Backpost - After Pepsi 400

Well, let me just start by saying "someone has to be second", and in this case that's me - second one out. Thanks to some creative driving by Tony Stewart in the #20 car, Denny Hamlin was wrecked out of the last Pepsi 400 early in the even while leading. The wreck took out the class of the field and allowed for some competitive racing the rest of the evening.

Lots of good stuff to see during the broadcast this week. First of all, the little girl from America's Got Talent made every other professional performer that has sung the national anthem this year look like amateurs. I don't know who the hell she is, but she really belted it out. Speaking of belts, I thought the belt of Kevin James was going to burst during his "Gentlemen Start your engines". Kevin, I place you in the top two greatest race starters ever, right behind Matthew McConaughey.

The race was the race. Guys turned left a bunch. At least one turned right (#20) into my guy. I don't by his excuse for running Hamlin over. Yes, Tony. We do expect you to go around a slower car if he slows down in the turn, or on the straight, or in pits. Go around, not through. The #5 driver complained after losing by a hair that he didn't have any teammates out there. You are absolutely right Kyle, you have no teammates out there. maybe its because you barely have control of your car 99% of the time. I wouldn't want to be right behind you either when I can see your door most the of the way around the track. That #5 was loose like NAME REMOVED FOR THE PROTECTION OF FUTURE BEER TABS.

McMurray pulled off the win. Where was that at Sonoma when you got eliminated? It was good to see that car back in victory lane. It was also good to see McMurray's "girlfriend" finally after weeks of him claiming she existed. I don't know about you, but they sure didn't look to close during the post race. Can you say "beard"? I bet she didn't even know who he was before the modeling agency called her on Friday after qualifying was rained out and he got a decent starting position. I mean, please. Was anyone really surprised to see Jamie in tears after the race?

OK, TNT. Better, but still crappy. I am not buying the whole "we have to take a break to fulfill our commitments to the local cable companies advertising." yeah, then why was the first 30 second of the 90 second break a TNT commercial every time? And the "Wide Open" format? C'mon, are we idiots? I bought an HD TV not 30 minutes before the race. There was no difference between 4:3 and 16:9. And "we moved the tickers to the bottom to get them out of the picture", then they run giant commercials in the bottom right all night, covering up half the screen. better, guys, but you have a lot of work to do.

OK, next week we hit the windy city. This is close to home for Kenseth; Its a favorite of Harvick (with 2 wins); and Lovie Smith is the Grand Marshal. so based on that formula I predict a win for the #24 and a wreck of the #42, a pissed off #20 and #5, and a gay #26 and #55 (although the #55 won't make the race), oh, and another solid finish for the #70 keeping him in the league.

Standings after Pepsi 400 at Daytona:

Eliminated Drivers:

Dover - #2 Kurt Busch (Scott Mann)
Charlotte - #16 Greg Biffle (Jon Lommerin)
Pocono - #48 Jimmy Johnson (Jon Lommerin) - ELIMINATED
Michigan - #17 Matt Kenseth (Kenny Ross)
Sonoma - #veintiséis (thats #26 for those of from north of the border) Jamie McMurray (ME)
Louden - #07 Clint Bowyer (Curtis Krakowski)
Daytona - #11 Denny Hamlin (Thornton) - ELIMINATED

Survivors:

#24 (Inskeep)
#12 (Inskeep)
#99 (Ross)
#31 (Krakowski)
#8 (Shaffer)
#70 (Shaffer)
#20 (Mann)
#29 (Mikesell)
#5 (Mikesell)