This week, the Crappafoni Pictures crew is on the road to serve you, New York-style, this week's version of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Served piping hot with a bottle of New York's finest wine. Enjoy!

THE GOOD

Kyle Busch: as the race winner, he automatically gets first billing. Also led the most laps in the race. He's not only swept both Sprint Cup road course races, but with the win in Mexico City, he set the single-season record for most road course wins with three.

Marcos Ambrose: started at the rear of the field. To go from 43rd to third was nothing short of outstanding. If given the right opportunity with the right team, he can and will win Cup races. Additional kudos for racing Tony Stewart cleanly.

Tony Stewart: Smoke led one lap, thanks to Kyle Busch. While he didn't have the car to beat, he had a very strong car. Improved his Chase chances.

Juan Pablo Montoya: he started 25th and finished fourth, leading two laps during green flag pit stops. Had a strong car throughout the race, plus benefitted from having consistently quick pit stops. A shout out goes to his pit crew, led by crew chief Brian Pattie.

Martin Truex, Jr.: perhaps signing a one-year extension with DEI earlier in the week, plus being fairly close to home was the tonic that the #1 team needed. A fifth place finish also helps. While he's not mathematically eliminated from the Chase, he has an uphill battle. He needs Top 5's between now and the Chase, plus a couple of bad finishes by the other Chase contenders he's chasing.

Honorable Mention: Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch.

THE BAD

Tony Eury, Jr.: while I normally have this spot for the last place driver, the last place driver finished there due to an accident, so I won't list him there. The #88 team crew chief hung Dale Jr. out to dry with puzzling pit strategy. Instead of contending for his first road course win, Dale Jr. finished 22nd. All because of bad pit strategy. While Dale Jr. was on his game, Tony Jr. wasn't.

Michael McDowell: he and David Gilliland tangled with eight laps to go and started a Talladega-like wreck. Several cars were involved, and Gilliland got the worst of it. I suspect NASCAR will have a little chat with him.

Jeff Gordon: he had a surprisingly bad car and it got worse as the race went on. Most of his time in the top 10 was in the early part of the race. Even more surprising, he's in this category.

THE UGLY

The Crash: it happened with eight laps to go in the race in front of the pit road entrance. Michael McDowell and David Gilliland had been racing rough and tumble when they collided in Turn 11. The wreck collected nine drivers total and caused a carnage of wrecked cars, twisted metal, and sand from the barrels that protect the drivers from the pit wall.

Those are my nominees. Feel free to come in with yours.

It's that time of week when you, the Joe Six-Pack Sports Fan, have every right to call out those idiots, ingrates, and general all around #####$ for their stupidity and arrogance. Time again for you to throw the object of your ire in the sports world Under The Bus. I have a few figures I'd like to throw Under The Bus.

NFL

Dallas Cowboys: this is a neverending soap opera with this team. T.O., Jessica Simpson vis a vis Tony Romo, now Pacman Jones. I suspect Jerry Jones is itching for a lockout in 2011. Yes they'll have a state of the art stadium in Arlington soon. Us non-Cowboys fans are frankly sick and tired of the whole thing. The Cowboys' soap opera gets thrown Under The Bus.

New England Patriots: Spygate won't go away. This is another team that thrives on high drama, particularly with Bill Belichick vs. the world. You used to be a team that people could get behind. Now you're perceived as cheaters. Please, save the drama for your mama.  Until then, the Patriots get thrown Under The Bus.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA): he wants Congress to punish the Patriots further. Senator, do us all a favor and INVESTIGATE WHY THE DAMN GAS PRICES ARE SO FREAKING HIGH!! Then do us all a favor and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! AND GET OUT OF OUR SPORTS!! Sen. Specter and ALL OF CONGRESS get thrown Under The Bus for being a bunch of do-nothing BLOWHARDS!!!!! Is it any wonder Congress' approval ratings are in single digits? 

NBA

Joakim Noah, C/F, Chicago Bulls: he was in Gainesville kicking it when an officer spotted him holding an amber-#### drink, a violation of city law. At the police station, tree was found on him and he was promptly arrested. What the hell are you doing back in Gainesville? You shouldn't be back there unless there is a reunion of the Gators' national championship teams. You're an NBA professional now. At the very least, you're guilty of egregiously bad judgment. For your bad judgment, you get thrown Under The Bus. UPDATE: he accepted a deferred prosecution agreement, resulting in a fine and probation.

Rasheed Wallace, C/F, Detroit Pistons: his act has gotten old and tired. He had a HORRIBLE night when the Pistons needed him most. He single-handedly cost the Pistons a chance to win and force a Game 7 in Boston. My prediction: he won't be back with the Pistons next season. He is supremely talented (a definite top 3 talent when he's on) but disappears at the most inopportune times. Now the Pistons are going fishing for the summer. But before he goes fishing, Rasheed Wallace gets thrown Under The Bus.

NASCAR

Denny Hamlin: WTF was he thinking when he was going full speed on Lap 17 after the wreck was about to stop? He escalated the wreck and knocked himself and Elliott Sadler out and severely damaged SEVERAL other cars that were in the top 12 in points coming in. IF NASCAR had any BALLS, they would park Hamlin AND HIS TEAM at Pocono. He was driving with his head so far up his #### he could see out of his mouth. For being a blithering #### and driving dangerously, Hamlin gets thrown UNDER A FLEET OF BUSES.

Those are my nominations. Feel free to come in with yours.

In honor of the last race on Fox, Crappafoni Pictures presents to you the Monster-sized version of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

THE GOOD

Kyle Busch: as the winner at Dover, he gets first billing. He had a stout car all day.

Roush Fenway Racing: four cars in the Top 10, with Jamie McMurray sneaking in to finish tenth. It wouldn't surprise me to see RFR have four drivers in the Chase.

