Post by G on Mar 2, 2008 0:12:03 GMT -5
This may have been the longest delay to turn into a postponement ever in the history of racing I can only tell it from my point of view. I turned the race on at around 3pm in the midst of a rain delay before the race began. All but about 10 laps of practice had been canceled as well as qualifying already. It looked as though rain was going to threaten the race, but just at the right moment the rain passed and track drying began. At around roughly 6pm the field was set to go green when Michael Waltrip (yes, my favorite driver) had a disconnected oil line dropped oil all over the track delaying the race another 15 minutes or so. Finally the race began and it was turning out to be some good stuff. However, the track had what is known as "weepers" in it. The rain had gone on so long that the water was now seeping up onto the track. Needless to say it didnt take long before someone hit it and took out the most popular driver in Nascar....Dale Jr.
As clean up began, Dale went on tv and whined that they had no business racing, the track was dirty. Well...it was obvious that the weepers were making the track dangerous. So, the officials red flagged the even and sawed gully's into the track for drainage. This took another hour. Finally the race restarted. However, rain once again loomed. The field had not yet made it half way. The racing at this point was exciting as the field sense the rain coming and maybe half way would determine the race. It never got there. Around 9pm, the rains came in earnest.
Looking at the tv, I figured the race was postponed. But instead of postpoing, Nascar said come back at 11 for an update. I did. At which time we were told, the rain has stopped and no more is in sight and there will be a race....come back at 12. I did. At which point they were still promising a race to happen, and come back at 1am. At this point Im getting really tired and I have to work the next morning. Im in trouble if this race happens. I feel asleep on the couch and woke up around 1:15 am to a rerun of American Idol. What gives? I went into the computer room and looked on the internet. Track nearly read, should start between 1:30 and 2am. 1:30....no word. Then 2am came and guess what?
They postponed the race !!! 
If they had done that at 9pm, I could have gotten to bed on time. Needless to say, I got 3 hrs sleep and recorded the ending of the race. On Monday the race resumed but the conditions were quite different. Sunny skies and warm temperatures made it appear like a lot of cars missed their setup. What ensued was a rather boring affair with 1 car seemingly hooked up and the rest just following behind. The 2nd half of the race ruin the 1st. The winner?
Carl Edward in an easy anti-climatic victory to what was the night before a good race with too many red flags.
Race Grade: C+
