Monday, March 30, 2009

Hey, folks, that's racin'

I guess there's supposed to be something controversial about how the Goody's 500 finished Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, but the question I have is what else could have happened?

First, Denny Hamlin made a sensational move on a restart to take the lead away from Jimmie Johnson.

Now if you wanted to make a big deal out of it, you might argue that without help from teammate Kyle Busch, Hamlin never would have been able to make that move work. Hamlin said up front that he asked his spotter to get with Busch's spotter and ask for room to move to Johnson's inside. But hey, that's teamwork and that's not fair!

Hang on, though. The next time there was a restart, Busch was still the first car a lap down and Johnson was second. Busch hung back and left room in case Johnson wanted to try the same move. Isn't that all you can ask for?

So then Johnson chases Hamlin down and with 15 laps to go Johnson drives hard into Turn 3 to try to get to Hamlin's inside in an effort to take back the lead. What happened next depends on which car you were driving or which one you were pulling for. Either Hamlin tried to crowd Johnson to the low side and Johnson bounced off the curb into Hamlin's car, or Johnson laid a bump on Hamlin and took the lead away.

I have to tell you, I think both guys did precisely what they had to do. How can you blame Johnson from trying to win? How can you blame Hamlin from trying to keep it from happening? They didn't wreck each other or anybody else, and more to the point they didn't get out of their cars after the race and act like they were fighting over marbles at recess.

Martinsville is short-track racing. The fans who came got what they paid for. The drivers tried everything they could to win the race. Everything that happened was what's supposed to happen.

On to Texas.

21 comments:

Lloyd said...

I praise Denny for his after the race interview. That is what racing is all about. Best race of the year in my opinion.

Anonymous said...

I have more respect for Hamlin after the interview. I think and this is MY opinion that had that happened to Kyle he would have been screaming and pouting.

Anonymous said...

Kyle Busch has more class than JJ and DH put together.The reason the race sucked yesterday was because Kyle didn't win.

Anonymous said...

Pooles just trying "again" to make a mountain out of a mole hill.
Who are the ones that are questioning you David??

Anonymous said...

Does anybody in NASCAR know how to pass on the outside? Let's not call it NASCAR racing, lets call it NASCAR bumping. Stupid race. Thank goodness basketball is on and I hope they extend football two full months.

Anonymous said...

Truck race was the same way today. Harvick has the "faster" truck but has to punt Busch outta the way. How about trying to pass him on the outside?

Anonymous said...

how about putting a name to your comments instead of hiding like little girls?

Joe said...

I'm sure that if they could pass on the outside, they would. Don't get mad because Kyle Busch's status as a human being and not an all-winning machine shone through on Sunday. Instead, it was the OTHER non-human, all-winning machine LOL. Or something like that....ya'll know what the hell I mean! Seriously, awesome race. I have never seen a boring race at Martinsville.

Anonymous said...

Racin at it's best so what that Denny got the bump and kyle that is what short tracks are about. The one thing though Denny did not try to toss things like the brat Kyle bush he ran across the line so he had to pit. It was his fault. Team Hendrick wins 25 years after their first race awesome.
P.S. also all 4 cars in the top ten.
Congrats to Johnson and Harvick Team Cheavy wins Hopefully many more too come.

Anonymous said...

Hey Tess,
Why don't you post your full name and address?
Tesswpfd17 is just as anonymous as anonymous.
Know one knows who you are,and know one cares.
Signed,
Ralph Carter
State Prison for Women

Anonymous said...

Hey Joe, If your the faster car, then pass on the outside. Otherwise just hit 'em in the ass and drive on by. That's not racing, that's bumping. BORING.

Anonymous said...

All those who insist on passing on the outside must be brand new to racing. I remember the good ole days of the greats. You did what you had to to get past the car in front of you. I never went to a race where drivers got penalized for "rough" driving. Fans did not complain, unless of course it was your guy that got shoved to the side. I don't skirts on my drivers. Go over the guy if you must.

Anonymous said...

Not new to racing, been around it for 25 years. But explain why if your car is faster, you have to move someone up the track to pass them, why not go around them???

Anonymous said...

anon @2.33
I guess you have never noticed in 25 years. A driver is covering MORE territory if you go high. As an example, once Jimmie passed Denny, Denny could NOT pass him. Denny couldn't get any where near him. Jimmie HAD A FASTER CAR.

I cannot understand how a person who has been watching races for that long has not seen how drivers can block other drivers from passing. In last week's race, lap cars gave Carl a hard time and he could not pass them fast enough. He was much better than half the field that was 1-3 laps down.

Part of the art/skill of driving is the ability to block a car that is trying to pass you, especially if the car is faster than yours.

Wow, 25 years.

Anonymous said...

anon @ 5:19
That's what I'm saying, you protect the bottom, make them drive around you.
But in the last 5 years it's protect the bottom, get hit in the ass and moved out of the way. That's not racing, it's bumping.
And 25 years of watching races makes me 35 years old.

Anonymous said...

anon@8.59

Jimmie DID NOT BUMP Denny out of the way. The have shown the tape a ton of times. He was about half way to Denny's right tire when Denny crowded Jimmie into the yellow curb. Denny needs to learn how to protect the bottom. He DID NOT.

Anonymous said...

Anon 11:06
Jimmie used Denny as a brake, he hit him in the quarter panel and then bounced off the curb. Jimmie way over drove that corner.

Anonymous said...

What no comments about JJ's sudden surge at the end of the race (yet again)? Mr. Poole, I ask you to query the right people in the garage area on Saturday's and you'll get some incredible insight on JJ's "skill level" and how he's able to "come back" so strong at the end of races. You heard it hear first.

Anonymous said...

Do tell us what you know anon 6:41. Please.

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