Thoughts on Winning in the Rain
  • Just like another youthful prodigy who won on his home track 15 years prior, Joey Logano visited victory lane for the first time in his young career Sunday at his home track, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, when he won the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 . Will Logano have as successful career as Jeff Gordon? Who’s to say, but what I can tell you is that while Logano still has a long way to go before he becomes a consistent contender, his win on Sunday will certainly not be his last. In fact, if you’re pressing me, I think Logano has at least one more trip to victory lane this season, maybe two.

     
  • And for those who say that Logano didn’t actually win this race, let me say this. Sprint Cup racing is more than just having a fast car. To win any race, no matter how fast your car is, you have to have the right strategy to ensure that you and no one else, picks up the victory at the end of the day. While Logano may not have had the fastest car Sunday, the strategy that Logano’s crew chief Greg Zipadelli employed was by far the best because it put Logano in a position to capitalize if he got the right breaks. Well, the right breaks came and the 20 car is in victory lane for the first time since last October.
     
  • The biggest loser on Sunday undoubtedly was Jeff Burton. Burton came into Loudon just three points from being inside the cutoff for the Chase for the Championship. But after being swept up into the eight-car pileup in turn-one triggered by an overanxious Kyle Busch, Burton now leaves New Hampshire 108 points behind Juan Pablo Montoya for the final spot in the Chase.

     
  • And as much as we criticize Kyle Busch at times here, we must also acknowledge that Busch took responsibility right away following the race for causing the eight-car wreck that knocked many a good car out yesterday. Acknowledging that he might have done something wrong is not something that Busch has been very good at admitting over the years, which possibly means Busch might actually be growing up? I’m not saying he has, I’m just saying that you have to crawl before you can walk.

     
  • Despite coming into Loudon with three-straight top-10’s, Jeff Gordon hasn’t really looked like a bonafide championship contender the past month or so. That changed Sunday when Gordon led 64 laps and never seemed to be running outside the top-five. Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson may be getting most of the attention this year, but Gordon has been just as good. He’s tied with Stewart for most top-fives on the year with nine and is comfortably sitting second in points.
     
  • Days like Richard Childress had yesterday when three of his four cars were among the eight in the lap 176 crash, is probably the reason why he also owns his own winery. As I like to say, alcohol numbs the pain. And judging by how awful of a season that RCR is having this year, Childress has a lot of pain that needs numbing.

     
  • Some days you’re the dog and some days you’re the tree. Last year Kurt Busch was the dog, using the rain to his advantage to win what was his only victory of the year. This year, Busch was the tree. He led 28 laps on the day and frequently battled Jeff Gordon for the lead, but when unlike last year, the rain worked against Busch and prevented him from winning his second race on the year.

     
  • For the record I would like to point out that Brad Keselowski has as many top-fives (one) and top-10s (three) on the year as Dale Earnhardt Jr and has done it 12 less races. Not to mention that Keselowski has also visited victory lane this year, while Earnhardt couldn’t find it with a roadmap.
    •
    Posted: 6/30/2009 12:20:51 PM
    Comments:

    Report Inappropriate Content

    Select the reason that best describes why you think this content is inappropriate, and then click Submit. We'll review the content to determine if action is required. Thanks for your input!
     
    Submit
    Cancel