Tony Stewart secured the first victory in Atlanta for nearly a year and thus its first ten bonus points for the Chase. The Top11 of the Championship is now firmly in the playoffs and in Richmond will have four drivers fighting for last place.
The race in Atlanta was now not so exciting super hit of the above, but are still a few interesting things happened, the show is worth it. The first half of the race was not among them because the had to get by completely without Caution. Nevertheless, clearly showed during this phase to be reckoned with against whom race would end. Denny Hamlin led up to that whopping 74 laps and was only by Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne and his teammate Kyle Busch brought into serious trouble. Kyle then took a speeding during the first pit stops under green flag even from the first race for the lead.
A curiosity, it came on lap 132 and finally the first Caution was proclaimed, which was to lead the field again. Until then, more than half of the 43 cars already a lap back and just caught it as well as Dale Earnhardt Jr, NASCAR found debris in the second turn The debris was never shown, of course, and thus it seems clear that alone was proclaimed for Juniors lapping a yellow phase, whereby the latter was able to complete themselves. NASCAR clearly can not make it real and I think it's pretty embarrassing when it is still only two drivers with fines, because this a few weeks ago such behavior as "shift" and then named after confirming that it actually moves. I'm curious about your opinions - let's see how you judge the whole.
With the outcome of the race, however, this situation had nothing to do, but the leader Denny Hamlin blew five laps after the restart on lap 143 of the Toyota engine. But I'm sure this would have happened even without the mystery Caution. This gave Hamlin fight now for the third time in three races with technical problems and complained in the subsequent interview right now, that at Joe Gibbs Racing always seems to hit him. However, the hard line was in Atlanta with the material of other drivers not just squeamish about and so it happened that two other drivers had to say goodbye to the race course of their units: Scott Speed and Paul Menard are caught less than 100 laps to go, almost simultaneously, However, Speed's burning car was more of a picture for the RTL news, while Menards Ford is without fireworks, but it passed with interesting tractor noises.
Immediately after leaving Hamlin Tony Stewart then killed himself at the head of the field and fought a duel shortly afterwards with Jimmie Johnson. Johnson was after half-time still at the forefront, which suggested a better performance than last. Although he was able to claim against Stewart only eight laps, but finished the race in third place. The setup issues with the # 48 are now apparently, as already suggested, no longer an issue. Round of 170-250 then saw Stewart look like the sure winner, as he successfully defended the lead for long. In the meantime, it caught David Ragan, the burst a tire. Again, this should remain a rarity, because the aggressive route in the evening brought yet more rubber to the explosion: Thus, even Jamie McMurray, Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne finishes deprived of a better. Kahnes blowouts, however, was the result of contact with Kurt Busch.
Meanwhile, Kyle Busch was in his drive-through penalty again advanced to the point and showed how good his car was. For a guided tour round it was enough for him not, but when he came to an outstanding fifth place finish. The man of the hour was 75 laps to go then Carl Edwards, who managed to overtake Stewart on the track. His leadership, however, he could not develop so well as before Hamlin and Stewart, because now a caution period came on the next one - mentioned Scott Speed / Paul Menard and Kevin Harvick were the culprits. The race winner Tony Stewart later disappeared again from the top 5, because Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon during the sixth Caution do not lead to the pits. Completed the fastest stop surprising the team of Martin Truex Jr., who had been held up throughout the race in the leadership group. In the end, but for him no more than 12th place in it, something really undeserved.
Kurt's lead did not last long, for now Kasey Kahne put another 15 rounds to the top of the field before his Brad Keselowski Dodge 30 laps before the finish in the recessed wall. Edwards won back his place in the sun in the pit lane and Tony Stewart was a quick stop back to 2nd place. 25 laps before the end was thus the fuel window closes after the stops could provide during Caution No. 6 but not more for gasoline to the end of the race. The eighth and final caution period caused then Kasey Kahne just two laps later made during this short time, Stewart could not but again push the lead, where he was to remain permanently.
Several teams tried for another 18 laps to go an interesting initiative: As the murderous attack route gnawed most extensively studied in the gums, including attempted Juan Pablo Montoya, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton another tire change. Only Burton could secure such a place in the top 5. Montoya drove the entire race consistently in the top 10 and gave up after a short time in the front rank 3. At the end he came in 9th place in just the top10. Here you can clearly see that the Earnhardt-Ganassi cars can really keep the pace of the peak. A few more such top results and Montoya had the chase safely packed, since this weekend he has now finally also adopted the candidature. Maybe he can still get in the playoffs the first oval victory in 2011 and when the bad luck does not continue, then he should at least grab the Chase again next year.
In the last few laps then had no more to offer something for Tony Stewart and he secured his first victory in almost a year and with it the first ten bonus points for the Chase. Added driver can then pick up this weekend in Richmond desirable additional meters. Carl Edwards, who had a real chance of winning, had to be content with 2nd place. Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Burton and Kyle Busch completed the top 5, while Kurt Busch, Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman, Juan Pablo Montoya and Marcos Ambrose in the top 10 went - especially for Ambrose So a nice individual success. In addition, guaranteed top placement Bowyer these valuable points in the battle for 12th place, because none of its direct competitors to the finish came before him.
Short nor the results of two other riders:
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. was a long way in the top 20 and was on his way to a pretty good result for him. Finally he came on as 22ter, since there are a lot of potential for improvement next year.
