Vickers' win rings hollow
For a change of on-track pace, we saw a pretty amazing race at the UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega on Sunday. The newly-paved track was a sight to behold and the racing groove wasn't in its usual place. Shock of shocks, the leaders were riding near the wall as opposed to the bottom of the track.
There weren't many yellow flags - only six over 188 laps - and only three of the flags involved wrecks, including a 13-car Big One on Lap 139.
But the last yellow came out on the last lap. It should never have happened.
As a result, Brian Vickers' first NASCAR Nextel Cup win rings as hollow as a restrictor plate.
As I sat at home watching with anticipation, the three-car battle that unfolded between Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Vickers, and his soon-to-be-former teammate at Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson was a marvel. No one taking real risks, but the drivers know what's involved in the insane speeds that exist on Talladega's 33-degree banks.
Then came the final lap. It was time to go for Johnson and Vickers. They waited until they reached the backstretch.
Only Vickers waited just a beat too long to execute the bump draft he claims he was trying to do. The resulting wreck knocked out Johnson and Earnhardt Jr. and gave Vickers a win only he and his crew were celebrating.
Phooey. Shame. Vickers said his move wasn't intentional. What a ridiculous joke.
I was having visions of what Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth pulled off at Dover two weeks prior. For 25 laps, the pair raced each other like there was no tomorrow, with Burton desperately trying to pick up his first win in nearly five years and Kenseth trying to simply hold on with the No. 31 breathing down his back bumper like a wild bull on Sunoco racing fuel.
Although Kenseth eventually gave up the lead and ran out of gas with two laps left, I was impressed. It was real racing that was a lot of fun to watch.
On Sunday, I got a complete dud.
Thanks, Brian. May you choke on the trophy - if Johnson doesn't choke you first.
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