Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Rating the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen: You Rate the Race!!

The second and final road course race of the season brought with it lots of turns, strategy, and big hits. But, this week it’s up to you to put a rating on what you saw/heard/followed on Monday. Thankfully the race went off at noon ET or else the race may have been shortened due to weather because the drops started to fall during post-race interviews. So, take a look at the Rating System and sound off on what you thought of the race.

Tony Stewart and the #14 team continued their roll towards the Chase this weekend. This is shaping up to be a Johnson vs. Stewart battle to the finish. But, there are plenty of other drivers that could put up a good fight.

My question along with the rating is who do you think will still be in contention for the Championship come the final race at Homestead? Will it be a runaway the way Stewart did in 2005, or will it be a several driver battle to the final lap? While both scenarios are entirely possible it has been awhile since there has been a really good fight for the title in the final race. The first Chase Championship in 2004 comes to mind but other than that there have not been any hold your breath finishes to the season. It would be nice to have something like that shape up this season.

Alright, the rating is in your hands this week. Good or bad, the race had several storylines and subplots that will carry on later in the season. Several guys that needed to survive Watkins Glen were able to get out with a top 15 finish, while other Chase contenders were stuck in the back of the pack nearly all race long.

Anyway, next week is the final fuel strategy track for awhile, as Bristol comes up following Michigan. So enjoy another short week as the fight for the Chase heats up with Kyle Busch inching ever closer to getting his spot in the Chase back. When the Shrub has to go all out every week, things are bound to be interesting.

8 comments:

  1. 3.5 stars -- mostly because I am not sure how the "middle" of the race was since I blew right thru it on the DVR. Spectacular and scary wrecks, some good passing on the track and plenty of action as far as I could tell with lead changes and pit strategy. I also always love watching them try to pit the car backwards...

    Gotta do something about these rain outs tho. Monday racing just aint the same.

    Who is in contention - probably JJ v Smoke and maybe one other (hope its Kurt!)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I didn't see it but it sounded at least as good as Infineon was from the chat so yeah, I'd agree with ofi's 3.5 rating.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'll also give it 3.5. Good racing action at times, Jr wrecked, HMS A-Team didn't win, It had it all. Even ESPN seems to be getting the hang of how to televise races again.

    ReplyDelete
  4. klvalus - The wreck was huge. That's two years in a row with a big wreck at that track. Maybe they need to change the barrier in that corner. I kinda hope there are four or five guys in contention at Homestead. Thanks!

    tezgm99 - Yeah, both road races were actually kind of similar this year. That doesn't always happen. Thanks!

    Gene Haddock - ESPN did do a pretty decent job this week. Personally, I thikn they did better road course coverage than TNT. Hope it continues! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I just wish I could watch a race. This is the second one in a row I have missed, so I really cannot give it a rating.

    I will say though that I think the Chase will be an all-out battle between Johnson and Stewart. Even though Tony may look like the favorite now, Johnson will catch up with him come Chase time...

    ReplyDelete
  6. gonger93 - We need to get the races on Sundays again! Even if it does come down to just those two, I'm sure it will be one heck of a battle. Kinda like their battle @ Dover in June. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I will give it a 3 star because Dale Jarret and the other clown kept talking down Ambrose about not pitting when he all ready had and for them to go on about it ment even the crew in the truck missed it.lol

    Like I told Hanahan when they switched to double file restarts that many would go for it and not point race. They have too now or get run over.

    Cheers2You

    ReplyDelete
  8. Forensic2 - Ambrose did have a unique strategy and the first time I heard that he made his final stop was during the red flag. I also think everyone did a pretty good job getting through turn 1 all day, there weren't any huge pile ups at that spot on the track, having the outside paved instead of gravel probably helped too. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete