As if Artemis, herself summoned the dark powers of the full moon, some strange magic played out on NASCAR’s oldest speedway in Darlington, South Carolina as the crafty old warrior conquered all obstacles in a race riddled with a record setting seventeen caution flags. Mark Martin triumphed winning his second race in four attempts. While teammate, Jimmie Johnson running in a backup car and starting in a backup car after his wipeout in qualifying finished second. Stewart-Haas racing continued to secure its lock in the championship chase with teammates Tony Stewart finishing 3rd and Ryan Newman 4th. It’s just a matter of time before those fellows win a race. Their equipment is, of course, provided by Hendricks Motor Sports. Hendricks driver Jeff Gordon finished 5th and part-timer, Brad Keselowski racing this week for Hendricks instead of Finch finished in 7th with Martin Truex providing the brightest finish of the year for Earnhardt-Ganassi racing in 6th. Another bright surprise found Joey Logano in 9th place showing the rookie is finally coming to terms with the senior series on one of NASCAR’s most difficult tracks. Roush teammates, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth also finished in the top ten in 8th and 10th respectively.
It was another frustrating evening for Dale Earnhardt Jr. who once again was held up because of snafus on pit lane, one dark spot for an otherwise bright evening for the Hendricks camp. 2009 is rapidly becoming a lost season for the 88 team. Meanwhile, one of last year’s hottest championship contenders, Carl Edwards appeared snake bitten with a variety of problems falling to 32nd spot. The evening was even worse for Kyle Busch two more spots down in 34th.
Finally there are signs of life in the Yates garage with Paul Menard finishing in 15th and Bobby Labonte in 18th. Though not in the top 10, Kevin Harvick regained his grip on respectability with his 11th place finish, while his quiet, consistent stable mate, Jeff Burton finished in 12th.
In a night dominated by Chevrolet’s, Elliot Sadler checked in 14th position for Richard Petty racing while Kurt Busch finished in 16th as the top two Dodges with A.J. Allmendinger, nailing down 17 as another Petty entry with Reed Sorenson two spots down in 19th.
It was a cruel evening for cars prepared by Michael Waltrip racing finding David Reutimann as their top contender in 29th. Marcos Ambrose wrecked finishing his can of beans in 33rd. Michael Waltrip put on the best pyrotechnics display as his car blew up dropping him to a miserable 40th spot.
The Darlington shakeup had its impact on the points standing dropping Clint Bowyer five spots out of the top twelve chasers. Mark Martin moved into 11th. Carl Edwards dropped to 12th while Ryan Newman, Matt Greg Biffle, and Matt Kenseth each gained two spots to 8th, 9th, and 10th in the Sprint Cup standings. Kyle Busch’s poor finish dropped him back two spots to 7th while Jeff Burton continues to edge upward one more position to 6th. Kyle’s teammate, Denny Hamlin dropped to fifth. Jimmie Johnson, looking more the three consecutive champ moved up two spots to 4th. Kurt Busch leveled off on spot to 3rd, but the big news is Tony Stewart’s jump to 2nd, 29 points out of first still held by Jeff Gordon.
With next week’s action being the Sprint Cup All-Star race in Charlotte, it gives teams two weeks to get ready for the next points scoring event, the Coca Cola 600. After the rough and tumble fender-bender in Darlington, their next competition will be a battle for survival as competitors try to outlast the competition for 600 miles.
It’s truly becoming a matter of perform or else for some teams hoping to make the chase. Continued futility will yield a long, hot summer. Carl Edwards is only in the “chase for the chase” gang by seven points. Kurt Busch is the only Dodge driver in the top 12. Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick have their work cut out for them to join the chase field. Then of course, there’s the mess Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s season has become. Of all the competitors mentioned, his failings are the most conspicuous leaving fans to wonder what will it be next week?
All drivers who’ve started all eleven races are in the top 35 in standings, that’s a real reassurance as one week’s hero can be the next week’s big loser as the drama has played out in recent weeks. Bring on the fun and ceremony of the All-Star weekend. It’s not exactly what teams need to catch their breath to be reading for the big one in Charlotte in two weeks.
It was another frustrating evening for Dale Earnhardt Jr. who once again was held up because of snafus on pit lane, one dark spot for an otherwise bright evening for the Hendricks camp. 2009 is rapidly becoming a lost season for the 88 team. Meanwhile, one of last year’s hottest championship contenders, Carl Edwards appeared snake bitten with a variety of problems falling to 32nd spot. The evening was even worse for Kyle Busch two more spots down in 34th.
Finally there are signs of life in the Yates garage with Paul Menard finishing in 15th and Bobby Labonte in 18th. Though not in the top 10, Kevin Harvick regained his grip on respectability with his 11th place finish, while his quiet, consistent stable mate, Jeff Burton finished in 12th.
In a night dominated by Chevrolet’s, Elliot Sadler checked in 14th position for Richard Petty racing while Kurt Busch finished in 16th as the top two Dodges with A.J. Allmendinger, nailing down 17 as another Petty entry with Reed Sorenson two spots down in 19th.
It was a cruel evening for cars prepared by Michael Waltrip racing finding David Reutimann as their top contender in 29th. Marcos Ambrose wrecked finishing his can of beans in 33rd. Michael Waltrip put on the best pyrotechnics display as his car blew up dropping him to a miserable 40th spot.
The Darlington shakeup had its impact on the points standing dropping Clint Bowyer five spots out of the top twelve chasers. Mark Martin moved into 11th. Carl Edwards dropped to 12th while Ryan Newman, Matt Greg Biffle, and Matt Kenseth each gained two spots to 8th, 9th, and 10th in the Sprint Cup standings. Kyle Busch’s poor finish dropped him back two spots to 7th while Jeff Burton continues to edge upward one more position to 6th. Kyle’s teammate, Denny Hamlin dropped to fifth. Jimmie Johnson, looking more the three consecutive champ moved up two spots to 4th. Kurt Busch leveled off on spot to 3rd, but the big news is Tony Stewart’s jump to 2nd, 29 points out of first still held by Jeff Gordon.
With next week’s action being the Sprint Cup All-Star race in Charlotte, it gives teams two weeks to get ready for the next points scoring event, the Coca Cola 600. After the rough and tumble fender-bender in Darlington, their next competition will be a battle for survival as competitors try to outlast the competition for 600 miles.
It’s truly becoming a matter of perform or else for some teams hoping to make the chase. Continued futility will yield a long, hot summer. Carl Edwards is only in the “chase for the chase” gang by seven points. Kurt Busch is the only Dodge driver in the top 12. Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick have their work cut out for them to join the chase field. Then of course, there’s the mess Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s season has become. Of all the competitors mentioned, his failings are the most conspicuous leaving fans to wonder what will it be next week?
All drivers who’ve started all eleven races are in the top 35 in standings, that’s a real reassurance as one week’s hero can be the next week’s big loser as the drama has played out in recent weeks. Bring on the fun and ceremony of the All-Star weekend. It’s not exactly what teams need to catch their breath to be reading for the big one in Charlotte in two weeks.
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