(WOMR file photo)

“Blazingly Bad” Brad Keselowski got a push from Kyle Busch on the green-white-checkered restart to win the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega.

Keselowski’s win was his second at Talladega, remember the Edwards in the catchfence race a couple of years ago, the sixth of his young career, and the first . . . → Read More: “Bad Brad” Out Wheels ‘Em In The Aaron’s 499]]>

(WOMR file photo)

“Blazingly Bad” Brad Keselowski got a push from Kyle Busch on the green-white-checkered restart to win the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega.

Keselowski’s win was his second at Talladega, remember the Edwards in the catchfence race a couple of years ago, the sixth of his young career, and the first victory at Talladega for Dodge in 36 years.    The last win for Dodge at Talladega came when Dave Marcis won the race in 1976!

Keselowski’s victory ended a wild final quarter of the race, which extended six laps past a scheduled 188 because of a flurry of late cautions.

As the field began a round of green-flag pit stops with 45 laps left, a massive chain-reaction wreck in Turn 3 eliminated a handful of contending cars, including pole-sitter Jeff Gordon.

Contact between Aric Almirola and Dave Blaney triggered the crash, which also collected Martin Truex, Carl Edwards and Juan Montoya, among others.

“It was like a wreck at a stoplight,” Edwards said. “Everybody started checking up and hitting each other.”

With the herd thinned considerably, Paul Menard led the field to a restart on lap 151. Hamlin, who had gotten back on the lead lap via “the Lucky Dog” when NASCAR called the caution on lap 143, surged to the front, where he swapped the top spot with Brad Keselowski.

Kenseth restarted at the back of the field under a penalty for pitting too soon under the lap 143 caution, but he quickly worked his way forward, wresting the lead from Denny Hamlin on lap 167, with Keselowski and AJ Allmendinger lined up behind him.

Five laps later, Hamlin found an opening between Kenseth and Keselowski and took second, but a lap 175 wreck that started when Casey Mears cut a tire, scrambled the field for a restart with nine laps left in regulation.

As the field crossed the finish line on lap 181, contact from sent Kurt Busch spinning into the inside wall at the entry to Turn 1. Kenseth led the field to a restart on lap 185.

This green flag restarts only lasted a mere few hundred feet.  As soon as the leaders crossed the start line, Hamlin ducked to the inside and Allmendinger tried to block Hamlin in the middle lane.  The result was a hooligan.  Hamlin’s nose was already up to Allmendinger’s left rear tire, the contact between those two, Hamlin and “The Dinger”, also took out  Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, and Michael Waltrip, as well!

When the clutter was cleared up, and the green flag flew for the final time, it was a green-white-checkered, a two lap sprint race.  On the restart, Matt Kenseth got a great start with the help of his team-mate, Greg Biffle.  In fact, it was too great of a start and gaping lead.  Because of the great start that Kenseth had gotten, it actually allowed Kyle Busch to latch onto the bumper of “Blazingly Bad” Brad Keselowski. With that “Bad Brak” and Kyle were off like they were shot out of a cannon, marching into the lead.  By the time the white flag waved, Keselowski and Busch were running one and two, respectively.

Over the last five races at Talladega, the leader coming out of turn four was not the winner of the race.  However, “Bad Brad” was not to be overhauled coming out turn four Sunday!  Ol Kylie did not have anything for the driver of the Penske Racing Coors Lite #2 Dodge, Keselowski!

Check out the unofficial results of the Aaron’s 499 at the Talladega Superspeedway.

Here is the Sprint Cup standings after the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega.

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DohRa9lsx0Q

(WOMR file photo)

This wasn’t just any Nationwide race, this was Talladega!  Talladega is the place where it is high-speed, high-banks, and high-danger.  It is also the place where strange bedfellows make for a good story.  Another way of putting it is that you have the opportunity “to dance with the devil”!

(WOMR file photo)

“Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynard Skynard has to be Dale Jr.’s favorite song! After all, he has won ten races in the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at this sprawling superspeedway, known as Talladega, the most of any active driver.

Additionally, when you drive around this part of Alabama . . . → Read More: Talladega Is Dale Earnhardt,Jr. Country]]>

(WOMR file photo)

“Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynard Skynard has to be Dale Jr.’s favorite song! After all, he has won ten races in the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at this sprawling superspeedway, known as Talladega, the most of any active driver.

Additionally, when you drive around this part of Alabama there are two things that you notice.  There are two decals that adorn the cars and trucks in these parts.  The first set of decals that are noticeable from great distances are the “Roll Tide”, and/or the big “A”, and the second set of decals that are adorning most vehicles are the “88″, “AMP”, “National Guard”, and/or “Diet Mtn Dew”!  Even though he is from Kannapolis, NC, it is a foregone conclusion that Dale, Jr. is “the favorite son” in Talladega!

Notwithstanding the fact that down in Alabama, it is the heart of SEC football country, it is also the heart of NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s Junior Nation, as well as an endorphine soaked, adrenaline rush, known as superspeedway pack racing!

What started out as an Army Air Corps pilot training facility in Talladega County, Alabama, back during World War II, and laid dormant for many years before “Big” Bill France decided to purchase it and turn it into, what was to be, the biggest, fastest speedway in the world, will produce the second round of “pack racing” this season!

As was previously mentioned, Dale Jr. has won ten times at Talladega.  Additionally in his career, he has won both of the races ran on May 6th, six years apart!  This Sunday is May 6th, six years since the last race on this date which Junior won, it is Talladega, it is the heart of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. country, and Junior is fast in “Fast Friday” practice.  Could he repeat his wins on the last two previous May 6th?  I’m just sayin’………………….

One might recall just how the Daytona 500 ended this past February.  Dale Jr. drove around Greg Biffle on the high side coming out of turn #4 heading to the checkered flag, however, he needed just one more lap to overhaul Matt Kenseth for the win.  Therefore,in light of the first restrictor plate finish, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. might be the smartest choice for their NASCAR fantasy picks for this Sunday!

This Sunday at Talladega, Junior Nation has a very good chance to revel in Victory Lane at The Aaron’s 499 with their driver—J-U-N-I-O-R!

Roll Tide–Go Junior!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(WOMR file photo)

I just returned back to my hometown after witnessing a very exciting finish to the Good Sam’s 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway last weekend.  As the staff there at the track says , “SIZE DOES MATTER”!  After all it is not just another race track, this is Talladega!

The . . . → Read More: Bowyer Wins The Good Sam’s 500]]>

(WOMR file photo)

I just returned back to my hometown after witnessing a very exciting finish to the Good Sam’s 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway last weekend.  As the staff there at the track says , “SIZE DOES MATTER”!  After all it is not just another race track, this is Talladega!

The weather started out on the cool side for  the Sprint Cup practice and session on Friday.  The weather on Saturday for the Cup qualifying and the Camping World Trucks race was a little warmer.  However, on Sunday the weather was superb!

As the green flag was dropped, there were two strategies that unfolded throughout the race.  One strategy was to run up front all day and race hard for the lead.  The other strategy, and not a strategy that I would use if I were racing at Talladega, was to fall back to the back of the pack to try to avoid “the big one”.  The latter strategy has some validity, nevertheless, you are at the mercy of the tempo of the race.  Laying back in the back of the pack, you are held hostage to the tempo of the race, ie., yellow flags, close proximity to probable wrecks,  and ultimately the ability to weave your way to the front when “it is time to go”.

All four of the Hendrick Motorsports race car teams choose to “lay back” and make their charge to the front in the very late stages of the race.  Unfortunately, all four teams were caught back in the pack when three wrecks happened in the final 20 laps.

The pairing of Junior and Johnson led only a combined two laps Sunday, spending much of the race in the rear of the field in an attempt to avoid trouble. Johnson suffered a scare with about 25 laps remaining when Andy Lally caromed off his car and up into the wall, but the damage to his vehicle was minor. The real problems came at the end, when the drivers dealt with their own individual difficulties, and a flurry of cautions didn’t provide them enough of an opportunity to climb back up through the field.

“Whenever we thought they were getting a little bit crazy, we’d move into the safe areas and we rode there most of the day with a lot of other people doing the same thing,” Earnhardt said. “Then at the end, we had a lot of cautions late. We wanted to try to work our way toward the front in the last 20 laps. The cautions kept coming out, and we ran over some debris and we had to come to pit road. We just didn’t have the track position at the end to make a run with two laps to go. Just not enough time.”

It didn’t help that the water in Johnson’s engine-cooling system climbed perilously high. NASCAR lowered pressure-relief valve settings in the cars this week in a tacit attempt to break up some of the two-car drafting. Push for too long, and risk engine overheating and failure. Johnson found himself trying to play the role of pusher while also dealing with debris on his car’s front end — a recipe for overheating.

“We planned our strategy like we had hoped to,” Johnson said. “And on that last restart at the end, we had some issues with my car overheating. That last caution that came out, I got some trash and grass and stuff on the grille of the car. We were out of sequence the way we were lined up. I was going to push Junior, and I had to be in the lead the way we had the debris on the grille. And then as we went to make our switch, the pack was organized and with the [final-laps] situation, there’s not a lot of time to get organized, and we lost our momentum there, and got to the outside and kind of stalled out up on the top, and finished far worse than we had hoped to.”

Clint Bowyer surged past Richard Childress Racing teammate Jeff Burton through the tri-oval on the final lap at Talladega Superspeedway to win Sunday’s Good Sam Club 500.  Bowyer, who will leave RCR for Michael Waltrip Racing next season, beat Burton to the start/finish line by .018 seconds to record his first victory of the season and the fifth of his career. The win was the 100th in the Sprint Cup Series for team owner Richard Childress.

On a two-lap run to the finish that followed the ninth caution of the race, Bowyer, the defending winner of the race, pushed Burton to a lead of more than 20 car lengths over the pack that was chasing them. That gave Bowyer the luxury of a slingshot move past Burton in the tri-oval. Bowyer nosed ahead 1,200 feet from the finish line and held on?barely.

“Whenever you leave here not wrecked, you ought to be happy, but at the same time, I’m heartbroke we didn’t win the race,” said Burton, who recorded his first top-five finish in more than a year. “Having said all of that, I don’t know what I would have done different.

“Honestly, I thought he made his move too early. I kind of gave him the bottom, because you tend to be able to pull them back to you better when you’re on their right rear quarter panel. He made his move really early, I thought. I thought I’d be able to pull back to him, but he had a lot of momentum when he made the move.”

Bowyer realized he was taking his shot early but decided to seize the moment when Burton gave him the inside line.

“He kind of moved up off of [Turn] 4, and I knew it was too early to go, but it was going to be a drag race, and it would give us both a shot at it,” Bowyer said. “He worked so well with me all day long. You hate that it comes down to that, but it is what it is, and you owe it to your team and your sponsors to go out and win the race.

“Unfortunately, it came down to that situation, but — trust me — I was prepared to push him to the win, no matter what the cost was, if we’d have had people breathing down our necks. It just wasn’t meant to be for him. He’s been a great teammate, and I’ve learned a lot from him — but he’s already won a lot of races [21], and I’ve only won five.”

Dave Blaney, pushed by Brad Keselowski, ran third, with Keselowski taking the flag in fourth in a race that saw only five drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup finish in the top 24. Keselowski gained three positions to third in the Chase standings.

 Red Bull Racing teammates Brian Vickers and Kasey Kahne finished fifth and six, followed by Chase drivers Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin.  Michael Waltrip Racing teammates Michael Waltrip and Martin Truex Jr. completed the top 10.

Here is the unofficial results of the Good Sam’s 500 from Talladega Superspeedway.

Here is the Chase standings following the Good Sam’s 500.

Twelve drivers, now four races, one championship, who will be the last man standing?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(workingonmyredneck file photo)

My cyberspace buddy and fellow NASCAR blogger, Bruce Simmons wrote an article on his web site, BruSimm.com about re-visiting the rules regarding the double yellow lines at Talladega and Daytona.

In the article, Bruce addresses the need for the double yellow line during the race, and WOMR concurs with . . . → Read More: Double Yellow Line Rules Need Refining]]>

(workingonmyredneck file photo)

My cyberspace buddy and fellow NASCAR blogger, Bruce Simmons wrote an article on his web site, BruSimm.com about re-visiting the rules regarding the double yellow lines at Talladega and Daytona.

In the article, Bruce addresses the need for the double yellow line during the race, and WOMR concurs with the need for that requirement.  It is for the safety of the drivers, and quite possibly the safety of the fans, as well, to have an “out of bounds” area.

Like Bruce, here at WOMR, I believe that the double yellow line should not play a factor when the checkered flag is waving for the drivers as they exit turn four racing for the win. When the drivers can see the checkered flag waving, then all paved surfaces should be in play!  Sometimes the faster race car might be the race car in second place coming to the checkered flag, and car gets stuck, blocked, or otherwise prevented from making the pass for the win.  For this reason, therefore, all the paved surfaces should be fair game for the win!

“Have at it boys”!

The best argument for this idea occurred at a Talladega race just a couple of years ago when Tony Stewart and Regan Smith were racing for the win.  As they raced out of turn four heading to the tri-oval, and the checkered flag, Tony Stewart was leading the race.  Stewart was leading and blocking the faster car of Reagan Smith.  Ultimately, Stewart ran Smith down below the double yellow line.  Brave and unnerved, Reagan Smith stayed on the gas, cut below the double yellow line, and avoided being involved in a potential “big one”, like the “Blazingly Bad” Brad Keselowski/ “Cousin Carl” Edwards  devastating crash in the next Talladega race.

Smith crossed the start/finish line slightly ahead of Stewart in the lead, but definitely down below the double yellow line.  However, NASCAR penalized Smith for going below the double yellow line, therefore, giving the victory to Tony Stewart.  The questions regarding the double yellow line have stirred every since that race, and its place in racing for the win.

In the spirit of the new “Have at it Boys” mentality of NASCAR, it might be worth it for NASCAR to revisit the double yellow line ruling, and quite possibly, re-define its importance on the final lap of the race at both Daytona and Talladega.  When the drivers comes to the checkered flag, it is the view here at WOMR that the double yellow line should be invisible and let them use all paved surfaces to try to win the race!

What is your view on the double yellow lines rules?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(workingonmyredneck file photo)

Talladega Superspeedway has long been noted for its 500 miles of white-knuckle, bump-drafting racing, the kind of bumper-to-bumper racing action that always kept the fans on the edge of their seats from green flag to checkered flag.  Those fans at the race track used to fret that even if . . . → Read More: The Talladega Two Car Tango]]>

(workingonmyredneck file photo)

Talladega Superspeedway has long been noted for its 500 miles of white-knuckle, bump-drafting racing, the kind of bumper-to-bumper racing action that always kept the fans on the edge of their seats from green flag to checkered flag.  Those fans at the race track used to fret that even if the stepped away for a short moment, they would miss something monumental.  Some are now fretting over the new style of restrictor plate racing known as “the two-car tango“.

The two car tango took over the season opener at Daytona, where large packs used to be the norm.  Now the drivers have found out that the fastest way around the restrictor plate tracks is to pair up with another car in a “two car tango” and head to the front quickly.  There were very few, if any, slingshot maneuvers during the season opener at Daytona in February, like the famous Dale Earnhardt, Sr.’s final victory at Talladega coming from 19th place to win in just few laps!  That was classic, vintage Dale, Sr.!

However, at Daytona there was a record 74 lead changes among 22 drivers, and NASCAR welcomed a fresh-faced, baby-faced 20 year old, Trevor Bayne, to the victory lane!  Bayne became the youngest race driver in NASCAR history to ever win the Daytona 500.

Nevertheless, the overwhelming discussion was about “the new style of restictor plate racing” witnessed at Daytona this year.  The drafting took on another form, “the two car tango”.  It appears that the very same form of drafting will be taking place this weekend at Talladega.

“We’ll be doing the same thing we did at Daytona” said former Talladega winner Tony Stewart.  I guarantee you right off the bat, that’s exactly what everyone is going to do as soon as the hit the racetrack, go right back into that mode”‘ Stewart added.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just different.

For years, Daytona and Talladega were known as the two tracks where fans could expect the massive accidents created by pack racing known as “The Big One.” Daytona still had crashes — there were a record 16 cautions — but that didn’t satisfy many fans who couldn’t get their heads around the two-car tandem racing.

NASCAR officials felt the same at the start of Speedweeks, and issued a series of slight technical adjustments designed to prevent the cars from pushing each other for too long. Like everyone else, NASCAR was unsure of how the Daytona 500 would play out, but was ultimately pleased with what officials saw.

“We were curious, too. It was a phenomenon, we’d never seen anything like that,” said NASCAR chairman Brian France. “But 74 lead changes, dramatic racing all the way through, although it looked a little bit different, the competition level went up. It’s different. But, generally speaking, if competition goes up, the races are exciting, we’re going to like it.”

So aside from a reduction in the size of the horsepower-sapping restrictor plate, NASCAR has done very little to force drivers to race any differently this weekend at Talladega.

“The two-car draft is just so potent. Anytime you can tell a race car driver he can go four seconds faster a lap and give him the recipe on how to do it, he’s going to go and put it into play. That’s that two-car draft.”

There’s an element of intrigue to it, too, that forces drivers to place a huge amount of trust in some of their biggest rivals.

The two-car draft forces the trailing car, the “pusher,” to race blind because the driver can’t see what’s ahead of the car he’s pushing. Spotters are forced to be the eyes for drivers they’ve never worked for, and drivers are tapping into the radio frequencies of guys they don’t usually speak to for in-race strategy sessions.

It made Daytona interesting, however, not all the drivers enjoyed that intrigue.

“You can’t see where you’re going if you’re the pusher,” said Mark Martin. “If you’re in front, sometimes you wish you couldn’t see where you were going. It’s pretty tough on you sometimes when you’re running up traffic and you have a guy pushing you that doesn’t really see that.  We have to trust each other. We have to. Like them or not, you have to.”

There is one caveat that could change the racing just a little. Talladega is wider than Daytona, and many drivers believe the track has enough space for the cars to go four-wide. It could lead to more room for drivers to swap the lead, and more space for a fast-closing tandem to get past a slower two-car pack.

It’s for sure not going to be the kind of Talladega racing people are used to seeing.  Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that it won’t be a thrilling race.  It only means that the “chess game” strategy that we have known in the past has been refined, sharpened, and re-packaged for 2011.

This weekend at Talladega, the drivers will be finding a good dance partner, hooking up with him, and charging to the front of the pack!

The strategy has changed in 2011, this is not your Daddy’s Talladega race!

What are your thoughts on ” the two car tango”?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(workingonmyredneck file photo)

Here are a few interesting facts about Talladega Superspeedway and its rich history.

· Construction began on what was then known as the Alabama International Motor Speedway on May 23, 1968.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on Sept. 14, 1969.

· The name changed to . . . → Read More: Notable Talladega Track Facts]]>

(workingonmyredneck file photo)

Here are a few interesting facts about Talladega Superspeedway and its rich history.

· Construction began on what was then known as the Alabama International Motor Speedway on May 23, 1968.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on Sept. 14, 1969.

· The name changed to Talladega Superspeedway in 1989.

· Fourth repaving completed on Sept. 19, 2006.

· There have been 83 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Talladega Superspeedway since the track opened in 1969; two a year every year except the inaugural season, which had just one.

· Richard Brickhouse won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

· Bobby Isaac won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole in September 1969, in fact, Isaac won the first three poles there.

· 35 different drivers have won poles. Bill Elliott leads all drivers with 8 poles.

· 41 different drivers have posted victories, led by Dale Earnhardt Sr. (10). Eighteen drivers have won more than once.

· Jeff Gordon leads all other active drivers in victories, with 6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is second among active drivers in victories with 5.

· Richard Childress Racing has won 11 races, more than any other organization. Hendrick Motorsports, with 10 wins, can match that mark this weekend.

· 32 of 83 races have been won from a top-two starting position, including 13 from the pole; 23 have been won from a starting position outside the top 10. The most recent driver to win from the pole was Jeff Gordon in 2007 (spring).

· The furthest back in the field a race winner started was 36th, by Jeff Gordon in 2000.

· Mark Martin’s pace in the 1997 spring race set an all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup record for the fastest race ever. He won the caution-free race with an average speed of 188.354 mph and covered the 500-mile distance in two hours, 39 minutes and 18 seconds.

· Last season’s spring race set the all-time and track records for lead changes (88) and lap leaders (29). The previous highs were 75 lead changes (set on May 6, 1984) and 28 lap leaders (set on Oct. 5, 2008). Both previous records also were set at Talladega.

· Dale Earnhardt Jr. had four consecutive victories (October 2001 through April 2003), the most ever by a driver there. Buddy Baker (three, May 1975 through May 1976) is the only other driver to win more than two consecutive races there.

· Since the inception of electronic scoring in 1993, every race that has ended under green has had a margin of victory under half a second.(NASCAR)

I looked it so that you wouldn’t have to!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy Leon Hammack)

Friday night in Las Vegas concluded the longest season in all of sports with the crowning of Jimmie Johnson as the 2010 Sprint Cup champion.  However that banquet didn’t really hand out some of the awards that WOMR feels should have been awarded.

So WOMR is giving out . . . → Read More: 2010, The Long And Winding Road]]>

(photo courtesy Leon Hammack)

Friday night in Las Vegas concluded the longest season in all of sports with the crowning of Jimmie Johnson as the 2010 Sprint Cup champion.  However that banquet didn’t really hand out some of the awards that WOMR feels should have been awarded.

So WOMR is giving out its first annual awards called the REDNECK!

Just for the record, the accounting firm of Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe was responsible for tabulating the results of the vote!  So without further adieux, the envelopes please…..

For the best engineering move in racing:

That award goes to NASCAR for removing the idiotic wing on the rear deck lid and replacing it with the “new/old” spoiler.  Wings are for airplanes, not for race cars!

The Gutsiest Driver Award:

To Denny Hamlin. After winning a rain-delayed event at Martinsville in March, Hamlin went under the knife for knee surgery and was back in the car at Phoenix just over a week later. One race later, he wound up in victory lane in Texas. Who says race car drivers aren’t athletes? A simply amazing feat!

The Birdies are Fine in Golf but not in NASCAR Award:

To Kyle Busch. One day after dropping the F bomb in front of the media in Texas, ol Kylie proceeded to give a NASCAR official the huge middle-finger salute as he sat in his car on pit road with his in-car camera clearly focused on the driver. The whole world say ol Kylies and his huge middle finger sticking up at the NASCAR official!  Hey Kylie, see that in-car camera to your right?  You know that one that your team and sponsors will pay to have installed into your car for that valuable “TV” time!! Just what were you thinking?  Say cheese, dude, your wallet just got $25,000 lighter!

The Hulk Hogan Headlock Award:

To Jeff Gordon. Hulk Hogan is widely-regarded as a great entertainer with terrible ring technique each time he steps inside the squared circle. So in honor of his unsuccessful attempt to put Jeff Burton in a headlock in Texas, this award is headed Gordon’s way. Hey Jeffie, you need to pump some iron and eat your vitamins, brother!

The Said Head Award:

To Boris Said. The curly-haired Said gave his fan base plenty of reason to cheer following his dramatic last lap Nationwide Series victory in Montreal in August when he edged Max Papis in a photo-finish. Said accomplished the feat with RAB Racing, which has no affiliation with a Sprint Cup team. Who said? Boris Said!

The Do You Think That We Could Still Buy A Seat Award:

This year’s Brickyard 400 was contested in front of more than 100,000 empty seats at Indianapolis Motor Speedway which, according to Wikipedia, boasts a seating capacity of more than 257,000. The track estimated the day’s attendance to be 140,000. It was simply amazing to see so much shining metal from the grandstands that afternoon.  Or was that race fans cleverly dressed up like empty seats?

The Good to See the Black RCR No. 3 Chevrolet Back in Victory Lane Award:

To Austin Dillon. It wasn’t in the Sprint Cup Series,however, but it did do WOMR’s spirit good to see Richard Childress’ grandson pilot the paint scheme made famous by the late Dale Earnhardt to victory in a NASCAR truck series race in Iowa.

The Best Race from Start-to-Finish of the Year Award:

There was a tie in the vote.  The first is  the spring race in Talladega. There were an incredible 88 lead changes among 29 drivers during 188 laps of racing. It was highlighted by Harvick’s crafty slingshot move around McMurray in the tri-oval on the final lap. The other race that tied in the vote was the fall Camping World Truck at the famed Talladega Superspeedway as well.  The finish was a photo finish between as sideways Kyle Busch, and angry Aric Almirola, and a whining Johnny Sauter!

The Best Looking Car of the Year Award:

To the new car in the Nationwide Series. They only hit the track five times this season, but Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota’s versions of the Nationwide Series’ new car looks like they rolled right off the show room floor. Each model looks spectacular up close. The new car goes full-time in NASCAR’s junior circuit in 2011.  Now those cars look like race cars!

The What In The Heck Were They Thinking Award:

To Toyota and Michael Waltrip Racing. Ford still regrets the day they let a promising young driver named Jeff Gordon slip out of their camp and jump to Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports in 1992. We’ll likely look back in five years and wonder why Toyota and MWR let Trevor Bayne escape to Ford and Roush Fenway Racing in 2010.

What is your thoughts on the 2010 season?

Enjoy the short off-season!

I will see you at Daytona in February!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

WOMR just returned home from the trip to Talladega for the AMP Energy Juice 500 and have only one thing to say.

This wasn’t just another NASCAR race, this was Talladega!

In many ways Sunday was like days of old at the famed 2.66 mile superspeedway . . . → Read More: Bowyer Edges Harvick In The Amp Energy Juice 500]]>

(photo courtesy Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

WOMR just returned home from the trip to Talladega for the AMP Energy Juice 500 and have only one thing to say.

This wasn’t just another NASCAR race, this was Talladega!

In many ways Sunday was like days of old at the famed 2.66 mile superspeedway in the heart of Alabama and Earnhardt country.  Richard Childress was back at his old familiar spot as the winning car owner in a Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway, a track where Dale Earnhardt, Sr. had been so dominate winning many races over his career. It also was the 10th anniversary of Dale,Sr’s. last, and most would agree, his most spectacular victory! It was also arguably the greatest single fete in motor sports ever!

Even after 10 years sports writers still marvel over the way that Dale, Sr. carved his way through the field coming from 18th place to win the race in just four laps with Kenny Wallace glued to his bumper, kind of like a warm knife through butter!  It was Dale,Sr’s last hurrah, but what a marvel it was!

But on this Sunday it was Clint Bowyer and the Richard Childress Racing #33 BB&T Chevrolet team that ran near the front of the pack during a high-speed duel, taking the lead with 10 laps remaining and held off teammate Kevin Harvick to win the Amp Energy Juice 500 on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway.

Bowyer held off a hard-charging Harvick on the low side of the track and momentarily awaited the official announcement as a last-lap caution froze the field and necessitated an officials’ review of the finish which showed Bowyer slightly ahead of Harvick. Harvick overcame an earlier incident and his second-place finish pulls him to within 38 points of Chase leader Jimmie Johnson.

The AMP Energy Juice 500 was remnants of the old Talladega, it was deja vu.  There were 87 lead changes, one short of the record of 88, among 26 drivers Sunday.  Those lead changes were only the lead changes at the start/finish line.  However, there were at least that many lead changes elsewhere on the track, however they were not considered official!

Additionally, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was representing his family in his traditionally classy manner.  Early in the race it was apparent that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. had a race car that was capable of winning the race. On lap 133, after having led 24 laps earlier in the race with a very strong race car, Dale Jr. got tangled up with Jeff Burton in the middle of turns 3 and 4.  The wreck destroyed Jeff Burton’s machine and caused extensive damage to the AMP #88 Chevy of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

But to Earnhardt’s great credit, even as he continues to struggle on the track most weeks, he remains one of the classiest drivers in the sport today.  He took full blame for his crash with Jeff Burton.

