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Spoiled Race Fans Not Boring Racing - Making the Grade Texas
4/8/08: SOZ Studios, MI - By Dennis Michelsen "DMIC" (RaceTalkRadio.com)
The NASCAR marketing machine has done such a great job of telling us that the sport is filled with race after race of three-wide photo finishes for the win! We actually have some race fans that believe it. As soon as the checkered flag flew for the Samsung 508.5 on Sunday I knew the chorus of, "That was a boring race," would begin. No it wasn't an instant classic for the ages but neither are many other races all the way back through NASCAR history. Just because only ten cars finished on the lead lap and there were only four green flag passes for the lead it doesn't mean the race was automatically boring. It does mean that one team and one driver managed to find that sweet setup better than the other teams. Isn't that the goal of any form of racing…to get away from your competition? Give Carl Edwards and his team credit for being dominant not boring!
Race Grade B
Only four lead changes during green flag non-pit stop runs prevents this race from being better than a "B" but it was far from boring. There were enough plot twists to keep it interesting and watching teams and drivers adjust to a changing track was interesting. Just as fans can enjoy watching the best golfers in the world having nasty score in the US Open, watching driver deal with a finicky track adds intrigue too.
F for Ganassi Racing
When only three drivers go home on qualifying day and one of them is yours the team is well on the way to a failing grade. Neither one of their drivers that made the race had anything for the top teams either so it is apparent Ganassi is spending too much time worrying about his IRL and ALMS teams!
D for Jeremy Mayfield
If I were to give a grade for the entire season to this point Mayfield would earn an "F" for sure! When the guy you replaced handed the team over to you firmly in the Top 35 and you can't keep the team there the writing is on the wall. The Texas race was the last chance for Jeremy Mayfield to keep his job and he failed!
C for Patrick Carpentier
It has been an up and down season as expected for Patrick Carpentier. Despite improvements at Gillette-Evernham Motorsports this season, the lack of experience has Carpentier struggling. With more seat time this team should be able to turn the corner and being top rookie of the race earned him a charitable "C" this week.
B for Mark Martin
Dale Earnhardt Incorporated is clearly in the second-tier of race teams. Engine failure cost the No. 1 car a better finish and a lack of talent doomed the No. 01 again. But Mark Martin has shown that a great driver can make an average team above average! If this guy still had the fire in his belly to compete every race he would be an excellent choice to race RCR's fourth car next season and take one more try at the Championship!
A for Carl Edwards
After getting penalized at Las Vegas and blowing an engine at Atlanta this team had something to prove! Three wins in the first seven races is an incredible start for any team. With so many 1.5-mile tracks on the schedule this could be a magical year for Carl Edwards. If he does win 8-10 races this season I wonder if he will add a full twist to the flip to keep it interesting?
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