|| *Comments on the 2008 AMP Energy 500:* View the most recent comment <#142> | Post a comment <#post> 1. Willy on Wheels posted: 10.05.2008 - 8:38 pm Rate this comment: (8) (1) That was complete BS at the end. They should have let Smith keep the win or at least let him keep second. I bet if Smith and Stewart were in each others shoes, Stewart would have kept the win. Shows how the sponsors control the race results Great runs for Menard, Labonte, Riggs, Sadler, Nemecheck, Wallace and Schrader. 2. Clayton posted: 10.05.2008 - 8:41 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) My opinion is that Regan Smith should have won this race. It looked to me that Tony did force Regan under the yellow line and Smith had to avoid a potential accident. The unfortuate and true thing is, that if Dale Jr was in the #01 car, we are arguing why Tony didn't win the race. And that is the fact! Nice runs for Paul Menard, Bobby Labonte, Scott Riggs, Robby Gordon, Joe Nemechek, Kenny Wallace, Ken Schrader and Terry Labonte. 3. Eric M. posted: 10.05.2008 - 8:47 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) No offense to Tony, who clearly had one of the better cars today, but that finish was a mess for two reasons. 1. During the truck race Rick Parsons said passing below the yellow line was legal on the last lap. That precedent was set in Feb 07 with Johnny Benson improving his position by passing below the line at Daytona. 2. Smith was alongside Tony and was forced down below that line. NASCAR says it's okay to be there if you were forced. NASCAR put itself in this no-win situation and deserves all of the criticism they will receive this week. All us fans want is consistency and NASCAR blew it again. 4. Bronco posted: 10.05.2008 - 8:50 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Regan Smith deserved to win this race. He tried to pass Stewart on the outside, got blocked, went to the inside and tried to pass and got blocked again so he was forced to below the yellow line to win. Dale Jr. made a similar below the yellow pass at Talladega in April 2003 against Matt Kenseth and it was allowed. Best ever finish for Menard, best finish for Nemechek driving the 78, Kenny Wallace gets the best finish for the 00, and first top 10 for Riggs this year. Also good runs for both Labontes and Schrader. This was a really exciting race overall, 64 lead changes among 28 drivers. Reminded me a lot of the early 2000s Talladega races. 5. RaceFanX posted: 10.05.2008 - 9:00 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) This race was rigged 6. Dion M posted: 10.05.2008 - 9:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I want to give congrats to Regan Smith, the true winner of the AMP 500. He crossed the line first and the only reason he went below the line was because he was pushed down there...nascar really badly screwed this race up, they need to flip the order around and give Regan his 1st career victory... That is the biggest robbery I have seen in my 8 years of watching NASCAR... 7. Don DeWeese posted: 10.05.2008 - 9:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) How about that? Nascar made the right call by flagging Tony "Smoke" Stewart the winner. It was just like Jim Hunter told the media, there is no "legal" move below the yellow line. Even though Regan Smith refuse to give back the spot that he gained "Illegally" he was the highest finishing rookie with his 18th place finish.And what about the 28 lap leaders? That set an all-time record in NASCAR history of different leaders in a single race. How about Aric Almirola leading not only his first lap at Talladega, but also his first lap in the 4,152 laps that he has run. Don DeWeese www.threewideandsidebyside.com 8. b4il3y posted: 10.05.2008 - 9:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) *sigh* Ok so I guess it's not cool to race anymore..Regan Smith won this damn race. Helton needs to decide whether the line is out of bounds or not on the "if you can see the checkered flag" credo laid down by an official earlier in the season. An underdog has a shot to pull it out and they dog him down to 18th. Don't give me these "its the rules, stop bitching" comments either. If they're gonna be consistent, take Johnny Benson's win away in the NCTS in Feb. at Daytona. Other than that, this was one hell of a race..they at least tied the number of times someone led a lap, and there was lots and lots and lots of lead changes. Considering DEI's position right now, they have no choice to appeal the finish of the race. Anything to at least get a win before the year is out. Lots of drivers had good days today other than the norm. 9. Zeppelin posted: 10.05.2008 - 9:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Regan Smith should have won this race. Tony Stewart FORCED him to pass below the yellow line. 10. Anonymous posted: 10.05.2008 - 9:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Regan Smith won this race. And until NASCAR admits that, I am done watching. 11. #20 (soon to be #14) fan but #48 HATER! posted: 10.05.2008 - 9:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOO TONY FINNALY GOT IT!!!!!!!!!! 12. #20 (soon to be #14) fan but #48 HATER! posted: 10.05.2008 - 10:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Seriously though this was the best race in the last 3 years here are the reasons why: TONY STEWART FINALLY WON @ TALLADEGA!!!! Record # of Lead Changes Almost entire top ten is made up of under dogs (GREAT RUNS FOR: Paul Menard, Bobby Labonte, Scott Riggs, Robby Gordon, & KENNY WALLACE??!!??!!??!!) and as for Regan Smith i have seen a lot of comments on this website about regan smith being under sub par driver and this race shows he is a legit race winner contender now if only he can go to a better race team such as JGR he would actually win a race or two. and i know there is going to be a lot of people who are going to say tony does not deserve this win and that is their opinion but the Nascar rule is clear you CANNOT IMPROVE i repeat IMPROVE YOUR POSITION BELOW THE YELLOW LINE. Smith just made a rookie mistake 13. Bronco posted: 10.05.2008 - 10:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #20 (soon to be #14) fan but #48 HATER! As I said earlier, Dale Jr. passed Kenseth below the yellow in 2003 and they ruled that he was forced down there. Then in 2006 Vickers wrecked Dale Jr. and Johnson and was declared the winner, and in the 2007 Daytona 500 Harvick crossed the finish line first so he was the winner. So if it comes down to whoever crosses the line first, the win should go to Smith. If Tony hadn't blocked his outside pass, he would never have had to go below the line. 14. Woodbridge posted: 10.05.2008 - 10:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) As a Tony Stewart fan, Smith deserved the win. And... Travis Kvapil probably would've had a Top 5 if it wasn't for him getting taken out in The Big One. He ALMOST made it through before Edwards clipped him... ugh... Kvapil will win in the #28 car before all is said and done. Kvapil was in the top 10 for almost the entire race until the crash. 15. Patrick posted: 10.05.2008 - 10:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) good race but Regan Smith got screwed out of a win. one of possibly the few chances he may get at a win considering DEI may possibly go down to 3 teams next year. Tony forced him down the the yellow line. Tony got lucky today damn lucky. but it is what it is and Nascar gave it's self another black eye today. 16. WillG_46 posted: 10.05.2008 - 10:57 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Tony's gonna have a big huge * next to this win. 17. Zed_3_88fan4eva posted: 10.05.2008 - 11:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I personally think Regan was force below the yellow line......but I thought I heard in the truck race yesterday that passing below the yellow line in the tri-oval on the final lap was legal?????. But I think Regan got screwed out of at least 2nd. None the less great run for Regan and alot of others. Also this was a great race....definatley a fun race to watch with all those lead changes....so all the COT and Plate track critics can just shut up. Also I think this was the first time that Chevy failed to win at Talladega or Daytona in a season...correct me if im wrong. Anyway great race....oh and what in the hell was Edwards thinking???? 