Jeff Gordon: to finish on the lead lap today was astounding, especially with Kyle Busch as stout as he was. He may have cost himself a chance at a win when he stayed out too long on green flag pit stops late in the race.

Martin Truex, Jr.: while he wasn't a factor to win, he had a solid sixth place finish, being the last driver on the lead lap.

Jeff Burton: was consistent again, finishing eighth. He did finish a lap down because Busch was so strong.

Honorable Mention: Jimmie Johnson, Dave Blaney.

THE BAD

David Gilliland: he was the cause of the Talladega-esque 11-car crash early in the race when he got into the back of Elliott Sadler and sent him spinning. Mayhem then ensued. There were a LOT of torn up cars after that one. More on the crash later.

Denny Hamlin: he escalated the crash when he went full speed through the carnage as other drivers were trying to pick their way through. He took out a number of cars in the top 12 in points. More on him in a later blog.

TV Coverage: is it me, or am I sick of the lovefest with Kyle Busch? They were having orgasms when Busch was leading (and eventually won). Perhaps TNT will be more impartial.

Honorable Mention: field fillers (you guys know who you are).

THE UGLY

Lap 17: that wreck was Talladega-esque. Half of the top 12 in the points going in were involved. Denny Hamlin drove like a total ####, going FULL SPEED through the carnage and taking himself out and severely damaging several other cars. WHAT THE HELL WAS HE THINKING??

Kevin Harvick: his car looked like a dune buggy once he returned to the track. Yet through attrition, he gained a couple of spots. (a sub-good among the ugly)

Those are my nominees for the race! Feel free to chime in with yours!

When you think of Talladega, what comes to mind? Here are a few things: The Big One, pedal to the metal racing, Junior Nation. I present to you The Good, Bad, and Ugly, spaghetti western style, with a Southern twist.

THE GOOD

Kyle Busch: as the winner of the Aaron's 499, he gets first billing. Came back from a lap down. Good job Rowdy!

Juan Pablo Montoya: best-ever finish on a restrictor plate track. Runner up to Rowdy is nothing to sneeze at. Montoya's car got stronger as the race went on. Any doubts about Montoya not belonging in NASCAR were (or at least should be) erased.  

Travis Kvapil: the #28 finally had some sponsorship (Northern Tool & Equipment) and he rewarded his new sponsors with a very solid Top 10 finish. Just missed a Top 5 due to the caution coming out on the last lap.

Denny Hamlin: a solid Top 5 finish. Had a very strong car all day. Was better known for pushing drivers to the front.

David Ragan: I'd be remiss if I didn't put him in this category. A very good fourth place finish.

Honorable Mention: Brian Vickers, Casey Mears, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Clint Bowyer.

THE BAD

Reed Sorenson: blew an engine just four laps into the race. Then had to watch his teammate Juan Pablo Montoya nearly steal a win.

Matt Kenseth: a bad year got worse. He hit the wall early and had to go to the garage for major repairs. He finished in 41st, 38 laps down.

Carl Edwards: had tire issues all day due to his crew missing on the set-up BIG TIME. How do you miss a set-up at a place like Talladega? The negative on the camber was too much, putting unneeded pressure on the right front tire. The third time his right front blew, it ended his day early.

Ken Schrader: had a surprisingly strong qualifying effort in his first race in the #70 Hunts Brothers Pizza Chevrolet. Even led a lap under caution. Unfortunately finished 47 laps down.

THE UGLY

The Big One: happened on the last lap of the race and collected several cars, including Kevin Harvick's #29. Cost Juan Pablo Montoya a possible win.

Fox's Coverage: on more than one occasion, they went to commercial and a caution came out during the commercial. I was listening to Kevin Harvick's radio on TrackPass and more than once the spotter relayed to Harvick that the yellow flag was out. Time to implement the split screen used ONCE by NBC, in the 2000 season finale at Atlanta. 

That's all I have for this week. Come in with your nominations!    

Now that the race in Martinsville is in the books, it's time to present the spaghetti western edition of this race. Brought to you by Crappafoni Pictures.

THE GOOD

Denny Hamlin: since he won the race, he gets first billing. His car was great the whole race. Good win for Hamlin. Enjoy the grandfather clock.

Hendrick Motorsports: for awhile, I thought they would sweep the top four positions, much like RCR did with the first three at Bristol two weeks ago. All four cars solidly in the top 10.

Richard Childress Racing: once again, all three of their cars finished in the top 15. And they have the top two points leaders in Jeff Burton (leader) and Kevin Harvick (2nd). Clint Bowyer is in 12th place in points.

Michael McDowell: gotta give a shout out to this Cup rookie. In his Cup debut, he was on the lead lap for almost the whole race, finally falling off the lead lap with less than 10 laps to go due to a flat tire. If this race is any indication, he has a bright future.

Jamie McMurray: FINALLY, he has a good week. He qualified very well (third) and finished with a solid top 10. He needed it, now he's solidly in the top 35 in points.

THE BAD

Matt Kenseth: he was the antithesis of McMurray. He deliberately dumped David Gilliland into the wall, earning a trip to NASCAR's Oval Office for his naughty behavior after the race. Earlier in the race, he served a one-lap penalty. For this act of dump and run, he was penalized two laps.

J.J. Yeley: he had the day from hell. I didn't know whether to pity him or yell at my TV to get him off the #### track.

THE UGLY

Transmission failures: it happened to several drivers, most notably Kyle Busch. Ken Schrader had the most heartbreaking, his occurring while he was running in the top 15.

Matt Kenseth: I don't know what he ate for breakfast or if someone pissed in his Wheaties, but he appeared unusually surly. Dumping Gilliland deliberately is very much unlike Kenseth.