NASCAR - Fontana

9

What can you say about Fontana... Same as every year, Boring 2 mile Flat track, except for the fact that this track is 2 miles long in no way should it be called a Super Speedway... Green flag racing (that I do like) but no racing... Kyle led, Tony took the lead, Tony led, Denny came close to taking the lead, but the rains came and that was the end... No doubt the race would be called. From the beginning of the race every one was racing for half way as if it was already decided that whenever the first rain came that was it...

Smoke in the Rain

So the question after the race is "Should NASCAR not declare a winner until all laps have been run in any given race?" I am on the fence for this one... being the passionate race fan I am, YES I would love to see every lap run... but also being the passionate race fan I am I also know how demanding it is on the drivers to have to run the extra day... So my answer is... If they can not get to half way on race day then they need to run the following day... but if they do get to half way on race day, then every effort should be made to get the whole race in up until midnight that day... If they cannot then declare a winner... But today they could have finished that race by 9 pm as the rains would have stopped by 5pm tonight Pacific time... 2 hours of drying time, back to racing by 7pm done by 9pm... Fontana has lights... this should not have been called so early... Also every track should be required to have lights...
Anyway getting off my high horse...

Congratulations Tony Stewart!!! Looking good... took the lead from Kyle and never looked back... Good move by most all drivers not pitting when the rain came... Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson took the chance of maybe returning to racing and pitted. For Denny it turned out to be the wrong move, but for Jimmie it turned out to be okay as he eventually blowed up and because they called the race he still finished 10th.
Top Ten Recap
1. Tony Stewart - started 9 - up 3 positions to 4th
2. Kyle Busch - started 2 - up 2 positions to 14th
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - started 14 - up 3 positions to 3rd
4. Kevin Harvick - started 7 - remained in 2nd
5. Carl Edwards - started 12 - up 3 positions to 12th
6. Greg Biffle - started 4 - remained the Leader
7. Ryan Newman - started 6 - up 3 positions to 10th
8. Martin Truex Jr. - started 13 - down 2 positions to 6th
9. Kurt Busch - started 23 - up 4 positions to 23rd
10. Jimmie Johnson - started 10 - up 3 positions to 8th

Race for the Chase
1. Greg Biffle - finished 6 - remains the Leader
2. Kevin Harvick - finished 4 - remains the same
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - finished 3 - up 3 positions
4. Tony Stewart - WINNER - up 3 positions
5. Matt Kenseth - finished 12 - down 2 positions
6. Martin Truex Jr. - finished 8 - down 2 positions
7. Denny Hamlin - finished 11 - down 2 positions
8. Jimmie Johnson - finsihed 10 - up 3 positions
9. Clint Bowyer - finished 14 - down 1 position
10. Ryan Newman - finished 7 - up 3 positions
11. Paul Menard - finished 19 - down 1 position
12. Carl Edwards - finished 5 - up 3 positions

Joey Lagano lost the most positions, 4, dropping him out of the top 12 to 13th with a 24th place finished.
Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne gained the most positions at 4. Kurt jumped to 23rd with a 9th place finish, and Kasey went to 28th with a 15th place finish.

This new points system certainly make the points race interesting. Martin Truex, Jr. finished 8th and lose two positions in the points. Who would have ever thought that even though you finish in the top 10 you still drop in points... The drivers have to be on their best every single race to have a chance to be in the Chase. I do believe I am liking this...

Next race - Martinsville Speedway - Goody's Fast Relief 500 -  April 1, 2012 - 12:30pm EST

Have A Wonderful Week All!!!

Take Care
Barbara