18. Darrell posted: 10.05.2008 - 11:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I like Tony, but c'mon, Regan deserved it more. Lost in the finish was Carl Edwards driving like an idiot (as usual) and taking out half of the field. 19. Dodge posted: 10.05.2008 - 11:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) CANNOT IMPROVE i repeat IMPROVE YOUR POSITION BELOW THE YELLOW LINE. Smith just made a rookie mistake #20 (soon to be #14) fan but #48 HATER! Also a rule. If you intentionally block someone that has a run on you, you are SUPPOSED, I repeat, INTENTIONALLY BLOCK SOMEONE WHO HAS A RUN, that too is supposed to be a pass thru penalty. 20. rules posted: 10.06.2008 - 12:21 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The yellow line rule comes into debate as to what NASCAR considers "getting forced down there". All too often, a driver will actually improve position after getting blocked below the yellow line, whether it's a close call or not. During the spring Talladega race, Kyle Busch wasn't penalized because he was "forced below", but he had as much nose on Jimmie Johnson as Regan did on Tony Stewart. I wish Regan had just kept high above Tony... he probably would have beat him to the line. 21. samfan08 posted: 10.06.2008 - 12:41 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) NASCAR put themselves in a major no win situation, and no matter what call they made it would have been inconsistent. Start back in 02 or 03. Kenny Wallace finishes 6th at Talladega, ends up 25th because he was forced below the line on the last lap and passed someone. Then in 2003, Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes a pass for the win under the yellow line(questionable whether he was forced or not), and they let him keep the win. Then the Daytona truck race that a few people have already mentoned. Personally, I think they made the wrong call and I consider Regan Smith to be the winner of this race. I could have accepted the decision they made if they had just been more consistent in the past. If they aren't going to be consistent with this rule, then they might as well just get rid of it and let them actually race. 22. WDN posted: 10.06.2008 - 1:08 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I noticed that during the red flag the Greg Biffle team was working on the car in the garage after the last major crash, while Richard Childress was seen keeping the Kevin Harvick team away from the car. So where are the NASCAR officials when you need them? I believe that if a NASCAR official is assigned to a car or a car's pit stall, then the official should follow the car to the garage while it is being worked on, especially during red flags to avoid rules infractions. 23. Biffrey posted: 10.06.2008 - 1:29 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) the rule is... if you pass below the line due to being forced down, you are fine... as long as you drop back where you were. Plain and simple. It's a rule mainly meant to stop guys from going way below the line and popping back up and taking everybody out, and not for the type of thing that happened in this race. Still, it was stupid. Just like Jeff Gordon said, even Stewart would tell you that Smith should have held his spot and spun Smoke out and he would have been fine. 24. Brock Beard posted: 10.06.2008 - 1:30 am Rate this comment: (3) (0) Regan Smith was robbed, plain and simple. I love how Tony didn't get penalized for forcing Regan down, but Regan gets penalized for going below the line as a result. Stewart should've had the decency to tell NASCAR to give Smith the win, rather than make a stink about "the yellow line." Reminds me of when Kenny Wallace was forced below the line in the late stages of the 2002 Aaron's 499 and, after getting penalized, he said that he knew he'd finished 5th, and that was all that mattered. It's not Regan's fault Stewart hasn't won anything all year, much less that he'd finished 2nd at 'Dega those six times. None of that should've had any bearing on how that all played out. He got beat and, even when they said the win was his, he should've done the right thing. Congratulations, Regan "Sleek and Swift" Smith! 25. Brett posted: 10.06.2008 - 2:06 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Even though Regan Smith should of won. This was a awsome race! Totally better drafting at Dega than the past years. ALOT more lead passes alot more leaders. Good race for DEI racing. Good finish for Burton. Hope he wins championship. 26. Ryan posted: 10.06.2008 - 2:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) real shame, I'm pretty objective to these races and I really dont have a favorite out there, but Regan Smith won this race, he should have just went ahead and wrecked Tony for blocking like that. I can see both sides of it, but the rules are supposed to be as followed. You can not run someone underneath the yellow line like Tony did nor improve your position by going underneath the yellow line, the reason smith went under was because he was ran underneath or forced. Nascar blew this one. DEI hasn't had to much to brag about these days, but hey should have today. I dont like Teresa Earnhardt, but if I was her I would threaten Nascar that she was going to pull out and go to a real series like Indy where they are consistently good with rules. I was fan of Jim Hunter until today. He used to have honor and be classy, but he has turned into a real suck since he became employeed with Nascar. Take a look at yourself in the mirror Jim, and think about what you have became. 27. Josh20 posted: 10.06.2008 - 2:40 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I happy for Tony but Regan had it. To me its 50-50. I'm not defending NASCAR by any means but you can't pass below the yellow line. No matter what. That call was 50-50. NASCAR couldn't win no matter what call they made. Tony wins, you have what is going on now, if Regan won, its the other way around but not as bad because alot of people dislike Tony. Either way, NASCAR is in a hole. 28. John Royal posted: 10.06.2008 - 3:26 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Great race! Im so happy for Tony Stewart, finally getting it done this year and first time in Dega. Greg Zipadelli even cried in postrace interview. These guys will be missing each other really bad after this year. Stewart is so big hearted racer, I love to see him win. Every win is huge for him. I wont comment on should he won it or not, but dropping Smith to 18th position is too harsh. Interesting note, only 45 qualifiers for this race. Usually restictor plate races are full of people to trying to get in because the nature of the races. Could this be some sign of the economic state of NASCAR and USA? Are we going to see smaller fields than 43 in some races next year? 29. Shane posted: 10.06.2008 - 4:03 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Regan Smitrh won this race. He was forced out. I don't care if it was against my favorite driver or my hated rival. Rules are rules. I feel the same as one of the others that NASCAR threw consistency out the window. Not saying it was rigged or anything, just saying that NASCAR did the wrong thing. When NASCAR realizes they screwed up, but won't be giving Smith his due #2 spot. I'm ok with taking away the win. Its messed up but its over and the fans deserve to see an outcome right then and there. But Smith should be put back to #2 becuase NASCAR blew the rule and he probably wouldn't have passed down there on the last lap if they said he would get penalized. Another disappointing controversy. 30. Anonymous posted: 10.06.2008 - 7:02 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Regan Smith career wins: 1 31. Ambrose_fan posted: 10.06.2008 - 8:02 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) NASCAR has set a precedent. Causing wrecks is ok. Regan Smith decided against causing an accident and was penalized for it. If he was to have wrecked Tony Stewart, he would've been given the win. Now IMO, both of these things are wrong. NASCAR is the only series in the world in which a driver can wreck another car and not have to worry about getting a penalty (they still hand them out, but very rarely. If this was any other series, the incident with the #16 and #99 would've been under serious review). So basically in NASCAR's eyes, safety means nothing and when a driver makes a move with safety in mind, hte is punished. Disgraceful. 