Just like the All-Star
Saturday night's UAW-GM Quality 500 had all the excitement of the May All-Star race, with the top points contenders running into their share of heroics and heartbreaks. And when it came down to the checkers, two guys who hadn't had much to cheer about all night were chasing each other across the finish line. (I have some other thoughts on that in a moment...) Now it's time to see how I did for the weekend. Not bad, with 9 of my 10 picks finishing in the top 14.
GLENN'S TEN (6-for-10):
* Jimmie Johnson (winner) -- Winner! When I look back at my accurate predictions of winners at season's end, I think Jimmie and his teammate Jeff Gordon will account for most of them. The #48 looked sort of mediocre much of the night, but when Kasey Kahne's race ended prematurely Johnson was there when it counted. Fifth win of the season, but he gains little ground on Kurt Busch in the Chase standings.
* Ryan Newman -- 14th, These guys can't seem to buy a break. Ryan had a car that looked like it would challenge for the win until he got sandwiched into the wall trying to avoid Jimmy Spencer's wreck right in front of him. The car limped along for the final 20 laps and was the final car on the lead lap. More points lost in the Chase.
* Jeff Gordon -- 2nd, Jeff wins the How-The-Heck-Did-He-Do-That? Award for getting his battered and bruised car up near the front by the end of the race. At one point before the last caution he was challenging Jimmie Johnson for the lead. He got roughed up in the lap 1 crash, then later spun and was broadsided by Rusty Wallace. That crash took out Rusty, but Jeff somehow managed to continue and, after being a lap down at one point, managed to get back onto the lead lap and fixed the car enough to work his way to the front. He never led a lap, unfortunately.
* Mark Martin -- 13th, Mark had a top 5 car until he got caught up in the wreck that wounded Ryan Newman's car. He struggled to the finish and was clearly morose in the post-race interview. Mark announced before the race that he will retire at the end of next season, so this might truly be a now-or-never championship season for him. Right now he is probably thinking never.
* Matt Kenseth -- 11th, Spinning out didn't help his finish, but it could have been much worse. Still in the hunt for another title -- sort of.
* Kasey Kahne -- 32nd, Will this kid ever catch a break? He led the most laps and clearly had the best car before he blew a right front tire and plowed the wall on lap 267. The up side was that with Kahne out the finish was much more interesting.
* Kurt Busch -- 4th, He was among the drivers involved in the lap 1 crash and went to the rear of the field, but he worked his way to the front and led a few laps. He holds onto his points lead.
* Tony Stewart -- 10th, This might have been the only time Tony was in the show all night. Clinging to title hopes, but he just hasn't been much of a threat the first five races of the Chase.
* Jeff Burton -- 9th, Burton's back. Might be awhile before he's back in Victory Lane, but a race like this one is a place where you would expect him to do well.
* Joe Nemechek -- 5th, Gambled with two tires on the last caution to come out in front, and then held on for a good finish.
REST OF THE TOP 10:
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- 3rd, His team couldn't remember that he was supposed to have a World Series paint scheme this night, so they stripped the hood of its traditional red and white and created some sort of weird hybrid scheme -- the bloodshot baseball? Didn't affect Junior's performance as he ran a strong race all night. But that's what he needs to do to have a shot at the title. Also needs to have Busch have bad luck.
* Dale Jarrett -- 6th, I nearly picked him in the top 10, and he showed why I should have.
* Elliott Sadler -- 7th, Followed teammate Jarrett to a good finish. Very much alive in the Chase.
* Jamie McMurray -- 8th, Another guy I almost picked, as this is the race he won two years ago. He was quiet most of the evening.
OTHER NOTABLES:
* Bobby Hamilton Jr. -- 15th, Only car one lap down. Great night, and no one mentioned him at all.
* John Andretti -- 22nd, Took the heat for taking out Greg Biffle on the first lap crash, but wasn't really his fault.
* Scott Riggs -- 38th, The real cause of the lap 1 wreck. The car didn't go when the green flag fell.
* Brian Vickers -- 40th, Pounded the SAFER barrier on lap 22, forcing a red flag while crews repaired the wall.
* Jeremy Mayfield -- 30th, Crash not of his making further compounds his problems in Chase.
More thoughts on the finish... Is it just me, or did that Johnson win look a little fishy? I mean, just before the last caution, Gordon was coming on strong and had a fender underneath him preparing to take the lead. Then after the caution Jimmie just drove off and left him in the dust. I hate to think this, but what if Jeff "backed off" to let Jimmie win because Lowe's is the #48's sponsor and this was their track? Gordon has always been very sponsor-conscious (witness the victory celebration at Indy when he didn't go to Victory Lane to avoid having to be shown with Powerade on the roof of his car -- a Coke product whereas he is a Pepsi-sponsored guy). I could see Jeff thinking, "I've got second and will gain points on Kurt Busch, and Jimmie needs to win because he's got more ground to make up, and Lowe's is a big sponsor and we'd like to keep them happy." Or maybe that's just how it appeared. After all, Jeff was probably just fortunate to be where he was with his mangled car. But you can't blame me for speculating.
Next week.. Short-trackin' for the last time this season at Martinsville.