- Greg Biffle was reversed by Ryan Newman and lost valuable laps in places during an extensive repair in the garage. In the championship, although he is only eleventh, but has exactly 161 points ahead of 13th place This means that he start in Richmond just needs to get into the chase. The last place driver gets 34 points and a maximum of 195 meters per race are to get the results exactly the difference of 161
Closely it may in the hunt for the Chase last place that is only for Clint Bowyer will and the emphasis is on "can." The chances of Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray and Mark Martin are in more than 117 points behind only describe as a theory. For example, if Bowyer arrives in the next week just as the last, then you do Ryan Newman is still a top 5 result to get into the playoffs. McMurray needed in this case a third place and Martin would have to win at all - any bonus points are not included here. This means, conversely, that Clint Bowyer will only get better than 28th place finish in order to collect in the chase for sure.
The Owner-rating it's getting interesting again, because Kevin Conway went far behind Atlanta in the field as often and landed with a gearbox failure only ranked 37th Its immediate rivals # 26 Patrick Carpentier (28th) and # 38 Dave Blaney (24th) made a lot of ground well to the # 7 of Robby Gordon Motorsports and have now arrived at about 100 points behind. When Conway piloting the car on, then the # 7 is gone before the end of the season Top35. On the one hand the rookie race will then take part in any more because his performance in qualifying had been underground and on the other hand is not guaranteed starting place Robby Gordon certainly no sponsors for 2011. This year it was already close enough for the owner / driver. It will be fascinating.
Next week we continue in Richmond, the last (night) race before the Chase with a start time around 01:45 clock in the night from Saturday to Sunday. With this it is Mattias Ekström, Audi Motorsport announced as yet on Sunday . Completed for the Swede earlier in the week a test at the Oval North Wilkesboro Speedway, a former Cup track. Until 1996, the Winston Cup at the 0.625-mile oval (almost exactly one kilometer) road with 14 ° banking.
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Ups. Did the race but unfortunately, not seen, but the number of Earnhardt's then me a little too hard. because it is adjacent to really shift. If I want to find just anywhere on an oval miniature parts, or maybe not, and still leave ne Caution cry, which is of course to increase the voltage OK. But I will proclaim, if the Pubklikumsliebling is lapped grade may not be easy.
Mfg.
Chaos
On the one hand and hold the Cautions the races exciting. And we are happy not when a SC in F1 again brings a little excitement? On the other hand, it means you passed it, of course, really, to be a sport. For it is not sporty, taking away someone with an edge elaborated. The most we can accept that even if it happens neutral. If, however, would put some drivers and a caution in an identical situation with other not, then that would be really unfair. Too bad that you want to avoid until now apparently a discussion about it. Because then they might indeed refute this charge, and also show, for example, pictures of the wreckage that since each lying around.
@ Chaos: you tell yourself you have not seen the race, so you judge only after this blog entry here?
@ All
I see it in the case thus: "benefit of the doubt," the benefit of the doubt.
No one can prove that NASCAR brought out the caution just because Jr.. Only see on TV because no debris was must mean nothing. Sure, NASCAR would never admit it. But as I said, NASCAR does not have to even prove why they brought out the caution. After all, it's their rules, and their race.
And after all, that's for another season, you can completely forget the Jr.. So why should NASCAR procure an advantage? Sure, he's the "most-popular-driver", but that's nothing new. Whether he returns or not is now a round of changes, nothing to it.
And you should also look the other way around: It was a night race at 300 km / h I was there Sunday night in a hurry (an animal emergency, I had to nem doctor), so I drove highway. A short piece I did 180 km / h on it and it was quite uncomfortable to ride like that. The thought of when one takes over at a time, or what goes with a tire ...
When I think of it, in a race car driving at a speed of 43 300th Since a tire blow because of a piece of debris would be the last thing I wanted. Because it's better if one looks at the NASCAR much than too little.
@ NASCARaddicted yes, that's why I've written about it.
Me, the question arises: is it really statistically significant, the debris it Cautions (Mistery or not) when Jr is pending against the front or middle of the race lapping? Or is it just when it is on JR and other accumulations of you see it?
Since I do not I invent hot Thilo no statistics and tell it to me for so acting as if Jr has a sort of guardian angel to rounding middle of the race. But I can not demonstrate or prove, not the opposite. All speculation.
Have the feeling that you talk to a racing fan the last few weeks with more discussions about decisions, accidents, etc. as to winners, losers, good and bad races. Clearly belongs to me but also to wirds somehow too much.
This is partly also due to the transmitting station and the "journalists" make no attempt to even begin to independent, critical and engaged in journalism to be. Of course it would have been on ESPN on Sunday, the debris show. But we prefer to show Tim Brewer of the spectators probably explains the millions of stupid you push the accelerator all the best if you want to step on the gas ....
Or they've turned over a debris-Caution, advertising three times what the caution of course, be extended and we can then see the same taxi driver ends twitter 6 times. I buy a Honda then in protest. In Red (Insider)
Back to eigentlichem Theme: Nice to "Smoke" in time to chase a sign of life there by themselves, also interesting is that the Hendrick guys to fight still have, especially in the last third of the race it instead goes to the front often still outside to the back (Jr times before that runs in its own league, the laws do not apply to Hendrick).
The race for the Chase last place, unfortunately, is almost gone, but so you can see in the next race on Ekstrom (write at times without ö ;)) focus, I wish him NEN good debut and the Jr's guardian angel ....
Well, that NASCAR is turning a blind eye on junior rather a well known ;) Michigan, 2008 (?) Times to take just one example, there he was overtaken because of lack of fuel, the pace car more often and there was nothing ...
Yup, that Smoke has won once again, is great indeed :-)