Hello Angels, Bosley, Mr. X and the UnNamed One,

First let me start off by correcting a statement I made last week concerning Ricky Rudd and Dale Jarrett.  They are no longer teammates, in fact today’s pole sitter, Elliott Sadler, is Jarrett’s teammate, sharing Robert Yates as their teams owner.  Rudd is the driver for the Wood Brothers owned Motorcraft Air Force Ford.

Today’s race was pretty spectacular.  The only way I can describe it is by the movie title, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.”  The “plane” is Elliott Sadler’s spectacular crash with six laps to go, the “train” is all the cars bunched together, going 190 mph, and of course the automobiles are self-explanatory.

Sadler’s crash led to a pretty exciting, if not very dangerous four-lap shootout to determine the winner of today’s EA Sports 500 at Talladega Super Speedway in Alabama.

Let’s talk about Sadler’s crash first of all.  If you didn’t see the crash already, I highly suggest that you try to see it in a replay off NASCAR’s Web site because it was incredible.  I counted 6 and a half flips including the initial flip when he moved down the racetrack when Dale Earnhardt Jr., came down to block Sadler’s move to the inside.  Sadler ran out of room avoiding Earnhardt and hit the front right quarterpanel of Kurt Busch’s car.  Sadler’s car turned sharply to the right and almost immediately went airborne.  Amazingly enough, Sadler’s car never touched another car even after barrel rolling back onto the racetrack.  Another amazing fact is that Sadler almost walked away on his own power.  He never lost consciousness, and once the car stopped moving, Sadler removed the steering wheel and his gloves.

On another note, safety workers were at the crash site almost immediately also thanks to the new safety rules when a yellow flag comes out.  The safety crews don’t have to wait for the cars to slow down anymore because of the elimination of racing back to the yellow flag non-rule.  I’m sure Sadler definitely appreciated the quick response.

Another spin also amazed me. This time it was Jimmie Johnson getting caught up between Earnhardt and Michael Waltrip when Earnhardt was pushing Waltrip for the lead.  Waltrip got loose and hit Johnson sending his Lowes Chevrolet spinning down the backstretch.  Saving him from the same fate at Sadler was the concrete that was put down a couple of years ago eliminating the large grass infield.  Johnson’s car never left the pavement and he was able to continue on.  Unfortunately the spin damaged Johnson’s engine and he was forced to end the day early, finishing 34th.

There was one crash involving more than one car today.  This happened early in the race on lap 10 when Jeremy Mayfield blew a left rear tire and took out another six cars in the process.  Mayfield was able to return to the race, but more than 80 laps down.  He managed a 38th place finish. One last note for today’s race that I didn’t mention earlier is the lap-144 pit-road incident involving Sadler and Jeff Green, which sent Green spinning into his crewmember. This time it wasn’t speeding on pit entry that caused the accident, but exiting.  Sadler was exiting his pit stall at the same time Green was getting ready to enter his pits.  Sadler clipped Green and sent him spinning, punting the Petty Enterprises crewmember about 15-feet.  I don’t know what his condition is, but I did see him get up on his own.  Let’s all hope he’s doing ok.

So, how did the “Planes, Trains and Automobiles’” race leave our teams, well, for some of us, fantastic.  We have two top-10 finishers, with two more pretty close to a top-10 finish.

Unfortunately for the UnNamed One, today’s race caused havoc on your team’s roster.  Rudd had problems early and eventually retired finishing 36th.  Matt Kenseth’s streak of good fortune continued today when he cut a tire only four laps before he had a scheduled pit stop.  It ended however a short time later when his engine broke while going for the lead.  Fortunately for him and everyone else around him, he was able to get out of traffic immediately and avoided dropping oil all over the track by shutting it down when he got out of traffic.  Today was Kenseth’s first “did not finish” for the season ending today’s race in the 33rd spot. Greg Biffle never had a chance today and finished 24th, one lap down.  Dale Jarrett was leading the race for a little while if I remember correctly, but he faded and finished 19th.  Kurt Busch still managed a sixth-place finish after the incident with Elliott Sadler with eight laps remaining.  Your GOLDEN CABOOSE award winning average finish is a not-so-nice 23.6.  Much better luck next week.

