Originally Posted on Foxsports.com on July 23, 2006.
Pocono was full of interesting moments - and the action was not likely to end at the track. Black Tuesday could happen later this week...
Denny Hamlin owes some computer gaming company some serious cash after this race - two poles and two races in two tries. Hamlin dominated the race - and did it without the tire drama he had in June. Look out at Indy in two weeks - this car will be there (and so will I!).
Tony Stewart started things out with an on-track altercation with Clint Bowyer. Bowyer squeezed Tony up into the wall. Stewart took offense, waved a fist/ finger at Bowyer and ran him down the track - which unfortunately was where Carl Edwards was racing. Stewart was black flagged, but raced his way back onto the lead lap and finished 7th. The question is whether Nascar will penalize him for his gesture (which was kind of captured on TV), or whether the lost lap was it. Typically, Nascar has held that the at-track penalty was enough punishment for the crime (remember the #48 at Daytona, Kyle Bush, Matt Kenseth & Stewart at Daytona?).
My favorite Stewart quote this week was about his favorite topic - "Give & Take" on the racetrack. He said that since even Kyle Busch could figure it out, he would assume the rest of these guys could too. Ouch!
Apparently, Stewart also gave Edwards the finger at some point. Edwards admitted this set him off, so he pitted early and spun Stewart out on pit road. As a result, he was black flagged, penalized a lap, and sent to the end of the longest line. The black flag & lost lap were for the spin, and the longest line penalty was for the early pitting. Edwards claimed this could have taken him out of the chase. And indeed, it may have. Edwards later called Stewart a "Jerk." Next time Carl, just say that even Kyle Busch is a better driver - that may get to Stewart faster than anything.
During Edwards' crew's efforts to fix his car, his in-car radio was broadcast on TV. During the transmission, Edward's crew chief was heard saying "S***" TNT appologized immediately, but one wonders if the FCC will have penalties later for TNT and Nascar. I thought after the Jr. Debacle in 2004, the broadcasters had instituted a 5 second delay. And wouldn't it be easy to do that for the in-car radio transmissions? In my mind, they are really taking risks broadcasting ANY team's radio traffic LIVE in a race - these guys all have potty-mouths the last time I listened in!
On a side note, rumor has it that the President recently signed a bill that would allow the FCC to penalize people who say or do obscene things on television - so not just the broadcaster pays the penalty, but the individual who said it. One wonders how this will work on live events were someone in a crowd says something obscene. Or a player on the field, (who may not be identified). Could this be the end of live broadcasts? Of course, this was a couple days before our Prez was heard saying the same thing that Edward's crew chief was on live TV. So that policy may be changing as we speak...
Dale Earnhardt Jr had another bad week - and fell out of the top 10. Earnhardt was bumped by Dave Blaney and spun into the wall. It was the second week Earnhardt finished last. As close as the points are for the top 12 drivers, any bouble in the points hurts. Junior hasn't done well at Indy, but he thought the test went well.
Elliott Sadler announced he is leaving Robert Yates Racing due to differences in philosophy. My guess is that it is the multi-car team problem. Clearly the bigger teams have more information to share - which with limited testing dates is vital. Current speculation is that Sadler will land at Evernham - in the #19. I'm not sure that is an improvement as that team was stripped of most of its talent at the end of last year. Mayfield deserved better. So does Sadler.
Mayfield could end up at Michael Waltrip Racing. Or maybe he bounces to Yates. In any event, WILL SOMEONE PLEASE HIRE WARD BURTON!!! I know Ward is no spring chicken, but I also know given semi-decent equipment, he can contend to win races. Look at what he did at Bill Davis. And at the former #0, now #66 (if recollection is correct), is not a great ride, but he did better there than the drivers have since then. And he deserved better than getting dumped in the closing races of 2004.
The big non-racing story of the broadcast was Kurt Busch and Eva Bryan's wedding next weekend. Eva originally wanted the wedding on the Chesapeake Bay beach, but due to the mating season of an endangered beetle, the wedding will be held on a friend's porch instead. As if a woman planning a wedding didn't have enough to worry about - now add the mating habits of endangered bugs! I like Eva - I'm not sold on Busch. But he does seem to dote on her - and his attitude has changed somewhat since they have been together. Maybe there's hope for him yet.
The other major non-racing story of the weekend is the start of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America. The Ride is held each year - this year the ride runs through Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and finishes in North Carolina. The Ride benefits Victory Junction Gang Camp, which was founded by the Pettys in memory of Adam Petty. The Camp provides a free week of camp for chronically ill children and their families for no cost. Medical treatment is provided for the campers. I'll have more on this later this week, but many drivers will be joining the ride - Bobby Labonte, and possibly Stewart and Kenseth.
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