The "Inside NASCAR" podcast features AP's NASCAR Insiders Jenna Fryer, Mike Harris, Chris Jenkins and Brian Horton. Download episodes on Mondays for a recap and analysis of the weekend's race and Thursdays for a preview of the race ahead. Go to podcast »»
The 17 team needs to learn how to use a calculator, someone please slap Jeff Burton's wife and more
09/24/2006 10:39 AM Jaynelle Ramon
When Kasey Kahne slammed into Tony Stewart today Benny Parsons said something to the effect of “There’s his mulligan for the Chase.”
(AP Photo/Chris Gardner) Ah, poor thing.
So then last week’s disaster was a mulligan for Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch, too, right?
But will the driver who goes on to win the championship really have a 40th-place finish in one of the last 10 races?
I say no.
It just seems like too many of the guys in the Chase don’t have terrible finishes like that very often.
Matt Kenseth’s worst finish of the season was a 38th. Bad, yeah, but all his other finishes are 25th or better with 17 top-10s. Yes, I said 17.
Mark Martin has a 33rd and a 35th but also 19 top-15s.
And let’s not forget Jeff Burton who only has three finishes of 33rd or worse and Kevin Harvick with three worse than 34th.
So, yeah, over the span of 26 races everyone is going to have really bad days but now that everything is on the line I just don’t think that clutch drivers like Kenseth, Martin, Burton, Harvick and even Jeff Gordon are going to have a race where they finish 42nd.
Making up more than 100 points is tough to do in such a short period of time.
If everyone sucks it up in one race then they’re all on even ground again but I don’t see it happening.
This championship is going to come down to the few guys who run consistently every week. Duh.
My dream is for the championship to go to a driver who runs in the top 10 or top five every week and never makes it to victory lane.
(Thanks to Matt for pointing out that Tony Stewart didn’t win during the Chase last year. Why does it seem like he won everything? Maybe I should just go back to pretending last year didn’t happen at all because I obviously don’t remember it very well. But I barely remember what happened last week so that’s not really a surprise.)
I would have expected a big deal to be made out of something like that but apparently not since I never even realized that’s exactly what happened last season.
As I said in response to Matt’s comment below, maybe with the “controversy” when Kasey Kahne almost missed the Chase despite five victories the media and fans would make a fuss about it – anything to make NASCAR think about giving more points for wins.
I’m not asking for anything crazy. I know the bigwigs hate admitting they’re wrong or that the way they do things may not be the best but would adding 10 or so more points to first hurt them that much?
OK, that’s old news so enough about that.
Jimmie Johnson didn’t exactly rebound the way he hoped after last week’s bad finish.
Why, why, why, why in the bleepin’ world didn’t Matt Kenseth pit to get gas when he had the chance?
You don’t risk that kind of stuff in the Chase!
You have the opportunity to pit under caution with the rest of the leaders, you don’t know if you have enough fuel to make it to the end and you stay out?
WTF?
He summed it up perfectly when he said on the radio, “This is stupid.”
Yep…very.
For a few laps toward the end of the race I was pulling for Jeff Burton to pull ahead of Matt Kenseth.
Then I remembered why I hate when Burton wins.
His flippin’ wife is irritating.
There were more than 20 laps left, he was in second and she was already crying!
That woman cries for everything and it’s obnoxious.
So, yeah, I said it – she needs to be slapped because she might just be the most annoying NASCAR wife. No, no, I take that back. She definitely is the most annoying.
(Not that I’m condoning violence, of course.)
If Burton goes on to win the championship I’m afraid her tear ducts might implode.
Championship standings from NASCAR.com
Update:
I’m watching “NASCAR Victory Lane” and wondering if they couldn’t set up the show somewhere, you know, not in the middle of a monsoon.
And one non-NASCAR thing – who saw the Katherine Legge crash?
Jaynelle, last year Tony didn’t win a race in the final 10.
I agree – it was very dumb for Reiser not to bring the car in on that pit stop.
I totally disagree with what you think about Kim Burton. So what, she’s emotional? Not everyone can have your perpetual non-chalant sarcasm.
