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August 05, 2007
Busch wins Pocono
Kurt Busch had a fast car the whole race, quickly taking the lead at the beginning of the race and led all but 25 laps of the race and most of the ones he didn't lead were because of pit stops. It was clear, almost from the start, that unless something went wrong with his car, he was going to win the race.
The race was marred by some cautions, but it was still mostly a follow the leader race and it played out in typical fashion that we're used to at Pocono.
With his win, Kurt Busch moved up to 12th in points, but only 7 points ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr., who got very lucky after having a bad handling, spinning and then changing a shock. After that, Jr.'s car improved immensely over how it was before, but it was no match for Busch, no one was.
Your thoughts?
August 5, 2007 in NASCAR | Permalink
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Comments
Kurt2! (Spaceman) Too funny! Two divers from JGR in the chase driving Toyotas? Bwahahahah! I'm betting the 18 and 11 right? LOL! Once the two other guys start beating Stewart, he'll go into a pout the likes of which has rarely been seen. "Out here" is right. They got a funny way of looking at things on whatever planet you currently reside on.
Posted by: ron | Aug 19, 2007 1:42:17 AM
WHO CARES WHAT ANY OF THE BUSH BROS DO! THEY ARE THE WORST AND DONONT BELONG TO THE NASCAR SCENE..SOMEONE SHOULD CHECT THE #2...IT HAD TO BE ILLEGAL..HE'S NOT THAT GOOD..HE'S A A-HOLE!
SGMJ
Posted by: SGMJONES | Aug 7, 2007 11:18:34 PM
RCR, DEI, JGR, Evernham and more approached
Kyle Busch to drive for them but he decided
to go with JGR. JGR will have three great
drivers now. Kyle is a great race car driver
and he can drive the wheels off of a car.
When he hits the track, he doesn't just
drive to end up in the top ten, he drives to
win. He is only 22 years old and was the
first rookie to make NASCAR's Chase for the
Nextel Cup. Sure Kyle has made mistakes but
what race car driver hasn't. Wait until next
year, he will do a great job for JGR, I wish
J.J. the best of luck in his future ride.
Posted by: Blueeyes | Aug 7, 2007 4:37:57 PM
hey Jon2,picture in your mind this,an enormous Clydesdale standing over a bucket pissing and singing cheerfully "this Bud's for you"
Posted by: T. | Aug 6, 2007 10:42:10 PM
Ron, when was the last time the 18 won a race... Humm Bobby Labonte.
This is business not personal, as him and Tony are great riends, he got the 18 because of Tony..
Down like the titantic? too funny.2 drivers in the Chase next year is the way its seen out here.
Posted by: Kurt2 | Aug 6, 2007 9:56:50 PM
"in a lot of cases, performance ain't got nothing to do with it"
That is exactly my point. I'm just saying I would like to see NASCAR focus more on performance rather than simply popularity. If they really want to grow the sport like they claim, then why not give more guys pub thereby elevating more of your sport to the public eye? It makes sense to me. If you really want to make NASCAR more popular, average viewers should be able to rattle off more than 4 drivers when asked which drivers are currently headlining NASCAR. At least that makes sense to me.
And as far as Kenseth ONLY winning one race in 2003, he led NASCAR in victories the year before and finished 8th in points. Things tend to even out when your good.
Posted by: Choach | Aug 6, 2007 9:56:30 PM
HAH! Kyle B. belongs at JGR. Yeley didn't fit in with those other two whiners. I can see JGR going down like the Titanic next year. Not even gonna need an iceberg.
Posted by: ron | Aug 6, 2007 9:33:01 PM
Watch out for Kyle B next year, finally out of HMS . Good job JD, and glad we all can talk about it now, since I keep getting asked where he was going...
Posted by: KURT2 | Aug 6, 2007 9:19:56 PM
Yeah, right, Kenseth won one, count 'em just ONE race, only one, during his championship year. KB gets arrested for drunk driving and placed on probation during the following year of his championship win.
You miss the whole point, in a lot of cases performance ain't got nothing to do with it.
As in other sports there are a few marquee players who get ALL the press because they are who they are. NASCAR is no different and whether Gordon, Stewart, Johnson, and Junior want to be the center of attention, the race G-ds put them there and Mike Helton and the crew believe in the race G-ds, and quite frankly there marketing strategy is pretty much on target.
