Post by G on Mar 28, 2008 11:25:59 GMT -5
As reported before, Bristol is my 3rd favorite track behind Talladega and Daytona which are both similar restrictor plate huge tracks. Bristol is completely different. A 1/2 mile long high banked toilet bowl which historically has produced a lot of crashes and exciting finishes. Last year they repaved and regraded the track. What used to be a fight to get to the bottom of the track now had drivers driving wherever they wanted and the friendly race made last year's version ho-hum. Wasnt sure what we would get this time. There was some drama heading into the race as for one, this would be Dale Jarrett's final points cup race (he still has the All-Star race left in May as his final race). And 2 it was the final race using last years points to determine the top 35 rule. After this race, they start using this years points.
When the race began it seemed like it was old fighting Bristol with plenty of side by side racing and the occasional crash erupting when someone got tired of playing give and take.
It was Tony Stewart who was dominating the show and looking like the race was going to be all his, but late in the race Kevin Harvick appeared to have the better, fast car with Stewart trying to hold him off. With 3 laps to go, Harvick got into a corner too hard and shot up the race track hitting Stewart into the wall and bringing out the caution and dropping Stewart back to 12th. Harvick had only fallen to 3rd and was still a contender.
The final restart had Denny Hamlin in 1st and Jeff Burton in 2nd, Harvick 3rd. All Denny had to do is keep it cool and clean for 1 mile and the race was his. Instead, when the green flag waved, his throttle response wasnt there as they blamed poor pickup of gas on the restarts as being slow starters. Jeff Burton had no problem cruising past Denny and coasted for an easy win.
After many a hum-drum affair this was easily the best race so far of the early part of this season.
Grade: A- for a damn good show
When the race began it seemed like it was old fighting Bristol with plenty of side by side racing and the occasional crash erupting when someone got tired of playing give and take.
It was Tony Stewart who was dominating the show and looking like the race was going to be all his, but late in the race Kevin Harvick appeared to have the better, fast car with Stewart trying to hold him off. With 3 laps to go, Harvick got into a corner too hard and shot up the race track hitting Stewart into the wall and bringing out the caution and dropping Stewart back to 12th. Harvick had only fallen to 3rd and was still a contender.
The final restart had Denny Hamlin in 1st and Jeff Burton in 2nd, Harvick 3rd. All Denny had to do is keep it cool and clean for 1 mile and the race was his. Instead, when the green flag waved, his throttle response wasnt there as they blamed poor pickup of gas on the restarts as being slow starters. Jeff Burton had no problem cruising past Denny and coasted for an easy win.
After many a hum-drum affair this was easily the best race so far of the early part of this season.
Grade: A- for a damn good show
