Most Celebrated Win This Season
Monday, September 25th, 2006 1:40pm EDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
[thumb:347:l:s=1:l=x]Yep, I said it. When it’s time for the reflections on the entire 2006 season, I don’t see a more celebrated victory than what we witnessed yesterday at Dover. Being one of the most respected drivers in the garage, Jeff Burton’s win yesterday was an emotional one that touches so many levels.
It continues the strong resurgence of RCR, and of Burton as well. When was the last time you saw Matt Kenseth staying out on the track for a face to face like that? He and Jeff raced clean, and raced hard for over 20 laps. Burton finally got the top spot, and then they kept at it until Matt ran out of gas in a horrid miscalculation by his crew. They figured they were good to go, even through a GWC if need be. Oops! But Matt’s loss of fuel pressure wasn’t the reason Burton took the win. It was [finally] his time to shine, and it could come at a better time. He not only took the win, but he took command of the points lead for the first time since after the 10th race in 1999 at California. After all the fades from the top to top 10 in recent months finally came together to produce a car that was damn strong at the end. This is certainly going to build their momentum even further as we plow thorough the next 8 stops remaining in the 2006 season. I for one can’t wait to get back to the track at Texas in just over a month. It’s going to be one hell of a party.
This was also a special win for the RCR camp in light of Speedgate™ this past week. With RCR’s third win in a row, the mind game attempt has been publicly addressed from Victory Lane, and given the proverbial bird in their face.
In other Chase news Jeff Gordon is now 2nd in the points, just a scant 6 points behind Burton. Matt Kenseth, despite having to stop for a splash of gas and thanks to a caution during green flag pit stops previously which trapped many a competitor a lap down, still brought it home in 10th to remain just 18 points out of the lead. Not to mention Denny Hamlin is right there tied for 3rd, and gained 17 points from last week.
It definitely tightened up a bit at the top but as the saying goes, you can’t have right without left, up without down, the bottom also dropped out of it. While we only have two full Chase’s of data to work with, it’s pretty much conceived that Kyle Busch’s hopes of hoisting the Cup this season like big brother Kurt in 2004 are all but gone. After an accident last week, a blown motor this week has all but destroyed their hopes. Kasey Kahne is struggling to realize that too. After two very sub-par performances, he’s now 182 out. Of course, the upcoming tracks are too his liking, but it may very well be too little too late.
One man on a mission is Gordon. That team has their game plan figured out, and are playing the post season for all it’s worth. They have determined that an average finish of 8.7 will put them in the hunt, if not take it come Homestead. His average finish right now is 3rd, finishing 3rd at both NHIS and Dover. That fire isn’t gone, and he’s more mature as a driver than ever. Ruling him out would be utterly stupid. He wants it as bad as anyone else out there, and their team is showing it.
Harvick blew a motor, but he was far from unhappy. He smiled and kinda joked about it. “We blew up”, he said with a grin. That right there should scare the crap out of you. Yes, he is that confident in what they have. If you’re so confident that a blown motor can’t phase you, you’re a tough cookie. That motor only cost him 54 points by the way, so I’m not entirely sure that could even count as the one mulligan that everyone seems to think you can have and still be in it. That’s a good thing for Harvick, as it isn’t out of the question one bit for someone up there to not have a bad Chase.
With 8 to go now, we’ll see.
Plan early now, and stop by the infield at Texas to come hang out with Thunder Lounge!
Filed Under: Nascar, Nextel Cup, The Chase
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