Stewart's scruffy in appearance and mouths off a lot but backs his mouth up with wins. Jimmie Johnson, consistent, eloquent, good looking guy who appeals to the upper middle class, kind of a West coast laid back California cool guy who can drive. There's Gordon, Mr. cosmopolitan, has a 10million apartment in New York City, is a family man with an immigrant model for a wife. And lastly, there's Junior who appeals to the redneck Southern type of NASCAR enthusiast.
Posted by: Jon2 | Aug 6, 2007 8:03:25 PM
Don't you think if NASCAR put some of their other driver's names out there (beyond Junior, Gordon, Johnson, and Stewart)especially during commercials that more of the general public might know more about them and see the others (Kenseth, Hamlin, Edwards, Burton, Harvick, Busch brothers, etc.) as good race car drivers. Then, when their self-appointed "stars" don't make the show, mkght the masses still pay attention because they have been exposed to more than 4 guys?
I understand that each of these four guys have won championships and/or races over the last 15 years but if you look to recent years, like let's say the last 5, only 2 of those four have won championships: Stewart and Johnson. Let's see, the other 2 guys, Kenseth and Kurt Busch, may as well not exist to the general public but are damn good race car drivers...better than Junior.
Posted by: Choach | Aug 6, 2007 5:29:26 PM
Anybody catch him drinking from that unopened can of Miller Lite. Course can't blame him i wouldn/t drink that pee water either!
Posted by: Steve | Aug 6, 2007 4:13:11 PM
Probably 'cause those four drivers are the franchise. They win the most, between three of them they've won all but four of the championships over the past 14 years for those drivers who're still active.
That's why NASCAR touts 'em as their marquee guys. Just think of the fall off in ticket sales if the four of them didn't show up to race. NASCAR'd have to cancel the race.
Junior ain't done much in the way of championships but has his daddy's legacy to coattail on and is sponsored by a beer company.
Danica is a draw because she has her "girls" and has the looks to go with those "girls."
Posted by: Jon2 | Aug 6, 2007 4:07:01 PM
Gotta hand it to the #2 team, they killed 'em Sunday! But Kurt Busch has got to do the worst Victory Lane interviews in history. His lame attempts at eloquence cause me to break out in hysterical fits of laughter. To watch him struggle with what he wants to say next is as humorous as reading another whacky Mike Daly post. The best part was seeing Kurt's wife in Victory Lane with those bodacious ta-tas. I wonder; did the same doctor do Kurt's ears?
Posted by: ron | Aug 6, 2007 2:40:11 PM
nascar is a joke they make uo rules as they go they @@@@@ Robbie Gordon, and the whole world say it, and the news people are a joke for not talking about it.i hope one day that someone takes down nascar for all the sh@@ they have done
Posted by: larry | Aug 6, 2007 2:34:57 PM
"Why does NASCAR and its television commodities only pimp four drivers for every race: Gordon, Johnson, Stewart, and Earnhardt, Jr?"
If you think NASCAR is bad, try finding a IRL commercial that doesn't feature Danika. You'd think she invented the sport. It's just marketing crap - not intended for real fans, but trying to hook the casual viewer that may not even know what Junior does for a living.
Posted by: buddynoel | Aug 6, 2007 2:26:49 PM
Random thoughts/musings:
Congratulations to Kurt Busch! Kurt had one heck of car on Sunday and showed that he belongs in the chase. I used to really dislike Kurt but never doubted that he was a great wheelman. But over the last couple of years I have really started to like him and I think he's a great fit for the Blue Deuce. Here's to Kurt getting at least 1 Dodge into the chase.
Speaking of the chase, the scramble for the last transfer spot between Kurt, Dale Jr, Newman, etc. has really highlighted how absolutely ridiculous the whole idea of the chase is. Over the next 5 weeks we as fans are going to be inundated with a sh**load of nonsense regarding the battle for 12th place. That's right...12th place!!! In reality, those in 12th place at this time in the year have no business even having a shot at the championship (especially when they are 800 or 900 points out of first)! I thought the idea to have 10 guys in the chase was pushing it but having 12 is just plain stupid. No offense to Junior fans, but Junior and his team are an 8th-12th place team just about every year. Is it any coincidence that they have gone to 12 teams???
Elliott Sadler is a complete afterthought in just about every race. It's pretty amazing to me that when Evernham canned Mayfield, a lot of people thought that the 19 would get decent results. I liked Mayfield and thought that he got royally screwed on the deal. As it turns out, Sadler finishes most races in the 20s and Mayfield in the same car put it in the chase 2 straight years with wins in each of those years. Now, before a bunch of yutzes say that Mayfield can barely make a race this season, keep in mind that he has been in a car that has no owners points from last season and is part of an entire brigrade (Toyota) that has struggled mightily all year. Heck, and Mayfield got into those chases when most of the emphasis at Evernham Motorsports was on Kasey Kahne and his girlish figure.