32. DaleJrFan17 posted: 10.06.2008 - 8:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Okay this is complete and utter BS. The officials said they didnt feel as though Smith was forced below the line. Excuse me? wHAT THE HELL ARE THEY SMOKING? tHIS IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER MADE BY ASSCAR! Way to go Fatty Fatty Two By Four, cant fit through a kitchen door for forcing your way to a win. 33. Pork Rind posted: 10.06.2008 - 10:23 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I may as well be a broken record too and repeat the same line. I think Regan Smith had 2 choices. 1. Go below the yellow line. 2. Hold fast and cause a huge wreck. I think he should have been declared the winner of the race. I am a Jeff Gordon fan, and I do like Tony Stewart, which a lot of people think is impossible. That being said, I think it should have been a Smith win, not a Stewart win. Oh well, life goes on. Bye. 34. Rusty posted: 10.06.2008 - 11:12 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) From jayski: Below yellow line at Daytona/Talladega OK on last lap: Drivers throughout the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series garage were still talking about last week's three-wide finish at Daytona International Speedway. While they admitted the finish was good for television, most wondered why NASCAR allowed Johnny Benson to drive below the yellow line - Daytona's out of bounds line - to jump from third to second in the final 200 yards. Benson wasn't penalized because "if you can see the checkered flag on the last lap, anything goes," according to NASCAR spokesman Owen Kearns.(Augusta Chronicle)(2-24-2007) Really NASCAR? What utter BULL! Regan Smith was robbed. But since he won't sell as much "AMP Energy 500 Winner" t-shirts and hats as Tony Stewart then he must be punished! 35. Baker posted: 10.06.2008 - 11:35 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Nascar and there bogus debris cautions have stolen enough wins from Tony Stewart so they owe him one. He won it fair anyway Regan made a move and Stewart blocked it so Regan kept driving down and ended up below the yellow line. You're all bias Hendrick, DEI and Roush lovers anyway. Everyone hates Joe Gibbs. They're the underdog ever single week because no one likes them. Screw that. Stewart finally won so the Season is not a 100% waste of garbage... ...just 99% garbage because JJ is still the luckiest pile of crap ever. He can't drive a lick and wins everything because of superior cars, team, crew chief and bogus luck. Way to go Carl Edwards just bow down to Jimmie Johnson, crown him king and hand him the trophy why don't you. 36. DaleSrFanForever posted: 10.06.2008 - 1:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Wow! You guys all beat me to it. Regan Smith won. Period. That is just NASCAR at its "finest". You guys are all right (except 20 soon to be 14 fan). The precedent has been set if the rules were fair. Regan Smith won this race. But unfortunately another precedent has been set: star treatment (and yes that includes Dale Sr). It has already been said by you guys: if the roles were reversed or if Dale Jr were in that car, it would have been different. The yellow line rule is stupid anyways. If it is a "safety issue" then you shouldn't be allowed under anyways, forced or not. That is a stupid rule by NASCAR. But it did exactly what it was designed to do, let NASCAR dictate the outcome. And they did. THIS is why fans are leaving this sport. It has become incredibly frustrating to keep up with. 37. CatintheHat9917 posted: 10.06.2008 - 1:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) After watching this "illegal" pass by Regan Smith more than a few times (love those DVR's) it seems to me that he didn't actually get ahead of Tony until AFTER he moved back on the track. The pass was only begun below the line. Dunno if this makes any difference to anyone here but I do know one thing. NASCAR will never do anything about it and will stonewall forever and a day. The Johnny Benson's and Tony Stewart's will always get the benefit of close decisions over the Colin Braun's and Regan Smith's of the world. Such is life. 38. daniel posted: 10.06.2008 - 2:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tony won and get your haircut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 39. hyltonfan58 posted: 10.06.2008 - 2:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Regan won this race. Plain and simple. I'm about ready to stop watching NASCAR, and I'll tell you this. We just canceled our plans to go to Martinsville next year. I will never give my money to an organization that would screw a young driver out of a win just because Ten Ton Tony Stewart is more marketable and has more sponsors behind him. If I want to see a stock car race, I'll go to an ARCA race. 40. kirkyal posted: 10.06.2008 - 3:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What an awesome race!! Smith should have at least kept 2nd if not 1st! NASCAR seriously knows how to shoot themselves in the foot! 41. Jake posted: 10.06.2008 - 3:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Regan Smith won the race in the truck race broadcast they said passing below the yellow line on the last lap is legal so he should have gotten the win not Tony Stewart. I guess nascar just has favorites. 42. samfan08 posted: 10.06.2008 - 5:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "You're all bias Hendrick, DEI and Roush lovers anyway. Everyone hates Joe Gibbs. They're the underdog ever single week because no one likes them." Ever think some of us aren't biased towards any of the teams in question and we just actually believe that NASCAR f'd up? For the record, I am a Hornish fan. A Smith win or 2nd place would have pretty much wrapped up rookie of the year for Regan. Yet, I still think he was screwed. Why? Because he was, plain and simple. 43. Tony Fan posted: 10.06.2008 - 5:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Regan Smith Wins: 0!! Anyone remember the famous 2001 Pepsi 400 at Daytona? You Junior fans should, because he wouldn't have won quite so easily if Tony hadn't been black flagged for getting pushed down below the yellow line. And where did Tony finish that day? Last car on the lead lap. Hmmn... Very interesting.... 44. Critic posted: 10.06.2008 - 7:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If Smith had held his ground and not moved to the left and below the yellow line, Stewart would have not only taken himself out, but caused another large accident while doing it. I think what Smith did is far more preferable -- and legal -- but as NASCAR has all but abandoned its illusion of legitimacy, such is life. NASCAR's back pedaling now can't change the precedent set with the Benson finish last year or the statement by Owen Kearns that "if you can see the checkered flag, you can do anything". The underlying problem is that NASCAR as an institution has placed entertainment value above its own credibility. They recognize who transcends the sport -- Stewart, Gordon, and Johnson just to name a few -- and who is, quite literally, at NASCAR's whim. They reward those who faithfully support NASCAR's interests and will not hesitate to make life more difficult for those who don't. When it suits them or benefits the above privileged, they are willing to be flexible. Smith is not a name, certainly doesn't have the following or importance of a Stewart, and could disappear next week without a second thought from many. In this context, NASCAR's decision is understandable, though no more correct or just; in fact, it illustrates where NASCAR has gone wrong. Until they attempt to rectify their reputation as a form of motor sport rather than a form of entertainment with motor racing as a platform, NASCAR's decline will continue. Couple this with the current economic climate and the American auto manufacturer situation and we may be looking at a sport on the verge of a major turning point. The management in Daytona can either recognize where they have erred and make efforts to improve, or can continue to run the sport into the ground until it is no longer worth an iota of attention. The World Rally Championship experienced a similar growth boom at the start of this decade and even looked like it might have a chance at attracting an audience away from a flailing Formula One. Today, it is completely irrelevant and on the verge of losing all manufacturer involvement next year. It could happen to NASCAR, too. 45. Mr. Big posted: 10.06.2008 - 7:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Regan Smith was ROBBED. Just shows how NASCAR loves to protect their golden boys. Still, the best race so far this year IMO. It was the most exciting race I've seen in quite a while. 