On the edge of my seat
The end of the Lifelock 400 on Sunday was one of the best NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races I have seen in quite some time.
Of course it did not hurt that the most popular driver in the sport, Dale Earnhardt Jr,. won the race.
Ever since he joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2008 most race fans knew it was a matter of when and not if Earnhardt would win a points race for Hendrick this year. It may have taken longer than most fans wanted but it sure was an exciting way to break a 76 race winless streak.
As for me, Sunday’s race started like I expected. Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch dominated the first 30 laps due to starting positions. Then, when the long runs started, you could see who had the powerful cars. To me, that was a battle between Matt Kenseth and Brian Vickers. I really believe the end of the race would have been different if there was a caution with 20 laps and not three laps to go.
As for the end of the race, I started my normal pacing with 10 laps to go when guys I like are up front.
With my favorite, Kasey Kahne, running the gas-mileage strategy I was getting concerned. Dodges are not known for great fuel conservation. With that said, it was still great seeing him up near front again in the late stages for a fourth time this year.
I really wanted to see the race run to the finish without the Hornish Jr. crash because that would have shown who really did have the fuel to finish.
I am sure thereare fans out there that hate green and white checker finishes but I think it gives those hard working, high-price paying fans a chance to see a finish after sitting in the stands all day.
As to conspiracies that NASCAR made sure Jr. won, that is not my place. He probably would not have won without the caution with what he said in his post-race interviews but the result is what it is and it was dramatic.
And for that, the NASCAR season continues and with Earnhardt Jr. and Kahne breaking their winless streaks, it seems time for Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart to do the same.
Stewart seems oh-so-close to winning.
In fact, he really should have run in Charlotte but the tires just wouldn’t let him.
So I see Stewart winning, maybe even Sunday at Infineon where Stewart does well at road courses. Then again, Gordon is no slouch but his car needs to start the race right.
With that said...
Let the debate begin.
