With not much gas in the tank Dale Jr held everyone off as he circled around the bottom of the track to save fuel when the last caution came out for a sliding Sam Hornish. It seemed like no one knew who had enough gas to last for the end of the race as everyone was conserving fuel to make it to the end.

When Jimmie Johnson pitted with 20 laps to go and he took on 4 tires I thought he was just nuts but he passed enough cars to end up in the top ten. There was many different teams on different schedules that it made it hard to know exactly who had enough gas. Even the announcers on TNT were struggling to figure it out.

So now that Dale Earnhart jr has won his first race for Hendrick motor sports it seems that they will come more frequent as the team really worked well together. They also have a bunch of information between the teams today to use in upcoming races as Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Casey Mears were all running different lines and a lot of stuff didn’t work for their teams.

I was expecting Jeff Gordon to win today’s race as it’s his first time being a dad, just a feeling I had that would have made a good story. Nascar needs a good story with that lawsuit hanging over their heads. I am sure we are going to hear about that for months now anytime they bring up the word Nascar on television. I already can’t watch ESPN news as I am sick and tired of hearing about it.

Anyway, racing gets to put that behind them for a day and celebrate Dale Jr winning in Michigan. Go Dale!!

There will be driver interviews and some crashes also. Some of them will give some good insight about the days race.

Tonight is time for what I call real racing. 600 miles with the engine tuners biting their fingernails as the race gets longer. Racing under the lights is really cool, the drivers will have to change with the track conditions as they actually start under the hot sun. There is so many things that come into play when a race goes from sunshine to racing under the lights. Can’t wait to see who is going to make the right changes to their car.

It is amazing that cars can go for hours at 200 mph within inches of each other and not crash. This race had me on the edge of my seat especially at the end. Once they start shuffling and going 4 wide in the turns while still bumpo drafting you know somethings go to give.

Today it looked like it was Tony Stewart’s #20 Home Depot car that was the victim of a big wreck. It is hard to tell who actually was at fault as Bobby Labonte was coming up as Tony was coming down. There is just room for one maybe two cars enetering a turn at these speeds.

Jeff Gordon was in second place just a lap or two before the wreck and he was nowhere to be found at the end of the race. Same goes for Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Lowes Chevy. Jimmie was making his charge up to the front and was doing some pretty good drafting with Michael Waltrip of all people. Not a usual drafting partner for Hendricks cars at all.

The crowd went nuts as usual when Dale Jr took the lead for a while before he got smashed up and the rea panel destroyed on his #88 Amp energy car.

It was nice not to have a green/white/checkered finish for a change. This race also produced some other drivers in the top finishers then usual. This was do to the wrecks and the Nascar stars in those wrecks. Kyle Busch won and even he had a huge donut mark on the passenger side of his car. There was a lot of banginging into each other. Thats restrictor plate racing for you.

Every time I watch this wreck I am amazed that he was not hurt badly. He said he was sore but that is a blessing compared to what if. They really need to put safer barriers wherever the car can go and not just the outside walls.

Yes he did get out of the car and even waved to the fans. The good folks at Nascar have to be proud of the way all the safety equipment and the tracks safer walls performed. I am thinking that Michael is glad he is in the new car of tomorrow, which was built with drivers safety in mind.

I am still in shock that the race didn’t end early due to rain.

One is Kyle Busch being aggresive and then crashing late in the race. It seems like this is happening every week now. I don’t know why the Nascar announcers praise this kid every week for his skills. Skills don’t equal over aggressive driving. Guess I am still mad at the way he closed the race a few weeks ago by almost wrecking Dale Jarret for no reason.

I am expecting Denny Hamlin to have a good day. He seems to do well on short tracks, and the truck race yesterday may have helped give him and his team some information on the track. Of course I am rooting for Jimmie Johnson but it seems they have lost their edge on the car of tomorrow. I don’t know lately it only seems like Dale Jr’s car is actually working well for the team. It is only a matter of time before he gets Hendrick’s a win.

Jeff Gordon has the pole and the very important first pit stall. It is also the first race with UPS as a sponsor for David Reutimann as Dale Jarret is going to retire after the All Star race. It will seem funny to not see Dale in the UPS car.

This is the way I will remember Dale since I was there. It is a shame since he had so many wins. Good luck Dale I look forward to watching you in the booth and sharing your knowledge with us

Kind of cool, Here is a picture you can see more on the forum.
awesomewreckage.com forum

They also had some other race cars and even a driver that I had never heard of I think he did road course races.

Did I just put the words normal and racing in the same sentence that is going to be far from the truth today. The rain has taken all the rubber off the worlds fastest half mile and that should provide a slick course. I didn’t even mention the tire issue which is seeming to be an issue of late.

Jeff Gordon was complaining during the practice session that this tire is not right for the course. I am looking forward to seeing the race being that it’s Dale Jarrets last points race. I hope that the tire issue doesn’t hurt his chances today.