Pegging the Wow Meter

Admittedly, I always go into the beginning of a restrictor-plate race with a mixture of anxious anticipation and some skepticism. The skepticism is because the outcome of a restrictor-plate race of depends a lot on luck and hitting the right set-up on the car. Because of the effect of the restrictor-plate on the ability of the car to close or pass, That skepicism seems somewhat justified in the first 28 laps of the Aaron's 499, as the lead pack seems to settle into the dreaded single-file parade. Granted, there is some action in the second pack, but stuck at home in a neighborhood where the AM radio reception is so bad listening to MRN is out of the question, we really can't keep track of that action.

But on lap 29, the Wow Meter starts to rise to the upper end as Denny Hamlin has pushed Jamie McMurray to the front, then drops down in front of Tony Stewart to take the lead. The real racing has only begun.

Ten laps later, just before green flag pit stops are scheduled to begin, the lead pack is three wide, and the lead is constantly changing. The Wow Meter has pegged and we are even wondering if these drivers might be getting too aggressive too early, and the idea of an early Big One looms.
But this is precision driving, folks. There is much more to this kind of racing than going in circles and turning left. The excellence of Earnhardt, Jr and Tony Stewart as drafting partners isn't due to luck, and just mashing the pedal and turning left; these guys are literally running nose to tail, and avoiding wrecks. Formula 1 fans, take note; this may be a different type of skill than it takes to keep a car on the track and hold position at over 200 mph on a Gran Prix cicuit, but it reauires a high level of skill nonetheless. Granted an F1 driver has to be precise--even while running alone, he has to hit his marks and maintain speed to avoid being overtaken or lose position during a pit stop. These NASCAR drivers have to be just as precise running in a pack, or else disaster happens.

With twenty-five laps to go we are beginning to think we may avoid the Big One entirely, but then it happens...almost. Kyle Busch and Jamie McMurray make contact and both cars go sideways in the middle of traffic, but there is no wreck. There is no caution, and after that miraculous save, Busch took the lead.

Then, with only fifteen laps to go our hearts break. When you are a competitive driver and there are fifteen laps left at Talladega, you want to start your move to the front aggressively. Tony Stewart, who had cut a tire earlier and ended up in the back of the pack, saw an opportunity and found a hole in which he could advance his position. But, as the pack entered the turn the hole closed, and the result was the Big One, affecting six cars. It was a no-fault accident, just one of those things that happens in these kind of races. The hole was there, then it wasn't.

But the race went on, and Kyle Busch, who had been a lap down early in the race, still lead. We remember that we should never underestimate the Dodges at restrictor-plate races as Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, and Juan Pablo Montoya enter the battle for the lead, which is joined by Michael Waltrip, Jimmie Johnson, and Jeff Gordon. The race continues to be exciting, the Wow Meter is still pegged, and, with eight laps to go the bumper panel is forcefully removed from the back of Brian Vickers' car, bringing out a debris caution.

The final restart begins a free for all with every car on the track jockeying for position. There are so many passes and lead changes during the restart lap we can't keep track of it. Plenty of blocking and bump drafting and wild maneuvering keeps the Wow Meter pegged. And out of the fray, Kyle Busch, who has never done well at Talladega, prevails.

The battle continues down to the white flag. The last lap is shaping up to be a great race to the finish there are at least eight cars in position to win. But that race is soon spoiled by the second Big One, this one involving more than ten cars. It doesn't matter what caused it, the race was over. Kyle Busch has won the race. Even before he begins his victory celebration he is thanking Juan Pablo Montoya and Jeff Gordon, who both contributed to keeping the young superstar in the lead.
The guy who thought the best he could do was to avoid trouble at Talladega found victory lane.

We have declared on several occasions in the past after a Cup race at Talladega, "This was the best restrictor-plate race ever!"

It seems as though we can make that declaration once again, modifying it to "one of the best," along with the realization that the new Sprint Cup car may finally be coming into its own. It could have been better, but the second Big One spoiled what could have been a very exciting finish.

Afterthought: Maybe Dale Earnhardt, Jr didn't have the best car in the field, but throughout the race he performed better than his team mates, who presumably had better setups. Even after having his car damaged in the first Big One, he finished in the top ten. That says a lot about him as a driver. Even those of us who aren't Jr fans should realize that he is one of the best, and that he does have a victory in his near future. Patience, friends, it will happen when the time is right.
It should be that Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch both celebrated their first Talladega win this weekend. Congratulations to both, and to Joe Gibbs Racing.