— Matt 09/24/2006 04:58 PM #
Jaynelle – I understand Kim’s emotions seeing as how her hubby hasn’t won a Cup race in five years. But seriously, the waterworks with twenty frickin’ laps to go was ridiculous.
It was cool seeing Jeff’s kids run and hug their daddy first thing in VL though. :-)
— Carrie 09/24/2006 05:24 PM #
With all the fuss this year about Kasey Kahne almost not making the Chase despite winning five races I would hope that it would be a bigger deal.
I get being emotional after five years but Kim Burton was like that back in the day when her husband used to actually win. Believe it or not, I’m a crier – even sad commericals make me cry. Heck, the Jim and Pam situation on "The Office" makes me cry – but seriously, it’s a race, not the championship.
— Jaynelle 09/24/2006 05:42 PM #
I could care less that Kahne won 5 races and barely made it. That’s what happens when you have 6 finishes of 30th or worse.
On a side note, if you ever need a hug, I’m right here… 3000 miles away.
— Matt 09/24/2006 06:40 PM #
I agree. After like, the first win, the bawling needs to stop. But I can’t honestly say one way or the other how I’d be about it were I ever in that situation.
I’m emotional, too. I get exhausted while watching Grey’s Anatomy because I usually sob like a baby once per episode, if not more!
— Carrie 09/24/2006 07:55 PM #
What was Robbie Reiser thinking??? That could have been the mistake that costs Matt the championship. Hind-sight is 20-20, but come on, pit and he probably wins the race. Sad stuff.
— Jim 09/24/2006 08:29 PM #
Matt…such a flirt.
— Jaynelle 09/24/2006 09:16 PM #
I would quote Anchorman about that… but this is a family blog ;-) .
— Matt 09/25/2006 01:26 PM #
There’s nothing more touching than a sensitive and loving spouse who has little inhibitions with respect to showing that affection as well as adoration, regardless of the gender.
MattK and his crew may have made a strategic blunder but I doubt that this picture will repeat itself during the next eight races. This is very atypical of their team.
At this point, in my opinion, the race is between JeffG and MattK who have the championship experience and the teams to win. Though my heart is with JeffG, my pocketbook would be on MattK.
— Jon 09/28/2006 05:44 AM #
If you’re busy wondering if Kim Burton is going to cry us a new river, you’re not watching the freaking race. Mrs. Burton cries, that’s been a well known fact for fifteen years. Let’s talk about Mike Skinners wifes’ violence when her husband spins someone else out, then his wife blames it on her husband’s victim… I have a name I might call her but my female dog would be insulted…
I agree – it was very dumb for Reiser not to bring the car in on that pit stop.
I totally disagree with what you think about Kim Burton. So what, she’s emotional? Not everyone can have your perpetual non-chalant sarcasm.
— Matt 09/24/2006 04:58 PM #
It was cool seeing Jeff’s kids run and hug their daddy first thing in VL though. :-)
— Carrie 09/24/2006 05:24 PM #
I get being emotional after five years but Kim Burton was like that back in the day when her husband used to actually win. Believe it or not, I’m a crier – even sad commericals make me cry. Heck, the Jim and Pam situation on "The Office" makes me cry – but seriously, it’s a race, not the championship.
— Jaynelle 09/24/2006 05:42 PM #
On a side note, if you ever need a hug, I’m right here… 3000 miles away.
— Matt 09/24/2006 06:40 PM #
I’m emotional, too. I get exhausted while watching Grey’s Anatomy because I usually sob like a baby once per episode, if not more!
— Carrie 09/24/2006 07:55 PM #
— Jim 09/24/2006 08:29 PM #
— Jaynelle 09/24/2006 09:16 PM #
— Matt 09/25/2006 01:26 PM #
MattK and his crew may have made a strategic blunder but I doubt that this picture will repeat itself during the next eight races. This is very atypical of their team.
At this point, in my opinion, the race is between JeffG and MattK who have the championship experience and the teams to win. Though my heart is with JeffG, my pocketbook would be on MattK.
— Jon 09/28/2006 05:44 AM #
Nick R.
— Nick R. 10/10/2006 05:51 AM #