Another win for Roush
Darlington has a penchant for memorable finishes. Who will soon forget Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch dueling to the finish line two years ago? Or Jimmie Johnson capitalizing on others' misfortune to grab the win last year? Another chapter was written here Saturday night, when the race came down to a two-lap shootout with a bunch of cars on different tire strategies.
But Darlington is definitely a tire sort of track, so the guys who took none on the final caution were at a definite disadvantage. Among them was the leader, Ryan Newman. The only guy who is more disappointed with Greg Biffle taking the checkers is Newman, who didn't stand a ghost's chance in you-know-where to preserve what should have been an easy win.
All in all this was an entertaining race, and my final score card doesn't look too bad...
GLENN'S TEN (6 for 10... Pretty good.)
* Ryan Newman (winner) -- 5th, Ryan was a victim of circumstance, plain and simple. You really can't fault him for going from first to fifth on the final two laps. Had he pitted, he would have found himself at the tail end of the lead lap cars. Doing what he did and staying out meant that everyone else came in for fresh tires. Game over. The #12 looked good all night, perhaps the best run he's had since winning at Dover last September. These are the consistent runs he needs more of if he hopes to be a threat for the Cup. I'll blame this finish on Mark Martin, who spun out digging for position with about four to go.
* Jimmie Johnson -- 7th, What did in Jimmie's chances of a third straight win at the "track too tough to tame" was loose lug nuts. He had to short pit under green and overcome a lap-and-a-half deficit. His car was very good, so this finish isn't too surprising.
* Jeff Gordon -- 2nd, A guy who benefitted from the final caution. Gordon had been fading on the long runs, but on fresh tires he looked awesome all night. He easily blew by everyone on the final restart, but he didn't have enough time to catch Biffle, who got a big jump.
* Kurt Busch -- 37th, Oops. Mr. Mouth didn't get past the first lap before spinning into the inside retaining wall. Replay looks like Gordon might have "helped" him in that direction, although none of the FOX commentators pursued that angle. Later, Busch got into trouble for not following directions from gNA$hCAR officials and was summoned to the office after the race.
* Matt Kenseth -- 26th, Matt got a lap down and never made it up. His fate was sealed when he pitted under green just before a caution flew, which trapped him two laps down.
* Jamie McMurray -- 6th, Hung around the teens most of the race and kept himself in position for a good finish with all the jockeying for position on the final two laps.
* Greg Biffle -- 1st, When it's your year you just know it. I think the Biffster is filching from Kenseth's luck bank. He led the most laps, but there was no way he was going to overcome Newman's 3.5 second lead with four to go without a caution. You think maybe Martin is just a little pleased with himself for spinning out when he did, helping his teammate to Victory Lane? Third victory of the season puts pressure on Gordon to win number four...
* Sterling Marlin -- 41st, See what I get for going with a guy who finds bad luck? Sterling was in the top 10 until he dropped a cylinder and eventually had to retire from the race. Next year he'll probably retire from the sport.
* Dale Jarrett -- 15th, DJ hasn't been lighting 'em up, but he has been getting decent finishes in the teens that have kept him in the top 10. His car was average all night, but here's what average gets you if you don't hit the wall.
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- 8th, What did I tell you? Started 39th and wound up with another top 10. Just wait till this team gels later in the season.
REST OF THE TOP 10:
* Kasey Kahne -- 3rd, I'm proud of this kid, except for the moment late in the race where he almost wrecked himself and Jeff Gordon trying to race two-wide out of a corner. Evernham's cars seem to lack the ability to close strong, which I think is why the Gordons and Biffles have been winning all the races. I'm sort of glad he didn't finish second, lest it give the FOX guys an invitation to talk about his
eight second-place finishes without a win.
* Mark Martin -- 4th, Pretty nifty to spin out running fourth with your teammate running second and after the caution still finish fourth with your guy getting the win. Don't think he planned it that way, but that's sometimes how it goes. Nice showing for Mark in his final Darlington race.
* Carl Edwards -- 9th, Overcame a slow start to be in contention for the win in the shootout. Unfortunately, Carl got a bit over eager and spun it across the line.
* Tony Stewart -- 10th, Wish I'd picked him. He just rope-a-doped his way into the show.
OTHER NOTABLES:
* Kevin Harvick -- 14th, Got wrecked coming to the checkered flag.
* Ken Schrader -- 18th, Became a factor when he stayed out on old tires for the final two laps. Bad strategy. Went from second to this. Ugh.
* Jeff Burton -- 21st, Robbed of a top 10 finish by a tire vibration late in the race.
* Kyle Busch -- 23rd, The FOX guys were blathering on about how impressive a run the #5 had turned in, running up in the top 5 much of the night, when he cut a right front and mashed the wall. Think they just jinxed him.
* Jeff Green and Michael Waltrip -- They probably won't be sending each other Christmas presents this year. Green turned Waltrip into the wall on lap 7. A stunned Mikey was interviewed in the garage saying his mother taught him not to say anything when he had nothing nice to say about someone. He let his car do the talking instead, playing bumper tag with Green the rest of the night until gNA$hCAR parked him for a lap or two. Green winds up 22nd while Mikey finishes a forgettable 34th.
Next week... More of this Saturday night racing thing as we head to Richmond.
