Full Throttle

As Brian France’s Hippodrome rolls into Nevada and Los Wages this week there are a few issues on the table.

Chief among them is the revamping of the track. Other than noting the first Cup practice & qualifying speeds haven’t lived up to prior billing I won’t go there. Been there, done that.

There are other issues and it’s appropriate the Nevada’s nickname is the “Battle Born State.” There are several battles that will be waged this weekend.

The most important one is the “Battle of the Bottom Feeders.” Many of those that desperately need to float above 35^th position in owners points are still desperate after Cup qualifying.

Team Red Bull? History, see ya in Atlanta. Waltrip, still minus 27 points. Reutimann and Mayfield, a Vegas after thought. They are all Desperately Seeking Susan Something, anything to right their sinking ships. And Atlanta isn’t the kindest place for struggling teams.

Dale Jr. who surprisingly is part of the bottom feeders qualed in 28th spot. Not bad, but not good either, although I doubt if he pushed it too hard. He’s smart enough just to get in, with the primary not a back-up car after a crash, then let the dice land where they will.

Some did rise to the occasion, Elliot Sadler, under threat of sitting out another Chase this early in the season stuck his Dodge in the third hole and will start behind pole winner and teammate Kasey Kahne.

In fact most of the Dodge teams rose to the occasion and won their part in the Battle. The top ten has 7 Dodges, including the first four spots, and 3 Chevys. Eleventh is the Toyota of Dave Blaney who continues to impress with the resurgent Bill Davis Team.

The other Toyota? Riding shotgun on the field under the right foot of Dale Jarrett thanks to a provisional.

It all should make for an interesting weekend. Even more so if I pull a rabbit out of my hat. The hat is labeled UAW DaimlerChrysler 400. The rabbit is wearing an Elloitt Sadler mask and holding the checkered flag.

LVMS, NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Busch Series, Sports, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle