auto club 500 monday race rewind.

Comin' at 'cha with some news and notes from a long day in Fontana, Calif. on Sunday.

The Story.
Winner: Matt Kenseth
How it was done: Held off Jeff Gordon after a late restart with 4 laps to go for his second victory of the weekend
Top 5: Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Burton, Mark Martin
Yellow Flags: 9 for 37 laps with 1 red flag (David Reutimann Turn 3 Crash)
Points Situation: 1.Mark Martin, 2.Jeff Burton (-5), 3. Jeff Gordon (-26)

News/Notes/Ramblings.
-Just Another Day - Once again, just another ho-hum day at California Speedway. Kenseth walked away from the field on the final restart, illustrating how much the "dirty air" behind the lead car hurts handling. The final stats will show 28 lead changes among 12 drivers, but you'll get that with 2 green-flag pit stops. According to David Poole the announced crowd was 87,000, however the stands should a story much below that. NASCAR, it is time to realize that boring racing doesn't bring in the glitzy fans that Brian France so dreams about. Rockingham, how we miss you.
-Hard Hit. David Reutimann provided some very dramatic television after he pounded the turn 3 wall after being wrecked by Greg Biffle with less than 10 laps to go Sunday. When FOX cut to his in-car, Reutimann was slumped over the steering wheel and the radio traffic from his pit was unable to make contact with him. Reutimann finally came to and dropped the window net. It'll be interesting to see if NASCAR releases the g-force count from that hit. Let's just say Mr. Reutimann walked away from that crash today, but 6 years ago, that would have been a different story.
- New Digs. In case you didn't notice, FOX sports unveiled a new "Hollywood Hotel" for the pre-race show and in-race updates with Jeff Hammond and Chris Myers. The new space appears to have windows in the background like the old version -- except now they are large plasma displays with a direct camera feed. The reason for ditching the windows? Now, the "Hotel" can be placed closer to drivers and the garage area for more interviews throughout the weekend because it doesn't need to have a scenic backdrop.
- Power Outage. - Two DEI cars suffered engine failures early in the race, leaving perennial championship favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. stuck in 41st in the points standings. Martin Truex, Jr. blew up first and Junior later reported trouble. The attempted to fix the 8 car, but once on the track the engine blew up big -- and for good. The oil leaving the engine spun Earnhardt's car around in turn 3 and he somehow kept the car off the wall. After getting out, Dale Jr. bowed -- fitting for his miraculous job of keeping the car off the wall. Give that guy an Oscar!
- Hendrick Surge. Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Busch got off to good starts for the intermediate tracks this season. All 3 finished in the top ten Sunday. Gordon overcame terrible handling early in the race by pitting early and often, and then racing his way back to the front. Johnson ran solidly in the top 10 all day and even led quite a bit. He was sidetracked, however, with 25 laps to go when one of NASCAR's mysterious debris cautions showed up again. Is anyone getting tired of NASCAR's consitent attempts at trying to make the race more exciting? They might as well just institute a mandatory caution with 20 laps to go in every race to get some credibility back.

Rank 'Em
(a new feature that I'll do on rewind to rank the top 10 drivers each week.)
1. Jeff Burton - How can you argue with a 3rd and 4th place to start the year?
2. Kevin Harvick - This team is on it right now, flat tire or not.
3. Jeff Gordon - Salvaged a top-ten at Daytona and came back yesterday. Solid.
4. Matt Kenseth - I'd make him higher if I got a full Arby's combo instead of fries. Matt, talk to your agent.
5. Jimmie Johnson - Has there been a champion that has been more under the radar than JJ?
6. Mark Martin - He'll move up if he stays consistent. And races at Bristol.
7. Tony Stewart - The team made a questionable call to put 4 tires on with just 4 laps to go. He has some points to make up.
8. Kyle Busch - He seemed a lot a bit too aggressive Sunday. Simmer, shrub.
9. Denny Hamlin - C'mon Denny, do more FedEx commercials. Like more donuts on a lown mower.
10. David Stremme - He's just getting a shout for being 10th in the points. Nice.

Next Race: The 3/11/07 UAW Daimer-Chrysler 400, Las Vegas Motor Speedway on FOX