Bristol Rewind: Kurt Busch regrets missed opportunity

Sunday, Mar. 21, 2010

Rear view mirror, notes, key moments and more from Sunday's Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.

REAR VIEW MIRROR | JIM UTTER

Kurt Busch went on and on after the race about how he hoped he could have won and not let Jimmie Johnson make another trip to Victory Lane. He even took his case to the fans, saying in a post-race interview he knows how much they didn't want to see Johnson win again. Does that mean Busch is a sore loser? Not at all. What it shows is Busch is well aware what the high water mark in NASCAR is right now for success. He came close to crossing it again today and every missed opportunity is a lost opportunity.

Bristol's 55-race sell-out streak came to a halt Sunday with the help of several thousand empty seats. Considering the tough economy and how hard states such as Tennessee and North Carolina have been hit, I thought the crowd was still impressive. Plus, there are many Cup series tracks who would love to have the crowd Bristol did Sunday, and one track that would love half as many (yes, Auto Club Speedway).

Remarkable comeback Sunday by Kyle Busch , who bounced back from an early wreck, not only to finish well (ninth) but also claim a spot in the Top 12 in points (10th).

NOTEBOOK Stewart best when it counts

Tony Stewart said he wasn't good on restarts and he wasn't good early in the race when there wasn't much rubber laid down on the track.

But when a late-race caution presented an opportunity, he made the call to take two tires on his final pit stop, which helped give him a runner-up finish in Sunday's race.

"Whether I made the right call or not, I don't know," Stewart said. "Darian (Grubb , crew chief) and these guys did an awesome job. It was hard.

"We struggled on restarts. Once the track rubbered in, (the car) was pretty good. It was just a 10-lap sprint to the end there."

While Stewart is fifth in points, he has only led eight laps in five races this season. - Jim Utter

Edwards salvages good finish

Carl Edwards avoided controversy and any serious wrecks this week and used a late-race two-tire pit stop to help earn a sixth-place finish, his best of the season.

"I thought we were going to be fighting for the win (at the end), but Jimmie (Johnson) got in there with four tires and shook it all up and ended up getting the win," he said.

"We were pretty good on long runs but we just didn't get any because we were having tire trouble, so right about when the car would really get going, there would be a caution."

Edwards jumped seven spots in points to 13th, 16 behind 12th place Clint Bowyer . - J.U.

Martin caught in aother wreck

For the second consecutive race, Mark Martin got caught up in a wreck and has dropped to 16th in points.

This week, Martin was pinched into the wall by Greg Biffle on Lap 342 in an incident which eventually collected a total of 13 cars. He went to the garage for extensive repairs and ended up 35th.

"I was on the brakes but we were hung together when I saw (Biffle) was going to shut me off. It is just a shame," Martin said. "Man, I think we had a car that I really believe could contend to win.

"I know (Kurt Busch) was leading but we were running easy saving our tires back there, just adjusting our stuff. Mistakes happen, but that is a real bad deal for us." - J.U.

Pearson, Glotzbach remain hospitalized

Former NASCAR drivers Larry Pearson and Charlie Glotzbach remained hospitalized Sunday at Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center recovering from injuries sustained in a race among NSACAR legends Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Pearson, 56, is listed in fair condition after surgery Saturday night to repair a compound fracture of his left ankle, according to BMS officials. He will need to undergo further surgery at a later time on his fractured pelvis.

Glotzbach, 71, is listed in good condition.

On Lap 30 of the 35-lap event, Pearson spun and hit the outside wall. As his car drifted back down the track, it was T-boned on the driver's side by Glotzbach.

Pearson is the son of three-time Cup champion David Pearson and twice won the championship of what is now known as the Nationwide Series. Glotzbach is a former Cup and Automobile Racing Club America series driver. - J.U.

KEY MOMENTS Lap 6

Jimmie Johnson shows early he is going to be a force to reckon with as he powers to the front and leads 77 of the first 96 laps.

Lap 342

A 13-car wreck erupts out of Turn 3 taking several out several contenders, including Mark Martin and Juan Pablo Montoya .

Lap 391

Rain interrupts the race for the second time. Brad Keselowski elects not to pit and restarts in the lead but falls off on older tires. He eventually finishes 13th.

Lap 485

A debris caution allows all lead-lap cars to pit for tires. Kurt Busch and Johnson take four but have to line up on the final restart behind Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth , Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart, who all take two.

Lap 494

Johnson passes Stewart, his final obstacle to his first Bristol win.

NEXT RACE Goody's 500

Where: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway

When: 1 p.m. Sunday.

TV: Fox

Radio: Motor Racing Network

Last year's winner: Jimmie Johnson

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