Full Throttle

Subtitle: “Who will win NASCAR’s annual stop at the southern tip of scenic Lake Seneca?”

Despite the dominance shown in some quarters of the [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/cup.jpg]NEXTEL Cup Series[/avatar] and my spot on Tony Stewart selection [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/allstate.gif]last week[/avatar], it’s getting harder to pick a winner. This week throws in the road course, with it’s ever present “road course ringers” and more curves than, well… [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/anna4.jpg]this[/avatar] or even [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/danica_patrick.jpg]this[/avatar]. With only 5 events until the first Chase event everyone from 5th place down are scrambling to maintain a position or trying to scratch their way within the 400 point cutoff.

Using my best reasoning and logic just won’t cut it this week and I’m no rocket scientist. So I’ve done the next best thing, flipping a coin, a three sided coin.

Side #1: [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/martin.jpg]Mark Martin[/avatar]. In 17 Glen starts he has only failed to post a top ten finish twice. During that span Martin won three years in succession (93-95) all after taking the pole position. The down side? That was ten years ago. He finished 15th in his last road course outing at Infineon in June.

Side #2: Tony Stewart. This side of the coin may have one of those weights that crooked sideshow operators use that ensures it lands “Tony” side up. The hottest team and driver the last two months Tony is also looking for his third straight road course win. He’s also seen the [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/check-flag.bmp]checker[/avatar] in four of the last six races. He won at Infineon - the event that started his streak - in June while missing 4th gear and 3rd about to puke, but still completed a late pass of Ricky Rudd. Stewart also won last years stop at the Glen.

Side #3: Jeff Gordon. He’s the Glen leader in NASCAR wins with four. His win in 2000 at Sears Point was the end of a 6 race win streak on road courses, a series record. It’s obvious Gordon’s road course pedigree is five star and he’s due for a win, anywhere.

So where will the three sided coin land? Well let’s see… it’s flipping, bouncing and the winner is.

[avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/rudd.jpg]SURPRISE[/avatar]! Hey what can I say, the damn coin landed on edge! The rest of the top ten looks like this:

2. Jeff Gordon
3. Dale Jarrett
4. Tony Stewart
5. Ron Fellows (A ringer in the #32 for Bobby Hamilton Jr.
6. Dale Earnhardt (Minus the experimental transmission)
7. Mark Martin
8. Matt Kenseth
9. Rusty Wallace
10. Greg Biffle

Ron Fellows, where’d he come from you ask? His entire career is centered on road courses and he’s not without NASCAR experience.. Fellows has three NASCAR [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/bgn.gif]Busch Series[/avatar] wins at The Glen, second only to Terry Labonte