Rain Cuts Loudon Short; Ganassi Woes

Rain brought the Lenox 301 to an end with 15 laps to go with the Busch name on top of the pile. However, it was older brother Kurt who took the spoils.

The #2 Miller Lite Dodge didn’t have a car capable of winning on the day, but that didn’t matter. He chose to pit early and attempt to make it to the end without another stop. The rain, which threatened all day, finally arrived in the final stages. Nascar, after a period of waiting called the race, bringing Kurt his first win of the season.

It has been a difficult season for the former champion. After finishing second at Daytona, it has been all downhill. The chances of making the Chase are bleak, but not impossible. Kurt needs to put in a run of performances to match his brother if he wants in. He did so last year, but whether he can pull it off again remains to be seen.

Busch wasn’t the only one to benefit from the rain. Michael Waltrip, J.J. Yeley, Truex Junior, Sadler and Sorenson all benefitted from the rain stoppage to pick up valuable points. Before the rain arrived, it looked like it would be Tony Stewart’s day. But the need for a final stop, coupled with the decision to take tires while the rest went with fuel only, left him rueing what might have been in thirteenth.

Championship leader Kyle Busch, who was on the same strategy as his brother had to stop with the leaders. I didn’t pick up the reason for this over the broadcast. It ended up been an eventful finish for the #18. Running along with Montoya in the final stages, the pair rubbed sides, a norm in Nascar. The Columbian took exception and purposefully spun Busch around on the front straight. What goes around comes around for Montoya however. The spinning car of Busch came around and clipped Montoya.

A quick whine about having to touch sides to the press, the former F1 star admitted that he had done it on purpose. Nascar docked him two laps. It could have been worse for him. As the commentator’s put it, Juan has had a season of frustration, that probably finally boiled over.

It was a weekend that started with much promise for the Ganassi team. Yesterday it was announced that they were closing shop on Franchitti’s team. The #40 has struggled for sponsorship all year, despite having a name driver in the team. Franchitti, for all his effort, has failed to impress. He had the luxury of been able to start the first five races but has failed to keep the car in it. Whilst other open-wheel converts Carpentier and Hornish have made strides and showed consistent speed, Franchitti has done little.

Where he goes from now will be interesting to see. He remains committed to stock cars, but whether he is up for spending a year or two in the Nationwide at his age remains uncertain. I’m sure there may be a temptation to return to the IRL given its current strength.

On A Roll

Kasey Kahne continues to rise like the Phoenix from the ashes with his second points victory of the season.

Since earning a spot in the All-Star race due to popular vote, a race he went on to win, Kahne has been a driver reborn. The #9 team are looking more like the team that took six victories and a Chase berth in 2006. The struggles of 2007 seem to be behind the GEM squad. Whilst Elliott Sadler hasn’t replicated Kahne’s form, he too has shown a marked improvement.
GEM’s third driver, rookie Carpentier, has shown glimpses of what he is capable of in the #10 Dodge. Despite been outside the top-35 in owner points he has consistently gotten the car into the show. If Carpentier can start to hook up with solid race drives there is no reason why he can’t replicate Montoya in becoming a steady stock car driver.

On a weekend that he made history, Kyle Busch’s weekend ended up in tatters. The youngster, who completed in all three top-tier races in three different states, failed to win any. His Cup race saw him pinned against the wall after his spotter failed to tell him about a car on his inside. Lengthy repairs saw him return to the track but he finished dead last.
It was a hollow end to a historic weekend for the youngster. Still have to give a massive amount of credit for him trying to do as many races as he can. People criticize him for it but you can’t doubt the guys racing spirit. It isn’t about the money for him. It’s about fun and racing for victory. He is a true racer.