That feels better
Maybe I should stop dissing Pocono. If I can emerge with days like this one more often then they can run all the races at this track and I'll only complain about the boring race action.
Seriously, the first three quarters of this race was about as dull as it gets, and I don't think it had everything to do with the guys in the TNT booth. Benny, Wally and the guys rarely get the blood pumping like they do on FOX, but even D.W. would have been hard-pressed to make this one exciting. Kurt Busch led a bunch of laps and won the race, a few other guys had real good cars and ran near the front all day, and a bunch of other guys had mediocre cars and brought up the rear all day. Yawn.
What saved the day was the "50 million cautions" -- as Mark Martin put it -- over the final 50 laps, which kept the competitors close and assured that I escaped with my first 7-for-10 day in months.
GLENN'S TEN (7-for-10... How'd that happen?):
* Tony Stewart (winner) -- 7th, Tony never said his car was great, but he never said it was bad either. He ran in the top 10 all afternoon. Now second in points and on the move.
* Carl Edwards -- 4th, Carl charged from the back and was at mid-pack after less than five laps. He never quite got to the front and spoiled Kasey Kahne's day when the two made contact in the next to last lap, but this was a tremendous run.
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- 32nd, My one low spot. Junior had an awful car all weekend. By the time his crew got the bugs worked out on race day he was already two laps down and never recovered. But he was fast for being a double-lapper.
* Ricky Rudd -- 10th, I feel real good about nailing this pick. Rudd got trapped a lap down when a caution flag flew in the middle of green flag pit stops, but he eventually made it up and stormed back into the top 10. It looked like he might have a car to challenge for the lead until it started to push. He never was as strong after that, but he snuck into the show after Greg Biffle and Michael Waltrip had their problems.
* Jimmie Johnson -- 12th, Considering that he was a lap down for a time and never had a good car, this was a monumental achievement. He used some two-tire stops to move forward. Hangs on to the points lead.
* Ryan Newman -- 5th, I'm starting to think that this is the new Newman -- hangs out in the top 10 most of the day, never has the strongest car, but stays out of trouble and picks up the good finish to stay in the thick of the points race. Not sure what I think of his three-wide pass on Ricky Rudd and who was it? Brian Vickers? late in the race.
* Bobby Labonte -- 8th, Bobby should have more days like this at tracks he runs well at. Another step in the road to recovery.
* Greg Biffle -- 17th, The dust-up with Michael Waltrip that put Mikey out of contention also stuffed Biffle, although less seriously. He had to pit and fell from the top 5. Recovered a few spots over the final couple of cautions.
* Mark Martin -- 3rd, Mark got tired of all his second-place finishes here, so he finished third instead. He might have challenged Kurt Busch for the win, but he wasn't able to get by Rusty Wallace so we'll never know.
* Kurt Busch -- 1st, Should have gone with my intuition. At least I picked him for the show, but it was clear early on that he wasn't going to be denied. He dominated the race and overtook Rusty Wallace with less than 20 to go to seal the deal.
REST OF THE TOP 10:
* Rusty Wallace -- 2nd, I had him on my original list, but passed in favor of Earnhardt Jr. Pffffth! Rusty is the wild card in the Chase picture. He's been solid to this point. I keep waiting for the big choke, but probably won't see it until Talladega or Atlanta.
* Kevin Harvick -- 6th, Oh yeah, almost forgot that he's occasionally very good. A little luck never hurts either. Should be good momentum going to Indy in two weeks, where he has won before.
* Mike Bliss -- 9th, He can thank Kasey Kahne, Michael Waltrip and Greg Biffle for this one. Probably won't do anything to keep him in the car next season. Might not be thanking Mikey when he gets this ride in '06.
OTHER NOTABLES:
* Jamie McMurray -- 11th, Couldn't back up his pole. Just missed the show.
* Jeff Gordon -- 13th, The car was mediocre all day. He didn't deserve a finish this good. Pit strategy only gets you so far. Loses more ground to Jimmie Johnson.
* Michael Waltrip -- 26th, Crashed twice in the space of 10 laps after Greg Biffle cut a tire and bounced Mikey into the wall. He'd been as high as third. Needed a good finish and didn't deserve this.
* Kasey Kahne -- 27th, Needed a good finish and didn't deserve this. He made a run on Karl Edwards for 4th on the green-white-checker restart and Carl got into him, turning him into the wall.
Next week... Freedom! We've got a rare bye on the schedule before the Brickyard 400 Aug. 7, so you've got time to cruise with Kyle Petty on his charity ride... or do whatever it is you find personally rewarding. See you in two weeks.