46. Anonymous posted: 10.06.2008 - 7:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Regan is a class act, had that happened to me Tony's car would have been hauled into victory lane on the rollback Regan Smith just rightfully won a ton of new fans. 47. Anonymous0 posted: 10.06.2008 - 8:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tony Fan, first of all i'd like to congratulate you on the win yesterday seeing as how you seem to be bitter 7 years later about a race you think he should of won. Second of all,Tony never answered the black flag that night,so I don't know how Jr fans should remember it to be a race he shouldn't won so easily. And finally Tony has won 2 July Daytona races since then,so why does that still matter now. 48. Bronco posted: 10.06.2008 - 9:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tonyfan, Tony made his below the yellow pass at Daytona in 2001 with 5 laps to go, when the checkers were not in sight. The statement from NASCAR after the Feb. 2007 Daytona truck race was that when the checkers are out anything goes. Regan made his pass right in front of the flag stand and got penalized. I hope Regan appears on Trackside soon and that he rips NASCAR to shreds because that is what they deserve. I also hope he lands a sponsor and is able to race for years to come. 49. relantel posted: 10.06.2008 - 10:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What gets me is the gall of Jim Hunter on behalf of NASCAR, in claiming that Smith was not forced down by Stewart. Even ESPN's less than perfect broadcast showed the video, which included a close up of the damage on Stewart's left rear quarterpanel from the contact made during the force-down! If ever there was a need to enforce the penalty for the force-down, this was it. Either you penalize them both, in which case Paul Menard is the winner, or you penalize none, in which case the official finish order is as they crossed the line. I don't like NASCAR saying one thing on Saturday, and acting the opposite on Sunday. It is quite clear that the yellow line rule has nothing to do with safety, as in their ruling, they have all but endorsed, as Greg Biffle said on TWIN tonight, the driver being pinched to hold his position and wreck the entire field. Way to go NASCAR. 50. casey14 posted: 10.07.2008 - 12:30 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Best finish for #78 team, nearly the first top ten for the team which started running full time in 2006. 51. Willy on Wheels posted: 10.07.2008 - 1:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think whoever crosses the finish line first wins. No technicality BS, and no sponsors fixing races anymore. 52. DaleSrFanForever posted: 10.07.2008 - 1:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Critic, you said it best of all. The yellow line rule is what it is, something NASCAR can use to manipulate the outcome of races, and that is just plain wrong. I watch NASCAR to see "competition" and a "sport". When I want to watch "entertainment", I watch a movie or a TV show. I want to see the deserving guy win the race, and NASCAR robbed us of that in this race. Why watch NASCAR for "entertainment" when we can watch actual entertaiment outlets do it 1,000,000 times better? Besides, a Regan Smith win would have been great for the buzz around NASCAR, just a little less great for their wallet. The Cinderella story is what we love. How improbable would a Regan win have been? They have struggled really bad all year. To see them get a win would have been spectacular, but no, we get the same old same old. Just look at college football. NASCAR would have never let App State beat Michigan last year, denying a great story. They would never let Vanderbilt, long a SEC doormat, be undefeated and a serious contender. They would make sure the most popular schools were always on top. Their top 5 would always be Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, USC, and Miami. And college football would be nowhere near as popular as it is today. Even better, look at baseball. How cool is it to see Tampa Bay, one of the most pathetic franchises ever with a horrible stadium, not only be respectable for the first time, but a legitimate World Series contender. NASCAR would be sure that the Yankees and Red Sox would be in the ALCS every year. NASCAR keeps robbing us of these storylines every year, and it is a damn shame!! 53. DaleSrFanForever posted: 10.07.2008 - 1:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And yes, if Jim Hunter thinks Regan wasn't forced, he needs a new pair of glasses. They know what they have done, and should be unable to look at themselves in the mirror. 54. DaleSrFanForever posted: 10.07.2008 - 1:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I just figured it out!! I was posting a comment on Regan's driver page, and I went to nascar.com to see what NASCAR's official sponsors are (I knew Home Depot and Coke were), and check out some that are on the list. The Home Depot (Official Home Improvement Warehouse) Coca-Cola (Official Soft Drink) Toyota (Official Partner/Manufacturer) Sirius (Official Satellite Radio Partner of NASCAR) current sponsors Old Spice (Official Antiperspirant & Deodorant) current and future sponsor Office Depot (Official Office Supply/Products Provider) next year's sponsor I get it now. 55. The Ost posted: 10.07.2008 - 3:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Great race! Shame about the results, Regan Smith either finished 1st or 2nd. How they came up with 18th is beyond me. 56. Rusty posted: 10.07.2008 - 4:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Good post DaleSrFanForever, NASCAR just cares about their wallets and making sure their big name drivers are winning so their fans are happy and buying merchandise and watching. Thank god it's football season, I've already spent the last five Sundays watching the NFL rather than watch a Jimmie Johnson threepeat. 57. Dodge posted: 10.07.2008 - 6:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Not to change the subject, but Patrick Carpentier's last attempt with Gillett-Evernham. 58. Baker posted: 10.07.2008 - 10:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) JGR haters plain and simple. Tony Stewart has more driving talent in 1 hand than most of these scrubs in the series today. You're all cranky just because Junior, DEI, or some other media darling didn't win the race. Can it. Tony Stewart won the race by staying within the rules given... ...ya know just like JGR built engines within the rules given, but Nascar had to take that away from them too. 59. Critic posted: 10.07.2008 - 11:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) No one is talking about Regan Smith's natural ability or how it might compare with Tony Stewart's, because it is wholly irrelevant to this argument. Superspeedway racing has nothing to do with talent and everything to do with anticipation, timing, preparation and that intrinsic element of luck. Is Regan Smith a "media darling"? Is Tony Stewart? No, to both. But in spite of his media reputation, Stewart also commands a significant presence, influence and following within the sport. Given a choice in the matter, NASCAR is going to favor Stewart over Smith. That is a dead-cert. They were forced to make a judgment call on Sunday. Rather than make the correct decision, the view expressed by Owen Kearns and the one supported by NASCAR since, they went with the decision that best suited them on Sunday. Between NASCAR's inconsistency and the abject, transparent favoritism on display Sunday, I do not see how you can take umbrage at anyone's frustration. I understand you may be a Tony Stewart fan, but I also ask you to recognize where the rest of us are coming from. Many of us understand that a motor racing body must have accountability, consistency, and legitimacy, all tenets that NASCAR has allowed to erode over the past decade. Sunday's finish has only provided a convenient outlet for expression and discussion of these points. 