Streak To The Finish...Just The Bare Facts at Phoenix II

First off, I want to apologize for my tardiness in getting my article posted for this past weekend race at Phoenix, guess I was still tired from all that excitement during the race. Of course you know I am joking when I say excitement.

Is it me or has the racing become less interesting to watch? Has the Chase turned the fans to watching other sports like football? I did find myself bouncing back and forth between watching the race and winterizing my house and it was more eventful winterizing then seeing Harvick dominate at Phoenix. Along with the boredom of the Chase, how about the Busch race and the Busch regulars not even getting a fighting chance. To be honest, NASCAR needs to do something to help the regulars out. Perhaps limiting the amount of races a Cup driver can participate. Whatever the solution may be, I do hope NASCAR will come up with a plan that suits everyone.

Okay, enough rambling on, here are the bare facts from the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway:

1. Days Of Robby. Maybe Robby Gordon should have hit the pace car since that seem to be the only car he didn't run into during the race.
2. Nails on a chalkboard. Can anyone else applaud that we only have to listen to Bill Weber one more race weekend? How many more dim-witted comments can one person endure? Perhaps a shock collar around his neck and the remote in Wally's possession would make for an exciting broadcast.
3. What happened to the Police Academy? Kurt Busch as an honorary Sheriff? Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture?
4. Think before you speak. Kyle Busch should listen to those words due to the fact he blasts Tony Stewart for wrecking his #5 Kellogg’s Chevy. Perhaps watching the replays on the TV monitor may shed some light on your views Kyle. Get a grip, get over it, and get ready for the 2007 season.
5. Scaling the fence. After back to back weeks of climbing the fences, it just wasn't the same to see no one climb the fence at Phoenix.
6. No Robot here. Matt Kenseth was in rare form Sunday when he said in a pre-race interview and a live post race interview that he doubts his team has what it takes to contend Jimmie Johnson for the championship. Does it seem a bit harsh for Matt to say this about his team? No. Look at their performance over the last few weeks, it just hasn't been there. If you are going to win a championship, you have to be consistent and that goes to the #48 team. I give credit for Matt to say such things and be honest instead of feeding everyone a line of BS.
7. It is all about the mirrors. Tony Raines caused Jeff Green to spin out late in the race and that could probably be attributed to the suns reflection off of those DLP mirrors.
8. A plug for Lowe’s. No I am not talking about Jimmie Johnson. It is about how Jamie McMurray, after being tangled up in an accident with Tony Stewart, said it looks like he will do all his Irwin Tool shopping at Lowe's. Hey Lowe's, you might want to send a Gift card to Jamie.
9. Flawless Victory. Kevin Harvick better be praising his pit crew after their performance on Sunday. Kevin may have been driving the car to the checkers but those pit guys did not miss a beat with stops all less than 14 seconds.
10. Guest Speaking 101. During Monday Night Football on ESPN, Jeff Gordon was a guest in the booth. He was introduced as NASCAR's most popular driver. Doesn't that belong to Junior? Also Jeff was presented with a gift from the guys in the booth for his wedding, a Belgian Waffle maker, how original but I give Jeff credit with his comeback when he said "Well guys, you know they don’t eat those in Belgium."
11. Free Agent Market. Between the drivers and crew chiefs switching around, one can relate NASCAR to other professional sports like baseball and football. It is just hard to keep up with who is on what team driving what car. The latest is Biffle moving to the #6 next year and his current crew chief, Doug Richert, will not be at the helm. At least he doesn't have to worry about Subway sandwiches thrown in his face or coke sprayed on him anymore.

Let's face it, unless some really and I do mean REALLY bad luck happens to Johnson next Sunday at Homestead, he will be the 2006 Champion. Is the race worth watching? There will be people watching the race just hoping for something to go wrong on the #48 team. Hey people, wake up, this is reality, not Survivor. Jimmie will not be voted off. Good luck to all the drivers in the Ford 400. May the best man win!!!