When you have 63 lead changes amongst 23 drivers, an unbelievable finish with a first-time winner emerging, and the “Big One” on lap 139 (this one had 13 cars involved) we can only be at one place….Talladega Superspeedway. Today was everything we love and everything we hate about plate racing, and when the smoke cleared (and I’m not being figurative here) Brian Vickers was declared the winner of the UAW-Ford 500 today. You just knew when we set up for a 10 lap shootout at the end, somebody wasn’t gonna make it….you just didn’t think it was gonna be teammates (if they still are as of this writing). Brian Vickers hooked Jimmie Johnson as he was trying to pass Dale Earnhardt Jr going into three for the final time, and only Vickers came out. You can pick the story of your choice (we’ll have many floated, I’m sure), but you can bet if Mr. Vickers thought he was “persona-non-grata” at Hendrick Motorsports already, he ain’t seen nuttin’ yet!
His first career win ties him for 115th on the all-time list, he becomes the 171st driver to win a Cup race (tho not a popular one to say the least, at least judging from the reception he got in Victory Lane from the crowd), and the 148th win for Hendrick Motorsports (but I bet if you look up thedefinition of the term “mixed emotions” in the dictionary you’ll see a picture of Rick Hendrick). Oh, it was worth $228,850 from the over $5.2M in posted awards, tho.
Kurt Busch (3rd) had his best finish since he was runner-up at Pocono in July.
Martin Truex Jr (5th) had his career-best finish today…his previous best was 6th at Dover last month. He’s the 29th driver to score a Top-5 this season….last year we had 30 drivers at that level.
Jeff Green (7th) had his best finish since he was 7th at Martinsville in October of 2004! He’s the 36th driver at the Top-10 mark this season…last year that number was 43.
Michael Waltrip (14th) had his best finish since he was 11th at Atlanta last October.
David Gilliland (15th) had his career-best finish today. His previous best was 22nd last week at Kansas.
Mike Wallace (17th) had his best finish since he was 14th at Richmond in September of 2005.
Joe Nemechek (18th) had his best finish since he was 17th at Pocono in July.
Tony Raines (20th) had his best finish since he was 11th at the Brickyard in August.
STREAKIN….Matt Kenseth has 7 Top-10s in the last 8 races.B This Week’s Elevator….UP: Operator of the Week is Jeff Green (+30), followed by Bobby Labonte (+29), Kurt Busch (+26), Kasey Kahne (+23), Mark Martin (+22), Scott Riggs (+22), Robby Gordon (+20),and Tony Raines (+20). DOWN: The Big Dropper was Greg Biffle (-36), followed by Sterling Marlin (-33), Jeff Gordon (-32), Jamie McMurray (-29), J. J. Yeley (-22), Jimmie Johnson (-21), and Kyle Petty (-20).
Paul Menard led a lap today for the first time in his NEXTEL Cup career. He’s the 46th driver to lead a lap this season….last year we had 51 leaders.
In “Classic” Points, Brian Vickers (18th to 16th) and Martin Truex Jr (21st to 19th) made the only multiple position moves forward, while Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, and Jamie McMurray all fell two spots.(Stock Car Fans)(10-8-2006)
