[Quality88]

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- As Sunday's estimated crowd of 115,000 mostly roared its approval of the race victor after conclusion of the LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway, drivers Matt Kenseth and Brian Vickers stood on pit road and wondered about what might have been.
Actually, they fumed about what they thought should have been.
Both were upset over a variety of things -- not the least of which was their belief that eventual race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. illegally passed the pace car during the final caution.
"I knew there was some drama," said Kenseth, who finished third behind Earnhardt and second-place finisher Kasey Kahne. "I knew there was some weird stuff going on. I know he drove past the pace car by 10 car lengths and then he dropped back and shut the engine off -- and I didn't think you could pass the pace car. I was just trying to figure out what in the heck was going on. It was definitely different."
Vickers, who settled for fourth after leading 44 laps, was not only upset about Earnhardt's pass of the pace car but also because of NASCAR's decision to put the No. 8 car of Mark Martin ahead of him before the final restart. In addition, he questioned the fact that Martin's car appeared to then push Kahne's No. 9 Dodge around part of the track during the caution period.
"There were a lot of things that happened there at the end of the race that are big question marks in my mind -- and passing the pace car under caution was just one of them," Vickers said. "You're also supposed to make it around the track unassisted. There were guys pushing each other on fuel-mileage strategies. That's not right. It's definitely not legal, but they let it go.
"And then obviously the call to put the 8 car back in front of us. I don't know why that was, but it definitely cost us a shot at the race. And it was blatantly, obviously wrong. It wasn't like we were side-by-side; we were seven cars ahead of him two laps before the caution came out."

NASCAR.COM - Kenseth, Vickers question how end of race played out - Jun 16, 2008

[LSC9901]

Has there been any official word out yet on the Mark martin issue ?

[LSC9901]

Couldn't find anything about Martin but this was the NASCAR response about Jr. passing the pace car:

NASCAR official Jim Hunter said that Earnhardt did not violate a rule, saying that he needed only to maintain "a reasonable speed or a reasonable pace" behind the pace car and that once Earnhardt was warned not to surge ahead of it, Earnhardt complied.

[saltysenior]

don't no body get it ??????.....it was jrs turn to win.......by the way, was sadler ,manard b.labonte or martin in the race ???? did not hear about them.....they didn't say too much about truex after 30 laps either....

[erb224]

I get the impression that Kyle doesn't want to talk about Petty Enterprises. They go out of their way not to talk about them.

Another thing - MW was having an awesome day. When he led a lap via some pit strategy (he had pitted a few laps after the field in an early caution which enabled him to stay out longer) they were talking like he didn't have a good car. Just a scrub that stayed out to lead a lap. Where they not paying attention that he went from 36th to 13th BEFORE people started pitting? All I heard was how great Vickers was doing.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by erb224

Another thing - MW was having an awesome day. When he led a lap via some pit strategy (he had pitted a few laps after the field in an early caution which enabled him to stay out longer) they were talking like he didn't have a good car. Just a scrub that stayed out to lead a lap. Where they not paying attention that he went from 36th to 13th BEFORE people started pitting? All I heard was how great Vickers was doing.

Glad to see someone else noticed that. Maybe you can help with a question I have. He was running in the top 15 and I switched the tv for alittle while. When I came back to the race he was down a lap. Do you or anyone know what happened?

[erb224]

MW or B.Labonte? Labonte got hit by MW (something about oil on the track) and spun out. I don't think MW was ever a lap down.

[loco4pablo]

Jr. could have laped the pace car and NASCAR wouldn't have said anything! With this lawsuit going on they needed a big happy story to put the negitive on the back burner for a few days.

I bet if that was Robbie Gordon doing that, they would have taken a different stance

[jks812]

Originally Posted by loco4pablo

Jr. could have laped the pace car and NASCAR wouldn't have said anything! With this lawsuit going on they needed a big happy story to put the negitive on the back burner for a few days.

I bet if that was Robbie Gordon doing that, they would have taken a different stance

I feel like you are 100% correct. But with what all happened at the end, I don't see how this can really help, and I'm a Jr fan. But even I have questions about how it ended and all. Hate to say it but I don't even consider it a "real" win. And yes I know, the one who crosses the line 1st wins, thats been drilled in my head enough already. But still don't make everything right.

[LSC9901]

So to try and put this to a rest .... just how much gas needs to be in the tank to make it an accepted win ???

[jks812]

For me personally, I don't think any win is a good one when the car is coasting. But I also don't think a rain win is a real win either. But thats just my feeling on it. We all know I'm glad he won. Just wish it had been some racing involved in the final laps.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by jks812

For me personally, I don't think any win is a good one when the car is coasting. But I also don't think a rain win is a real win either. But thats just my feeling on it. We all know I'm glad he won. Just wish it had been some racing involved in the final laps.

He or any driver has no control over that factor. Yes I believe we'd all like to see side by side racing at the end but it just isn't gonna happen that way all the time. I guess similar complaints could be made when a driver wins by many seconds versus side by side at the end. I'm confident that all of the best of NASCAR have had a win or two by this same type of method. It is just a product of the system.

[casa]

I hate to see any race end under caution no matter what the reason. It was exciting however wondering who was going to run out of gas and when. A win is a win and many others have won under caution. It is not Jr's fault that the caution came out and it is sad that those that choose to hate him can not accept the win as what it is, simply a win just like those that have happened many times before when the caution flew.

[Nevadastars]

They must have both missed the meeting on Saturday where Helton told the drivers not to complain and be like Mikey by kissing Na$cars butt.