Well, The Auto Club 400… Where to
start? So much action was seen yesterday at what is considered to be an
extremely boring 2 mile track. It all started with pole sitter Denny Hamlin. Matt
Kenseth quickly took the lead off the line with Kyle Busch to take it just 10
laps later. All while Logano was making sure that Hamlin knew he was there.
Both Keselowski and Biffle had to start in the back due to engine changes, both
raced well but seemed to lose a lot of positions they gained in the pits. The
outside wall was chomping on cars as they went by! Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch,
Kasey Kahne, and others all had evidence that the pesky wall had chosen them
for a snack yesterday! With several uneventful cautions, Joey Logano and Kyle
Busch battled back and forth for the lead. Then we start seeing the fun stuff,
70 laps to go and Ole Smoke gets the lead. (Good thing too, he hadn’t lead a
lap yet this season!) However nothing last forever, and Kyle Busch was back in
the lead 18 laps later. A lot of the pack had to make green stop pits with
40-35 to go, putting some of the top contenders of the day in the back.
The cautions start flying in with
30 to go. Starting with Marcus Ambroise who blew a tire, 5 laps later Mark
Martin spins out bringing another caution (I think he might have been made the
outside walls lunch, but not sure about that one). Fifteen Laps to go and Clint
Bowyer blows up bringing out another caution. After that we come to the Final
restart where it gets mighty interesting. Ole Smoke had worked his way back to
the top but Logano was not going to let him in front. Logano blocks him down on
the inside and the firecrackers begin! Next thing we know Logano and Hamlin are
closing in on Busch and battling each other for the lead. Going back and forth
with each other the White Flag comes out with Logano in front. They end up
wrecking each other, with Hamlin coming down and hitting the inside wall, head
on and hard. Kyle Busch breezes right by them for the WIN!
The fun doesn’t stop there boys and
girls. Unfortunately, Hamlin was air lifted to the hospital complaining of back
problems. Tony wanted revenge for that
block move Logano pulled on him earlier. Coming down pit road tony cuts him off
and makes sure they are stopped.
Although it took Smoke some time to get out of the car he was definitely
on fire when he did. He approached Logano yelling and pushing him. In which, Logano responded by throwing a water
bottle that he had as people separated the two.
During an Interview Tony said that “He (Lagano) was nothing but a
spoiled little rich kid who never had to work a day in his life.” I expect that
the saga will continue in Martinsville for sure. I am also praying for Denny
Hamlin. Meanwhile, Busch was happy to get the win and Dale Earnhardt Jr. moved
to first in points.
And a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DANICA PATRICK!