here. DEI can't run worth a lick at Michigan, which is the sister track to Fontana. He hung around in the mid teens for a long while, but then he spun out, and after than he got caught up in Ken Schrader's barbecue with 19 to go.
* Matt Kenseth -- 22nd, Got lost in the shuffle on the late cautions. The car was never as good after being damaged by Biffle's tire debris.
* Kurt Busch -- 12th, I got screwed out of a top 10 finish with the #97. He lost a couple of spots just before the checkers fell.
* Jeff Burton -- 15th, He was up in the top 10 several times. A very good run, but not quite good enough.
* Ryan Newman -- 5th, Ryan did what he had to do to improve his chances of making the Chase. He's up to 8th now, but still needs a good run next week to lock in. The car was mediocre today, as was its driver who didn't feel well.
* Bobby Labonte -- 20th, Bobby's got three problems now: 1) No Fatback, 2) That putrid Wellbutrin paint scheme, and 3) He's out of the top 10 in points. This wasn't the finish he needed , and likely won't contend for a second championship this fall.
* Dale Jarrett -- 8th, Glad to see he finished well, but it doesn't help him in the points race -- he's still 45 out with one race to go.
* Greg Biffle -- 36th, Some will say this awful finish is all my fault, as every time I pick Biffle he whiffs, and vice-versa. But this week he managed to ruin the day for four of my picks at once with that cut tire. The explosion ripped apart the rear of his car, then the debris was nailed by Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth and Dale Jarrett. Only Jarrett wound up in the show by day's end.
REST OF THE TOP 10: (Sorry this list has to be so long...)
* Elliott Sadler -- 1st, I knew I'd made a mistake when he stormed to the front in the opening laps. Third career victory solidifies his spot in the Chase. The kid's come of age with Robert Yates Racing.
* Kasey Kahne -- 2nd (yet again), You know, with Rusty Wallace retiring after next season, perhaps they can affix the deuce on the side of Kasey's car instead. It's bad enough that's he's been runner-up five times this year, but who would have figured he'd be second
twice to Sadler? I'll book him a date in Victory Lane when they run at Homestead in November.
* Mark Martin -- 3rd, Takes over 10th in the points. Had the car to beat and got caught in traffic.
* Jamie McMurray -- 4th, He and Biffle must read my predictions and then do just the opposite. Jamie's still alive for the Chase, but needs help and a good race Saturday to make it.
* Carl Edwards -- 6th, This kid's got something after all. Might not be too long until we see that first Cup Victory Lane backflip. (Will he still be able to contend for Rookie of the Year next season if he runs the rest of this season in the #99? I think they only allow six races before you lose eligibility. This was number three.)
* Scott Riggs -- 7th, Nobody talked about him, but isn't this his best finish of the year?
* Robby Gordon -- 9th, Contract negotiation time applies pressure, which improves finishing position. Robby's in the way even when he's on the lead lap.
* Rusty Wallace -- 10th, Is this the beginning of the Last Call tour? Maybe knowing that retirement looms at the end of 2005 will loosen him up and he'll run better now.
OTHER NOTABLES:
* Brian Vickers -- 13th, Got himself another pole and still the #25 team couldn't figure out what to do with it. I'll say it again -- this isn't all Brian's fault. The kid's still learning, but this team is a weak link in the Hendrick stable.
* Jeremy Mayfield -- 16th, Runs well at Richmond, but this doesn't bode well for making the Chase.
* Tony Stewart -- 18th, And no better.
* Bill Elliott -- 25th, Retire. Entirely. Please.
* Kevin Harvick -- 28th, The only guy more disappointed than Bobby Labonte. OK, maybe he's just as disappointed, but he's still outside the top 10 now.
Next week... It's put up or shut up time for the Chase contenders under the lights Saturday night at Richmond.
