[Racer Duck]

And so more records are broken.

The 2008 version of NASCAR's annual visit to Darlington has resulted in the fastest race ever at the venerable “Lady in Black” and the race was won by the youngest driver ever. Unlike previous seasons, this race was remarkable in that the newly resurfaced track produced the highest speeds ever (some accounts say the cars were reaching 200 MPH at the end of the straights!) while at the same time reducing tire wear significantly. These two items, the increased grip and decreased tire wear, changed the strategies employed by the race teams: just as the teams were getting comfortable with the CON, the Lady throws a knuckleball at them. You can always trust the Lady in Black to keep everyone on their toes .. or pay the consequences.

Congratulations to Kyle Busch on his 3rd win in 2008. In addition to tying Carl Edwards for the most wins thus far this season, he has compiled the most Top 5 and Top 10 finishes as well.

But the Shrub's fairy tale season has a dark side: he has now become “The Most Hated Driver in NASCAR” as evidenced by the many race fans loudly booing not only he and his brother, but also his mother during pre-race ceremonies.

Retro Looks:

• 21 – Wood Brothers: sporting the Motorcraft logo instead of Purolator, but still true to the original scheme.
• 28 – Yates Racing: honoring the Fred Lorenzen Fords of the '60's. Back then Ford put the name of the local Ford dealer on the car for each race, and Yates had Lafayette Ford from nearby Fayettesville, NC on the side this week, as they had back then. Also, on the hood, as was the practice then, they had the engine size in cubic inches.
• 88 – Hendrick Motorsports: sporting the Mountain Dew scheme made popular by Darrell Waltrip driving for Junior Johnson in the early 80's.

Quotes:

• Darrell Waltrip:
  • “...need a restrictor plate mentality”
  • “in turn 1, the guy on the inside has the right of way”
  • “I'm pulling for ya!” to Dale Earnhardt, Jr while talking to him in the car during the parade laps (who says the announcers are biased?)
  • “I'd call him into the pits and pull a plug wire” commenting on the unsuccessful efforts of Kyle Busch's team to get him to slow down and take care of the equipment when he was leading late in the race.
  • “it was a smashing success” in closing comments on the race as a whole.
• Elliott Sadler: “a rookie mistake” referencing his wrecking Tony Stewart early on.
• Kyle Busch: “the track got aero tight...” referencing his early passing difficulties
• Carl Edwards: “I hate 2nd .. but it's good for points.”
• Jeff Gordon: “I wish I wasn't so competitive .. glad we did so good .. frustrated we're so far from winning”
• Dale Earnhardt, Jr: “ Tony Jr changed a lower control arm .. we weren't as good as we were” - how long has it been since you've heard him give an upbeat post race interview?
• David Ragan: his spotter and crew chief “probably wore out a couple sets of radios” keeping him focused on finishing the race.

Starting with a wreck on lap 2 when Sadler put Stewart into the wall. Tony came back and was the fastest car on the track at the end, but still a lap down. Elliott, on the other hand spent over a hundred laps in the garage before returning and running last .. until the Biff took that “honor” from him.

Frustration .. nothing but frustration. To have the car to beat, to lead the most laps, and to be denied yet again this season: the frustration is beginning to show. Yeah, I'm talking about Greg Biffle. I truly believe he isn't going to even consider Roush as next year's ride. Look for him to begin “shopping” soon.

The race was so fast that the first car to be lapped under green flag conditions happened on lap 32. Everyone was expecting lots of cautions and lots of wrecked cars. Wrong on both counts. But the Lady did “leave her mark” on most of the field.

Boyer: Hero to Zero and partway back. After winning the previous week, Clint was the first car to go a lap down under green - an indication of how terrible his car was handling. However, he was able to battle back and finish on the lead lap with a respectable 15th place. Congrats to him and his team for a monumental effort.

2 broadsides with the wall – 2 different results. When Harvick hit the wall broadside, it almost tore the rear end out of his car, taking considerable garage time to get him back on the track. When Shrub hit the wall, sparks flying as his rear end climbed upwards, he touched down and resumed his hard racing, seemingly unaffected. Does Kyle has some special technique he uses to avoid wall banging calamities? I'll bet Happy would be a willing student, should Shrub decide to teach techniques...

“We'll meet in the pits”: but Brian only remembered at the last second .. causing him to “meet” Ryan at the entrance to pit road. Wonder what they each were really thinking?

Speaking of thinking: what in the world was Shrub thinking when he took a running start to rear-end Biffle? Biff made a great recovery, something not possible in the “old car”. But, I'm still puzzled why Shrub did it...

Did they finally find the handle? 3 drivers whose season has been filled with poor results finally finished relatively well .. and in one piece. Who are they? Jeff Gordon got a podium 3rd place; Matt Kenseth hung on for 6th; and AJ Allmendinger kept his nose clean finishing 27th!!! Does Darlington mark the turning point in these guy's season? Keep tuned...