60. Willy on Wheels posted: 10.08.2008 - 7:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm not a Tony hater. I am a Kyle Busch hater. But I think Regan Smith deserved to win this race. 61. KEVIN posted: 10.08.2008 - 9:16 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Look at the replay, Tony Stewart pushed Smith under the yellow line. Smith won the race. I think Stewart did a chicken s*** move to win this race. I lost so much respect for Stewart. He knows he forced Smith down. The first thing you hear Stewart say,"he passed below the yellow line". What a big baby. NASCAR needs to do what is right and give the win to Smith. If Smith did not go down there would have been a huge wreck! SMITH WON THIS RACE. 62. Rusty posted: 10.08.2008 - 10:29 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) NASCAR said after last year's truck race at Daytona that if you can see the checkers you can go bellow the yellow line.....but rules only apply to those who are not big name drivers I guess. NASCAR writes their rulebook in pencil, everything always changes every week..... 63. JGRFriend posted: 10.08.2008 - 3:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) Hey, I'm not sure if this was mentioned yet, but I'll say it anyway. For those of you still whining and crying over Stewart beating Smith, get over it! I am a Stewart fan (have been since he qualified 2nd to 'Wonder Boy' in the '99 500), but I do like and respect what Smith has done with the underfunded and little appreciated #01 team. He deserves Rookie of the Year over the hotshots from open wheel (that were supposedly going to take NASCAR by storm), but he doesn't deserve to win that race. It isn't because the call is right, it's because the call that NASCAR made IS CONSISTENT with the call in the 2001 Pepsi 400 at Daytona where Tony Stewart (wearing the other shoe), was forced below the yellow line by Johnny Benson (a lot like Tony did to Regan) and NASCAR penalized Tony, taking a top 10 finish and turning it into a 26th place finish (last on the lead lap). In both cases the drivers that were penalized would have been better off wrecking the blocking car, or at least let out of the gas when forced below the yellow line. I don't like the rule because it's not perfectly clear, and it creates stupid situations like this, but it is necessary for safety. In the end I don't agree with either call, but they were consistent. NASCAR just needs to tweak it and revise the rules (AGAIN) to help eliminate these situations. One last thing DON'T BLAME TONY STEWART, he just did what he was supposed to, to try and win the race! He did exactly what anyone else would have done in that situation, plus he doesn't write or enforce the rules. NASCAR does, blame them! Thank You 64. Rad83 posted: 10.08.2008 - 5:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) Regan Smith did not win this race. He is an untalented driver. I'm happy he didn't win. Espiically after hearing hi whining. 65. Bronco posted: 10.08.2008 - 5:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) JGRFriend, I think I have stated this before but I will say it again. Tony made his pass on Johnny Benson or whoever when there were 5 laps remaining in the race. Regan made his pass right in front of the start finish line when the checkers were in sight. He did this because the precedent had been set after the Feb 2007 Daytona truck race that anything goes on the last lap. Tony made his pass to gain some on ground on Dale Jr. the leader while Regan made his pass while going for the win. So the two situations are not alike. NASCAR needs to throw this yellow line rule out the door. You can enforce pit road speed, you can enforce minimum heights for cars, pressure in the shocks etc. but you cannot realistically enforce the idiotic yellow line rule. If they were really concerned about safety they would kick Goodyear out of the sport because we saw their crappy tires wreck at least 10-12 cars and send one to the hospital. 66. DaleSrFanForever posted: 10.08.2008 - 8:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Anyone who thinks Tony would have won the 2001 Pepsi 400 either wasn't paying very close attention at the time or has forgotten about it. Dale Jr led 116 of 160 laps and could lead at will. Not only that, he had the only car that could stay up front, amazing considering this was the era of wicker bills and roof strips. It was such a transcendently great car, many competitors were whispering that it was fixed, which considering this is NASCAR isn't out of the realm of possibility. Tony wasn't winning that race. Period. If you disagree, you are wrong. Look, Tony is a winner and a champion, we know that. He should have won a few other races this year. This isn't about him, this is about NASCAR and their intentionally inconsistent rulings which have taken credibility away from this sport. Regan did the exact same thing Dale Jr did at Talladega in 2003 and Johnny Benson did at Daytona in 2007. Each time they were cleared by NASCAR. NASCAR designed this rule so that they could do precisely what they did in this race, decide themselves who the winner is, not on the track. this is one of the many reasons long time fans are totally disgusted with NASCAR currently and short time fans have abandoned us altogether. 67. Baker posted: 10.09.2008 - 3:02 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) You people are all full of BS excuses arent you? 1) I never said Regan Smith was a media darling. DEI the company he drives for, yes they are. 2) Its Nascar's fault Tony Stewart or any other driver has to drive the way they do at these tracks. Don't driver hate the bogus rules and equipment Nascar has supplied them with. Seriously this car is a joke. Restrictor play tracks the leader is just a sitting duck and any other track the leader is impossible to pass because of aero garbage. Nascar is failing with this car Goodyear is failing with their tires because of this garbage car. Put the driver back in the car...raise the car 7-8 inches off the ground and make the driver drive...its what his is payed to do right?...right now its all too depended on the equipment your team can provid you rather than your actually talent. That is a joke. 68. DaleJrFan17 posted: 10.09.2008 - 8:58 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Shut up Baker, Tony Forced him, Smith deserved the win. They should make the tagline for NASCAR: "Money defeats Merit" 69. Kevin posted: 10.09.2008 - 9:20 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) This is for all you Stewart fans, if the roles were reversed and it was Smith who push Stewart down, and Stwart made the pass and had the win taken away, it would have been world war III. Noah would have to build another Arch because the tears would have flooded the world. And you Stewart fans know it's true. Stewart would have been screaming in the radio, Smith pushed me down there and I should have won, I going to have my Kyle Busch fit and cry!!! 70. New88Fan posted: 10.09.2008 - 4:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Guess I might as well join fray.... Yes,the yellow line rule is screwed up.NASCAR only came up with it after Big E died at Daytona in '01 cause everyone was worried about safety and junk.Also...neither Tony Stewart or Regan Smith are to blame in this...Tony was protecting his lead,and Regan did what he had to to get the win.If he had let off or worse try to come up it would of been a huge ass wreck. That said...I believe Tony deserves the win,but Smith should of been allowed to keep 2nd,kicking him back to 18th is complete and utter BS.And where did NASCAR get that "if you can see the checkered flag on the last lap, anything goes," crap...COME ON!!!! If Benson could get away with it in the Truck race than Smith by all means should of been rewarded the win at least then they would of been consistent. But like just about everyone here said this is one of the main reasons why fans are so pissed out NASCAR because of f***ed up calls like this. 71. Mamorese posted: 10.09.2008 - 5:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) While