When the NASCAR Sprint Cup teams took on the challenge of the Infineon Raceway’s challenging 2 mile road course last Sunday there was high anticipation regarding who was going to win the race, who was going to finish in the top ten and could the teams cooperate with each other while attempting the new double file restarts on a road course. To no real surprise this race was loaded with surprises. With those thoughts in mind let’s begin with:
HOORAH for Kasey Kahne. The driver of the #9 Budweiser/Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge was exactly where he needed to be in the waning laps of the Toyota/Sav Mart 350. That was due to a strong driving effort, a well prepared race car and some great pit strategy calls by crew chief Kenny Francis. Because of these combined efforts Kahne snapped a 37 race win less streak, scored his tenth career win as well as his first win in 2009 and he scored his first ever road course win in 11 starts.
HOORAH for “King” Richard Petty who was presented the opportunity to enjoy victory lane as a team owner for the first time since 1999. Making the day even sweeter was the fact that Richard Petty Motorsports had three of their four cars finish in the top ten. A J Allmendinger brought his Dodge to a seventh place finish while Elliot Sadler, whose team seriously needed a good run, finished tenth.
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This week’s HOORAH for making chicken salad out of chicken do do is loaded with “Kangaroo Meat.” That would be the nick name that some of the Sprint Cup drivers hung on Australia’s Marcus Ambrose. The driver of the #47 JTG-Daughtery Toyota, now affiliated with Michael Waltrip Racing, started last Saturday afternoon on a very strong note when he qualified his car in third place on the starting grid.
But shortly afterward, during final practice, it all fell apart when Ambrose blew his engine. The slight contact with Jimmie Johnson during practice didn’t help either. During Sunday’s race Ambrose found himself in several near misses and one major situation when he tangled with Bobby Labonte’s car. There was also a moment when race traffic nearly pinched him into the exterior pit wall. Despite all of this Ambrose drove the Little Debbie Snacks Toyota to a third place finish.
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A HOORAH goes out to reigning Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson who also made chicken salad out of chicken do do. On lap 38 of Sunday’s race was nailed by NASCAR officials for speeding down pit road. After serving his penalty, Johnson restarted in 40th and began the process of working his way through the field. Along the way there was some unfortunate contact with Kurt Busch that sent his Dodge into the wall. Johnson survived the hit but lost some more track position. Despite all of this he managed to work his way back through the field to finish fourth.
Having said that WAZZUP with Johnson getting yet another penalty for speeding down pit road. Are we seeing a disturbing trend here?
Also WAZZUP with Chad Knaus, Johnson’s crew chief, and his observation on the penalty. During a live appearance on the Speed Channel Monday night, Knaus said “we still haven’t figured out how that happened.” It’s really quite simply Chad: you’re guy was driving too fast down pit road and probably needs to cut that out.
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HOORAH to Juan Pablo Montoya whose sixth place finish placed him 12th in the championship points and now he’s considered as a possible contender for making the Chase For The Sprint Cup Championship. Because of Montoya’s open wheel background he’s expected to do well on a road course. However, there has been a noticeable improvement in his consistency levels lately and that has led to his rise in the point standings. He remains as the only bright spot for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing an organization that truly could use some good news.
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HOORAH for the newly initiated double file restart policy and the driver’s cooperation during the Infineon race that made it work so well. Prior to the race there was a lot of concern over double file restarts creating havoc especially going into turn two. But overall the drivers handled the restarts in very smooth fashion. There was of course of bumping and rubbing here and there but overall that’s the nature of road course racing. The double file restarts during this race made for some very exciting television.
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