Sure, Denny Hamlin may have led gobs and gobs of laps during Saturday night's Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400. And sure, the race title was ridiculous to say (and from here on out, will be referred to as the Dan Lowry 400).But boy did NASCAR need a race like the one race fans were treated to at Richmond. Throw together the entire weekend and its not looking too shabby all the way around.
First, NASCAR's newest bad boy in town Kyle Busch started things off nicely Friday night during the Lipton Tea 250 when dude got into with Rusty Wallace's probably-never-going-to-make-the-Sprint-Cup son Steven Wallace. The two did the post-race tango after beating and banging on each other during the final laps with Kyle Busch getting offended after his helmet was grabbed and Wallace calling Busch a "girl".
Priceless.
Then, Saturday night, Denny Hamlin was on his way to securing one of the most dominating Sprint Cup wins in a long, long time at his home track, until a tire started to go late in the event. Apparently, karma catches up to you after leading some 381 of 410 total laps.
Prior to Hamlin losing the race that was his to be won, those fans who watch just to see smashed up fenders and bent roll cages were treated to a massive pileup in Turn 3 that took Matt Kenseth from his Richmond misery and drop kicked Jimmie Johnson from a good finish. Those fans can check out the video here.
Four-time series champion Jeff Gordon had one of those nights for the first half of the race that his haters love to see.
The No. 24 was a lap down early and struggling -- raising the haters' hopes for further Gordon bad luck. However, Jeff played the storyline well and brought his big core of fans right back into the race when he got a lap back and battled through the field to a ninth-place finish.
And then, there was Michael Waltrip showing his now-annual display of over-aggression after Casey Mears lost the No. 55 in his blind spot and sent them both into the wall. Waltrip then gunned the accelerator and pushed Mears into the turn one wall, drawing a "you're done for the race" penalty from race control. Remember, Waltrip slugged Lake Speed in 1995, had this YouTube gem in 2004 (1:35), and got into it with Jeff Green a few years ago at Darlington.
Once that all sorted out, it looked like Hamlin was cruising to a victory in front of the home crowd until the tire faded his chances. When Hamlin caused a caution and subsequently penalized, the race was between that Dale Earnhardt Jr. fellow and Busch.
The two made a little bit of contact going for the win, which kicked the most popular driver from the win and allowed Clint Bowyer to sneak in from nowhere past Busch for his second-career win.
While it wasn't the 2007 Daytona 500 finish, Richmond brought out storyline after storyline late in the event -- which is exactly what a race fan wants. By no means was Saturday night's finish predictable.
Carnage and controversy on a short track? Now that is.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. That is a very good overview and outlook. The Web is filled with anger over what Kyle Busch "done to Junior," but that is what both NASCAR and the fans wanted!
Posted at 2:10AM on May 6th 2008 by RevJim
2. The weekend in Richmond was great for Nascar. Fans love this and I think Nascar needed this right now. The actual racing hasn't been as good this year as it has been in the past IMO. I don't think it is fun to watch one driver lead almost the entire race.
It is fun to watch Jeff Gordon do his magic and Tony Stewart have a good finish after having mechanical problems. I admire the heck out of all drivers. They have far more athletic ability and endurance than people give them credit for.
Posted at 1:38PM on May 6th 2008 by Susan Ohio
3. I don't think anyone wanted to see JR get ousted by the most unpopular driver in NASCAR.From now on he is the Rodney Dangerf.... of NASCAR.He,ll get no respect.Rodney Busch,that'll work.
Posted at 1:40PM on May 6th 2008 by travis russell
4. Hats off to Bowyer for a job well done. And thanks to Kyle for reminding us of what racing is supposed to be. A tip of the topper to Jr for handling the situation truthfully and with class. A suppository to Waldrip for reminding us of what a scumbag he is. I will ever buy parts from NAPA again. Good to see Mark running well again, although his gentleman behavior on the track has cost him dearly in the win column. And thanks to Nascar for the COT, I think I'm gonna like this little booger after all. Works for me.....
Posted at 2:01PM on May 6th 2008 by Don Emerson
5. Opps, meant to say never.....sorry about the typo.
Posted at 2:02PM on May 6th 2008 by Don Emerson
6. Hey Don..where ya been hiding? On that post you made a few days ago about Davey Allison "being about competition" and "paying the price for winning". Me and some of my email friends want to know what you meant by that. We don't get it so would you clue us in?
Ron
Posted at 4:23PM on May 6th 2008 by drgrcr601
7. I'd like to know what's being said about Davey Allison myself.
Posted at 4:34PM on May 6th 2008 by travis russell
8. Very well said Don,everybody wanted better racing so we got to see it.Yes Junior is a classy man who handle it well.Hope we"ll see another good on the "Lady in Black"
Posted at 6:11PM on May 6th 2008 by Peaches
9. YEAH EMERSON,
You are right once again. Have you noticed all the outrage on KYLE BUSH? I did not see much of rage against Michael Walmart or Kasey Smears.They are the once which deserved it maybe,not the KYLIE.