you all may have made good points, have you ever once stopped to think about a certain key fact in all of this? Nobody cares about NASCAR. Like seriously, nobody cares. If a botched call like this was made in the NFL or MLB, the media would be all over it. But since its NASCAR, nobody cares. So don't think its ever gonna change, because it won't. Open your eyes, aside from a few million people who watch races every weekend, nobody cares about NASCAR, so don't act like fans and media are going to publicly call them out. Not to mention, the only media coverage I've heard is people praising NASCAR's call this weekend. Oh by the way, if you are all really as angry as you say you are, you better as hell not be one of the first to tune in to this week's race. 72. Kit posted: 10.09.2008 - 11:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Mamorese, I hardly ever hear about botched calls in the NFL and MLB outside of ESPN. Your argument doesn't hold weight. Nobody cares about botched calls except fans of that particular sport, period, and I don't mean casual fans. 73. Baker posted: 10.09.2008 - 11:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) because they made the right call. Regan looked low Stewart blocked it so Regan keep going lower ala past the yellow line. JGR haters need to shut their trap's! Nascar has screwed JGR more than they have ever made a call giving them a win just because of their name, sponsers or money. 74. Neal posted: 10.10.2008 - 1:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Not winning the race may be a blessing in disguise for Regan when you consider the list of drivers who won their first (and only) race at Talladega: 1969 - Richard Brickhouse 1973 - Dick Brooks 1978 - Lennie Pond 1981 - Ron Bouchard 1986 - Bobby Hillin, Jr. 1988 - Phil Parsons 2006 - Brian Vickers 75. kirkyal posted: 10.18.2008 - 10:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Awesome race! Loved every minute of it! NASCAR probably got the Smith call right at the end but it was a typical NASCAR rulebook mis-understanding which frankly messes races up too often! Would have been cracking to have seen Smith win! Good day for DEI and Scott Riggs! 76. 18fan posted: 10.20.2008 - 3:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) All this is bs. If Regan stayed with the outside move he would have won the race. The Ganassi cars both ran well and had a chance at top tens when dumbass Edwards bumpdrafts Biffle in the corner and causes a massive wreck. Then Blaney acts like an idiot and takes out Kyle, Harvick, Sorenson, Montoya, and Kvapil. Kyle had a better run in this race than when he won, coming from 37th and led 20 laps. Harvick called Edwards a pansy for riding in the back and not drafting which led to Edwards attacking him at Charlotte. 77. Alex posted: 11.06.2008 - 7:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) REGAN SMITH WON THIS RACE!!!!!!!!!! 78. 18fan posted: 11.20.2008 - 11:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hopefully NASCAR brings back the same package from this race to the Daytona 500. Denny Hamlin had a hard shot into the outside wall while leading 79. Anonymous posted: 11.29.2008 - 3:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Mike Wallace had a great run in a 4th RCR car, the #33 RealTree Chevy. He actually pulled into the lead briefly before a blown tire wrecked the car's aerodynamics. He could have won this race if not for those problems 80. Phat posted: 12.13.2008 - 9:28 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Most likely Petty Enterprises last ever top ten 81. hyltonfan08 posted: 12.24.2008 - 11:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If NASCAR wants to say Regan cheated, fine. I don't agree with it, but fine. So take his points away, fine him, make him sit out the next race, whatever. But NEVER, EVER take a man's win away! The person who crosses the finish line first is the winner, no matter what means they use to do it. Taking away wins was a practice that was abandoned in the 1950s, and we do not want to go down this road again. 82. Mike Daly posted: 01.25.2009 - 3:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) One of the greatest races ever but one of the worst officiated finishes ever. 83. Anonymous posted: 03.05.2009 - 6:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This was Terry Labonte's 700th career lead lap finish. 84. SMIFF_99 posted: 04.11.2009 - 11:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "...just 99% garbage because JJ is still the luckiest pile of crap ever. He can't drive a lick and wins everything because of superior cars, team, crew chief and bogus luck." Thank you, thank you, thank you, Baker. I thought I was the only person in the world who thought this. If I thought the guy had any talent, I'd give him credit. But from what I can tell, 60-75% of his wins have either come from pit strategy, someone else's bad luck, or straight up 'help' from Nascar (see 2008 Brickyard 400). 85. Critic posted: 04.26.2009 - 6:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) NASCAR wanted Regan Smith to do exactly what Brad Keselowski did today; look at what the result might have been. As I did last October, I still firmly believe what Smith did was far more legal, safe, and preferable. 86. jp posted: 05.22.2009 - 9:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) REGAN WON THIS RACE!!! I'm a Tony Stewart fan, but I swear Regan won this race. Those goons are nothing but a bunch of airheads. REGAN WON!!! 87. NASCARfan4life posted: 10.09.2009 - 11:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) smiff, Jimmie has only won 1 race because of fuel (phoenix 2008) he has lost all of the others like michigan this year. And you don't beat 42 other people without talent and he has done it three straight years. And when does he ever wreck himself other than restrictor plate tracks? 88. AndyS posted: 10.28.2009 - 10:35 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Lost in all of the above is how Edwards' error took out himself and Biffle (and lots of other guys) and gave JJ a nice cushion in points after this race. Not insurmountable, but a nearly 60 point swing. 89. Willy on Wheels posted: 11.13.2009 - 8:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tony Stewart won this race and the Lions are a good football team. 90. jr88fan posted: 12.15.2009 - 2:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 74. Neal posted: 10.10.08 - 1:51 pm Not winning the race may be a blessing in disguise for Regan when you consider the list of drivers who won their first (and only) race at Talladega: 1969 - Richard Brickhouse 1973 - Dick Brooks 1978 - Lennie Pond 1981 - Ron Bouchard 1986 - Bobby Hillin, Jr. 1988 - Phil Parsons 2006 - Brian Vickers cross Vickers off 91. Josh posted: 06.14.2010 - 11:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Because of this race, Johnson was "given" another championship. 92. Jim posted: 07.05.2010 - 11:49 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Tony's only Cup win in the Toyota. I don't think he was ever too thrilled to drive that make. 93. Madison posted: 08.22.2010 - 1:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Regan Smith picks up his first win, and Menard and Ragan get their career best finishes of 3rd and 4th. 94. Smokefan05 posted: 08.27.2010 - 7:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Paul Menard won this one. 95. AutoRockinRacing94 posted: 09.29.2010 - 10:09 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Regan Smith...forever a winner at Talladega....end of story PERIOD! Tony blocked him and forced him there and that's that. Worst call in motorsports ever, joins the ranks of Armando Gallagarra, the Phillies/Marlins inccident, and the Calvin Johnson TD in Week 1 of 2010. 96. Currently Watching... posted: 04.14.2011 - 5:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ...the replay of the 2008 Amp Energy 500 on SPEED. The Big One just occurred on Lap 175 and this is setting up to be an amazing finish! I wonder who will win this time? 97. 18fan posted: 07.03.2011 - 2:41 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) One of my favorite races I have ever watched. I recorded it on DVR and watched it at least 10 times after it happened. 98. beau posted: 09.10.2011 - 3:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) well, now that smith has a win that nascar didn't cheat him out of, we can forget about this debacle. 99. Evan posted: 09.21.2011 - 10:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It takes Stewart at least 30 races to win in a Toyota in which is IMO probably his worst season on the Cup tour besides 06 where he fails to make the Chase but still win 5 times. I understand now why he won the race but I hated the results of this. JGR was moving things over to Kyle Busch's side of the shop and making him a frontrunner so, Tony an ever-loyal Chevy supporter took his act to the Bowtie Brigade once again after this year. Still Tony is the best driver Gibbs ever had along with Bobby Labonte and Dale Jarrett. Still he did not look good driving Toyotas and he knew what he was gonna do at the end, even though the media pestered him about it for several weeks early in the season. 100. Daniel posted: 05.22.2012 - 11:33 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) In using fastest 43: #10 Patrick Carpentier & #77 Sam Hornish Jr. Out using fastest 43: #7 Robby Gordon & #38 David Gilliland 101. Spen posted: 06.19.2012 - 12:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) This was Mike Wallace's career best qualifying run. And the first time he'd qualified in the top ten since 1995... 102. Ed posted: 08.19.2012 - 10:30 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Just look at college football. NASCAR would have never let App State beat Michigan last year, denying a great story. They would never let Vanderbilt, long a SEC doormat, be undefeated and a serious contender. They would make sure the most popular schools were always on top. Their top 5 would always be Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, USC, and Miami. And college football would be nowhere near as popular as it is today. " You forgot Penn State bro. They pack 120,000 into a stadium that's supposed to only seat 105,000. And I guarantee they will again this year in spite of the Sandusky scandal. 103. b4il3y posted: 11.14.2012 - 10:52 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) #58 Baker You must've been watching some other race dude... Nascar robs the kid of a win. 104. b4il3y posted: 12.25.2012 - 4:34 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Nice precedent set in this race. The next year, Brad K WOULD wreck the hell out of Carl, almost kill a fan, and Brad K wins. Smith doesn't wreck Tony, and gets the shaft. Lesson learned for Regan. He'll win the Nationwide Series in 2013 and make everyone take notice. 105. CBASS posted: 01.28.2013 - 7:35 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor updates #41 Target/ Memorex #96 DLP HDTV/ CompUSA.com #31 AT&T #21 Ford-Motorcraft #33 Chevrolet Driven to the Outdoors/ Realtree http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/photos/main-gallery/?s=5&y=2008&r=3216 106. Kidattheend posted: 05.07.2013 - 8:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Why did they make Regan finish 18th? Last time I checked you only have to give your position back at which point he was in 2nd. At least he won Darlington! 107. The Long Shot posted: 07.12.2013 - 1:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The first NASCAR race I ever watched. Man, was it a good one! I hate that Regan got screwed over by NASCAR, but at least he redeemed himself by winning at Darlington in 2011. Sterling Marlin's last career Top 20 qualifying run. 108. The Fall of NASCAR posted: 11.03.2013 - 4:19 pm Rate this comment: (2) (2) This is the race NASCAR died and has not recovered since then. It has been 5 years and I really do not think since this race. We will see the same levels of fan participation. NASCAR had been building up for this race and it happened. First we will go back to the 2001 Daytona 500 and we all know what had happened then. Steve Park, Kevin Harvick, and Dale Jr winning at Rockingham, Atlanta, and Daytona really helped NASCAR get back on track alot. In 2003 with Winston leaving the sport because of the government restricting sponsorships. That really lost some of the fan base as well. Nextel would try to bring in a younger demographic which will eventually hurt them in the future. The Chase brought something new. it brought out a few intresting things but it also made fans leave as well. With drivers like Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Dale Jarrett, Bill Elliott basicly retired. Sterling Marlin, Ward Burton, ect that were pushed out for younger drivers...with little personality. When Jimmie Johnson won those two Chases in 2006 and 07. Im sure almost everyone by then but 48 fans did not want Jimmie winning. The old car being phased out for cars with splitters and the awful IndyCar spoiler wing thingy made fans turn off too. The only thing it did in my opinion for the good was the safety of the car and saved Michael McDowell and Elliott Sadler. But it really hurt the racing product and races have been alot more tame compared to just 10 years ago. The 2008 Brickyard 400 tire fiasco really hurt NASCARs reputation. The lack of winners in 2008 was awful as well. Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson won 2/3rds of the races that year with no one winning more than three races that year besides Johnson, Busch, and Edwards. Kahne, Burton, and Biffle only won twice that year. Gordon, Harvick, and Kenseth didnt even win this year. I think this was Gordon's last shot at winning a race this year and he was taken out. After this race, Gordon fans have had little to be happy about and his luck has dwindeled. Same thing for Dale Jr. he has had one win since then. Its sad about te state of NASCAR in 2008 and has been matched in 2009 and 2013 In my opinion. When Smith won, It was a huge breath of fresh air NASCAR could have gotten but the sponsors had a say in this "Offical Home Improvement Warehouse of NASCAR" Also with all the Chasers crashing out but Johnson and Bowyer. Johnson essentally had no trouble winning his 3rd. And after two more years of garbage. NASCAR really dummbed down with a majority of things and NASCAR has really sucked since then. I want my old NASCAR back. 109. b4il3y posted: 11.30.2013 - 3:47 am Rate this comment: (1) (2) Regan Smith wins his first top level race. Period. Only Tony fans will debate this. 110. Nascar Lead Lap Points posted: 04.24.2014 - 3:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Withdrew 08 Boris Said FUBAR Dodge John Carter 111. b4il3y posted: 05.18.2014 - 3:05 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) 19. Dodge posted: 10.05.2008 - 11:42 pm Rate this comment: Like this comment (0) Dislike this comment (0) CANNOT IMPROVE i repeat IMPROVE YOUR POSITION BELOW THE YELLOW LINE. Smith just made a rookie mistake #20 (soon to be #14) fan but #48 HATER! Also a rule. If you intentionally block someone that has a run on you, you are SUPPOSED, I repeat, INTENTIONALLY BLOCK SOMEONE WHO HAS A RUN, that too is supposed to be a pass thru penalty. No. Regan Smith wins. 112. Slash posted: 12.26.2014 - 5:59 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) It's hilarious to see the amount of Butthurt on this comment thread. Stewart won people, get over it. "It was the death of Nascar because Reagan lost!" No it wasn't. That's flat out stupid. 113. RaceFanX posted: 08.01.2015 - 7:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenny Wallace's final Cup start sees him lead three laps and finish in the top-15 while doing a one-off for Michael Waltrip Racing. This was also Wallace's only Cup start driving a Toyota. 114. Anthony Nagle posted: 11.14.2015 - 6:40 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Anyone find it ironic that Jim Hunter, whose two blind eyes screwed Regan Smith out of the win, passed away just before Regan won his first race at Darlington in 2011? Someone else said it best where it was a great race but terribly officiated. I took off work for this and still found this to be worth it. Years later the race still holds up. Tony Stewart wins his only Talladega race, his only Toyota race, and his only race of 2008 in the most controversial way possible. 