October 9, 2007

By Brian Watkins

Brian Watkins

From the drop of the green flag it was destined to be a different race at Talladega, and different it was. The biggest difference of course was the first time running of the COT at ‘Dega. The race was going to be interesting if or no other reason to see how the “new” car dealt with restrictor plate racing. Well, for most of the race it was an expensive game of follow the leader- with at times three separate packs of drivers all biding their time until the last 50 laps.

The biggest media suspense, at least from the ESPN booth, was waiting for “The Big One”. Yes, the 200 mph racing in Alabama has generated more than its share of dramatic multi-car wrecks, is that really the only reason to watch the race? Yes they’re exciting and yes they can throw the entire chase standings up in the air, but need we salivate lap-after-lap in the broadcast booth contemplating aloud “when will the big one happen?”

For a long time it looked like the “Big One” was going to be the “Big None”. I began to wonder if running the COT at Talladega was going to be the same out of character affair as the last Bristol race. The Bristol race you’ll recall was the first on the new surface, and in the end, as far as wrecks were concerned, was a very “un-Bristol-like” affair, to the dismay of the press and many of the fans. I for one was torn then, as I was watching the laps wind down on Sunday. Even though I knew it’s better for the drivers and more truly competitive if there are no big wrecks, a part of me still longs for the smoking tires and torn sheet metal that turns a truly competitive race into almost anyone’s game; and once the real racing at Talladega started, the big one, or in this case more of a medium one, came to pass.

Prior to that we got to see the DEI engines once again show their prowess as one by one three of them blew up. And once again it was Junior who was the biggest victim. How this guy kept a smile on his face during the interviews following his great run was cut short by superior engineering I’ll never know. Maybe it’s the fact that soon enough this season will be behind him. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s become clear that the only reason he isn’t in the chase is because of those engines and everyone knows it. Or maybe it’s the fact that he seems by all accounts to be a level headed guy who understands that tantrums won’t do any good and he has accepted his position as a role model and is taking it seriously. He has a much better temperament than I do. If I’d had the stressful season he’s had, coupled with the engine failures, I’d have already gotten into trouble for having a “chat” with some engineers. Yet another reason you’ll never see my name above the drivers side window of a NASCAR racer.

Tony Stewart had a great run, until he underestimated the width of his bumper. What started off as some great defensive blocking turned into a quick trip to the middle of the pack when his side to side moves left too many chances for others to get around. Of all the drivers in the chase I have to admit that Stewart tops my list. It will be interesting to see how well he and the rest of the Gibbs team do next season with new emblems on the hood.

Speaking of those new emblems, was Sunday’s pole hogging by Toyota a glimpse of things to come next season? While my wife was rooting for Jr., I was cheering for Michael Waltrip- another driver with a stronger resolve than I have. I’d have parked it about midway through the season. He has stuck I out, and though he has thus far amassed a mere 776 points this season he’s still out there getting air time for his sponsors, making some funny, self-depreciating commercials and when the stars align he even gets some decent racing in.

Sunday was by far the best Toyota showing of the season and had to be encouraging for all the teams, as each had a driver in the top 5. It would have been interesting to see how Michael would have finished had he not cut a tire. From a stellar showing at qualifying, taking 4 of the top 5 positions, in the end there was only one Toyota still on the lead lap at the end of the race. Dave Blaney, even after catching a small piece of “The Big One” pulled off a #3 finish. While I have appreciated their underdog status all season, those days are numbered. Toyota is raising the bar each race, and with a high tier team like Gibbs climbing aboard next season there will be no more excuses. But I have a feeling there won’t be any need for any.

As a final word, I’d like to once again say that all the immature fans that find it acceptable to throw their bottles and cans at Jeff Gordon, or any other driver for that matter, simply because he had the gaul to pull off another win, need to be photographed and banned. I encourage any and all NASCAR venues to implement a system similar to what the Vegas casinos use to identify folks using video cameras and high-tech facial recognition software. There’s no room in this or any other sport for the crap a handful of the ‘Dega fans displayed as the 24 car celebrated in front of the main grandstands. The guy has won 80 races folks, get over it.

The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.