Welcome, gay NASCAR fans! A super-chunky, long, strong and way-big-around WOO-HOO to Mark Martin for driving that #6 Viagra Ford all the way to glorious victory on Sunday! Sweet! It was Mark's first time to march across the winner's circle's checkered tiles since June 2004 at Dover.
This win moves Mark up two spots to 7th in the points, 113 behind Tony Stewart. Does Mark actually have a chance at winning the Cup in his retiring turn on the circuit? (Retiring, that is, unless he comes back some next year because Roush still needs him. Personally, I say that whatever the outcome of this year, Mark should retire like he said he would, in a dignified way, and not have his farewell go on for years like that last Cher tour. I mean, what was up with that, anyway?)
Besides Mark in the top ten Sunday, we had Carl
Edwards, who finished 3rd and held at 6th in the
points; Casey Mears, who came in at 8th and picked up
a spot; and Jeff Gordon, whose 10th place run moved
him up two points positions. Among the other guys,
Kasey Kahne moved up one spot; Mikey Waltrip lost one;
and the rest of the guys held their positions.
Before we get to Cup, we must toss our caps merrily in honor of Kasey's terrific Busch victory Saturday! On worn tires, Kasey held off the charging Greg Biffle -- who had pitted and dropped to 8th after leading 136 laps -- in a last-lap duel that was wildly exciting!
Kasey really seemed to enjoy the moment, and we sure did, too! "If this is the Cup race, that's the last lap and that's what going on, it's going to be a different outcome, I can tell you that," Biffle said of how Kasey held him off. Well now, really. That sounds like somebody who got beat at the stripe by a younger, cuter dude.
I was driving home from South Crazyland on Sunday and so my memories of the race are shaped by driving very fast during it as I listened to the radio but did not make any notes. From what I can remember and from what I hear tell, Matt Kenseth sat on the Bud pole. The first yellow flew for a crash, a crash, a crash by Brandon Ash! Dale Jr. got involved, as did Ryan. Adding insult ("bitch!") to injury ("ouch Mama that was my ear!"), Jr. got penalized for speeding on pit road
.
The caution came out for debris, and Kenseth continued to seem like he was driving away with it. But at lap 73, Biffle passed him. Debris brought out the caution again at lap 93. Biffle led some more. At lap 102, Stuart Kirby, another Smooth Lil Racin' Baby, caused a caution. Biffle led until the caution for a spin by Boris Said, when Mark took two tires and the lead.
Mark held off Tony Stewart until it was time to bring the #6 Viagra Ford in for a green flag pit stop at lap 186. Poor Mikey's car blew up at lap 216, followed shortly by the Bobby Labonte Explosion (wow, talk about a band name) at lap 224. Mark kept leading, holding off his unpleasant teammate Biffle, to win at last! Way to race, Mark!
BOYS IN ACTION! BOYS ON THE MOVE!
Just when we were going all horndog over the idea of fabulous Jamie McMurray driving that fully boned Viagra car, Jack Roush announced that Jamie will instead drive the #97 car being vacated by reigning Cup Champion Kurt Busch in 2007. The #6 will be driven by Todd Kluever, who now drives Craftsman Truck series but will race in Busch next year.
Interestingly, the Cat in the Hat said that Jamie will run the #97 "with the sponsors that are there at that time." Will that still be Sharpie Rubbermaid? I hope so because maybe that means Jamie will come to Atlanta some, where they are headquartered! Now that would be SWEEET, dudes!
MIKEY NEWS, GOOD AND BAD
Mikey got what he wanted when NASCAR rescinded the $10,000/25 driver points/25 owner points penalty that he was hit with after allegedly flipping off the deranged-acting Robby Gordon at New Hampshire. Mikey had insisted he was just waving his hand at Robby, and a divided panel of judges ruled in his favor. However, all you Mikeyteers will have to get attached to a new number: DEI announced this week that when Mikey leaves at the end of this year, he won't be taking the #15 with him.
BETTY JACK ON THE RADIO!
A quick shout-out to Tony and Brandon at 590 The Fan in St. Louis, who had me on their show "Speedzone" last Wednesday! We had a million laughs as they shared the memories of famous drivers they've interviewed (Jamie "takes pride in his role as NASCAR's first metrosexual," they said), and I regaled them with tales of how we do it at Atlanta Motor Speedway ("As my friend AJ says, 'You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning!'" I said.)
I sent an urgent appeal out to Jamie, asking him to call the radio station if he happened to be over visiting his kinfolk in Joplin, MO! Really, we had a super time. Thanks for having me on, guys, and welcome to any visitors who heard about the site on "Speedzone!"
That's it for this week friends! Thanks for stopping by the trailer! I'm planning a getaway next week to my wonderful Daytona Beach villa, Monkey Island! I'll write a line or two about Charlotte from there. See you at Lowe's Motor Speedway! Let's all meet up down at the Track Bar!
Love,
Betty Jack DeVine
E ME at Bettyjack@gaytona.com
