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closePit stops | One-liners, observations and analysis
COMPILED BY RON GREEN JR.
The Charlotte Observer
Sunday, May. 18, 2008
A little more from Lowe's Motor Speedway and the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race weekend:
PIT STOPS
UP IN SMOKE: Greg Biffle won the first Pennzoil Platinum Victory Challenge - better known as a burnout competition - Saturday afternoon.
It wasn't particularly scientific, mostly just seeing which of the five drivers - Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and Kyle Busch also competed - could make the most smoke.
A lot of fans thought Johnson won because he made the biggest cloud and managed to tear up his rear tires in the process. However, Johnson was penalized for hitting the pylons and not stopping in the proper spot.
Busch, meanwhile, made his usual dramatic impact. After his burnout, Busch hopped out of his car, stood up and bowed to the fans who had greeted him with the usual serenade of boos.
STILL AILING: Sterling Marlin will drive the No. 40 Dodge in the Coca-Cola 600 next Sunday, owner Chip Ganassi said, while Dario Franchitti recovers from an ankle injury he suffered at Talladega, Ala.
JUAN WITH THE FANS: Juan Pablo Montoya dropped in on a group of fans camping behind the back straight Saturday afternoon.
It wasn¡¦t a total surprise ¡V the fans were alerted they should be near their campers about 3:30ƒ|p.m. ¡V but they didn't know Montoya would show up until he came rolling in on a decorated golf cart.
It's all part of a season-long promotion car sponsor Wrigley's has been doing with Montoya, allowing fans to interact with him on race days.
"I think it's pretty cool because people follow you and care about you and they can actually get to you," Montoya said.
OBSERVATIONS
• Some people call it the world's largest trailer park and that's not entirely accurate. But the fenced-off area inside the infield where the drivers and team owners hang out in their private motor coaches might be one of the most expensive.
While thousands of fans mill around outside the fence, there are so many shiny motor homes parked inside you practically need a map to figure out who is staying where. But it's like an oasis - allowing Kyle Busch to sit outside in a lawn chair without being bothered.
• The yellow walls - painted specially for the All-Star Race - are a good look.
• The burnout competition was a good idea though it wasn't quite as dramatic as it might have been. It will be interesting to see if takes on its own life like the NBA dunk contest with guys coming up with more unusual approaches.
• Dale Jarrett called it a career Saturday night. Nice to know he won't be far away. Television work will keep him busy - and familiar.
• Davidson basketball coach Bob McKillop and his staff were the grand marshals for the All-Star Race.
THEY SAID IT
"I only ran (the Indianapolis 500) once. I'd rather be here than there, to tell you the truth."
- JUAN PABLO MONTOYA
"I haven't driven the car of tomorrow, so unless I had time to drive a few laps, it wouldn't be smart."
- N.C. GOV. MIKE EASLEY ON WHY HE DIDN'T DRIVE A FEW LAPS IN FRONT OF THE CROWD
"That was fun, just to get out there and goof off."
- KYLE BUSCH ON THE BURNOUT COMPETITION
"We got flat taken out by whatever his name is."
- ELLIOT SADLER ON HIS EARLY EXIT FROM THE SPRINT SHOWDOWN AFTER BEING WRECKED BY A.J. ALLMENDINGER
"I was working for Junior (Johnson) in that first all-star race here which Darrell (Waltrip) won. Terry (Labonte) had the race won and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, comes Darrell and wins the race. Junior knew the engine in our car wasn't right and wouldn't pass postrace inspection. So Darrell popped the clutch on the last lap and blew the engine."
- PETE WRIGHT, WHO HAS WORKED AS A CREW MEMBER OR CREW CHIEF IN EVERY ALL-STAR RACE
BY THE NUMBERS
2 - Tires Jimmie Johnson shredded while participating in the burn-out competition.
3 - Former Indianapolis 500 winners (Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr.) in the NASCAR series this year, the same number of former winners at Indianapolis next week.
$1,000,000 - Prize money to the winner of the All-Star race.