Glad you are back, i tought you went DOR or got flagged off after your post last week got blown away.Welcome back. Somebody has to speak the total
reality on these pages. Works for me.
Posted at 7:23PM on May 6th 2008 by anzajoe
10. What's this? Don....you actually paid a compliment to not one, not two, but three drivers in one post? Simply amazing, especially the nice comment about Jr. Are you getting enough fiber in your diet again? If so, it shows. :-)
Kim
Posted at 7:47PM on May 6th 2008 by Kim
11. Keep your eyes and ears open for Joey Logano a seventeen year old making his NASCAR debut for JGR on May 31st a week after turning 18 years old. Mark Martin was quoted as sayng "he (Joey) is the best he's ever seen at his age not only as a driver but at communicating information to the crew chief".
This kid could take Tony's place when Tony decides to leave JGR after his contract expires after the 2009 season.
This kid is the current test driver for the 20 car for JGR that explains why that damn car has been running so good every week.
Posted at 8:15PM on May 6th 2008 by Bernie
12. Peaches, do you live in Ormond Beach, Florida by any chance?
MBL
Posted at 8:25PM on May 6th 2008 by Mike
13. HEY PEACHES, WHO IS THE LADY IN BLACK?.Just curious.
Posted at 8:48PM on May 6th 2008 by anzajoe
14. Dear REV. JIM,
in reading your above blog,i can very well understand why you say ; that's what NASCAR wanted
(The WEB fuming about the DALE/KYLE accident). YES, it's all about money,ratings, pubblicity.WORKS FOR THEM. .............. than you say also, that's what the fans wanted. Do you mean the KYLE BUSH fans or
any fan. I read your all FT link STORY and the sublinks and i can't find the answer of what you mean.Can you explain?. Thank you.
Posted at 12:55AM on May 7th 2008 by anzajoe
15. Anzajoe - The "Lady in Black" that Peaches refers to is Darlington. I thought every so-called NASCAR fan knew that. Or has the methamphetamines got your brain to fried to remember?
Posted at 6:24AM on May 7th 2008 by racing20guy
16. Bernie, I am not dissing you or any Joe Gibbs driver. I am a huge Joe Gibbs fan. Tony Stewart is my favorite driver. I have followed Joey Logano for a long time.
You've discussed the drivers at JGR laughing about the Kyle situation. The testing team for JGR. The developement driver for JGR.
You seem to have a great deal of passion about JGR. I've never seen a poster that posts continuing praising stories about their driver and team.
Are you a super exuberant fan or are you much closer to the situation at JGR or Kyle?
Thank you
Posted at 8:41AM on May 7th 2008 by Susan Ohio
17. I think Bernie is just a very enthusiastic supporter of his driver. Since he is almost the ONLY Kyle Busch fan he has to speak louder so we can hear him above the din. Keep it going, Bernie. Many of us, including me, at least admit Kyle is a very good driver, but you actually like him. Keep pulling for him, the trash talkers are just envious since right now Kyle is in first place. We Jeff Gordon fans are used to it.
MBL
Posted at 9:50AM on May 7th 2008 by Mike
18. Yeah You're right Mike. Trash talkers really gave it to Jeff. Most great drivers get trashed I guess. Sure glad no one ever trashes Jr. Right Brad?
On the serious side, trash talkers are just that. Trash. How can anyone take these jokers seriously.
Ron
Posted at 11:28AM on May 7th 2008 by drgrcr601
19. Point well taken, Ron. I am trying. I have publicly admitted my role in Jr bashing in the past and have stated my attempt to at least give it until after 14 weeks into it this year. So far, although I have faultered, I feel as though I am doing pretty good. Just do not expect me to jump on the MPD bus. I have given the man props for finishing a very consistant top 5 or 10 in almost every race this year and stated my expectation that he will end up in 1st place in the points very soon.
I have to give somebody credit this year. Jeff just ain't doing it yet.
mbl
Posted at 11:56AM on May 7th 2008 by Mike
20. Mike Jeff doesn't have anything to prove to anybody. He is a champion many times over and not just on the track. It's unrealistic to think that any driver can be at the top of his game all the time. Too many variables in this sport to realistically believe that. Many bandwagon fans don't get it and use one statistic to rate a driver. If they only knew but they don't and probably never will. This is the pool from which trash talkers are drawn.
Ron
Posted at 12:15PM on May 7th 2008 by drgrcr601