|| *Comments on the 2008 Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola:* View the most recent comment <#95> | Post a comment <#post> 1. Willy on Wheels posted: 07.06.2008 - 8:28 am Rate this comment: (2) (1) I'm sick of Kyle Busch winning. But it was a good race except for lap 162, and great runs for Kurt Busch, Ragan, Robby Gordon, Vickers, both Labontes, Menard, and Carpentier. I can't wait for Kyle's reckless driving (and all of the drivers whose equuipment he tore up) to get back at him during the Chase. 2. Jrister24 posted: 07.06.2008 - 9:47 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) This was one of the best races of the year, IMO. It turned into a wreckfest at the end, but I loved the way everyone could race tightly in a pack, but the good cars could get away. It was less a crapshoot than most plate races. 3. Scott posted: 07.06.2008 - 9:53 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) When is that brat going to stop tellin' it like it is and finish last? He's still a kid. 4. Rusty posted: 07.06.2008 - 10:20 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) What a crashfest at the end. Suprisingly outside of the last lap crash there wasn't any huge crashes, just a bunch of small ones. 5. Mr. Big posted: 07.06.2008 - 10:28 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Busch pulls another win out of his ass. Then, on the final restart, the only car that really had a chance to pass Busch other than Junior was Gordon who was promptly spun out by Edwards. See, this is why I miss racing back to the caution. The fans were robbed of yet another potentially great finish with Busch and Edwards duking it out. NASCAR handed this one to Busch. At least this was the first exciting race since Richmond. 6. Clayton posted: 07.06.2008 - 10:54 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) David Ragan had a wonderful run again. He is quickly becomming an excellent superspeedway racer. If that catchcan man kept the can in the car, he might have gone to victory lane for the first time. But it's a team effort and Ragan will eventually find victory lane and has some great tracks coming up. Ps- Nice Job Texas Terry!! 7. Rusty posted: 07.06.2008 - 10:58 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Paul Menard gets his first career pole, leds a career high 19 laps and comes home in a solid 15th place. Best career finish for Patrick Carpentier in 14th. Sam Hornish, Jr. had a good run going he was in the top 15-20 all night until he got caught up in the last lap crash and finished 29th. 8. samfan08 posted: 07.06.2008 - 11:04 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tough breaks for Michael Waltrip, Sam Hornish, Travis Kvapil, and Jeff Gordon, all losing top 15 finishes on the last lap and ending up around 30th. That's plate racing for ya. 9. Pork Rind posted: 07.06.2008 - 11:23 am Rate this comment: (0) (2) I am a Jeff Gordon fan, but I know the truth. Jeff Gordon will be lucky to win 1 race this season, and if he makes the chase, he won't have much of a shot to win the championship. Kyle Busch is the best driver out there, and getting better. He's a very nice fellow. 10. nascarman posted: 07.06.2008 - 11:36 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) This is why there should be more plate tracks. This was a very exciting race, spoiled at the end by drivers racing over their heads and causing a crash. A very impresive run by Sam Hornish before getting involved in the last lap wreck. He missed about five wrecks by inches during the race. 11. Woodbridge posted: 07.06.2008 - 1:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) A damn shame that Kvapil ended up wrecking, dude was in the top 15 and even the top 5 throughout the race. 12. Woodbridge posted: 07.06.2008 - 1:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ALSO-- David Reutimann came back from four laps down via Lucky Dog Passes and took down 21st place. Tony Stewart was suffering from flu-like symptoms and got out of the car midway through the race, J.J. Yeley piloted the #20 into the top ten before getting knocked around in a few wrecks. David Gilliland was en route to a top five before he wrecked, also, I believe this is the best-ever finish for Furniture Row Racing. 13. Mark O. posted: 07.06.2008 - 2:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) David Reutimann's 24th place finish is exactly why the lucky dog rule shouldn't be in place. 