Why does NASCAR and its television commodities only pimp four drivers for every race: Gordon, Johnson, Stewart, and Earnhardt, Jr? Is it because these are the most popular drivers they have or is it because they all drive Chevy's? Earnhardt, Jr. is currently not even in their precious race. How about some love for Kenseth, Hamlin, Edwards, or Harvick? I, for one am not a fan of Gordon, Johnson, Stewart, or Little E and I'm sure I'm not alone? I'm not saying that these guys haven't earned their places at the top but they aren't the only ones. Can't we get a little variety NASCAR? Can't you at least focus on the guys who are at the top of the sport based on talent rather than simply popularity? I know you seem think that popularity alone sells but I got news for you, cochese, your ratings are falling. Maybe it's time you buck up and start acknowledging the better drivers based on merit rather than trying to force them upon the people. Your sport might seem more credible then.
Posted by: Choach | Aug 6, 2007 1:12:09 PM
watched both the busch and cup races on cable. ESPN is deadset shocking. Here in oz our V* supercars are shown on national free to air networks and the coverage is first class. Although the v8 supercars are all on road courses they coverage is still brilliant ,they miss bugger all. if it aint live they have all incidents from start to finish on replay. Even long courses like Bathurst Mt Panorama are covered well, they use helicopters there. Have seen some aussie coverage of oval track racing from calder park in victoria and even it is ok.
Love the racing over there but think they bring out the yellow a little too quick in some cases
Posted by: spike | Aug 6, 2007 12:55:21 PM
Two races at Pocono is like having a root canal and colonoscopy scheduled 6 weeks apart.
Posted by: Rich | Aug 6, 2007 12:43:54 PM
Ironman, you missed that Sadler has been as volatile with crew chiefs as Jeremy Mayfield is with race teams.
John, Pocono is not 100 miles too long - all those shorter races are 100 miles too short.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Aug 6, 2007 11:45:20 AM
Hey Kathy,
Great to see the 2 car back up front.
Ironman, Ironman, Ironman, oh nevermind.
Posted by: Larry | Aug 6, 2007 11:44:57 AM
Boy it's been a long time since somebody absolutely dominated the race the way Kurt did yesterday. Congrats to the 2 team. The Pocono race is 100 miles too long. The 2 would have still have won going away. Good job guys.
Posted by: John | Aug 6, 2007 10:55:04 AM
All the years that Mark Martin made his runs, it always seemed like he had a great car to match. The way the #2 looked this weekend, it appears the genie has been let out of the bottle again. This could be the worst news for Junior Nation, because it may be hard to pass Busch, especially if Tryson has his mile-and-a-half game together.
Posted by: buddynoel | Aug 6, 2007 9:45:49 AM
The best car dominated, the rest of us were running for 2nd on. That car was amazing.
Pat, K.B and the crew did a great job.Glad to see him back in top form.
Ironman, Ironman, Ironman. oh nevermind
Posted by: KURT2 | Aug 6, 2007 7:46:35 AM
Congrats to Kurt,'bout time Dodge dominated a race,Dodge sure has takin the shitty end of the stick,with the 6 wins of the #9 Dodge last year turns out the Program had the chief developer blowin smoke up someones ass.turns out the computer program for the new package was bogus,Chebby probably payed him off !!!! If true,Chebby will do anything to win,it is all about politics and BIG BIG money.
Posted by: Tim | Aug 6, 2007 12:23:43 AM
Within the next few weeks, I hope Dale Jr.
ends up in the top 12 for the championship.
Also, glad to see Jimmie Johnson end up in
the top five today. Congratulations to Kurt
Bush on his win. Ray Evernham needs to pay
more attention to Elliott Sadler's team.
Elliott Sadler is a better driver then what
is happening with the #19 team. K.K. is
getting all of the attention, like meeting
Paris Hilton and if Budweiser is going to be
his sponsor. Don't get me wrong, I like
K.K. but I think, Evernham needs to do
something regarding the #19 team. Greg
Biffle is a GOOD driver but all Jack Roush
cares about is Matt Kenseth and Carl
Edwards. Biffle has only signed for 2008
with Roush and if things don't get better
for him, I think, he will leave at the end
of 2008. In the newspaper today, they have
Kyle Busch going to RCR.
