Race 2 Wrapup: At the Rock

It was a heck of a race at Rockingham on Sunday. Here's the top 15 finishers (if you want a full list of results, check out the results at nascar.com).

Pos	Car	Name	Make	Laps	Pts.	Bonus	Status
1	6	Mark Martin	Frd	393	180	5	Running
2	88	Dale Jarrett	Frd	393	170	0	Running
3	18	Bobby Labonte	Pon	393	170	5	Running
4	99	Jeff Burton	Frd	393	170	10	Running
5	12	Jeremy Mayfield	Frd	393	155	0	Running
6	31	Mike Skinner	Chv	393	150	0	Running
7	5	Terry Labonte	Chv	393	151	5	Running
8	60	Geoffrey Bodine	Chv	393	142	0	Running
9	4	Bobby Hamilton	Chv	393	138	0	Running
10	2	Rusty Wallace	Frd	393	134	0	Running
11	33	Ken Schrader	Chv	392	130	0	Running
12	20	Tony Stewart	Pon	392	127	0	Running
13	55	Kenny Wallace	Chv	392	124	0	Running
14	77	Robert Pressley	Frd	392	121	0	Running
15	94	Bill Elliott	Frd	392	118	0	Running

As you can see from the race results, most of us did pretty good this week picking our drivers. I take it that y'all followed my advice and went with every Ford car you could find. I realize in hindsight that I should've chosen Gordon as both my pick to win and my pick for DNF: in the seven times Gordon has run here, he's DNF'd four times and won three. This Sunday was a huge DNF for him (blown engine in latter half of race). All those guys who got collected in the Jarrett hurricane last week really made some movement in the points. Last week's #2, Earnhardt, also DNF'd, so it was really cleanup time for guys like Martin, Jarrett, and T. Labonte.

The abrasive track of the Rock really tore up those tires, and pitting right was what this race was all about (that, and not repeatedly ramming the wall, which appears to have been Ernie Irvan's strategy). The first half of the race was white-hot racing action -- there wasn't a single caution in the first 200 laps. Later on, though, as guys like Ernie and Elliott Sadler decided to show the wall who was who, cautions were frequent. The race truly became a race in the pits, as teams scrambled to get their drivers back out on the track as fast as possible. (Under a yellow flag, you're not allowed to pass other drivers on the track, but you CAN try and beat them out of pit row for position.) And on Sunday, Mark Martin had the team to be in that last stop. Martin emerged from the last stop in first and he never looked back.

Jarrett also had a great stop, which put him in second. Jeff Burton, who'd been so strong throughout the race (led the most laps), just couldn't get out quick enough. My boy, Bobby Labonte, also didn't do so great in the pits. He made up for it by driving like a madman and posted an awesome third place finish.

The most common picks from y'all were for Gordon, Martin, Mayfield, Wallace, and J. Burton. All great picks. For some reason, Kevin "General Lee" K. went with D. Waltrip as his surprise. I like his reasoning:

"For my surprise pick, I've got to go with Darrell Waltrip, simply because of Sandro's comments about "Darrell" being the country spelling of "Daryl." The only "Daryl" I know is my godfather, who lives in Grinell, Kansas (pop. 22), where they always thought of Andy Griffith's Mayberry as a glamorous metropolis, what with the indoor plumbing and all."

Very nice, Kevin. But let me give you the 411: Darrell was once one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR, and he's a great guy. But I guarantee you he does not finish in the top ten of any race, unless the Terminator Joe Nemechek manages to cause a wreck that collects all but ten cars. Even if that happens, I guarantee you Darrell is going to manage to be a lap down to the other nine cars.

Another interesting choice for surprise pick was Kyle Petty, chosen by my dad and by Chris "I wasn't sleeping, I was praying" G. Nice try, fellas, but see my above comments re: Darrell. A couple of people went with Mike Skinner for their surprise. He's a good choice, but he just missed the top 5. A couple of you went with Buckshot Jones. Gotta love the name, but remember: he's a rookie. He didn't even qualify for the race.

Y'all had some great DNF's. William "Wait, I left a scalpel in that guy's liver" P. correctly chose Earnhardt to not finish. Actually, William's the only one who got DNF points. There were several picks for Andretting and Ward Burton, both of whom finished. Ricky Rudd and D. Waltrip both finished, but not in style. The real heartbreak in this category is for Tim "I did NOT body slam Chuck E. Cheese" S. with his pick of Ernie Irvan to not finish. Ernie smashed into the wall rear-end first, seemingly ending his race. Somehow, he trudged on, and managed to wreck once again. As before, it looked like he'd have to go behind the wall. He didn't. Ernie Irvan, driving a car that was about as good as an AMC Gremlin, managed to stay running - he even managed to beat a bunch of guys.

Joe Nemechek was another popular DNF pick. Here's what Nathan "Oh it's Han" S. said about Joe at Daytona, where he got caught up in Jarrett's wreck:

"Unfortunately, Joe managed to run his car into a wreck that occurred ten minutes before he got there. Watch the slow motion replay. I think that Nemecheck arrives just after the tow trucks."

How about some more comments. William had some prophetic and controversial things to say:

"And also I think Dale is so bitter about his loss even after rubbin that he'll blow an engine or something to somehow get the big boot from the race. Haven't heard much from Mark Martin yet. Although he was one of my two picks last year to win it all. And look he came in second.
And you know that purple teletubby? He's gay. "

Wow, that teletubby thing is quite a blow. But you got to give it up for Will's predictions. And you got to love the word "rubbin." That's country.

Neil W. expanded upon his master theories of driver picking, this time giving us tips about picking losers:

"John Andretti won't finish because the Andrettis never do, especially the loser Andrettis."

That's gotta hurt for Andretti. Dave B. has another reason for not going with Andretti: he drives a Pontiac. Dave tells us what car maker he likes best with Appalachain eloquence:

"Oh, and another thing (as long as I'm ranting, I might as well go the distance)- if any, and I mean any, of my picks are driving GM or Chevy junk, please be kind and change them to a FORD (First On Race Day) drive!"

Nice work, Dave. Your number one pick, Gordon, drives a Chevy. I agree that Fords are tough at the Rock, but elsewhere you've got to watch out for GM.

The Points

Sean just barely squeaked out his second points victory. He was tied with Chris G. and Dave B. at 50, but his ingratiating comments put him over the top. Nice work, Frenchy. Tim and Will also had strong showings. Everyone got at least one driver right. Great work! Here's the points breakdown. First, the list for the Rockingham results. Second, the cumulative points race.

Race 2 Results

1) Sean F.		55 points
2) Chris G.		50 points
2) Dave B.		50 points (great first effort)
3) Sandro V.		40 points
4) Will P.		35 points
4) Tim S.		35 points
5) Mom		30 points
5) Nathan S.		30 points
5) Kevin		30 points
6) Dad		20 points
6) Neil W.		20 points
6) Sharon H.		20 points
6) Ryan		20 points
Provisional: David H.		45 points

Cumulative Points Standings

1) Sean F.		120 points
2) Chris G.		90 points
3) Sandro V.		85 points
4) Dave B.		50 points (great first effort)
5) Nathan S.		65 points
6) Neil W.		45 points
7) Mom		40 points
7) Sharon H.		40 points
8) Will P.		35 points
8) Tim S.		35 points
9) Kevin		30 points
10) Dad		20 points (Are you sure you're not picking hockey teams?)
10) Ryan		20 points
Provisional: David H.		45 points

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