14. WallaceFan posted: 07.06.2008 - 3:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) One of the best races of the year. Great side by side racing, exicting spins and saves. Hate to see Kyle Busch win, but he earned it. Jeff Gordon got screwed by that spin. JJ Yeley did a good job filling in for Stewart, bt wrecked twice in the last 5 laps. Reutimann got 5 straight lucky dogs...yeah...not a good rule. Great runs for Edwards, Kenseth, Ragan, Robby Gordon, Mark and Vickers. Another tough day for Elliott Sadler, he was in the top 10 when he blew a tire. 15. adamal82 posted: 07.06.2008 - 3:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Busch overcomes adversity yet again to win. I am getting tired of this trend of his. Everytime he wins it seems something during the race weekend goes wrong for this puke and then when it comes to the checkered flag he is the one in victory lane. I have given close to 15 years of my life to this sport watching it faithfully and spending a ton of money on merchandise, but any more i find my self watching more baseball (go phils) or anything else over na$car b/c its the same old song and dance week in and week out. Thanks all for listening . 16. Woodbridge posted: 07.06.2008 - 4:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) While I'm growing tired of watching Busch dominate, it's really no worse than JJ last year, or Newman in 03, or Jeff Gordon in 98... All part of the sport, there's always a chance of one guy dominating all season and winning a ton of races. I will keep tuned in for sure, there are so many other things to watch for other than who wins the race... and really, Busch can't win 'em all. I see him only winning four more races tops, so I think it will be a more interesting second half of the season. 17. Wolly on Wheels posted: 07.06.2008 - 4:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Clayton, if David Ragan is becoming an excellent racer, then why hasn't he won yet? 18. NazRacePhan posted: 07.06.2008 - 4:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Looks like the first time brothers won 3 consecutive races since 1955! 10/30/55-Hillsboro-Tim Flock 11/13/55-Hickory-Tim Flock 11/20/55-Charlotte-Fonty Flock 19. NazRacePhan posted: 07.06.2008 - 4:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Nemechek... 20th last week, 18th this week.. nice back-to-back best career finishes for the #78 team!! 20. Rad83 posted: 07.06.2008 - 5:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) My happiest moment, was seeing that last lap wreck. With BV sliding through and coming home 11th, and when the fraudulent one got involved in that last lap wreck, I was jumping up and down! Not only that, to top it all off, a Toyota wins! All in all a great show. 21. Carmen posted: 07.06.2008 - 5:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Rad how selfish are you? Wishing a wreck on someone? He could have gotten killed! This time you really crossed the line! And a call out to my boys Kahne and Carpentier for finshing 7th and 14th! Sadly, Sadler finds a wreck (sigh). That dude needs some luck. Just like Rad83 needs to realize that Waltrip isn't THAT bad. 22. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.06.2008 - 6:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ryan Newman and Jeff Burton were freaking pinballs out there, never of their own doing. They have to be wondering if it was something they said. 23. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.06.2008 - 6:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Oh, and Dale Jr runs up front all race only to not be a factor at the end. I am seeing a pattern here. 24. Woodbridge posted: 07.06.2008 - 6:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Wolly on Wheels --- David Ragan IS becoming a great racer. He's going to win quite a few races in his career, make some Chases and win a Daytona 500. Mark it down. 25. Clayton posted: 07.06.2008 - 7:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Wolly on Wheels- becoming!! He isn't there yet, but he will win and he will win often!! and Wallace fan, how did Yeley do a good job filling in for Stewart, when he wrecked twice!! 26. WillG_75 posted: 07.06.2008 - 10:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Wish someone would have given the 88 a push at the end, he would have given Kyle Brat........errr Busch a run for his money. 27. Pat posted: 07.07.2008 - 1:05 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Another damn Busch win. Would have loved to see Edwards beat him. Kenseth is really being consistent. Ragan is becoming awesome, he gonna win soon. Good run for Robby Gordon and Texas Terry 28. The Real Thomas posted: 07.07.2008 - 5:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Such bullshit. A potentially classic finish like last year's race destroyed by an idiotic rule. When will NASCAR figure it out? Either get rid of the freezing the field crap all together or let the drivers race back to the line on the last lap like real men. Better yet, don't half-ass the GWC. If they're going to do it at all, do it until the race ends under green. If ARCA can do it, then NASCAR sure as hell should be able to. Other than that, an excellent race, besides the Kyle Bitch winning under caution part. 29. DieselDan posted: 07.07.2008 - 9:26 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) How soon do we forget why racing back to the line ended? Do any of you remember the 2003 New Hampshire race when Dale Jarrett's wrecked car was sitting in the middle of the front stretch with several cars racing for position at him? You get three options: Freeze field at time of caution. Go back to last completed lap. Race back to the line, possibly killing or seriously injuring drivers. 