115. Gordon7timeWinstonCupchampion posted: 02.12.2016 - 7:25 am Rate this comment: (0) (2) "In 2003 with Winston leaving the sport because of the government restricting sponsorships. That really lost some of the fan base as well." you don't say that 108, or you are gonna be called a toothless troll by all the stupid folks 116. Blue Palaski posted: 02.12.2016 - 9:03 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) No, we just call you a troll J7TC because you have some weird fanboy lust for Jeffie that makes him superior to every driver who has ever competed in NASCAR. That and you say NASCAR is dead because your mancrush didn't win the championship every year. 117. Rated-RKO posted: 07.18.2016 - 7:28 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) It's funny to see all these people still stay Regan Smith won the race after almost a decade. Wither you like it or not, even if you are forced down below the yellow line you can't advance your position on the track, Smith did and he lost as well he should have. Stewart had the best car, led the most laps and proved he could win at Tally, he won plain and simple. 118. JSPorts posted: 07.18.2016 - 9:51 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Smith should've done what Brad Keselowski did the next year: hold his line and don't get forced down there. But that comes with the risk, obviously, of a big crash starting. 119. Braindead Zombie posted: 07.18.2016 - 12:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) I'm a Tony Stewart fan but come on, he did not deserve this win. 120. Maverick posted: 11.13.2016 - 1:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) To give an idea how competitive this race was, the most laps led by one driver was 24. 121. SK posted: 09.11.2017 - 2:59 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Sponsor update: #41 Target / Memorex 122. JSPorts posted: 09.11.2017 - 3:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) This is one of my least favorite plate races I've ever seen. Jimmie's top competitors got taken out, and then of course NASCAR had the botched finish. 123. Evan posted: 09.12.2017 - 10:57 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) I didn't like this one much either. Tony Stewart didn't really deserve that win. If it was any other driver in Regan Smith's spot, like Harvick or Earnhardt or Jimmie Johnson, I'd guarantee they would look the other way and call it a legal pass. 124. TeamDCR fan posted: 09.12.2017 - 11:03 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I was pulling for Front Row Joe at the end of this one 125. Mannoroth posted: 09.12.2017 - 11:15 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 123. That way or another, this is what saved Tony Stewart's streak of at least one win in each season. That streak later ended in 2014. It's also Tony's only win for Toyota in Cup. 126. Wil posted: 07.08.2018 - 1:54 am Rate this comment: (1) (1) Just rewatched the end on YouTube and can comfortably say this was the biggest Nascar screw job in recent memory. Should not be forgotten. 127. Jason24 posted: 07.08.2018 - 4:33 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) The best part was that Greg Biffle on Speed Channel's "This Week In NASCAR" said that this race sent the message that NASCAR wanted people to wreck each other for the win in this situation. And the very next time they came to this track, Carl went into the fence. Biffle called it and his statement was even shown again after the Carl/Brad race. But I agree this was the most disgusting example of NASCAR playing favorites that I can remember. 128. Dorsal Fin posted: 07.08.2018 - 8:25 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The most idiotic thing was Andy Petree saying "I think it's legal on the last lap" and Dale Jarrett angrily responding "Why would it be legal on the last lap and not the other 187?" 129. Ryan posted: 07.13.2018 - 6:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This is the race where it was determined by many of the drivers that Jimmie had the "Golden Horseshoe up his rear end" He almost got caught up in two wrecks and finished 9th. While Carl Edwards did get caught up in a wreck while he was running at the front most of the race and this was the major difference maker in the championship standings. 130. Jeff posted: 11.21.2018 - 7:29 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Edwards rode at the back after leading laps early. If he made that move on the last lap and not caused the second big one, Edwards would be a Cup champion. Johnson was mid-pack while the Roush guys were battling in the top 5. Smith should've turned Stewart coming to the line to pile what was left of the field up. It could've been a DEI top 3 at the end had Almirola stayed in line. All being the only lead lap finishers. This event had potential to be the best plate race ever. 131. Wil posted: 02.27.2019 - 7:32 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Over 10 years later and this is still the most shameful call I've ever seen in Nascar. Ironic thing is the very next race at Talladega the finish was identical, only instead of being blocked below the yellow line like Smith Keselowski held his line and Edwards flipped into the catchfence. I guess that's what the sport prefers. 132. BAV posted: 05.28.2019 - 11:29 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Personally, I am ashamed of NASCAR's inconsistency, especially with the yellow line. Johnny Benson got away with going under the line earlier in the season at the CTS Daytona race, why couldn't Regan Smith? In my opinion, if it's a win or lose situation on the final lap off turn 4, I feel the yellow line shouldn't matter. 133. 34McDowellFan posted: 07.06.2019 - 10:34 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) The worst call in NASCAR history. Last night in the Xfinity race Justin Haley got penalized for forcing cars below the yellow line. It also happened to Ryan Reed in 2018. Regan Smith won this race. I don't see how you can possibly defend NASCAR's call on this one because there is no way they made the right call. Stewart left no room and Smith either went under the yellow or did what Keselowski did to Edwards just 1 year later. Smith choose to go under the yellow and even came back up as soon as he could. Hands down the worst call and over 10 years later it's still frustrating. 134. KentuckyWildcat42 posted: 10.13.2019 - 3:02 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Regan Smith declared official winner 11 years later. 135. Sector posted: 10.13.2019 - 4:12 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) #134 Absolutely such an idiocy post. 110% false. 136. Mannoroth posted: 10.13.2019 - 11:40 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 134. Sure, so let's rewrite the all-time win list, where Tony Stewart didn't win more races than Herb Thomas and Kevin Harvick already has the same number of wins as his team owner. Plus, this isn't cycling, where it's pretty normal that someone will be removed from official results, because he doped. So nice try, but no one believes you. 137. Anonymous posted: 12.25.2019 - 8:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think this race pretty much began a string of Daytona and Talladega races in all three of NASCAR's series and getting the double big ones and then some. there were two in this one, 138. Wil posted: 12.26.2019 - 12:40 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) This race pretty much cost Carl Edwards the 08 championship, and it was all his fault- he caused the second big one with an incredibly dumb move, turning his teammate Biffle entering turn 3. Edwards was always atrocious on plate tracks. 139. JSPorts posted: 12.26.2019 - 12:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Edwards led only 61 laps in his 49 restrictor-plate starts (1.2 per race.) In his other races, Edwards led 6075 laps in 396 starts (15.3 per race.) 140. Jimmie4life posted: 03.21.2020 - 10:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tony Stewart's only win in a Toyota, and it came in controversial fashion. 141. Mannoroth posted: 03.22.2020 - 7:21 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 140. Tony Stewart's only Cup win in a Toyota, to be more specific. He has 5 more Toyota wins from Xfinity Series... 142. Bodyblower posted: 04.20.2020 - 3:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Brad Keselowski drove the 5 car in practice. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: