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| Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images via NASCAR Media |
Yesterday was one of those races that you couldn't wait until it was over as the AAA 400 at Dover was a long, drawn out, boring race to say the least that was dominated by Kyle Busch.
But things changed for the front runners during the final green flag run as fuel strategy would shake things up and help Brad Keselowski to his second victory in the chase and Jimmie Johnson to a good 4th place finish, while hurting Kyle Busch and chase driver Denny Hamlin putting them to 7th and 8th in the final results.
I don't know what it is, but drivers like Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski both have ways of saving a lot of fuel and streaking the fuel mileage and on Sunday, that's exactly what Keselowski did to win the race.
Of course it should be mentioned that Keselowski's car has the same fuel tank, same length lines and whatnot that everyone else has, but Keselowski just has that skill to save fuel early and make a run for the win at the end. Also I wasn't surprised to see that the Toyota's ran out of fuel early while the Chevrolet's and Dodge's didn't as the Toyota's tend to get bad fuel economy.
Notebook:
1. What happened to Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth contending for the title?
During the regular season, both drivers led much of the points, but now only 3 races into the chase, Biffle now finds himself 11th in points (-51 back) and Matt Kenseth is 12th in points (-72). I'm going to say that while the chase is from over, these two are fighting just to get on stage at the banquet and not for the 2012 title.
1. What happened to Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth contending for the title?
During the regular season, both drivers led much of the points, but now only 3 races into the chase, Biffle now finds himself 11th in points (-51 back) and Matt Kenseth is 12th in points (-72). I'm going to say that while the chase is from over, these two are fighting just to get on stage at the banquet and not for the 2012 title.
2. Championships are won not only by good days with winning races and solid top 5 finishes, but how you capitalize on a bad days and get all you can get for points. Two drivers on Sunday made the best of their days to stay in the championship hunt.
First, Denny Hamlin savaged an okay day after fuel mileage bit him in the late stages of the race and left him with an 8th place finish.
And second was Clint Bowyer. I've been impressed with MWR and Clint Bowyer this season and Sunday, Bowyer finished 9th and is now 4th in points (-25 behind the leader). As far as I'm concerned, if a driver is within 30 points of the leader with 5 races to go, they have a chance and right now Clint Bowyer is still well in contention for the title.
3. Has this chase become a four-driver race (Keselowski, Johnson, Hamlin and Bowyer)?
No, while Keselowski, Johnson, Hamlin and Bowyer are separated by only 25 points, you can't count out Stewart, Kahne, and even Earnhardt Jr. right now for the title.
No, while Keselowski, Johnson, Hamlin and Bowyer are separated by only 25 points, you can't count out Stewart, Kahne, and even Earnhardt Jr. right now for the title.
Now its off to Talladega Superspeedway and a race I circle on my calendar to skip. But Charlotte is the race to watch for sure to separate the contenders from the pretenders.