30. Zed_3_88Fan4eva posted: 07.07.2008 - 10:12 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) NASCAR needs to let these guys race back to the line...I know I'm repeatin what's already been said but NASCAR needs to stop being pussies and let these guys race. Also how has JJ Yeley not been fired yet??? And I know we're still a year away but I think Mark Martin will win the 2009 championchip unless NA$CAR finds a way to cheat him out of it. And is it just me or is Kyle Busch dippin into some of that Gordon luck? 31. DaleJrFan17 posted: 07.07.2008 - 10:13 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) To the real Thomas: How did that comment slip by the mods :P To everything else: Kyle B***h sucks and did not deserve the win. If I'm correct, they base final positions off the last scoring loop? And I highly doubt that the last loop passed was in those final 500ft or so. Carl Edwards was cheated out of a flip! But don't worry, B***h will get his taste of his own medicine soon enough. 32. Rusty posted: 07.07.2008 - 11:01 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) David Ragan becoming a great driver? Are people that easily impressed? I can't remember Ragan ever up front competing to win races. He's no longer a human pinball on the track, but I don't see any greatness in this guy. 33. Anonymous posted: 07.07.2008 - 12:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jeff Burton's 23 top 15 finishes in a row comes to an end with a crash. 34. RaceFanX posted: 07.07.2008 - 1:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) TNT used their "Wide Open coverage" for the second time in this event. I must say I like it. Coca-Cola promised a free Coca-Cola Zero to anyone whose is a member or becomes a member of the MyCokeRewards program if one of the Coke Racing Family won this race. None of them did but in the post race show Kyle Petty announed everyone got the Coke Zeros anyway "courtesy of Kyle Petty" with the website stating that it was "in celebration of the innugral Coke Zero 400" 35. Neal posted: 07.07.2008 - 2:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Anybody really still wondering why McMurray might be on the short end of the stick at Roush-Fenway? He's the only driver in their livery not in the Top 20 in points. He's 422 points out of 12th, virtually guaranteeing he'll miss the Chase yet again this year. I know he's popular but the guy just doesn't have what it takes to get it done. 36. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.07.2008 - 5:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I also loved the telecast, and I hope they do it more often. I also love the tandem of Kyle Petty and Wally in the booth. They have great chemistry and are a joy to listen to. Wally just never clicked with Benny the way Benny clicked with Ned Jarrett in the old days. Kyle and Wally are both wise asses but also know when to show reverence. I wish those two called more races. Clayton, in WallaceFan's defense, Niether of Yeley's wrecks were his own fault. He could have had a Top 10. And Neal, I agree, I don't know what the deal with McMurray is. He ran better in Ganassi's mid pack equipment than he has in Roush's top flight stuff (shameless pun considering Roush's love of flying). I wonder if it is the pressure. When he won his 1st race at Charlotte in his 2nd start, nobody expected to do it. He had no pressure. Even though the 40 team had led to points for a while, he was so raw, if he messed up, no one would blame him. But now, with his teammates doing well, and being given his crew chief of choice, he has no excuses. Plus his other win came at last year's Daytona race, not exactly a Roush stronghold. No one expected it. That is what I think: He is a good driver that can't handle the spotlight. What do you guys think? 37. Clayton posted: 07.07.2008 - 11:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) McMurray was overrated at CHRFS. Jimmy Spencer made a comment on speed that said, every Roush driver will make the chase, except The 26 car. Well he was right, and that was 3 years ago and he is still right about McMurray. And everyone who is not impressed with Ragan, I hope you look back at this site in 3 years and say, damn I was wrong. And NASCAR should race back the yellow!! How many drivers were killed because of racing back the yellow that you can remember?? NO ONE!! That would elminate the Stupid Lucky Dog!! We raced back the yellow for 50 years and no one died, I don't understand how they would die!! 38. Neal posted: 07.08.2008 - 12:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Re: Racing back to the yellow I think there should be some flexibility in NASCAR's policy of not racing back to the caution. If it's the last lap of the race and the wreck happens in an area that's not near the start/finish line, let them race back to the flagstand. 