Welcome, gay NASCAR fans! Sunday's race was a challenge for our boys -- we only had four in the top 10; Biffle won again; Dave Blaney took a terrible hit; and Jeff Gordon got ambushed, finished 39th, and dropped six spots, leaving the top 10. The big winner on our team was Mark Martin, who picked up six spots. We're down to just six guys, also, in the points race. Well don't despair, darlings -- you know how things can change from week to week.
This Sunday, we were privileged to watch the race with the fun-loving gang at Atlanta's Euclid Ave. Yacht Club. There was a sporty little crowd of race fans there and the staff folks couldn't have been nicer. "In Atlanta, it's the Euclid Ave. Yacht Club!"
Qualifying was rained out, so Jimmie Johnson sat on the pole. The prayer was offered by the Rev. Dan Shafer of Calvary Assembly of God. Singing the national anthem was recording artist Jason Mraz. I was listening to this part on the radio and so missed the fact that Jason's a hottie! Check him out at www.jasonmraz.com.
Just 12 laps had gone by when we had our first caution, for debris. Elliott, fresh from winning this week's "Sexiest Driver" over Mikey, took the lead. More debris got in the way on lap 34.
At lap 41, there was big trouble. Coming off turn 2, Jeff Gordon got turned around and flattened the fanny of his racecar against the wall. Bouncing off the wall and spinning down into the back, Jeff nearly got hit head-on by Kasey Khane. Mikey almost got in it too, and Jamie got slapped from side to side.
In the replays, it was clear that Tony Stewart got under Jeff and spun him. What a rat! Jeff was furious in his post-wreck interview: "I had more respect for Tony Stewart than that. He hit me," Jeff said. Jeff acknowledged Tony's car was faster but he would like to have been able to exit the turn cleanly so he could get out of the way. "I guarantee you the next time he is in my way it won't take me more than a half-lap to get him out of my way," he vowed.
Jeff was so mad we half-expected him to steal someone's back-up car and come back out for just long enough to set things right. In his post-race remarks, Tony was a bee-utch, as usual: "[Jeff] expects more patience out of everyone else, not himself. I don't know what it is with him and Jimmie and Ryan, but it's a group of them that think the roads are named after them." Tony suggested that if Jeff wants revenge, "we could get into a car-crashing war." And that, gentle readers, is exactly what I expect to see next from these two rich, rowdy racers.
Then Bobby Labonte's engine blew. Kyle Busch was the leader. Elliott took it back at lap 110. Next, we had more debris. Elliott continued to lead. Go Elliott! Then we had the day's worst wreck: Coming off turn 2, Dave Blaney spun out of control, smashed hard into the inside wall, then bounced back up the track where his car crushed Kenny Schrader's against the wall. Dave sustained a vicious hit from the onrushing traffic that twirled his car like a jagged metal spinning top. This was one of those wrecks you hate to see -- we were so glad the guys climbed out OK.
Elliott was still running up front, and we held out high hopes for his prospects. At lap 207, debris brought out another yellow flag. At lap 241, bitter Biffle passed fluffy party-boy Elliott for the lead. At lap 274, Kasey krashed coming off turn 4. Poor dude! By lap 333, poor Jr. was two laps down. Poor dude! At lap 395, there were only 11 cars on the lead lap. Biffle took the checkers for the fourth time this year.
GO 53!
We're loving that cute commercial that shows Jamie and Elliott racing on a NASCAR track against Herbie, the adorable Volkswagen star of "Herbie: Fully Loaded" -- tell me that doesn't sound like a porn title -- which opens June 22. Check out how the car is able to ride horizontally on the fence! Kids, don't try this at home. Jamie and Jr. are in the movie, I've read.
THE HMIEL HMATTER
It was big news this week, of course, that Shane Hmiel failed a drug test for the second time and was suspended indefinitely. There seems to be some kind of news blackout about what Shane was allegedly "on." I try not to judge anybody until I have listened to the case, and I have not heard all the details on this, so I will reserve judgment.
If Shane was tore up driving his racecar, he should cut that out. But if the test just showed that he had been tore up on his own time during the week, they should leave him alone. Every so often, Jr. makes me so proud, and this was one of those weeks. Jr. is big buds with Shane and in fact recently hired Shane's dad Steve to be interim crew chief of the #8 car. Jr. called the matter "disappointing" but added, "I won't turn my back on my friend. I'll help him however he needs to be helped." It takes courage to stick with your mates when they're in trouble -- right on, Jr.
That's it for this week, friends. Thanks for stopping by the trailer. See you Sunday at Pocono -- let's all meet up down at the Track Bar!
Love,
Betty Jack DeVine
E ME at Bettyjack@gaytona.com
