From the July, 2006 issue of Stock Car Insider
Last Week's Headlines
Let me paint you a picture Thomas Jefferson would even be proud of. Hot summer night, July 4th holiday weekend, fireworks in the air, and 43 thundering machines rumbling around America's beloved 2 1/2 mile speedway near the beaches of Daytona. What a way to celebrate the birth and progress of our great nation!Saturday night's race was void of the "big one" that typically dooms many drivers at restrictor plate races. However, that does not mean the race was void of excitement! There were numerous lead changes with drivers cycling through the complete field. In the end, unfamiliar faces like Boris Said's were at the front mixing up the normal restrictor plate shuffle.
Some of the biggest movers in the race were Kyle Busch (who jumped 4 spots to enter the top 10 in the eight position), Dale Earnhardt Jr (who leap-frogged Kasey Kahne to take over 3rd), and Tony Stewart (who ended his multi-week slide down the top 10).
Perhaps the most important outcome of the Pepsi 400 is that Matt Kenseth is now only 8 points behind the ever dominant Jimmie Johnson. Johnson's crash into Bobby Labonte with 12 laps remaining end his day and left him out of the race in 32nd position. Matt Kenseth, on the other hand, had a strong top 5 finish at a track where Roush drivers are typically happy to walk away with a top 15 finish.
Both Jeff Gordon and Greg Biffle dropped out of the top 10 in points when both were involved in a wreck with 6 laps to go. Gordon finished the day in 40th and Biffle in 31st. Neither driver can now afford to have similar outcomes in the remaining 8 races if they hope to qualify for the Chase for the Championship.
Both Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin benefited from Jeff Gordon and Greg Biffle's misfortunes. Kyle jumped 4 spots in points to the 8th position while Hamlin moved up 1 spot to the 10th position.
| See complete 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Race Schedule |
