From the get-go, Mother Nature seemed ready to play havoc with NASCAR this year. Matt Kenseth's rain-shortened win at the Daytona 500 started it off. And by season's end, three Cup races during had to be run on Monday due to inclement weather.The Coca-Cola 600 was one of those rained-delayed races.
But rainy days and Mondays sure didn't get David Reutimann down. When more precipitation hit the track on Monday, NASCAR officials called the race early, giving Reutimann his first Sprint Cup victory and Michael Waltrip Racing its first win ever.
Reutimann and Waltrip celebrated the victory with a most exuberant man-hug. And I predict Waltrip will be doing more hugging in 2010 - he's added Martin Truex Jr. to the MWR fold and Marcos Ambrose had some darn good showings to build on for next season.
The other two Monday winners? Denny Hamlin at Pocono in August and Tony Stewart, just one week later, at Watkins Glen.
Hamlin's win - his first in 2009 - gave the #11 team the momentum it needed to end the season mid-Chase. And Stewart, well his victory at Watkins helped cement his spot as the regular season champ.
See? Rain's not so bad after all.
Photo info: Waltrip and Reutimann talk things over during the Coca-Cola 600 rain delay.
No, rain's not to bad -- it turns things green and can bless any given driver's luck (like Matt Kenseth at the Daytona 500). Hell, we all could use a blessing like that, a little smile from heaven; it does make us whistle for a while
ReplyDeleteAnd the dry off-season ain't so bad either, considering that it's prompting you to write some of your most compelling NASCAR pieces yet! I await each next day's post here like a kid who can't wait to get his grubby fingers on the next window of the Xmas calendar. You rock, -Ista!