Commercial Breaks: Most of us pay little attention to the commercials, choosing instead to “make necessary trips” to different areas of the house or other viewing venue (you surely don't watch races at work .. do you?) But some just naturally catch my eye (a few of those Madison Avenue people know which of my strings to pull .. but most don't.) Here's this week's list.

• Juan Montoya's “I'm NOT a corporate shill” - this week it's Big Red. Did ya notice his wife has a talking part? The man knows how to bring in the bucks...
• Who has that many pieces of “adolescent artwork” on their fridge? Must be a “budding artist” community... (Radio Shack)
• The ending line in the baby with the balloon artist in the background cracked me up. Baby: “I really underestimated the creepyness...” (E*Trade)

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Speaking of thinking[/b]: what in the world was Shrub thinking when he took a running start to rear-end Biffle? Biff made a great recovery, something not possible in the “old car”. But, I'm still puzzled why Shrub did it

I have a theory. Kyle is working on his new, more appropriate nickname. Dale Sr. was known as the "Intimidator." Kyle wants to be known as 'The Irritator."

My impression of the race is: I'd give it a four, on a scale of ten. Follow-the -leader racing. I'll take Junior's side when he said in post race, "It was awful. The aero-push and the speed made it impossible to pass." (Paraphrasing)

I'm sure the MRN shills on SIRIUS will be all a tither tomorrow, raving about the wonderfulness of the race with its thirty-some lead changes and the number of cars finishing on the lead lap.

Bull feathers! How many of those lead changes were under green or caused by pit stops? How many would have finished on the lead lap if NA__AR didn't have the arbitrary debris cautions or the inane "Lucky Dawg?"

About the best I can say about last night is that the race was better than the average California race.

[NASCAR Gnome]

What I kept seeing was how the racecars looked like they were running almost sideways - you know, all "yawed" out and almost crab-like! I guess, after we say goodbye to the "Twisted Sister" we now say hello to the "Drunken Brother"!?! Either way, give the crew chiefs and engineers time and they'll come up with something... that runs good but looks weird!

A way to silence your critics is to either go away or beat it into them! I guess Kyle opted for the latter...

"This car sucks!"

I can still remember the interview "Rowdy" gave after winning the first-ever COT race in 2007 after he was asked what his thoughts were on the new car. I wonder if he still feels that way now... (betcha he does!)

Speaking of winning... Tony Stewart wins the Nationwide race on Friday and "Lil" Busch wins on Saturday. Hmmm... do you think TOYOTA's onto something here? I'm thinking so...

Speaking of Toyota... how about that DAVE BLANEY fellow??? He's off the milk carton for at least a week!

Speaking of milk cartons... the highest-finishing DODGE was brother Kurt in 12th! I think they better speed up delivery of that new engine package!

Three Toyotas, Three Chevrolets and four Fords made up the top-10. Five Fords if you count to 11th place! And yes, we FINALLY had a MATT KENSETH sighting!!!

Speaking of sightings... I can see where Kasey Kahne gets his good looks... did anyone see his MOM yesterday? I caught a glimpse of her and all I can say is: AY CHIHUAHUA!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by NASCAR Gnome

What I kept seeing was how the racecars looked like they were running almost sideways - you know, all "yawed" out and almost crab-like! I guess, after we say goodbye to the "Twisted Sister" we now say hello to the "Drunken Brother"!?! Either way, give the crew chiefs and engineers time and they'll come up with something... that runs good but looks weird!

A way to silence your critics is to either go away or beat it into them! I guess Kyle opted for the latter...

"This car sucks!"

I can still remember the interview "Rowdy" gave after winning the first-ever COT race in 2007 after he was asked what his thoughts were on the new car. I wonder if he still feels that way now... (betcha he does!)

Speaking of winning... Tony Stewart wins the Nationwide race on Friday and "Lil" Busch wins on Saturday. Hmmm... do you think TOYOTA's onto something here? I'm thinking so...

Speaking of Toyota... how about that DAVE BLANEY fellow??? He's off the milk carton for at least a week!

Speaking of milk cartons... the highest-finishing DODGE was brother Kurt in 12th! I think they better speed up delivery of that new engine package!

Three Toyotas, Three Chevrolets and four Fords made up the top-10. Five Fords if you count to 11th place! And yes, we FINALLY had a MATT KENSETH sighting!!!

Speaking of sightings... I can see where Kasey Kahne gets his good looks... did anyone see his MOM yesterday? I caught a glimpse of her and all I can say is: AY CHIHUAHUA!

GREAT observations, Gnome. The only thing that you might have missed was acknowledgement to Travis Kvapil who brought a retro, basically unsponsored car to a top ten finish.

"Milk cartons and Dodges" I love it! Great parallelism. I read this a.m. one report questioning whether NA__AR should put flashing lights on the Dodges so we could remember what they look like and they could easily be found during a race?

Kasey and his good looks... It is my most sincere hope that Kasey NEVER has to spend a nice in jail. It might prove to be a loooong night for the lad.