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[/media-credit]I keep running Sunday’s highlight over and over in my mind. It was incredible. A soon to be 39 year old dashing to his left to make an outstanding grab in Toronto for the Yankees. You may ask just what in blazes Ichiro Suzuki has to do with NASCAR. Sadly, not a damn thing, but at least I had a moment of excitement to tell you about.
I could tell you about the excitement at Dover, but what you saw on lap fifty you pretty much saw on lap 350. Not much change among the top dozen as the boys, and Danica Patrick, went round and round. Thank God for fuel mileage races, as the prospect of somebody running out of gas was just about as good as this got.
Kyle Busch once again dominated and once again that meant nothing at the end. He needed petrol and sunk from first to seventh, Brad Keselowski did not and he won his 9th, and fifth of the season, to move 5 points ahead of Jimmie Johnson in the standings.
Not much excitement, but there were some interesting moments. Kasey Kahne was a challenger until somebody thought he only needed four lug nuts to land him back in 15th. Tony Stewart started deep, went to the pits under green only to see it turn to yellow…twice. 20th was to be his fate. Matt Kenseth was inside the top twenty, but that was as good as it got as he broke a suspension part to leave him bouncing off the walls to wash up in 35th.
Kenseth is 75 away, Hamlin is third, 16 off the pace, Johnson and Keselowski up front with nobody else within 25 points of them. Still, we must await Talladega, where a big wreck could turn the standings upside down. Talladega, where we might finally see some action that will get us excited and keep us glued to the screen.
Kyle Busch has had some time to think this season during his stops in the garage. He figures the Chasers should have their own little points system to keep them more bunched up. So, instead of Kenseth picking up 9 for finishing 35th and Keselowski 47 for winning the race (a difference of 36 points), Kyle supports Kenseth getting 1 point for being the last Chaser and Keselowski getting 16, getting 12 for being first amongst the Chasers, 1 for leading a lap, and 3 for his victory. That would be a difference of only 15. Might I suggest Chasers get enough of a break by the rejigging of points and the 3 point per win bonus after 26 races. If he wants to be really fair, Busch should be advocating for the abolishment of the Chase and the return to the top gun over the course of the season winning the crown.
What would the classic standings be, using our new points system?
1051 – Jimmie Johnson
1040 – Brad Keselowski
1033 – Dale Earnhardt Jr
1025 – Greg Biffle
1012 – Denny Hamlin
1009 – Clint Bowyer
That would be six contenders within 42 points of one another. In the Chase, we have eight. Not much of a difference, and you tell me what would be more legitimate. No, the Chasers don’t need any more breaks. They already got it pretty good, yet most seem like they can’t do anything with it.
What fans need, those who watch these races on television, is a break from the mundane; something damned exciting. Something to have them talking about what they saw come Monday morning when they head back to work. Something to get even the most casual observer excited. I believe they call it Talladega. I think even Ichiro would agree. Enjoy the week.
