D
Digger
Guest
The Good
BACK TO BACK SIDE BY SIDE PHOTOFINISHES
This year saw two of the greatest races in Daytona history. 2007 started out, not with the usual whimper, but with a BANG. Coming off the death of racing greats Benny Parsons (who I had the pleasure of meeting, myself) and Bobby Hamilton and a huge cheating scandal, the 2007 Daytona 500 needed to be a memorable race. That it was.
Coming to the white flag, sentimental favorite Mark Martin led the field. It looked like it was over. Greg Biffle and Kyle Busch had nothing. Off two and out of nowhere, 6th place car Kevin Harvick gets a surge from Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton and blew by Gilliland, Biffle and Busch. That set up the drag race. Kyle and greg spin, causing a huge crash on the last lap while the greatest finish in modern Daytona 500 history ensued. Harvick, Martin side by side door to door going for racing's greatest and most cherished prize. Mark got by and the wreck took place until the caution DID NOT come out. As Larry Mac said, "THEY'RE SIDE BY SIDE RIGHT TO THE LINE!"
Kevin Harvick won the Daytona 500 in the same way he scored his first victory, PHOTOFINISH! I was called the devil, btw, for saying I was glad Kevin won.
That was followed up by the drama of NASCAR on TNT Wide Open (commercial free) in July. Jamie McMurray rebounded after suffering a penalty for going out of bounds. He and Kyle took flight. The two drivers raced in a classic battle of Ford vs. Chevrolet in afinish so close it took TNT announcer Bill Weber 45 seconds to declare Jamie McMurray won the race.
I could hear Mike Joy now, "HAVE YOU EVER?"
TNT
This year was the start of a new television package, and the start of a ratings surge. TNT took flight and had the best coverage of NASCAR that anybody has ever seen. Minus the Weber/Fein rivalry, TNT was a breath of fresh air and they did a brilliant job with KP and Wally in the booth and Ralph and Lindsay in the pits. Unfortanently, they only got 6 races.
TALLADEGA
Great finish, too bad ESPN was showing us the battle for 30th when Gordon made the race winning move.
FIRST TIME WINNERS
Everybody loves first time winners, right? Hats off to Casey Mears, Martin Truex, Jr., Clint Bowyer and Juan Pablo Montoya.
The Bad
ESPN
Where should I begin?
COT
Needs work. It's a great concept and I'm sure it'll come around.
The Ugly
ESPN
The Chase
IMO, Jeff Gordon won the championship. He completed the most laps, he had the most top 10 finishes and had the best average finish.
Debris
Okay, I shouldn't have to have a 103" Plasma 1080p HDTV to see the debris in the infield that has brought out the caution.
Chase races
Cautions ruined Dover and Kansas, IMO. There were like 150 caution laps at Dover and three red flags. Man, I love going there.
Junyer, Newman
These cats would have no luck if bad luck didn't exsist. How many times did the caution come out on the final lap as Ryan Newman was making the pass for the lead. If ANYBODY has room to complain about last lap cautions, it's Ryan. NASCAR screwed him.
Junyer had no luck. Engines blowing up, tires FALLING OFF!
I know who can't wait for 2008!
Montreal, Kansas.
WTF?
Does anybody know what the rule states. I do, "Leader at the caution leads the race unless his name is Robby Gordon."
Just admit it NASCAR, you had an agenda to prevent Robby from winning that race. It was a
rule, penalty and finish.
Brian France
Ok, I added this for kicks.
Anything else?
BACK TO BACK SIDE BY SIDE PHOTOFINISHES
This year saw two of the greatest races in Daytona history. 2007 started out, not with the usual whimper, but with a BANG. Coming off the death of racing greats Benny Parsons (who I had the pleasure of meeting, myself) and Bobby Hamilton and a huge cheating scandal, the 2007 Daytona 500 needed to be a memorable race. That it was.
Coming to the white flag, sentimental favorite Mark Martin led the field. It looked like it was over. Greg Biffle and Kyle Busch had nothing. Off two and out of nowhere, 6th place car Kevin Harvick gets a surge from Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton and blew by Gilliland, Biffle and Busch. That set up the drag race. Kyle and greg spin, causing a huge crash on the last lap while the greatest finish in modern Daytona 500 history ensued. Harvick, Martin side by side door to door going for racing's greatest and most cherished prize. Mark got by and the wreck took place until the caution DID NOT come out. As Larry Mac said, "THEY'RE SIDE BY SIDE RIGHT TO THE LINE!"
Kevin Harvick won the Daytona 500 in the same way he scored his first victory, PHOTOFINISH! I was called the devil, btw, for saying I was glad Kevin won.
That was followed up by the drama of NASCAR on TNT Wide Open (commercial free) in July. Jamie McMurray rebounded after suffering a penalty for going out of bounds. He and Kyle took flight. The two drivers raced in a classic battle of Ford vs. Chevrolet in afinish so close it took TNT announcer Bill Weber 45 seconds to declare Jamie McMurray won the race.
I could hear Mike Joy now, "HAVE YOU EVER?"
TNT
This year was the start of a new television package, and the start of a ratings surge. TNT took flight and had the best coverage of NASCAR that anybody has ever seen. Minus the Weber/Fein rivalry, TNT was a breath of fresh air and they did a brilliant job with KP and Wally in the booth and Ralph and Lindsay in the pits. Unfortanently, they only got 6 races.
TALLADEGA
Great finish, too bad ESPN was showing us the battle for 30th when Gordon made the race winning move.
FIRST TIME WINNERS
Everybody loves first time winners, right? Hats off to Casey Mears, Martin Truex, Jr., Clint Bowyer and Juan Pablo Montoya.
The Bad
ESPN
Where should I begin?
COT
Needs work. It's a great concept and I'm sure it'll come around.
The Ugly
ESPN
The Chase
IMO, Jeff Gordon won the championship. He completed the most laps, he had the most top 10 finishes and had the best average finish.
Debris
Okay, I shouldn't have to have a 103" Plasma 1080p HDTV to see the debris in the infield that has brought out the caution.
Chase races
Cautions ruined Dover and Kansas, IMO. There were like 150 caution laps at Dover and three red flags. Man, I love going there.
Junyer, Newman
These cats would have no luck if bad luck didn't exsist. How many times did the caution come out on the final lap as Ryan Newman was making the pass for the lead. If ANYBODY has room to complain about last lap cautions, it's Ryan. NASCAR screwed him.
Junyer had no luck. Engines blowing up, tires FALLING OFF!
I know who can't wait for 2008!Montreal, Kansas.
WTF?
Does anybody know what the rule states. I do, "Leader at the caution leads the race unless his name is Robby Gordon."Just admit it NASCAR, you had an agenda to prevent Robby from winning that race. It was a
rule, penalty and finish.Brian France
Ok, I added this for kicks.
Anything else?
