• Congratulations to David Reutimann on getting his first career Sprint Cup victory in one of NASCAR's most prestigious races.  He used pit strategy by staying out on the last caution to put himself out in front for the rain.  I am not happy with the way the race ended and most race fans also aren't.  A great fight to the finish was being set up between Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne.  We all are going to say that Reutimann's win isn't legitimate or that he just got lucky.  Just remember that every driver and crew chief had the opportunity to make the call that they did.  David's team rolled the dice, and the weather just happened to play in their favor...

• This win did David Reutimann's whole crew and all of Michael Waltrip Racing so much good.  As an owner, it was probably a very satisfactory feeling for Michael especially because of all of the hardships he has gone through.  He needed to feel that sense of accomplishment in order to keep this organization moving along.  That 200+ pound trophy will make a nice centerpiece for the display case.  Monday's victory proved to be his light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

• It's just ashame that of all Coca-Cola 600's to be ruined like this one that it had to be the 50th running.  I have to give kudos to the fans for sticking it out all weekend.  You can imagine how miserable it must be to sit in the rain for hours.  For once, I have to say that NASCAR did make the right decision by calling the race when they did.  There comes a point where the delays get to be ridiculous.  Plus, the fans have to get back home and go to work and school.

• The Mistake of the Week award for Charlotte goes to all of the drivers who came down pit road on the final caution.  This includes Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, Juan Montoya, Joey Logano, etc.  All of these guys were racing the race, not playing the weather.  I was really surprised by the number of cars that chose to pit with the rain coming.  All of the rain victims will learn from their mistakes in the future...

• I enjoyed during the FOX broadcast how they rated all of the different racing organizations.  In my opinion, that is one of the little things they do that makes them better than the other networks.  I just got tired of them showing the same footage and saying some of the same things over and over since they had so much time on their hands.

• One of the only positive aspects about the racing this week was the fact that there were no start-and-parkers.  Every driver who started the race had the intention of finishing it.  Scott Riggs even managed to get his unknown Cooter's Backyard Bar and Grill sponsor mentioned on national television (no Hanahan, not Hooter's... lol).
  

• Kudos this week go out to Ryan Newman and Robby Gordon for their second and third place finishes, respectively.  Newman had a lug nut issue early in the race which made him restart back in the thirties but rebounded when he chose to stay out along with Reutimann and play the rain game.  Gordon also stayed out with the other two and got his first top five since who knows when...  this is a big achievement for a stand alone driver.

• I am going to agree with Tony Stewart and say that the moment of silence taken at 3 p.m. EST on request of the President is one of the greatest things that I have ever seen.  The fact that NASCAR chose to red flag the race and shut off the engines shows just much patriotism this sport has.  I just loved seeing all of the flags at half staff, all the pit crews lined along pit road, all of the fans standing in honor, and all of the drivers and cars lined along the front stretch.  Every single person in the whole facility was paying his or her respects to all of the troops currently serving our country, all of the troops who have served our country in the past, and all of the troops who have died serving our country.  Darrell Waltrip believes that the tribute is the whole reason that the race was rained out on Sunday evening.  I cannot think of a single sport that shows a greater amount of patriotism than NASCAR does, and I hope that never changes...

     

             
                                            

• Congratulations to Tony Stewart for getting his first ever All-Star win as an owner for Stewart-Haas Racing.  That victory couldn't have been sweeter or have come at a better time.  The expression on "Smoke's" face shows just how much the win means to him, not only to him but to his whole organization.  He caught everyone by surprise when he made that fantastic pass on the inside of Kenseth during the final ten laps.  There were many doubts when Stewart made his departure from Gibbs, but now everything has fallen into place.  He is even the number one threat to win the Coca-Cola 600 next week, just look at what Kasey Kahne pulled off last year.

• Matt Kenseth used pit strategy to get a much needed second place finish by getting two tires his final time down pit road.  It was crystal clear that Tony just had a better race car than he did.  The reason Kenseth gave up that victory was because he couldn't keep his car on the bottom.  That is one case where tires and proper adjustments play a more important role than track position.
  

• The 25th All-Star Race sure didn't let us fans down.  Those final ten laps were some of the best racing I have ever seen at Lowe's Motor Speedway, especially in an All-Star Race.  I'm sure the double file restarts had something to do with it; NASCAR should seriously consider having them every week.  The green flag pit stop halfway through the first segment was also cool to watch.  I really love the changes NASCAR has made to the event; for once they did something right!

• With $1,000,000 on the line on a Saturday night, every driver gives it his all.  Kyle Busch made one of the craziest maneuvers I have ever witnessed when he threaded the needle between Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth.  He is the type of driver who keeps fans tuning in week after week; the young man's talent and boldness is remarkable.  Look for him to also be a big threat next week in the 600.
  

• Too bad for Jeff Gordon.  I felt like he had the best car out there, but he was the casualty of hard racing.  I actually think his race-ending wreck was triggered by him.  Gordon body-checked Kyle Busch into Ryan Newman who in turn just came right back down into himself.  All of this racing proves what drivers are willing to do when no points are on the line.  If we want all out battles every single week, then I think we should do away with the current points system and base it on wins.  One point for each win; no points for anything else.

• It was nice to see Joey Logano do well after receiving the fan vote.  I feel like he is getting a better grasp of the COT every week that passes.  It won't be long until we see him in victory lane; I think it could very well be sometime this season.

• I would like to thank my good friend dmthornock for reporting live from turn two of Lowe's Motor Speedway right in the midst of all of the action.  What makes it all even sweeter for him is that he is a die-hard Tony Stewart fan.

• This week's final thought:  Have you noticed during driver introductions for the All-Star Race how some guys high-five their pit crews and some don't???  It may be just an issue of experience on the big stage.  For example, Sam Hornish, Jr. and Brad Keselowski both went ahead of their crews without sharing their appreciation.  I bet both of them were just too caught up in the moment.  Joey Logano actually did congratulate his crew even being a rookie.  That shows that Joe Gibbs has taken the time to train him in NASCAR etiquette.