Ho-Hum Talladega To McMurray!
By: Drew Hierwarter
Jamie McMurray won the Amp Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, and few cared. Most people, those in the garage, those in the grandstands, and even those at home watching on TV, and especially those in the race cars, were just glad it was over.
Sometimes NASCAR can be its own worst enemy. In the face of declining TV ratings, shrinking sponsorship dollars, and an increasing number of empty seats at the track, NASCAR jammed a pin into the party balloon and let out all the excitement.
For two practice sessions on Friday the best race drivers in the world discovered that two cars running nose-to-tail, literally touching, the rear car pushing the front car along, could run much faster than a single car, or even a long string of cars, running without touching. Throughout practice drivers spent their time working with each other, perfecting the technique of the so called “bump draft” so they could use it to get to the front and win the race.
On Saturday night the Camping World Truck Series drivers used this technique to perfection. Aric Almirola literally pushed Kyle Busch to the front and Busch won an exciting, competitive race.
Then in the Sprint Cup drivers meeting just two hours before the 500 on Sunday, NASCAR president Mike Helton ruined the show. He told all the drivers that there would be no bump drafting in the turns. He told them that NASCAR officials would be watching and penalties would be swift and severe, even on the last lap. They basically were told not to race the way they had practiced.
The result was 43 race car drivers who were not sure how they should race. So they didn’t. For much of the race they simply lined up single file and just rode around the big 2.66 mile track. Oh there were times when the pack was two and three wide, but it never lasted for more than a few laps. Drivers joked to their spotters about listening to their iPods and suggesting next time there be some cup holders in the car.
And what about the Chase for the Championship? Point leader Jimmie Johnson took the green flag from the pole position and immediately went to the back of the pack and just sort of camped out back there running in the thirties all day. He had no intention of racing anyone. At one point he asked his crew chief if running at half throttle for so long would hurt the engine. It must’ve been hard for him to stay awake.
This entire scenario was created because of NASCAR’s desire to avoid the “big one”. That
When the race was restarted under the overtime green/white/checkered rule, there was another multi-car wreck that saw Mark Martin flipping upside down for the first time ever in his long NASCAR career.
And what of the Championship contenders? Well, Martin ended up in 28th, Jeff Gordon, also involved in the last lap crash finished 20th, and Tony Stewart, involved in the Newman crash was 35th. And where did Johnson finish? Through attrition due to crashing and cars running out of fuel because of the extra laps, he sort of fell into sixth place.
He now has a 184 point lead over Martin, 192 points over Gordon, 239 points over Montoya, and 272 points over Tony Stewart. With only three races left in the season, Texas, Phoenix, and Homestead, all Jimmie Johnson has to do is finish tenth or better each week and it doesn’t matter what anybody else does, the title is his. Cut the check, engrave the trophy.
Did I mention that Jamie McMurray won the race?
Yea, I didn’t care either.