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| Photo Credit: Hendrick Motorsports Facebook Page |
Of course one way NASCAR keeps things new is the ever changing formats and while I don't like that, I have just come to expect NASCAR and CMS to change the format every year to give the fans something new and/or different.
Anyway, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning the Sprint Showdown, A.J. Allmendinger advancing and Bobby Labonte winning the fan vote, this was one of the more wilder All-Star races then in recent years, partly due to racing for segment wins and strategy once the driver won the segment with each one of the first three dropping to the rear of the field to test, can you say adjustments and save their racecar. Interesting and yet it works to a point. You have to give it to these teams, they always try to find an advantage in these races using NASCAR rules.
Segments 1-4: Jimmie Johnson won segment #1, Matt Kenseth won segment 2, Brad Keselowski wins by inches over Kasey Kahne in segment #3 (what a good race at the line for that win) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. won segment #4. That was good racing in all four segments.
Ironic, both Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle went out with fireworks as their engines blow. Special engines for a special event. I've seen this movie before, JGR a few years ago.
But winning segments only gets you one advantage, first, second, third or fourth onto pit road for the final pit stop, but you still have to race to win the All-Star race.
And it would be Jimmie Johnson going from winning segment 1 to winning the All-Star race and $1 Million Dollars. Damn, that #48 team is good, hats off to them for winning the pit crew challenge and the All-Star race.
- Hats off to my favorite driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. on winning the Showdown, Segment #4 and finishing 5th in the All-Star race. He's ready for the Coca-Cola 600 next week for sure.
