Richard Childress Racing had been going for its 100th win since Kevin Harvick finished first at Richmond this past September. This weekend in Talladega, a black car with not one 3 but two, driven by Clint Bowyer scored the organization's centennial victory. In a last lap battle with team mate Jeff Burton, the Kansas native beat Burton's No. 31 by a little more than a fender.
In a race that began with speculations of team orders for the Ford and Chevy teams, a new rules package that could effect the draft and a field of drivers that needed to get back on track to forget the painful loss of IndyCar champion Dan Wheldon just a week before. The field payed tribute to Wheldon by running special decals on their cars and helmets just like the "Lionheart" decal Wheldon wore on his helmet in each race he ran.
When the race began, it was typical Talladega. There was no clear cut winner and there was more two by two bumping and grinding than senior prom. The Hendrick cars were paired up Jeff Gordon with Mark Martin and Dale Jr with Jimmie Johnson, RCR's foursome teamed as Kevin Harvick worked with Paul Menard and Burton teamed with Bowyer, the Roush tandems of Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle and David Ragan and Matt Kenseth and the Michael Waltrip Racing teammates David Reutimann and Martin Truex, Jr all swapped positions up front with each passing lap.
With the new changes Nascar made to the pop off valve on the radiators and the smaller grille openings, the racing did seem more like the big pack racing we have seen in the past. But the fast way around was still to have another driver tucked up under your rear bumper.
Despite the close racing and drivers shoving one another, there were no major wrecks until the very end. The two car draft bit Bobby Labonte when Michael Waltrip pushed him into turn one, causing Labonte's already loose Toyota to get sideways and hit the wall. When he came off the wall, Kurt Busch made severe contact, driving straight in the back of the Kingsford Camry. Thankfully, both drivers walked away unscathed.
The other major wreck occured when Martin cut across Joey Logano's nose, causing him to make contact with Regan Smith. This sent Smith head on into the outside wall, shortening the front of his Furnitue Row Impala by about three feet. Thankfully, Smith climbed from his car and he will race this weekend in Martinsville. Despite all the controversy after the race about team orders, let's not lose sight of the fact that every driver that started the event finished in one piece and will be in Martinsville, Virgina for this weekends race. That's the most important thing.
The finish came down to a green, white, checker and on the restart, Bowyer pushed Burton out to a lead the rest of the field couldn't overcome. When the two RCR drivers came off turn four, Bowyer ducked under Burton to try and steal the win. After the two traded some paint, Bowyer barley edged out his team mate and scored his first win of the season. This two car tandem drafting has hurt plate racing, but it has produced spectacular finishes all season long. No doubt about it. And a shout out to Mikey Waltrip for bringing his No. 15 Darrell Waltrip tribute Aaron's Dream Machine home in ninth place! Working without a partner on the last restart, he used his drafting skills and worked his way through the pack to score a solid top ten effort. Job well done Mikey!
Now the second half of the Chase for the Cup will continue this weekend at the Martinsville Speedway. This is a tricky, half-mile paperclip shaped oval and, just like in Talladega, anything can happen. Edwards and Kenseth are atop the points now, but guys like Harvick, Tony Stewart and third place Brad Keselowski could be right back in the fight after Sunday. This is going to be a classic short track race with lots of beating and banging and anything can happen.
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