Usually we care about the big names, the pied pipers leading the way. At Bristol, there was some excitement as Matt Kenseth held off two-time winner Kasey Kahne to win his fifth of the season and locked a spot in the Chase. It was an exciting finish, but in the scheme of things as to what is most meaningful at the moment, not so much.
Just as Jimmie Johnson running into the back of a spun also ran to take out his radiator meant little. Just as Clint Bowyer, who led 50 laps and recovered from a spin out and a collision, winding up 14th to secure a Chase place. Or Carl Edwards having his car blow up early or Kevin Havick leaving with the rear of his car torn to pieces or Kyle Busch surviving to come home 11th did not exactly make the headlines. All of those boys were going to head to Atlanta still in a playoff spot no matter what.
Kurt Busch, now that was another story. A loose wheel led to a damaged rear hub that led to time in the garage and a 31st place result. Going in he had a six point cushion, but that deflated and now he is six out behind Joey Logano. Logano had been the first man out, but now he is in. Brad Keselowski had been in by eight, but after getting tangled up in a wreck with just over 50 to go the defending champ wound up 30th and four points in arrears. A win for the two former champs would sure come in handy about now, as it would for Jeff Gordon who is 11 points in the weeds.
With the points from Bristol pushing Kahne back into the top ten and Logano in by points, Martin Truex Jr retains his wild card spot while Ryan Newman regains the other. At least for the moment. At least until the smoke clears at Atlanta.
Rating Bristol – 7.5/10 – The racing was not exactly up to Bristol standards, but there was enough wrecking and other surprises to keep it interesting.
Johnson, Bowyer, and Kenseth are locked in, while Harvick, Edwards, Kahne, and Kyle Busch should be a week from now. Barring disaster, Dale Earnhardt Jr and Greg Biffle should still be holding a spot in the Chase heading to Richmond, though a win by Kurt Busch, Gordon, or Keselowski could put Logano, Truex, or Newman in jeopardy. Sunday in Atlanta would be a good time for some of the boys to have a good day. Five times in the past Gordon has shaken the bubbly there, while Gene Haas’ new favorite has had the pleasure three times. Enjoy the week.
