June 2, 2010
By Chuck Abrams
After winning the non-points All-Star race last week, Kurt Busch, at least temporarily silenced, some of his critics by leading the most laps enroute to another win, this time in the Coca-Cola 600.
Last week, several websites and pundits were saying that while Kurt will more than likely remain in the Chase, his All-Star win was nothing to make believers out of them -- for him to be a title contender this year. Not only is Penske the only Dodge team in NASCAR, but Kurt’s team did not look like a title team. They have not seriously threatened to win enough races while Denny Hamlin and brother Kyle Busch were lighting up the NASCAR circuit at the time.
Fast forward a week and Kurt Busch not only wins the longest race of the year, but he does it while other Chase contenders are having rough days. That my friends, is how you gain ground in the standings. Not just winning, but doing it when the guys in front of you are not having their best days.
You can also look to Jamie McMurray since we are talking about resurgence. After starting off the year with a bang, McMurray quickly disappeared. The next thing you know, he finishes second at Darlington and now second in the Coca-Cola 600. Jamie Mac has leap frogged the slumping Tony Stewart and
Ganassi-Earnhardt teams, with some luck, can get closer to the Chase in the coming weeks. Whether or not Jamie Mac is for real will unfold in the coming weeks. It has been a long time since he was in the Chase and with Montoya struggling to rekindle last years Chase run, McMurray is Obi Wan Ganassi’s only hope.
Don’t look now Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans, but the wonderful start to the year and the ensuing Slump, may continue until the Cup boys return to Daytona. The next four races are not traditionally happy hunting grounds for the Beloved One. While Junior has won at Michigan, it was not because of a dominating performance. It was a strategy win and while a win is still a win, you would prefer to see your driver dominate a race to feel good about his chances. That may take a while.
In the meantime, stay away from windows and the Valium. Something needs to change on that team soon, or Lance McGrew is on the hot seat. They need at least two top-five runs in the next four weeks for this team to be considered to be off of life support. Once again, Hendrick has four teams in Chase contention, and one not -- and it is the same teams once again.
Ryan Newman has once again snuck back into the Top-12. His blistering pole run was backed up with a solid ninth place finish in the Coca-Cola 600. So how do you tell the boss that his team is sucking wind?
The Franchise (David Reutimann), qualified well and finished well, marking Michael Waltrip Racing’s return to the Top-ten.
Reutimann ran well here last year -- so he has proven he is no fluke in this seasonal marathon.
Same goes for Paul Menard who started out well this year and has faded to something akin to a bad memory. His Top 10 finish was a shot in the arm for that team, even thought it might be a short lived shot in the arm.
And Mark Martin finished fourth, the best of the Hendrick teams. While he may not be racing for Hendrick next year, Martin is surely going out with what appears to be another Chase appearance. Too bad that can’t be said for the No. 88 team.
Maybe they should put Junior in the No. 5 car and Kahne in the No. 88? Then let’s see if the issue is the driver or the dreaded Hendrick fourth team hex.
Let me know your thoughts.
Drive fast, turn left and keep the shiny side up.
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