Kurt Busch (41) has the pole on a sunny race day. ‘KuBu’ is really pumped to have his first pole at the track and says he hopes to lead the first lap. ‘KuBu’ was in the radio booth during yesterday’s Truck race and did a great job. He was informative and entertaining and a welcome relief from the shouting of the MRN guys. While we know they’re usually watching the television broadcast during their calls, we started wondering if they were watching the same race. The race was enjoyable, but not exciting and they were losing their minds on the radio. It was strange. I was thoroughly enjoying watching it – but just could not understand why they were yelling. Selling it too hard I think. They’re already starting it today, before the command to fire engines.
The stages for today’s race are 55-55-78. MRN says the high temperature will be 80-81 degrees today.
Clint ‘Drunk Daddy’ Bowyer (14), KuBu’s teammate, has outside pole.
The first four positions are held by SHR. The next four by Hendrick Motorsports.
David ‘Thrilla fom Unadilla’ Ragan (38) has lost power on lap 2 of 188 and is down on the apron.
He’s now five laps down with the crew looking at the engine on pit road.
Caution on lap 10 of 188 for a spin by Jeffrey Earnhardt (96).
Restarting on lap 14 of 188 with KuBu and Drunk Daddy up front.
Paul Menard (21) is hitting pit road on lap 15 of 188.
KuBu wins stage one. That was a snoozer.
Restarting on lap 61 of 188 with Ryan ‘Son’ Blaney (12) and Drunk Daddy (14) up front.
Jimmie Johnson spins out on lap 63 of 188 and hits the inside wall and brings out the caution.
Restarting on lap of 188 with Kevin ‘KHarv’ Harvick (4) and Drunk Daddy on the front row.
‘Kutey’ Kyle Larson went for a spin on lap 103 of 188 bringing out the caution.
The NASCAR leaderboard keeps freezing today. Since NBC has the tiny lap tracker and will frequently turn it off, I’m having a little trouble keeping up with which lap they’re on.
MRN keeps mentioning teams that seem to be having issues determining fuel usage due to new spoilers used in this race.
Restarting on lap 107 of 110 with KHarv and Drunk Daddy up front. Overall this has looked more like a parade than a race. Boring.
KHarv wins stage two.
I hope the field decides to race at some point in the next stage.
Restarting on lap 115 of 188 with Brad It’ Keselowski (2) and Joey Logano (22) up front. Jimmie Johnson (48) is back on the lead lap having gotten the lucky dog.
Jamie McMurray (1) has come into the pits to serve a penalty for running Paul Menard (21) off the track and onto the apron.
Caution on lap 136 of 188 for a spin by Jamie McMurray (1) into the outside wall, then down into the infield grass.
Restarting on lap 142 of 188 with KuBu and ‘It’ on the front row.
Caution on lap 160 of 188 for a tire in the grass that got away from Corey LaJoie’s team on pit road.
Restarting on lap 163 of 188 with KuBu and KHarv up front. Jimmie got the free pass again.
Caution on lap 185 of 188 for a wreck involving William Byron (24) and Alex Bowman (88) and JJ Yeley (23).
We will be going into Overtime.
Restarting on lap 192 of 194Two cars follow the pit car onto pit road for fuel.
with KuBu and Drunk Daddy in front.
On lap 189 KuBu and KHarv have been told they only have enough fuel for one restart.
KHarv was one of the cars that came in for fuel.
Car hit the wall hard and collects another on the final lap. Chase Elliott (9), Matt DiBenedetto (32) and KyBu (18) and Newman (31) got a piece of the action.
KuBu ran out of gas.
Aric ‘Afterburner’ (10) wins.
What a sucky race. That was one of the worst Talladega races I’ve seen since Tony ‘Smoke’ Stewart lead the field around single file the whole race.
KHarv says ‘it’s all about survive and advance at this point’. That encapsulates what’s wrong with the races in the play-offs – the field is only trying to survive and advance – not race as hard as they can and provide an entertaining, exciting race for the race fans who pay their hard earned dollars to attend the race.
Motorsport News:
- Mark McCarter: Furniture Row Racing is closing shop, and that should worry NASCAR.
- Timothy Peters wrecks Gragson to win Talladega truck race.
- NASCAR drivers bid early farewell to Kasey Kahne amid health issues.
- NASCAR starting lineup at Talladega: Kurt Busch wins pole as Stewart-Haas Racing sweeps top 4.
- Johnson: Need for new spark prompted NASCAR crew chief Knaus split.
- Kurt Busch tries hand at radio in Talladega.
- Rhodes disappointed for not advancing into the next round of Playoffs.
- Moffitt, Crafton survive ‘Dega playoff elimination race.
- Why female drivers had mixed reactions to a women-only series.
- Rhodes, Friesen Miss the Cut in Truck Playoffs.