[NASCAR Gnome]

Some things that impressed me regarding this past Sunday's Atlanta race:

Matt Kenseth started 38th because of a transmission change and finished 8th! (Former series champ)

Tony Stewart started 32nd and finished 2nd. Dude can drive a car! (Former series champ)

Kurt Busch started 29th and finished 11th. (Former series champ)

Brian Vickers started 35th and finished 9th. Note: Vickers is IN the top-35 even if he fails to qualify for Bristol this week! What a show by the top Red Bull driver... if you follow motorsports, you know Red Bull is no slouch in other racing series! Finally they have ample representation in NASCAR - thanks to young Mr. Vickers!

Greg Biffle almost finished 2nd and if he did, I would have managed back-2-back week picks of 1-2 finishers! I guess I impressed... MYSELF!!!

Juan Montoya impressed me. I listened to his in-car all race and if it weren't for BAD LUCK, he'd have NO LUCK at all!!! Every time he was close to the "Lucky Dog" Jimmie Johnson or Kurt Busch would take them - dang! Nonetheless, he finished 16th after starting 19th and if he caught some breaks, might have just made the top 15 instead of top 20!

In-car quote of the race: (this happened late in the race)

JPM: "Maybe we can drop the track bar on the right rear???"
Donnie Wingo: "Sorry buddy, it's down as far as it'll go!"
JPM: "Oh..."

Pile on!

[BringBackWilkesboro]

This seems similar to Duck's observations, but as I said over in that thread, I was impressed by Kyle Busch. Not for the way he drove (that's a story of it's own) but for his post race interview. I like to see these young hotshots still know their place in the sport. I was impressed by how much it meant to Kyle the he got the #18 back in victory lane at a place we're used to seeing it. Showed he has some appreciation for those who did this before him, and I like that.

[bears9]

Gnome, you touched on what I was impressed with, Red Bull racing. As you said Vickers had a top ten finish and would be in the the top 35. He would also be a chaser as of right now. Plus Mike Skinner made a race in his first shot with the 84 team. Great job for Red Bull.

[LSC9901]

I'm sure a lot of people were waiting for him to take a cheap shot at HMS. I think what he didn't say says a lot for his maturing process. I don't believe at age 22 he is there yet and with all the desire and drive he has in him, I'm sure there will be some future Tony statements coming from him .... but this was a good interview.

[Phils20]

Bobby Labonte staying on the lead lap. With the fact that folks are saying only the best wheelmen in the business could handle the cars with those tires, I'm REAL impressed that Bobby hung on the lead lap.

He was no threat for the win, but he did hang in there!

Look out at Bristol!

[Bryan88]

I would probably say that I was most impressed by Labonte, he had a great race and he is now 14th in points, so he has been consistent with in my opinion less than stellar equipment. Great to see from him.
I was also impressed by Brian Vickers, great run and great season thus far.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Bryan88

I would probably say that I was most impressed by Labonte, he had a great race and he is now 14th in points, so he has been consistent with in my opinion less than stellar equipment. Great to see from him.
I was also impressed by Brian Vickers, great run and great season thus far.

You know, you have to be impressed with Vickers as well. Top 10 in points, with pretty much no team mate to speak of!

Hats off to him as well!

Hail to the underdogs so far this year!