What’s Up In NASCAR

By: Clint Spencer

David Reutimann, driver of the #00 for MWR, picked up his first career win on Monday by winning the shortened Coca Cola 600 at Lowes Motor Speedway.  Rain had been a big issue all weekend for both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Races.  Saturday’s Nationwide race was cut short due to inclement weather and Mike Bliss went home the winner after staying out when others when to pit road.  It was basically the same scenario Monday afternoon.  The Coca Cola 600 did not get under way on Sunday so the race was rescheduled for Monday at noon.   The race was start and go from the drop of the green flag due to the rain.  Finally, on mile 340.5 of 600 the race was called after NASCAR spent nearly two hours deciding whether or not to go back to racing.  Reutimann, who took the same gamble as Bliss on Saturday night, stayed out when the leaders went to pit road for a caution on lap 227.  The risk would prove to pay off as Reutimann earned his first win in 75 career starts.  Ryan Newman, the pole sitter for the 600 finished the race in second while Robby Gordon, driver of the #7 Jim Beam Camry, finished the race in third and picked up his first top five at an oval track since Talladega in April 2004.  Carl Edwards finished fourth while Brian Vickers, who was a contender for the win, finished the race in fifth position.  The #18 of Busch finished in sixth followed by Kahne, Montoya, Logano, and Kenseth as the rest of your top ten.

Spencer’s Power Poll

1.  Jeff Gordon-Leads the standings by 44 points heading into to Dover.  Gordon sat on the pole last September at the Monster Mile and finished both races in the top ten.  Look for Gordon to stand strong for a few more weeks.

2.  Tony Stewart- A 19th place finish wasn’t the best but it could have been better if it weren’t for the rain.  Tony needs to concentrate on racing and not bald headed men called “Billy Bad Butt.”  If you watched the race, you know what I am referring to.

3.  Kurt Busch-Keeps the third spot for another week.  I wonder if the Miller Lite “Taste Protector Lid” can protect him from Jimmie Johnson who trails by 13 points

4.  Jimmie Johnson-First it was the beard and now it’s the shaved head.  Johnson needs to fire his PR person and focus on winning his fourth championship.

5.  Denny Hamlin- An 11th place finish was good enough to keep Hamlin in the top five for another week.  Bad news for Hamlin is that he is heading to Dover, a track that he has finished 38th or worse in the last three races held there.

6.  Kyle Busch-Moves one more spot in the points this week.  Busch had one of the cars to beat all weekend whether it was on Saturday or Monday.  If the rain would have stayed away Busch may have picked up the weekend sweep.

7.  Ryan Newman- The Rocket Man continues to turn heads as he picks up another top five and increases one spot in the standings.

8.  Jeff Burton-A 25th place finish in Monday’s race drops the driver of the #31 two places in the points.

9.  Matt Kenseth-Matt, once again raises another spot in the points.  For a while the driver of the #17 was sitting still but back to back top tens by The Killer Bees are sending Kenseth in the right direction.

10.  Greg Biffle-The driver of the #16 falls a spot this week in the points.  However, there is no need for Biffle to worry because he heads to Dover where he sat on the pole last year for this weekend’s race.  He finished that race in third and backed that up with a win in September.  

11.  Carl Edwards-A fourth place finish in the 600(340.5) moves the driver of the #99 up one spot in the standings.  

12. Mark Martin- The driver of the #5 falls back one spot this week.  He should turn things around this weekend in Dover where he finished fourth back in September.

Prediction for the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway:  Jeff Gordon has four wins at the Monster Mile and this Sunday he makes it five.  Look for the #24 Dupont Chevrolet in victory lane.