“I got into Jeff and didn’t hit him square and turned him down the race track and ended up wrecking him,” Earnhardt said. “Cost his crew a great race car and opportunity to win. He had a really fast car. I apologize to Richard (Childress) and all of those guys over there. My boys too, they worked really hard on my car. We had a terrific engine today and a real fast car.”

He said he was especially sorry to have wrecked Burton, as he explained when asked what he said to Burton when the two made their mandatory stop in the track hospital.

“I just wanted to apologize to him,” he said. “Man, he’s one of the ambassadors for our sport, and I have so much respect for him. When you are out there racing, you aren’t considering all those things. As soon as I turned him, I felt terrible about it. I just respect him so much. He’s taught me a lot in my career. I didn’t show him as much respect as I should have but I didn’t have any intentions of spinning him out. I was racing a little bit hard out there.”

Here is the unofficial results from The AMP Energy Juice 500.

This is how the Chase for the Cup looks after the AMP Energy Juice 500.

Twelve drivers, now three races, one championship, who will be the last man standing?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

WOMR has been going to all types of racing, dirt track, short track, paved short track, drags, NASCAR, etc., since the late 1950′s/early 1960′s, and three of the best and closest races that I have ever personally witnessed have all involved TLVW, (The . . . → Read More: Kylie Captures The Mountain Dew 250]]>

And they call Jimmy Spencer, “Mr. Excitement”?

WOMR has been going to all types of racing, dirt track, short track, paved short track, drags, NASCAR, etc., since the late 1950′s/early 1960′s, and three of the best and closest races that I have ever personally witnessed have all involved TLVW, (The Las Vegas Weasel) Kyle Busch!  The first race involving Busch was the Las Vegas Nationwide race in which Busch and Jeff Burton were door handle to door handle coming to the checkered flag out of turn four.  Both drivers were determined not to get out of the gas, now matter what.  Busch was banging on Burton’s race car, unfortunately Busch lost control of his car, and crashed as they both crossed the start finish line.

The second race that I have personally witnessed involving ol Kylie was last year’s truck race at Talladega.  In that race Aric Almirola, Kyle’s team mate with Billy Balllew Racing, pushed Busch to the front of the pack.  As the two Ballew trucks came out of the tri-oval, Busch nosed out his competitors by just a few inches for the victory at the finish line.

Those two races were very exciting races to watch from the stands.  However, the Mountain Dew 250 Saturday afternoon from Talladega Superspeedway was by far the closest and most exhilarating race that I have ever personally witnessed in nearly 50 years!

Out of the tri-oval approaching the the start finish line, Busch’s truck was in full wiggle mode as he took the checkered flag. His left wheels were below the yellow line at the bottom of the track which prompted an upset Almirola to claim that the winning pass was illegal!

Busch, however, was given the win, his sixth of the season. The victory was by .002 seconds.

“That’s cool,” Busch said of the winning move. “I didn’t want to do it. Aric deserved to win the race. I had Johnny pushing me. I couldn’t go too high because he would have gotten under me. I had to keep going. It was crazy there at the end.”

Almirola met with NASCAR officials after the race to get an explanation of why Busch’s pass was not ruled illegal.

“The reason they gave me was that Kyle’s truck was sideways when he was next to me and that what made him go below the yellow line was that he was trying to regain control of his truck,” Almirola said. “I guess if you get out of control and go below the yellow line and save it, it’s OK to advance.

“I don’t have a clear understanding of the rule, I guess”, continued Almirola.

Here is the unofficial results from the Mountain Dew 250 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Move over Jimmy Spencer, you are so mundane compared to ol Kylie Busch!

WOMR poses the question one more time.  Is Kyle Busch really that good?  Was Busch below the yellow line, if so, was he justified in staying in the gas while he was trying to recover?  What do you think?

See you at the Talladega Superspeedway Sunday.

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!