39. Rusty posted: 07.08.2008 - 1:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I still don't see what's to be impressed about Ragan. He runs mediocre in the Nationwide series, and is nothing special in Cup. Sure he got a top 5 in this race, but getting a top 5 at Daytona doesn't equal stardom.......I don't see any kind of greatness in David Ragan. I see an average driver. 40. Willy on Wheels posted: 07.08.2008 - 3:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) How many drivers went 56 races or more before their first win and went on to become superstars? Ragan sucks, he will never win a race, and he just got lucky enough to get through the last lap crash. 41. Roadkill posted: 07.08.2008 - 3:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm also unimpressed with David Ragan. Yes, he's improved since last year, but that isn't saying much. He's run 56 Cup races, and led a grand total of 12 laps. Can you say medicore? 42. Neal posted: 07.08.2008 - 3:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Willy on Wheels - Flawed logic. Driver First Win (# starts) ------------ -------------------- D. Jarrett 130 B. Elliott 116 M. Martin 112 A. Kulwicki 84 R. Wallace 72 D. Waltrip 51 5 of those 6 are former series champions. 43. Mark O. posted: 07.08.2008 - 5:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) On the flip side, Willy...how many drivers won very early on and are simply average? (Jamie McMurray comes to mind immediately). 44. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.08.2008 - 5:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) You make good points Clayton, but I think Jamie did pretty good at Ganassi. He had a pretty good rookie season, especially in the 2nd half, and in all three years he out performed his teammates, including Sterling Marlin. He would have made the chase in '04 and '05 if they took 12 drivers like they do now. Considering how Ganassi has done since the beginning of '03, steadily sliding from mediocre towards complete irrelevance, I think Jamie did alright. Now his struggles at Roush have been undeniable and inexcusable. He has been the weakest guy there from the word go, including David Ragan. I have no idea how this happened. That is why I think he has simply crumbled under the expectations. I don't think he has the personality, the killer instinct necessary to be great on this level. I have been mightily impressed by the improvement of David Ragan. Do I think he is a future champion? No, but I think he can win in the Cup Series. I know he has been mediocre in the Busch Series, but so has Carl Edwards lately. Their focus is obviously on Cup, as it should be. He has improved way more than a certain other one man wrecking crew of a driver currently in the Nationwide Series who shall not be named. 45. Neal posted: 07.08.2008 - 10:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Err messed up on one of those. DW won in his 50th start, not his 51st. 46. Willy on Wheels posted: 07.08.2008 - 10:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I completely forgot about He Who Shall Not Be Named. Ragan is a terrible driver simply because of his rep he earned last year and the fact that he doesn't know how to win, but I'm glad He Who Shall Not Be Named doesn't run Cup, or there would be between 3 and 12 cars running at the end of every race. 47. samfan22 posted: 07.08.2008 - 11:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Ragan sucks, he will never win a race, and he just got lucky enough to get through the last lap crash." IIRC, he was running top 5 most of the night and was in front of the wreck on the last lap. He has been impressive to me all year, but maybe that is because of what he was last year. I do think he will be a winner in the Cup series, and if everything falls right could win a title. 48. Willy on Wheels posted: 07.09.2008 - 10:44 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Ragan has always had some of the best equipment out there and still is incapable of winning in any of the 3 series, and these other guys all drove underfunded field fillers until either the year they won their first race or the year before that. 49. Anonymous posted: 07.09.2008 - 12:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Just out of curiosity, who exactly is "He Who Shall Not Be Named?" 50. Neal posted: 07.09.2008 - 12:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) My guess is that "He Who Shall Not Be Named" probably refers to Steven Wallace. 51. CanadianFan posted: 07.09.2008 - 1:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think he is Steve Wallace. 52. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.09.2008 - 2:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) HAHA! That is funny Willy on Wheels, and true. The Car of Tomorrow can continue after some pretty hard impacts. The Former Champion Father of The Driver Who Shall Not Be Named would probably order the team to fix it up and send him back out there to "get experience" and continue to wipe out the field. 53. Willy on Wheels posted: 07.09.2008 - 9:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's official, the son of the driver who scored his first win at Bristol in 1986 and his last win at Martinsvile in 2004 will be referred to He Who Shall Not be Named until he either 1 Wins a Nationwide race 2 Goes 5 races straight without damaging his own or somebody else's equipment 54. Willy on wheels posted: 07.09.2008 - 9:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) If anyone from NASCAR started a band, it would be called the called The One Man Wrecking Crews. the members are Vocals: Steve Wallace Guitar: JJ Yeley Bass: AJ Allmendinger Drums: David Ragan They will cover songs like "Bang Your Head" by Quiet Riot, "TNT" by ACDC, and everything by Def Leppard because these guys cost team owners an arm to repair their equipment. 55. New88Fan posted: 07.10.2008 - 1:47 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) "He who shall not be name" LOL guys Tony Stewart is expected to annouce that he's leaving Gibbs at the end of the year to drive for Haas CNC in '09. He'll become part owner of the team and there's a rumor that Jack Daniel's might go to Haas as well. Personally, I think this a bad career move on Stewart's part. The only drivers who were able to do at least decent in Haas equipment were Mike Bliss, Jeff Green and Johnny Sauter. Neither the #66 or the #70 are in the top 35 and aren't likely to get there before the season ends,which means Tony would have to qualify on time for the first five races. That's a tall order for even a driver of his standing. And I hope Joe Gibbs doesn't decide to rush Joey Logano up to Cup so he can take Stewart's place. He's done well in the few Nationwide races he's run (1 win,a second and a sixth), but he's still got alot to learn. 56. Dodge posted: 07.10.2008 - 8:55 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Neither the #66 or the #70 are in the top 35 and aren't likely to get there before the season ends,which means Tony would have to qualify on time for the first five races. That's a tall order for even a driver of his standing. He would be guaranteed in as long as NASCAR keeps the Past Champions Provisional as he is the most recent Champ that would be in that position. 57. Anonymous posted: 07.10.2008 - 10:01 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) This is not as much of a bad move on Stewart's part as people think. I think Stewart is going to bring stability and better people in the race organization. The 66 & 70 teams biggest problem is how the teams were ran by management. I consider Hass CNC Racing to be the worst or one of the worst run race teams in Sprint Cup. Getting rid of drivers each year was a mistake by Haas. The amount of drivers being released by Hass CNC Racing speaks for itself. There is something wrong with the team when 7 drivers have raced in the 66 car since the start of the 2003 season. 58. Dodge posted: 07.10.2008 - 11:47 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) What would be best for the 66 and 70 is if the owner Gene Haas, who is serving I believe a multi-year prison term for I believe Tax Evasion, got out of NASCAR completely and let Tony run the team completely. 59. New88Fan posted: 07.10.2008 - 11:48 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) He would be guaranteed in as long as NASCAR keeps the Past Champions Provisional as he is the most recent Champ that would be in that position. Dodge | 07.10.08 - 8:55 am I forgot about the Past Champion's Provisional, thanks Dodge. 60. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.10.2008 - 1:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That is hilarious Willy!! Stewart will be ok as long as he delegates day to day duties to capable people. If he tries to take on too much he will be in trouble. I think his championship days will be over at the end of this year, but he could still win some races. He needs to look at MWR as the guide book as to what NOT to do. Fortunately he isn't trying to create this team out of thin air, but it still needs a LOT of work. They need to try to get the #66 car back in the Top 35 as it is only 70 points out. That way Stewart could transfer the #70 points to his team which would have the provisional, and give the #66 points to the driver to be named later *coughNewmancough* which would work. He probably just needs to clean house and start over. 61. Willy on Wheels posted: 07.11.2008 - 10:27 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think Tony Stewart, with his provisionals, and Ryan Newman, who holds the record for most pole positions for an active driver or something on the lines of that, would have no problems qualifying on time. And if johnny Sauter can get the occasional top-ten in underfunded equipment owned by a criminal, Tony and Ryan could be contenders for wins after the first five races. 62. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.11.2008 - 1:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That is true Willy. Johnny Sauter did have a few good runs with Haas. Speaking of one man wrecking crews!! So yeah, if Sauter can do well occasionally, Stewart and Newman should be contenders. 63. hyltonfan58 posted: 07.15.2008 - 1:49 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The 5 biggest one man wrecking crews in recent history: 1. Kyle Busch (don't deny it) 2. Steven Wallace (ADHD on wheels!) 3. Larry Foyt (nepotism, anybody?) 4. A.J. Allmendinger (Wallmendinger) 5. Juan Pablo Montoya (NASCAR's foreign exchange student) 64. Willy on Wheels posted: 07.15.2008 - 7:58 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yes, Kyle Busch is undeniably a wrecking ball on wheels, but Steve is the greatest wrecker of all time. My top ten worst wrecking crews would probably be 1 Steve Wallace 2 JJ Yeley 3 AJ Allmendinger 4 David Ragan 5 Regan Smith 6 Michael McDowell 7 Kyle Busch 8 Patrick Carpentier 9 Paul Menard 10 Sam Hornish 65. Rad83 posted: 07.19.2008 - 3:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What about Hut Stricklin? Derikke Cope? Greg Sacks? Rick Mast? Jimmy Spencer? Now those are the worst of all time! 66. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.20.2008 - 6:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah, we can't forget Jimmy Spencer. How many wrecks did he cause? Then he gets all pissed when he gets taken out, calling them disrespectful, promising payback. What a hypocrite!! I never liked Jimmy. And a a commentator... Holy Crap!!! I haven't watched SPEED's prerace or post race show all year. I can't stand listening to his idiotic rambles. Other mentions. Michael Waltrip and Steve Park after his accident. 67. Rad83 posted: 07.21.2008 - 1:58 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) You know, I have nothing wrong with a driver wrecking another. What I hate is when they whine about it. Spencer wrecked John Andretti in 2003 one time. John was in the 0, and he was a fill-in. Jimmy takes Johnny flat out. Then Spencer claims that Andretti should have used common sense. Wow. Stupid. I actually like Jimmy as a commentator though. At least he has the right to complain about anything and everrything. I definitely agree with the Post-wreck Park. Steve caused constant crashes and truly had alot of bad luck. I feel bad for him. As for Waltrip, do I really need to talk about him? I think I've hammered that nail to the grpund as for as it can go. I have an honorable mention driver even though he actually had some talent: Jeremy Mayfield. Mayfeild seemed to get involved in a wreck every week. He didn't cause evry many. Did you guys mention Robby Gordon? He's horrible on ovals and seems to overdrive his car. Well, DaleSRfan, see ya later. btw, you still think Vickers is just an "average" driver? 68. Willy on Wheels posted: 07.21.2008 - 4:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Those are active drivers I listed 69. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.22.2008 - 5:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah, I agree about Robby and Mayfield. Robby has the double whammy of tearing up both his won and everyone else's equipment. He has a ton of natural ability, but not much common sense. His racing IQ is very low. Plus he seems to piss off everyone he has ever been around. Teammates, crew members, owners, employees, you name it. And yes, I still think Vickers is average, if that. He can do well at big, wide tracks, but struggles on smaller, single groove tracks. He is lucky he races in today's NASCAR, and not in the 80's when they had 10 short track races a year (and the two at Richmond were on the old, one groove half mile) plus two at Darlington and two at Rockingham. He takes to the cookie cutters pretty well. 70. Rad83 posted: 07.23.2008 - 1:51 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well I think we can agree to disagree about Vickers. You see, Dalesrfan, you had a good opinion. At least you admit he ain't a bad driver. Average is better than bad. Anyways, a driver I feel has no talent and somehow is in Cup is Regan Smith. The guy can't drive in Nationwide or Truck let alone Cup. I think it's sad that he's out here with the big boys, when he is basicaly a spoiled child. And that's not Smith right there, that's Paul Menard. That poor little man and Smith have absolutely no driving talent. Jr. leaving did not kill DEI. Hiring untalented slug like Menard and Smith has, and will. 71. Woodbridge posted: 07.23.2008 - 11:00 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Fellow Vickers fan here, rad83. However, I disagree with you on Smith and partially on Menard. I was critical on Smith early on in the season but then I realized, he just didn't have much experience and it's not his fault he somehow got a DEI ride without proving much. Since the beginning of the season he's shown remarkable improvements in both qualifying and racing. He will have a Top Ten finish or two before the season is over, and I kinda hope the guy keeps his ride for next year... seems classy in interviews. Menard, I was harsh on last year. However this year he's shown a little more consistency while racing, seemingly always in the top twenty and running ahead of more established guys. Also, his RIDICULOUS save at Dover won me over, where he managed to wrestle his car sideways inches from the wall through a ten-car wreck. I think Menard will take down a checkered flag sometime in his career, just not now. 72. Woodbridge posted: 07.23.2008 - 11:02 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Regan Smith has 0 DNFs and has completed 99% of his laps this year. 73. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.23.2008 - 2:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I agree about Regan Smith and Paul Menard. Although Menard has improved greatly, that is a relative term. He has gone from back of the packer to middle of the packer. What disturbs me about Menard is that he hasn't shown any real signs of breaking through. He is just totally stuck anywhere from 17th to 24th. And Lord knows what is up with Regan. Yeah, he has done a good job of not tearing it up, but he is always one of the 5 slowest guys out there. I also agree that they are what is leading to DEI's descent into irrelevance. Everyone agrees that they have to resources to compete, Kyle Busch and a lame duck Dale Jr said so themselves. But bad drivers not only can't run fast, but they can't give valuable information to the mechanics and engineers to improve the program. Martin Truex is basically a one car team. You are right, they can survive without Dale Jr as long as someone competent steps in, which hasn't happened. Just as a side note: I have nothing personal against Vickers. I am a North Carolina guy, and I would love to see the NC drivers doing better. Heck, Vickers grew up right near me. Unfortunately, it is pretty grim. We have Vickers, a big track specialist, Dale Jr, who has talent but totally lacks commitment/desire/passion, Dale Jarrett retired and Kyle Petty.... well, do I even need to go there? 74. Rad83 posted: 07.24.2008 - 2:20 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Thank you for the responses, guys. Well, I stand by what I said about Smith and Menard. They may not tear up equipment, but it's gotta be sad running 24th on back all the time. You know, it concerns me that NASCAR doesn't have the parity anymore. I think it would be cool to see Blaney or Riggs or someone like that score a surprise win. Or a pole. It's the same boys every week, we no longer have cinderella. Anyways, I just wanna say that Busch winning is sad, but not surprising. Trust me, even in the chase, there is no stopping him in '08. But in '09. Karma will rear her ugly head on him. 75. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.24.2008 - 1:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah, parity has been non-existant. It is the same people running in the same positions all year. The New Hampshire miracle was the only aberration, and that took divine intervention. None of the mid packers or back markers have shown ANY signs of breaking through. I just think it is ironic that, with the exception of safety, the COT has done the exact opposite of what NASCAR claimed it would do. They said it would reduce costs (they have increased). They said it would help smaller teams compete (they have either shut down or are completely irrelevant). They said it would increase on track racing (that sure as HELL hasn't happened, track position is EVERYTHING, almost zero side by side racing). They said it would bring parity (Hendrick won half the races last year, Gibbs has won half this year). 76. Rad83 posted: 07.25.2008 - 1:24 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) COT is good for absolutely nothing. However let's face it, the old car was worse. Well, at least the last 3 years. '04, 05, and '06 were downright mediocre racing-wise. It was also during those years when cinderella died, off to college football. For all eternity....>) 77. Josh posted: 07.28.2008 - 7:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Front Row Racing's Best Finish as an Owner Ever. Great run for Robby Gordon! Unfortunately, Kyle Busch won. 78. 22Fan posted: 08.02.2008 - 1:58 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think 2001-2003 was the peak for NASCAR parity. In 2001 alone we had 19 different winners and almost everyone had at least a few good runs during the season. The mediocre racing would be tolerable if the outcomes weren't so predictable. FWIW, I think Vickers is an above average driver, but David Ragan is not. Smith is almost embarassingly slow and Menard is consistently medicore (before his pole in this race, he had never qualified higher than 13th, in his entire career). 79. Daniel posted: 05.22.2012 - 11:25 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) In using fastest 43: #66 Scott Riggs & #96 J.J. Yeley Out using fastest 43: #45 Terry Labonte & #77 Sam Hornish Jr. 80. CBASS posted: 01.27.2013 - 7:32 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor updates #41 Polaroid #10 Auto Value Parts Stores #31 AT&T #21 Air Force #01 Dale Earnhardt Inc./ Principal #96 Journey To The Center of the Earth/ DLP #43 Pillsbury Grands! with Cinnabon Cinnamon http://archives.ciastockphoto.com/cgi/images.php?group=w0821 81. joey2448 posted: 02.12.2013 - 6:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I was just re-watching the end of this race, and the Jeff Gordon spin from second position reminds me a lot of the 2002 Daytona 500, when Gordon was spun from the lead by Sterling Marlin on a late race restart, in the same spot on the track - exiting the tri-oval. 82. Anonymous posted: 12.07.2013 - 2:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dario Franchitti was supposed to attempt this race in the 40 Ball Park Franks car but obviously the team shut down on the 1st. 83. Nascar Lead Lap Points posted: 04.24.2014 - 3:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Withdrew 40 Dario Franchitti Ball Park Franks/Target Dodge Felix Sabates 84. Braindead Zombie posted: 05.12.2016 - 10:37 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Every time I watch the end of this race I can't help but laugh at just how perfect the timing is of Kyle Petty saying "that could've been one of those restarts that got people turned" *Gordon gets turned* "just like that!" 85. Mr.Victory posted: 03.27.2018 - 1:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This was the time(for some people, not all) that people started to hate Kyle Busch. 86. Spen posted: 03.27.2018 - 2:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) While I've never considered myself a Kyle "hater", my... distaste for him began sometime in 2006. 87. Mannoroth posted: 03.28.2018 - 7:32 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) 85. Started winning a lot, unintentionally spun Jr. at Richmond - enough to start hating somebody. 88. Anonymous posted: 03.18.2020 - 3:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I could tell when seeing this race I see 5 other cars getting some role in the big one on the last lap I can tell 3 I know were spinning. 89. Lucas posted: 05.06.2020 - 12:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) There has to be more cars involved in the final caution. I'm looking at the footage, I see more in there. Does anyone agree? 90. Jimmie4life posted: 05.06.2020 - 12:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @89 There was more, but the camera angles were absolutely pitiful. They couldn't catch anyone but the initial wreck. 91. Yeet posted: 05.06.2020 - 1:40 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Jon Wood and the #21 team pulled into the garage just one lap into the race to make multiple adjustments to the car for the race. The team put absolutely everything they had into making the race that they were willing to start the race multiple laps down so they can collect the points and the purse. The team lost 11 laps in doing so. You don't see stuff like this anymore. 92. Foote posted: 05.06.2020 - 4:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) How did money get distributed? Why did 29th place Sam Hornish earn more money for this race than 8th place Dale Earnhardt Jr? 93. Yeet posted: 05.06.2020 - 7:59 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @92 it's rather complicated and the exact formula isn't revealed by NASCAR, but in short, there's prize money, and there's contingency money. Prize money is tiered based on positions, and is probably the most simple. For finishing in X place, you get X amount of dollars. It works it's way down the finishing order and gets smaller and smaller. Contingency money is what causes these confusing fluctuations in earnings and is how a car can earn more money than another despite finishing lower. This money is added on top of the purse money and is based on a team's performance in either the year prior and/or the current year. For example, Patrick Carpentier in the #10 ran this race driving for a team that finished 37th in the Owner's Championship in 2007 the year before, while Jeff Burton's team finished 8th in the 2007 standings. So despite Carpentier finishing 14th and Burton finishing 37th in this race, the contingency money was enough for the #31 team to win more money than the #10. 94. guac_is_extra_ posted: 05.06.2020 - 8:33 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I think there was a bonus program which only 3 cars per team could be on. Dale Jr's team was the one that missed out, I think. The 77 team got the owner points of the 2 team before the season, and all bonuses that came with it. See also the 2 team's relatively low prize money. 95. Rich posted: 08.10.2020 - 3:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bill Weber, Wally Dallenbach and Kyle Petty were the commentators. Matt Yocum, Marty Snider, Ralph Sheheen and Lindsay Czarniak were the pit road reporters. Marc Fein and Larry McReynolds were at the NASCAR on TNT pit studio. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: