Some comments on the upcoming Mason-Dixon 400 -
*** Is Michael Waltrip Racing for real? So far we’ve seen a lot of hype because of David Reutimann’s rain-shortened win at Charlotte and his Dover pole. And Reutimann has actually done okay here, finishing in the top-20 twice in three starts. But he hasn’t yet shown enough ferocity as a racer to buy into him being “the next big thing in NASCAR.”
*** Dodge had a good deep day in qualifying, putting all four Petty-Gillett Dodges in the top-10 while Sam Hornish timed in the top-15.
*** We’ve now seen two new teams – James Finch and Michael Waltrip – win point races. What’s next is to see two or three teams who haven’t won in a long time – see Petty-Gillett above – to come back and win. For all the hype about Junior, the sport needs new winning teams and comeback winning teams more.
*** But the one to beat is – yep – Kyle Busch. I was frankly stunned his car handled so poorly in traffic at Charlotte because other than that no one was going to get him.
*** So far not so good for Junior and his new chief chief by semi-committee. His qualifying effort was below his average but in keeping with a less-than-mediocre overall race record at Dover, as Junior has had just three top-tens since winning the Delaware 400 in 2001.
*** Not doing much better at Dover lately has been Tony Stewart, whose own car is stuck in 31st after qualifying. Since 2004 Stewart has had only one top-ten finish at The Monster Mile.
*** Dover has been the most improved track in terms of competition in NASCAR. It used to be like Bristol – a dismal concrete skating rink with next tonothing in the way of positional passing up front. But twice in the last six races Dover has seen some genuinely great battles up front – in Jeff Burton’s breakthrough win in 2006 and of course the three-wide spurts in 2008.
*** Mike Skinner may not be the answer at Baldwin Racing, but replacing Scott Riggs was overdue. I’m puzzled what Tommy Baldwin could have possibly seen in Riggs to think this guy has any killer instinct to race.
*** Does anyone else think this Jeremy Mayfield suit is going to blow up in NASCAR’s face? The way NASCAR handles things they’ve gotten burned seemingly a lot the last number of years.