Turn 4 Transitions

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

By Natalie Anthony

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dickies 500

November 8, 2009 (Sunday) 3:15 pm – ABC

 

 

Talladega, Talladega, and whoa Talladega.  This article isn’t long enough for me to go through the list of all the things that went wrong with last weekend’s race.  I am not even sure that I have the composure to muster and put into words what I am thinking and feeling about the restrictor-plated Super Speedway better known as Talladega (TSS).  It doesn’t take someone smarter than a fifth grader to understand that something has to be done about this Satan Super Speedway.  In April, Carl Edwards could have died and nearly killed a young girl because of his horrific wreck and not to mention what kind of nightmares he gave Ryan Newman when he briefly landed on his hood.  Last Sunday, Ryan Newman (again), Kevin Harvick, and Mark Martin all could have taken their final ride to the white fluffy oval in the sky.  The Amp Energy 500 of TSS was anything but exciting and that is because of NASCAR’s latest attempt to contain the darkness of the track by forbidding the drivers to bump draft in the corners.  This unintelligent rule made for bored drivers and fans and ultimately ended up with our cherish athletes taking matters into their own hands and giving the fans a good show by putting their lives on the line and driving in the draft with only centimeters between the cars, hoping and praying for their equipment to remain grounded on ALL four wheels.  And…that didn’t happen.  Until someone (NASCAR officials, TSS track owners, drivers, fans, and anyone who honestly cars about life and death) does something about the evil that is Talladega, I as one devoted and true NASCAR fan pledge to not watch another race hosted by Talladega Superspeedway.  I swear!

            The intermediate and slower track of Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) will be a much needed change this weekend.  Ok, let’s talk Jimmie Johnson like we have done every weekend since the beginning of the chase.  I was pushing for his teammate Jeff Gordon to win the Cup, but JJ is so good or lucky it seems at the last seven races.  Jeff Gordon may not have the better average at TMS that Jimmie does (9.09), but Jeff has finished in the Top Two his last two races at Texas and Jeff was the race winner of the April event this season.  Carl Edwards will be a force to be reckoned with on Sunday due to his impressive three wins out of only eight starts at his preferred concrete track.  Jeff Burton won the inaugural race at TMS and backed that win up with another one ten years later.  Jeff may not be looking at Victory lane this weekend, but since he has found his racing groove at Texas, Jeff will certainly be running up front with the faster drivers.

 

 

 

Track Stats

 

                                                                        

 

Dickies 500

(November 2, 2008)   

Top 10 Results  

1.  Carl Edwards

2.  Jeff Gordon

3.  Jamie McMurray

4.  Clint Bowyer

5.  Greg Biffle

6.  Kyle Busch

7.  Kevin Harvick

8.  Martin Truex Jr.

9.  Matt Kenseth

10.David Reutimann

 

Samsung 500

(April 5, 2009)

Top 10 Results  

1.  Jeff Gordon

2.  Jimmie Johnson

3.  Greg Biffle

4.  Tony Stewart

5.  Matt Kenseth

6.  Mark Martin

7.  Juan Pablo Montoya

8.  Kurt Busch

9.  Jeff Burton

10.Carl Edwards

 

Post Questions & Comments to:

NASCARNATALIEANTHONY@yahoo.com