Comment
Print
The plot was thick with a myriad of twists and turns in Martinsville, Virginia.
On Martinsville’s paper-clip shaped 0.526-mile short track, a Martinsville record of 31 lead changes among 12 drivers is a testament as the why the historic facility still exists in the NASCAR world.
Kyle Busch seemed to be the man to beat from the 350-lap mark on, but Jeff Gordon by lap 425 and then Jimmie Johnson by lap 450 charges into second place until the final stop of the event.
Gordon pitted just before a lap 467 caution to set him back, but made it all the way back to fifth place at the checkered flag. Johnson was caught speeding entering pit road and had to go to tail end of the longest line, foiling his chances for victory.
So, now it’s up to Kyle Busch to pull away from the field…nope. Here comes Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, that’s what I said, an 88 sighting at the front. No, don’t adjust your eyes and no it’s not Dale Jarrett!
Junior got past Kyle Busch with 20 laps to go after giving a little nudge to him in turn three, following a huge run down the backstretch.
The place erupted in chaotic mayhem as it looked like Dale Earnhardt Jr. was going to break a 98-race winless streak.
Meanwhile, Kevin Harvick, who slipped back from ninth to 25th in the opening laps of the race, had two key stops during Sunday’s event. The first one took place on the opening round of pit stops to keep pace and the final one came after the 300-lap mark.
Harvick sat 23rd with 200 laps left and as he described after the race, his team took a big swing to help the handling of the car. Harvick revealed little information in the media center, but whatever it was…worked.
Harvick restarted fourth with under 30 laps remaining and was on Junior back bumper with five laps left.
Harvick’s No.29 Chevy slipped underneath Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Chevy in turn three on lap 497 of 500 and made a clean pass. However, Junior tried the crossover move off turn two. Junior who brushed the rear of Harvick’s bumper had the inside position, but his tires and brakes were simply gone.
Harvick, who is making himself a title contender, becomes the first driver to win in all three top NASCAR series at the Martinsville Speedway.
Locally, East Rutherford’s Cavaliers are still undefeated in baseball, but they will be without a key member for awhile. Senior, Blake Myers fell to his stomach and on top of the plate in pain during his second at-bat last Tuesday against Freedom. Myers, who smashed a homer over the Cavalier scoreboard in left during his first plate appearance of the night, injured his right knee the following inning. As for how long he will be out, it’s unknown. Hopefully for Blake’s sake, he will be back for the postseason.
Don’t look now, the Braves are 3-1 to start the Major League Baseball season. The Braves have given up a combined three runs in those wins and Atlanta’s pitching has been stellar so far. Wait a minute! There are only 158 games remaining, so it’s extremely way to early to say World Series.
