What a wild weekend. It possessed the absurd, some requisite tragedy and a dramatic denouement. I liked Brian Vickers as the leading man, but Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, and Lisa Mayfield nailed their supporting roles. Moreover, it proved that Crazy still exists in NASCAR, and as the Chase takes shape, the circus will only get better.
Kyle may be typecast, but he plays the stereotype perfectly. Following the Nationwide race, his actions were so predictable. ESPN didn't even follow Keselowski's burn-out. Instead, we listened to it as the cameras and commentary followed the Kyle Busch Show.
And he didn't disappoint.
"I'm sure I'm complaining and whining and I'm a cry baby," he self-commentated. Yeah, pretty much. Actually, you nailed it. Thanks for doing my job for me. It's far easier when you call out your own actions so I don't have to come up with clever euphemisms.
(Speaking of bad interviews, what was up with Jr.'s interview after his solid run? That was simply poor form. Did he get bitch-slapped in the hauler over his recent comments? Man, lighten up, bro. Third is good.)
But I wasn't entirely fond of Vickers' move either. The excess taurine coursing through his veins must give him the yips, because he can't seem to go for a close win without contact (see JJ and Talladega ). This one definitely fell under the block category, but it was abysmally executed. I'm pretty sure the point of blocking for the win is to win, but eh, pissing off Kyle is a close second.
Vickers recovered from this ill-conceived move of course, stealing the Cup race and giving Red Bull its first set of NASCAR wiiings. Vickers, in my opinion, is a deserving driver. But watching JJ falter was a shocker. Once maybe, but twice at the same track? It's hard to believe that JJ has an Achilles' heel, but gas mileage appears to be it.
You have to admire Knaus' balls, however. He had no incentive to pit, but when you are going for it and still fall 2.5 laps short, you clearly play by a different set of rules. That's not gambling, that's praying. Gambling on fuel somehow implies that you have a chance. And Knaus wasn't gambling; he was throwing his hands up, going all in and saying, "Aww, f**k it!"
Jeff Gordon, naturally, made me eat a heaping portion of crow. I'd like to believe Jeff responds to my criticism just to spite me, but I'm rather certain it's coincidence. Either way, I'm thinking that I may have to disparage his every move in the Chase, as he'd clearly walk away with the Cup. Every time I give him some heat, he reminds me that I know nothing. That was an impressive showing by the 24 team. Solid stops, great calls, and some awesome driving. When you can save four laps of fuel exiting the pits and circling under yellow, you are experienced and clearly know how to drive.
Finally, for years I contended that NASCAR was the cleanest, most ordinary major league sport. Drivers never get caught busting caps in the air, making it rain in strip clubs, or throwing orgies on booze cruises. I figured that France syndicate regulations simply prohibited it, so neer-do-wells need not apply. To my thinking, it was the equivalent of the perfect family, those functional neighbors that never fight publicly. Well, I was blind. NASCAR has the crazy, too.
Exhibit A: the Mayfields. Lisa Mayfield reaffirmed my thinking on the whole Jeremy situation. She, according to reports, headed over to Jeremy's for tea and crumpets (presumably). Only Jeremy wasn't home, so she allegedly punched a male employee in the chest and his wife in the crotch. She got that part backwards, but clearly she means business. To me, her actions are a clear indication that Jeremy won't go quietly.
In short, I'm convinced the apple fell and landed on the tree.
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