Monday Race Rewind: Kobalt Tools 500

Straight from the rim-riding day at Atlanta.

The Story.
Winner: Jimmie Johnson
How it was done: Johnson got around Tony Stewart with 3 laps to go on a slide move through turn 2 and set sail from there.
Top 5: Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton, Juan Pablo Montoya
Yellow Flags: 6 cautions for 27 laps, just one incident
Points Situation: 1. Mark Martin, 2. Jeff Gordon (-8), 3. Jeff Burton (-11)

News/Notes/Ramblings.
Why apologize? I still can't figure out where the big deal is about Jimmie Johnson's pass around Tony Stewart. Stewart was described as being "miffed" that Jimmie slid up in front of him. Johnson apologized profusely in victory lane for the move that led to Stewart scraping the wall. I can't say this bodes well for the season, as apparently hard racing is no longer allowed. The fact of the matter is Jimmie Johnson had the line, and simply moved up in front of Tony's run. Sure, it's good that Tony backed off and didn't wreck them both, but at the same time, this is about winning, not people's feelings.
Miffed Part Two. Greg Biffle, a prerace favorite, ended up in a four-car accident going into turn 3 on lap 233 as a result of contact with David Reutimann. The #00 Toyota got into Biffle's rear, collecting Brian Vickers and Kasey Kahne. Biffle was pretty upset after the race, feeling that it could have been a little payback from his dumping of Reutimann at California. Said Biffle, "The 00 right-reared me at the end of the backstretch and turned me in the fence. I guess it's payback from California, I don't know. I moved up a little bit to get a little air off of the 83 because we were side-by-side and, I don't know, he must have been splitting the difference or something and got my right-rear, I don't know. Maybe he didn't mean to do it, but those are the facts." (that's racin')
Martin Keeps His Word. Despite being the point leader, Mark Martin will not be anywhere near Bristol this weekend to defend the lead and try to Car of Tomorrow. Instead, Martin is sticking with his partial schedule this season and heading to Lake City, Fla. to North Florida Speedway to take on a different role. He will serve as the crew chief for Ricky Carmichael, the accomplished motorcycle racer who is making the jump to stock cars -- far away from the hordes of media.
Finally. Brian Vickers and Dave Blaney did something Sunday that has never been seen before. They put their Toyota Camry's out front, in the lead. Vickers held the point for five laps while Dave Blaney led one. It's progress, but Michael Waltrip has now missed 3 straight races, AJ Allmendinger hasn't been in one, and Dale Jarrett is going to run out of champions provisionals fast. Right now, the fears that Toyota Racing Development would dominate the sport are very unfounded -- but that could change when Toyota starts pumping more cash into this sport. Toyota hates to lose.

Round 4 pick 'em champ: Trevor Sager

the standings.
after round 4 of 36 (Kobalt Tools 500, Atlanta)

1. 35 points - trevor sager (1 pick 'em win, 1-Top 10)
2. 25 points - geoffrey miller (2 - Top 5s)
2. 10 points - drew owen (1 - Top 5, 1 - Top 10)

this week, trevor pads his point lead and drew continues the slide. I didn't get to watch the race, so analysis is few and far.

trevor sager (25 points + 10 points) - carl edwards. Carl ended up 8th. it was trevor's only victory of the day, and the only team that didn't choke. i would blame shelly smith.


geoffrey miller (20 points + 5 points) - jeff gordon. Gordon, who had a strong race car, wound up 12th after problems in the pits.

drew owen (10 points + 0 point) - dale earnhardt jr. Dale Jr. criticized his pit crew for not making good adjustments, and Drew should be right there -- he hasn't scored points since Daytona.

over and out.

well, just as i had guessed it, the IU Hoosiers lost a close one against UCLA.

final score 54-49. they had a valiant effort to tie the game late and made UCLA's heart skip more than one beat. just 13 points in the first half was the single lowest in the NCAA tournament in the shot clock era. That surely didn't help.

I'm tired, and will have a season recap coming later in the week.

Now, back to Indy.

Kobalt Tools 500 Pick 'em

trevor sager (25 points) - carl edwards.
trevor is hoping that carl snaps a drought in the win column this week, mainly so his transporter driver can shave. and because trevor thinks the backflip is cute.

geoffrey miller (20 points) - jeff gordon.
i've gotta go with my man for the third week. it seems like this weekend the 24 car could be in victory lane because he's starting 5th and the car was stellar last week at a similar track.

drew owen (10 points) - dale earnhardt jr.
after a two week point scoring drought, drew needs some points badly. he figures the budweiser car will get him there this week.

the standings.
after round 3 of 36 (UAW Daimler Chrysler 400, Las Vegas)

1. 25 points - trevor sager (1 pick 'em win)
2. 20 points - geoffrey miller (2 - Top 5s)
2. 10 points - drew owen (1 - Top 5, 1 - Top 10)