2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Thirty-Three Martinsville

Martin Truex Jr leads the field to the green flag on a warm October day. Some would call it unseasonably warm. The Atlanta metro area has seen temperatures in the upper 79s to lower 80s at the end of this week. Martinsville also has seen above average temperatures. Great weather for sitting in the grandstands and watching a race. Jeff Gordon is in the 88 car this week. Good to see Big Daddy behind the wheel again.

A word about last week’s Talladega race – Disappointing. The fall Talladega race used to be my favorite. When I began watching NASCAR the two Talladega races were ‘must-see’ events. Over the years with the schedule change, and the two-car push period, and the strange rules, the racing at ‘Dega has deteriorated more and more year after year. Last week’s race was a continuation of this sad trend. The new Chase format results in the drivers doing everything possible to hold on to points, as opposed to race for the win. As they will tell you it’s a risk vs reward situation and they all feel there’s too much risk at Talladega for too little reward resulting in them riding around single file and holding position unless they’re leading. I still hold out hope for the return of balls-to-the-wall racing at ‘Dega. The new Chase format makes it unlikely, but just like this Chase format came about and screwed up the end of the season another Chase format can come along and repair the damage.

Caution on lap 21 of 500 for Ricky Stenhouse backing into the outside wall.

Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards both got popped for speeding.

Caution on lap 60 for David ‘Thrilla from Unadilla’ Ragan blowing up.

Caution on lap 132 of 500 for debris.

Harvick got busted for speeding. Brian Scott in the 44 had too many men over the wall.

Caution on lap 199 of 500.

Denny Hamlin does a bump and run on the 48 resulting in left front damage on the 48. Denny had been trying to pass him for several laps, but was unable to complete the pass. He got on the radio and started talking to Chad Knaus about how he’s racing him shortly before he blew his fuse and ran into the back of the 48 to bump him out of the groove.

The caution comes out on lap 200 of 500. A Goody’s sign on the wall is flapping. An official comes over to the sign to take care of the issue.

Caution on lap 356 of 500 during green flag stops for a blown right front tire by Carl Edwards.

On lap 362 of 500 AJ Allmendinger in the Kroger 47 and Jimmie Johnson in the Lowes 48 both appear to be out of fuel. Casey Mears in the Geico 13 is also out. Jimmie appears to have turned off the ecu. He turned it back on and the car refired.

I commend NASCAR on taking steps to improve racing in the Xfinity and Truck series by limiting the participation of Sprint Cup drivers.

This caution is extended because NASCAR isn’t happy with the lineup. Since the caution came out during green flag pit stops, and 21 cars took the wave around and other cars pitted that were already on the lead lap NASCAR is having trouble getting the scoring right for the lineup.

Not quite sure why the tv broadcast is showing the green gimmicks for the restart zone while the pace car is leading them around the track.

I am constantly astounded by how much – too much – the guys in the NBC booth talk. It’s tv not radio. Every second of broadcast time should not be filled with your babbling. We can’t hear the engines roar. When they try to play radio transmissions they’re constantly yapping over the radio chatter. For goodness sakes, take a breath and let the race sounds have a chance to work their magic.

It’s great to see Dale Jr at the track and in the booth. If only they would kick Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte out while he’s there. Burton and Letarte talk entirely too much. Adding a third voice to the cacophony is painful. I throughly enjoy Dale Jr in the booth – when he has a chance to actually talk.

Another request – can someone please get Dale Jarrett to shave that stuff off his face. He looks like a bum. I’m pretty sure he knows he’s going to be on television weekly and should be well-groomed and look his best. That’s the least he can do since he’s not yet mastered the art of broadcasting. And what’s with his constant yelling? Krista, Kyle and DJ were doing the post race interview with Jimmie. Krista and Kyle each asked a question at an appropriate volume. Dale was bellowing as though he didn’t have a microphone and was sitting on pit road in Bristol during the race. I know there’s someone on an audio board responsible for his microphone levels – but he also has a responsibility to modulate his voice keeping it level to make the audio person’s job doable.

There’s a commercial that’s like a trailer for a ‘film’ about The Chase that’s really cute. It shows guys in firesuits and helmets running through the woods and knocking each other off – in the case of the 42 and the 2 literally. Brings a smile to my face.

Jimmie wins.

Congratulations to Jeff ‘Big Daddy’ Gordon on his sixth place finish. Congrats to Kasey Kane and Chase Elliot on their eleventh and twelfth place finishes. Congratulations to Jamie McMurray on his eighth place finish.

Nice to see Casey Mears come in to congratulate Jimmie in Victory Lane.

NASCAR News:

2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Thirty-Three Martinsville

Next Race: Texas

GO 48!!!!