Posted by: Angel | Aug 5, 2007 11:19:10 PM
Lets give Eric a 25 point deduction and a fine to go with it.
Posted by: jeff | Aug 5, 2007 10:30:31 PM
Congrats to big Busch! If he can keep the big Mo going he may peak at just the right time. Boring race though...but sometimes that happens.
Good save by Jr. The race for the 12th spot should be fun to watch over the next few weeks.
Posted by: NC Expat in Hong Kong | Aug 5, 2007 9:47:32 PM
While on the subject of owners screwing with the chemistry of their driver/crew chief combo, look at what Robert Yates did with Elliott Sadler. Sadler had his best performances with Todd Parrott, then Yates played "musical crew chief" with him, and the 38 team wasn't the same. Now Sadler is stuck with Evernham's shitty 19 car, stuck in the back of the field every week; I guarantee you that he would be competitive if Ray would be more of a team owner and quitting banging his ARCA driver.
Posted by: Ironman | Aug 5, 2007 9:28:54 PM
What a horrible race , that fucking draft tracker on espn was as bad as the commercials .
Posted by: Eric | Aug 5, 2007 8:33:48 PM
stricklinfan2, couldn't agree more with you about Biffle--if I were him I'd be considering leaving Roush. Jack R. has been screwing with him and his team for the last year and a half. I've never been too impressed with Jamie M., and if Roush wants to get rid of a driver, probably the last guy he would want to lose is Biffle, other than Matt Kenseth, of course.
Way to go today on the 2 car--untouchable.
Posted by: SneakyPete | Aug 5, 2007 8:24:34 PM
Kurt had a car that could have led every lap. I've never seen someone that dominating at Pocono before.
Jr. was out of it until NASCAR gave him that "special shock" and kept the race under caution long enough for the crew to have time to change it.
Just kidding Jr. fans. Just kidding.
But seriously, why were there so many caution flag laps for two harmless spins? The Jr. spin and the David Ragan spin were single car spins that didn't leave much debris on the track and yet there were several laps of caution. What happened to quicky yellows for those type of incidents?
Posted by: Ken | Aug 5, 2007 8:09:25 PM
Great run by Kurt Busch. He's been fast a lot this year but has lost so many races in the pits (loose lugnuts, bad pit strategies, poorly timed caution flags, etc.) that I was just waiting for it to happen again. The crew had one slow stop that put him in 7th or 8th but he charged back to the front in no time at a track that's usually hard to pass on, so he clearly had the dominant car.
The guy I really feel sorry for today is Greg Biffle. He dominated the first half of 2006 but had the worst luck in the world and had nothing but a bunch of DNF's to show for it. Instead of looking at the situation logically, Jack Roush panicked and decided to shake things up and get rid of the crew chief (Doug Reichert) that helped Biffle win all of those races in '05 and lead all those laps at the start of '06. After bringing in Pat Tryson to be Biffle's crew chief this year, Biffle had just gotten to the point where he thought they were finally on the same page and about to turn the corner when.... Roush fired Tryson, who now is doing great things with Kurt Busch.
Jack Roush doesn't seem to know what he's doing anymore when it comes to hiring people. He got rid of Doug Reichert after running great with Greg Biffle, took Bob Osborne away from Carl Edwards after winning 4 races in '05, and couldn't find anyone that could fit with Jamie McMurray. He finally let Jamie pick his own crew chief this year and he's running a lot better, and caved in and finally let Carl have his crew chief back this year, and wouldn't you know he's winning again and is solidly in the Chase.
Greg Biffle hasn't done much of anything since the middle of 2006, because Jack has gotten rid of the two crew chiefs that Biffle really liked. Maybe he should start letting Greg have a little bit of input when it comes to choosing the people that he has to work with. McMurray and Edwards finally turned themselves around when they got the crew chiefs THEY wanted, now it's time to let Biffle have a crew chief that HE wants. Either that or let Greg go to a team that will.
Posted by: stricklinfan82 | Aug 5, 2007 7:59:32 PM
Congrats to the the #2 team, Pat Tryson nailed the setup and Kurt Busch kept the car out front for the most part.
Dale Jr. can thank his lucky stars that Tony Eury Jr. and the pit crew got his car back to where he could drive the car just in time to finish 2nd.
Posted by: Jon | Aug 5, 2007 7:05:31 PM
Way to go Kurt!!!
Posted by: Kristy | Aug 5, 2007 7:04:21 PM
Best part? No stupid snow angel!
Posted by: Donb | Aug 5, 2007 7:03:15 PM
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