JEFF GORDON ENDS DEI
DOMINANCE AT TALLADEGA

Talladega, AL: In a season filled with a misunderstanding of the "Yellow Flag Rule", NASCAR proclaims Jeff Gordon winner of the Aaron's 499. Jeff had just grabbed the lead from Dale Earnhardt Jr. on lap 183. Then, the caution came out due to a spin by Brian Vickers in the #25 GMAC Chevrolet. According to the rule, the field is frozen at the point when the caution comes out, not when the incident occurs. Therefore, a few seconds can go by before the caution is issued. This poses the question as to who was in the lead at that moment. Had Jr retaken that spot during the lapse in time? NASCAR ruled that the #24 DuPont Chevrolet still held the position. As the race had gone past the point of being red flagged, Jeff won under the caution. Enraged fans tossed debris onto the track as a show of their disbelief in NASCAR'S decision.

The #24 DuPont Chevrolet had stayed in the top 10 throughout the race. Jeff had tried to stay hooked up with Hendricks team mate, Jimmie Johnson, but found it difficult with so many strong cars around him. On his final push to the front, Jeff had help from Jimmie, as well as another Hendricks team mate, Brian Vickers. Unfortunately, Brian's car got loose and he went into a spin that, luckily, did not take out anyone else.

In his post race interview, Jr did not appear to be too upset about the outcome. He still had the lead in points and the race, for him, had been fun. He did say that his crew chief, Tony Eury, Sr. would be getting together with NASCAR to review the end of the race to determine whether or not Jr had been in the lead at the moment the caution came out. He felt he may have passed Jeff prior to that.

Once again the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet was the strongest car in the race. Jr could pass anyone, anywhere on the track. It was difficult for his DEI team mate, Michael Waltrip, to keep up with him as Jr moved his position from high to low, pulling one line, then the other. After the restart for the caution on lap 74, Jr's spotter said that Tony Stewart wanted to know if Jr was ready to hook up with him. Jr responded that he just wanted to have some fun for a while. He later dropped back to pick up Tony and make another charge to the front. Tony had a difficult time staying with Jr as well. Jr was happy to keep out of the wrecks and take a bigger lead in the point standings, now being 89 ahead of Jimmie Johnson.

Finishing 3rd in the #48 Lowes Chevrolet, Jimmie Johnson breathed a sigh of relief that he had made it to the end of the race. On lap 34, Jimmie lost a tire after he had rubbed fenders with the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge of Jamie McMurray. Luckily, his car was not damaged and he quickly made his way back to the front. He battled for the top spot several times, leading one or two laps along the way. His car really got strong at the end of the race. Then, with only 13 laps remaining, Jimmie went to the inside of Tony Stewart. As Tony moved the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet down to block, his left rear fender slightly clipped Jimmie in the right front. Tony slid down onto the apron heading for the inside retaining wall. Miraculously, he was able to keep the car from hitting anything and he skirted across the grass to make it safely onto pit road.

Earlier in the race, on lap 84, Tony had tried a similar maneuver on the #97 Sharpie Ford of Kurt Busch. Sadly, this incident involved several cars as Kurt went first down the track, then back up to the high side. Many cars that were running well at the time were knocked out of the race. This included the #2 Miller Lite Dodge of Rusty Wallace, the #00 Aaron's Chevrolet of Kenny Wallace, the #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge of Kasey Kahne, the #10 Valvoline Chevrolet of Scott Riggs, the #50 Arnold Development Companies Dodge of Derrike Cope, and the #23 Unsponsored Dodge of Dave Blaney. Several of the drivers felt that Tony had been too aggressive at that point in the race. Rusty and Kasey later returned to the race trying to regain precious championship points.

It seemed to be a day for team mates. Kevin Harvick's car ran great. He led off and on throughout the race and came in 4th with the #29 Goodwrench Chevrolet. His Richard Childress Racing team mate Robby Gordon tried to use pit strategy to keep him out front. On several occasions, he took just 2 tires which helped him to the lead. But, he could not hold that position and other cars passed by him. He finished 5th.

Rousch Racing team mates Mark Martin and Jeff Burton did well. Mark led the race in the #6 Viagra Ford and came in 6th. Jeff Burton did not get to the top spot, but kept the #99 Roundup FastAct Ford battling up front. He came in 7th.

Another set of team mates, Casey Mears and Jamie McMurray of Chip Ganassi Racing both led the race. Casey had some difficulties on pit road with the #30 AOL Chevrolet of Johnny Sauter, but he brought the #41 Target Dodge in 8th. Jamie, who had rubbed fenders with Jimmie Johnson earlier in the race, seemed to building momentum at the end. He finished 9th in the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge.

Sneaking up quietly throughout the day, Bobby Labonte came in 10th with the #18 Wellbutrin XL* Chevrolet.

It has seemed like ages since a restrictor plate race was entertaining, but with all of the lead changes, the bumping & grinding and maneuvering in the "pack", today's race kept us on the edge of our seats. It was a miracle there were not more wrecks. Although we could understand the frustration of the fans with the race ending the way it did, their actions were not justified. Someone could have been injured, a driver, fan or track employee.

NASCAR needs to clear up the "Yellow Flag Rule". It is confusing to the drivers, fans and commentators. It is still hard to decipher how someone on pit road could become the leader of the race when a caution occurs. In today's race, one of the commentators stated that Sterling Marlin would have been the leader of the race even though he was on pit road for a caution he brought out when he lost a tire. How does this work? Of course, Sterling did not become the leader of the race. The #40 Coors Light Dodge had a hole in the radiator that knocked Sterling out of the race. He too, had been a contender, staying in the lead pack for most of the race.

Article by S. Kipple
04/25/04

*"Bobby Labonte does not use Wellbutrin XL."

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