In what can be considered an owner’s dream or an owner’s nightmare as the last 5-lap shootout began, Robert Yates had to be one of the most nervous men in New Hampshire today. A green flag restart at lap 295 of 300 saw his drivers, Ricky Rudd and Dale Jarrett sitting 1-2 with Jeff Gordon waiting to split this team-up. As the cars returned to racing speed Rudd got a little jump as Jarrett blocked Gordon but with only a couple laps remaining DJ chased down Ricky, rubbed a little paint and motored away to assume the lead in the NASCAR Winston Cup Points Championship.

“Now Let’s Go Racing!!!”

First, since my wife is leaving on a one-week business trip tonight this report will be short and hopefully sweet (if not, maybe “not too sour”). Jeff Gordon was the man of the hour with his pole position and his first half of the race lead. He jumped out to an easy lead and led through a caution flag at lap 5 when Elliott Sadler and Joe Nemechek found out that 4 wide at NHIS just won’t work. And at lap 5 both drivers ended up where they belonged, in the garage for extended repairs and a little humility. No pits up front changed nothing and the #24 of Gordon kept his lead.

At lap 13 Rusty Wallace, 4th in points pre-race, blew an engine and suffered a last place finish, taking a big slap in the points against 5th place Sterling Marlin and 6th place Tony Stewart. Tony slipped by and takes over 4th and Rusty drops to 6th. The race, meanwhile, remained pretty much the same with Jeff dominating and the “cream” coming to the top. Eventually Gordon found points rival Jarrett sitting on his rear bumper and looking to get by before Gordon locked up the 5 points for most laps led. Tire problems caused the next 3 cautions at lap 61 when Johnny Benson slapped the wall, at lap 90 when Jeremy Mayfield did the same and once again at lap 125 when it was Dave Blaney’s turn.

The fourth caution of the race at lap 125 for Blaney also saw someone take the lead besides Gordon (and Marlin for a lap during a yellow flag) when the UPS team of Jarrett got DJ the fastest stop. It was now follow the leader (the #88 of DJ) over the next 90 laps with yellow’s flying at lap 154 when Kevin Harvick bumped Ward Burton from behind and sent the #22 for a loop, and at lap 165 when Stacy Compton came up and pinned Ron Hornaday against the wall and drove him almost into the grandstands. Green flag pit stops began about lap 215 and continued through the field until lap 225 when Kevin Lepage looped his car and brought out caution #7.

When all the cars had stopped under green and yellow and the dust settled, the green flag at lap 241 saw Ricky Rudd on top followed by Gordon, Jimmy Spencer, Jarrett and Stewart. As the laps wound down it looked like Rudd would be able to hold off the field as he had a strong car on longer runs. Unfortunately for Ricky, Robert Pressley blew a tire and left tire rubber all the way around the track and yellow #8 flew at lap 249. A quick clean up and green flag kept Rudd out front and as he pulled away again the 9th yellow flew at lap 271 when Elliott Sadler made his second spectacle of the day, slamming the wall hard and ringing his bell.

Finally, with 20 to go, Rudd still trying to sneak away in front, Gordon hunting him second and Jarrett looking to give RYR a 1-2 finish it was time to race to the checkers. At least that’s the way it was supposed to go and the way Rudd was hoping it would go. Somebody forgot to mention to Mr. Excitement Spencer that we were racing to the finish for a 20-lap shootout and at lap 291 he dove under Jerry Nadeau and drove him into the wall. The yellow came out one more time and set up a 5-lap shootout. As the green flew for the last time it was Rudd, Jarrett, Gordon, Stewart and Spencer making up the front 5. Since Rudd needed a longer run DJ was able to get under him when the #28 bobbled a little. Gordon glued himself to DJ’s bumper and followed him by and as the white flag flew Jarrett began to pull away from Gordon and Jeff began to pull away from Rudd. It was just a quick drive home from there for Jarrett to take win #4 of the season and remain tied for the WC Championship with Jeff Gordon.

Kudos go to Jeff Gordon (2nd) who did all he could to stay with DJ in points, Ricky Rudd (3rd) who lost this one to two late cautions, Jimmy Spencer (4th) who stole this top 5, Tony Stewart (5th), who looked to have a fast car in mid race but died off near the end, Steve Park (6th) giving DEI a top 10, Bobby Labonte (7th) who just didn’t have a “day”, Kevin Harvick (8th) following up last night’s BGN win with a top 10, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (9th) for a second DEI top 10 and Mike Wallace (10th) who is doing everything to keep them fingernails gripped onto his “on-again, off-again” ride. A special mention to Jerry Nadeau who had another top 10 coming if not for a late race “close encounter of a Spencer kind” and to Todd Bodine who is making Old DW look bad after his good runs in that #66. But the Big Yahoo goes out to Dale Jarrett and the Big Brown Truck team. Great job guys!

Next week it’s off to Pocono and now I’m off to shower my wife with affection. See y’all soon!

Keep The Shiny Side Up!

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