Dale Junior Sets New Standard in Michigan
Not only did Dale Earnhardt Jr. win Sunday at MIS, along the way he prevented more Junior Nation members from visiting Dr. Phil for their weekly mental health check and set a new standard for victory celebrations.
No back-flips, no smoke-shrouded bows to a not-so-adoring public, and no burn-outs.
His celebration consisted of “cough, sputter, spit, stumble, push me to V-Circle boys” as the #88 coasted to a stop after running out of fuel just after crossing the finish line.
Not that he or his multitude of fans care, a win is a win, and after such a long drought anything placed in the win column is just as sweet.
Time-out for a prediction: Yahoo Sports’ Bob Margolis went off the deep end when Danica’s Motegi win was a “fuel mileage” victory and did everything but say flat-out she didn’t deserve the win. I’m betting this week he will be all roses and chocolates in his praise of Junior and Hendrick Motorsports.
And while on the subject, this is what Margolis had to say when Kurt Busch spun on lap 102 today: “I think Kurt did that to himself just to pack up early and head home.” Nitwit!
Anyway, if you hear of see anyone puttin’ on the whine over any “bad race” this week bitch slap them for me will ya. You couldn’t ask for much more. By my count there were 6 lead changes within the last 21 laps plus all the drama involved in who would make it on fumes and who wouldn’t.
From lap 182 when Vickers took the point it was Carl Edwards, David Ragan, Earnhardt Jr. and Jamie McMurray both on the same lap 194, Earnhardt Jr. again two laps later through to the checkered flag on lap 203.
That’s far from a “boring” race but feel reasonably certain some will claim it was.
Truth be told, this weekends events were probably the finest pure racing of the season. Erik Darnell surged past Johnny Benson in the final 50 yards to win by inches Saturday at Michigan International Speedway to pick-up his second career NCTS win.
In the other action Phenom Joey Lagano, in only his third career start, won Saturday night in the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway, becoming the youngest driver to win in Nationwide Series history. And he did it as the Most Hated One sat on the sidelines with a crumpled race car that made more than a few happy as a pig i slop.
And the thrills didn’t stop there. I didn’t see the event but the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Mosport looks to have been a barn-burner as well.
The event also provided the quote of the weekend: “My language (on the two-way to his crew chief in the pits) wasn’t too good at that point. It’s why my mother doesn’t have a scanner.” - Second place finisher J.R. Fitzpatrick on a early race incident.
UPDATE: Just like clockwork, one that “ticks” a scant 2 hours after the flag falls: “The race itself wasn’t all that exciting. Sure, there was passing and several lead changes. But the real story of this race, besides Junior winning, was the various race strategies that played out in the final laps.”
Can you guess who?
Technorati Tags: Dale Earnhardt, Auto Racing, Carl Edwards, Michigan International Speedway, Craftsman Truck Series, Johnny Benson, Kurt Busch, David Ragan, Full Throttle
It was far from a boring weekend.
Yes I was one of those happy pigs in slop.