Mr. X, you didn’t do too much better yourself, especially when you share three of the same drivers as the UnNamed One.  Kenseth, Biffle and Jarrett definitely didn’t help your point’s standing today.  Neither did Terry Labonte who was running in the top-10 for a short time towards the end.  He ended the race though at the tail end of the lead lap in 22nd place.  Your top driver today is Jamie McMurray in 16th place.  Your average finish is also a not-so-nice 22.8.  Much better luck to you also.

Johnson, Kenseth and Biffle were my three drivers who hurt my chances for a good run this week.  John Andretti did well and managed to stay out of trouble finishing 15th today. Jeff Gordon had a tremendous day leading the most laps, and staying in the top-10 for most of the race.  He even had a shot at winning, but fell short on his last effort for the lead, and went from third to fifth place when the checkered flag was flying.  My average finish is also a pitifully low 22 even.  Please wish me better luck next week.

Kelly, with the luck that Jeremy Mayfield has been having lately he was an obvious choice for you to take this week, especially with the luck that you’ve been having lately.  Unfortunately you jinxed him…J   Seriously, his luck ran out this week on lap-10 when he cut that tire and took out the other cars in the process.  He finished 38th.  Your other drivers though saved you from total melt-down.  Terry Labonte finished 22nd, Dave Blaney came from a lap down to finish 17th and Bobby Labonte came back from a stalled engine on pit road during green-flag stops to finish 11th.  Your top driver today is Gordon’s fifth-place finish.  Your average finish is still an improvement over last week with 18.6.  Better luck next week.

Well look who’s back in the fray of things…SABRINA…. JJJ

Welcome back after a much too long hiatus.   You didn’t do too badly for yourself today finishing smack in the middle of the pack.  Johnson’s finish definitely didn’t help you, but didn’t destroy you either.  Ken Schrader finished 21st, while the “other” Gordon, Robby, finished 12th.  Your future “love-slave” Tony Stewart, finished third, with Earnhardt just ahead in second.  Your average finish is a nice 14.4.  Again, welcome back!!!

Kris, you rebounded nicely today even though Mike Skinner had engine problems.  He finished 27th.  Terry Labonte helped you also with his 22nd place finish.  Helping you the most though is having three drivers finish sixth or lower.  In that sixth spot is Busch, then Jeff Gordon in fifth, and Earnhardt in second.  Your average finish is a nice 12.4.

Tiffany, you’re leading the pack in total points so far this segment.  Today’s race shouldn’t change that.  Your worst driver is Johnson and his 34th place finish. Andretti worked for you today earning a 15th place finish, while Harvick, Earnhardt and Waltrip definitely helped you with their seventh, second and first place finishes respectively.  Your average finish is also nice at 11.8. 

Jill, you almost had the poker hand this week having four of your drivers, Busch, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman and Stewart finish consecutively sixth through third.  Your only driver out of the top-10 this week is Skinner in 27th.  Your average finish is a very nice top-10, nine even.  

Bosley, you went from worst last week to first this week.  Like Jill, four of your drivers finished in the top-10.  In your case it is Rusty Wallace in ninth, Busch in sixth, Newman in fourth and Mikey Waltrip winning the race.  Your only driver outside of the top-10 is Ward Burton in 14th.  Congratulations on your return to the top with your TOP ANGEL AWARD winning average finish of 6.8.

Our teams combined average finish is a not so bad, 14.16.

Here's where we stack up after last week's MBNA America 400 at Dover.

1	Tiff's Young Guns, J. Young	618	594	680	564	2456
2	Mr X, D. Nunes	671	607	468	651	2397
3	Charlie's Boyz, E. G.	539	528	603	652	2322
4	Unamed Ones Fords, R. Young	570	610	518	577	2275
5	Jill's Jockeys, J. Lindsey	493	570	587	614	2264
6	Kelly's Knights, S. Riddle	659	595	481	520	2255
7	Kris' Boy Toyz, P. Grill	419	528	600	409	1956
8	Bosley Bombers, J. Kratzer	384	581	518	400	1883
9	Sabrina's Stallions, S. Jackson	0	0	0	0	0

Next week’s race is the Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra Foods at Kansas Speedway.  Don't forget to update your teams drivers, if you choose too, by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

Good luck next week Angels,

Charlie