Coca Cola 600, the Joy of Seeing a New Winner Gets Lost in Two Days of Rain Delays
Congratulations to David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip for the 00 Aaron’s Dream Team Toyota victory. It’s Michael Waltrip racing’s first win in the organization’s 3rd year. So what if the win resulted from not going into the pit for service as a caution flag fell for rain that ultimately signaled the end of the day’s competition. A win is a win is a win.
It’s just what fans had to sit through on Sunday night and all afternoon Monday to get to the final result of race barely run to the halfway point. Both Dale Earnhardt Junior and Kevin Harvick continued their seasons of futility with Earnhardt having equipment trouble and Harvick smacking the wall early. It’s interesting that other Hendricks cars don’t have the mechanical issues the #88 car has. Whether it’s Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon or Mark Martin racing for Team Hendrick or Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman running Hendrick gear.
Ryan Newman finished second, Robby Gordon – third, Carl Edwards – 4th and Brian Vickers 5th rounding out the top five. Kasey Kahne jumped into the top 10 in 7th and Juan Montoya nailed down 8th spot while rookie Joey Logano continues to grow with another 9th place finish.
The Coke 600 was a miserable affair for Richard Childress with his steady man Jeff Burton only managing a 25th finish, but it only got worse from there with Casey Mears in 33rd, Clint Bowyer in 36th, and Kevin Harvick two spots above last place possibly ahead of start and park entries.
In the legends department, Bill Elliot in a cameo roll for the Wood Brothers finished a respectable 15th for a part time ride.
Aside from Michael Waltrip racing fans, this will be a weekend to forget. The weather prevented any true racing momentum to develop though when Kyle Busch had all things working, he clearly appeared to have the dominant ride in the race.
Winners and losers in the points standings showed modest good fortune for Roush-Fenway drivers Kenseth, and Edwards who each gained a spot. Jaime McMurray gained three spots. However, David Ragan broke even while Greg Biffle dropped a spot. The big points winner was Joey Logano gaining five positions up to 25th. Reutimann’s victory advanced him two places to just six points out of the all important top 12.
Clint Boywer was truly the day’s big loser dropping further from the case down four spots to 17th. While Michael Waltrip can smile as an owner, as a driver he lost three spots in his #55 ride. Driving home the futility suffered by RCR, both Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick dropped two spots as did Elliot Sadler for Richard Petty Racing. It goes without saying, Dale Earnhardt fell back too, but only one position, hardly a moral victory never showing a hint of competitive ability in the Charlotte soaker.
The season is now on third complete with one more race on Fox. The NASCAR caravan heads to Dover, Delaware for hopefully drier conditions on the Monster Mile. While Thursday and Friday show a chance of thunder storms, the long range forecast calls for mostly sunshine for Saturday and Sunday with temperatures right around 80 degrees, great weather for the fans in the stands.
Congratulations to David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip for the 00 Aaron’s Dream Team Toyota victory. It’s Michael Waltrip racing’s first win in the organization’s 3rd year. So what if the win resulted from not going into the pit for service as a caution flag fell for rain that ultimately signaled the end of the day’s competition. A win is a win is a win.
It’s just what fans had to sit through on Sunday night and all afternoon Monday to get to the final result of race barely run to the halfway point. Both Dale Earnhardt Junior and Kevin Harvick continued their seasons of futility with Earnhardt having equipment trouble and Harvick smacking the wall early. It’s interesting that other Hendricks cars don’t have the mechanical issues the #88 car has. Whether it’s Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon or Mark Martin racing for Team Hendrick or Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman running Hendrick gear.
Ryan Newman finished second, Robby Gordon – third, Carl Edwards – 4th and Brian Vickers 5th rounding out the top five. Kasey Kahne jumped into the top 10 in 7th and Juan Montoya nailed down 8th spot while rookie Joey Logano continues to grow with another 9th place finish.
The Coke 600 was a miserable affair for Richard Childress with his steady man Jeff Burton only managing a 25th finish, but it only got worse from there with Casey Mears in 33rd, Clint Bowyer in 36th, and Kevin Harvick two spots above last place possibly ahead of start and park entries.
In the legends department, Bill Elliot in a cameo roll for the Wood Brothers finished a respectable 15th for a part time ride.
Aside from Michael Waltrip racing fans, this will be a weekend to forget. The weather prevented any true racing momentum to develop though when Kyle Busch had all things working, he clearly appeared to have the dominant ride in the race.
Winners and losers in the points standings showed modest good fortune for Roush-Fenway drivers Kenseth, and Edwards who each gained a spot. Jaime McMurray gained three spots. However, David Ragan broke even while Greg Biffle dropped a spot. The big points winner was Joey Logano gaining five positions up to 25th. Reutimann’s victory advanced him two places to just six points out of the all important top 12.
Clint Boywer was truly the day’s big loser dropping further from the case down four spots to 17th. While Michael Waltrip can smile as an owner, as a driver he lost three spots in his #55 ride. Driving home the futility suffered by RCR, both Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick dropped two spots as did Elliot Sadler for Richard Petty Racing. It goes without saying, Dale Earnhardt fell back too, but only one position, hardly a moral victory never showing a hint of competitive ability in the Charlotte soaker.
The season is now on third complete with one more race on Fox. The NASCAR caravan heads to Dover, Delaware for hopefully drier conditions on the Monster Mile. While Thursday and Friday show a chance of thunder storms, the long range forecast calls for mostly sunshine for Saturday and Sunday with temperatures right around 80 degrees, great weather for the fans in the stands.
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