They’ve finally figured out how to slow Tony Stewart down….have it rain! So, instead of taking the pole for tomorrow’s Sirius Satellite Radio at the Glen by being almost a half-second quicker than the field, he takes it by 75 points. That’s the margin over Jimmie Johnson that Tony holds in the points and by virtue of being that he’ll lead us to the green tomorrow at Watkins Glen International.
Tony was so much faster than the competition today you know some of those guys had to be wondering if he was skipping the inner loop! If we could have held off the rain for another 30 minutes or so, the lineup would certainly have looked different. We had 37 cars take a time and had but 9 to go when the showers came.
Speaking of that lineup, I’m gonna use the one provided by NASCAR to the media….tho I think it’s wrong. They have the #27 of Tom Hubert missing the event and the #50 of Jorge Georters in the 43rd spot, but the #27 has 13 attempts (according to the official NASCAR numbers from last week’s Owners Points Report) while the #50 has but four. By those numbers the #27 should be starting 41st, Boris Said & Paul Menard slide back one spot, and Geoters goes home. Now, it’s possible that the #27 withdrew (but Hubert did take a time), that NASCAR for some reason disqualified them, or that possibly the entry blank for the Kirk Shelmerdine Ford was late [Jayski Note: #27 was a Post Entry per NASCAR Statisical Services]. In any event, there’s been no explanation put forward….so don’t be surprised to see something different tomorrow by race time. A number of internet sites (whose data I trust) seem to have the same numbers I do…..
Greg Biffle (3rd) has his best starting spot since he had the outside pole at Dover in June (that race lined up by points also).
Rusty Wallace (4th) has his best starting spot since he lined up 4th at Martinsville in April.
Carl Edwards (10th) has his best starting spot since he started 8th at Dover in June (that rain-out again).
Scott Pruett (25th) is gonna fill in for Sterling Marlin who’s gone home to be with his ailing father, Coo Coo.
Anthony Lazzaro (38th) makes his first Cup start since we were here in August of 2001. He started 31st and finished 34th that day.
Johnny Miller (40th) makes his first start since we were here in August of 2003. He started 32nd and finished 36th that day.
Paul Menard (42nd) makes his first Cup start since that same race in 2003 when he started 43rd and finished 29th.
Jorge Geoters (43rd) makes his first NEXTEL Cup start.
STREAKIN….Ryan Newman has 5 Top-10 starts in a row.
46 cars on hand….the Trouble Train contains three cars (sort-of). Scott Pruett, Chris Cook, and Tom Hubert all miss the field…..but as we mentioned Pruett will take the wheel of the #40 Coors Light Dodge. Both he and Cook were quick enough to make the race…..till the rains came.(Stock Car Fans)(8-13-2005)
