The Pit Stall

Let me just start off by saying this was the worst week, score wise, I’ve ever had in the Yahoo pools.  Take a look at the top 10 of the Amp Energy 500, and it’s not hard to understand why, with only a couple familiar names up front.  Talladega is a complete crapshoot, thanks to the ‘Big One’, and my luck completely ran out this week.  Fortunately, the team chasing me in the standings had an even worse week and I picked up another 8 points over them.

This race was definitely not without controversy, as Carl Edwards kept his name in the news a week after his ballsy last lap attempt at the win in California, by causing a wreck that took out both of his Chase teammates. In the process, he handed Jimmie Johnson a decent sized lead heading towards arguably his best track, and the halfway point of the Chase.  Topping that was NASCAR’s decision to not allow Regan Smith’s pass on the last lap (he made the pass below the yellow line), and send him to the end of the lead lap, ruining what would have been a career best finish.  I wonder if the decision would have been the same if it were Tony Stewart making the pass on Regan Smith.

Group 1 – Jimmie Johnson(3) & Jeff Gordon(3)

I rolled the dice this week with Jeff Gordon, hoping to preserve Jimmie for the final three 1.5 mile races left on the schedule.  That didn’t work out so well, as Gordon had engine problems and finished 38th, while Johnson crossed the finish line in the top 10.  Fortunately Gordon led a few laps before having his issues and picked up a 10 point bonus.  Then again, 28 of 43 drivers led at least one lap, so that wasn’t much of an accomplishment.

Group 2 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.(2), Kasey Kahne(1), Ryan Newman(2), David Ragan(5)

Earnhardt and Kahne got the start at Talladega, and finished 28th and 36th respectively.  Definitely NOT what you want out of your mid tier drivers, but not unexpected at Talladega, as both were caught up in wrecks. Ragan went on to have a top 5 finish, and Newman finished last.

Group 3 – David Reutimann(6), Brian Vickers(1)

Neither Reutimann or Vickers finished well, with finishes of 37th and 35th.  Vickers was the play this week and he did run up front for a bit before causing one of the wrecks and knocking himself and several others out of contention.  Reutimann didn’t fare any better, but hopefully it’s just an abberation, and he continues his recent run of success before this week.

Recap

• Points for this race: 134 (Gordon, Earnhardt, Kahne, Vickers)
• Most Possible Points: 384 (Stewart, Ragan, Sadler, Menard)
• Season Points : 8093Current Place : 1st
• Lead over 2nd : 64
• Overall Percentile : 94th

Filed under: Pit Picks, Speedways by Site Admin - Tuesday, October 7th, 2008