Hello Angels,

I don’t know how many of you Angels got to see today’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but if you didn’t, you missed a race of records for NASCAR. 

Jeff Gordon won his fourth Brickyard 400 marking him as the first to do so in NASCAR. Prior to this, only open-wheeled drivers like A.J. Foyt and Rick Mears have done so. Gordon also became the first NEXTEL Cup driver to win under the “Green-White-Checkered Flag” rule, which ended up extending the Brickyard 400 by one-lap, and still ended under a caution when Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ricky Rudd and Mark Martin all cut tires with half-a-lap left in the race. That caution was the 14th caution and another record for NEXTEL Cup racing at the Brickyard.

Most of the cautions were tire related. Two of which blow my mind. Both Sterlin Marlin and Robbie Gordon cut their left front tires with plenty of time to get onto pit road. Both drivers stayed out to maintain track position, but their tires didn’t last causing the tires to explode off their rims and put metal against concrete. Well, in case you didn’t know, sparks catch things on fire, and such was the case for both Marlin and Robby Gordon. The ensuing fires eliminated them from competition today. So, I ask you this question, which is worse, restarting at the end of the longest line for entering the pits when pit road is closed, or catching your car on fire because you were being stupid?  You decide.

So, how do you think you did after the 11th running of the Brickyard 400?

Well, for you Sabrina, not so well.  For the third week in a row, you are our CHARLIE’S ANGELS’ FANTASY LEAGUE GOLDEN CABOOSE AWARD recipient. Like your previous awards, it is because you have entered a driver who is not racing a car in the NEXTEL Cup series. Yes, he drove last week for Earnhardt, but he doesn’t have a full-time ride anymore. Of your remaining four drivers, only one had a decent finish. That is Tony Stewart, who survived an early-race spin and finished fifth. Jimmie Johnson also spun today, but ended the day on lap 88 when his engine gave out. He finished 36th. Earnhardt ran most of the day in the top-10, until the green-white-checkered rule was put into effect. I don’t think he’ll be happy with it considering he went from fifth or sixth on what should’ve been the final lap to 27th, the last car on the lead lap when the final caution came out. That is where he finished.  Dave Blaney rounds out your four drivers with his 21st place finish.

Dylan, you are our “Lucky Dog” this week even with your pitiful average finish. Sorry to put it that way, but Kasey Kahne was the only one of five drivers you had who did decently today. He finished fourth overall.  Ward Burton started the day on the outside pole, but ended it wrecked in an eight-car pile-up after Rusty Wallace was spun in the middle of the backstretch. Burton finished 39th. Marlin finished 33rd after his flat tire and car fire. Ryan Newman crashed with Brian Vickers with five laps remaining to bring out the caution that caused the green-white-checkered rule to be implemented. Newman finished 31st. Earnhardt finished 27th. You ended with a 27-even average finish. I don’t think that anyone would mind me wishing you much better luck next week.

Then there is me. Last week I was in front, this week, I’m near the tail-end. This is because Johnson dropped out of the race early, finishing 36th. Then there is Earnhardt and Casey Mears who both had tire problems late in the race. Mears had his with two-laps remaining. Earnhardt finished 27th, while Mears finished 26th. Blaney finished 21st, while my best driver is Jeff Gordon and his fifth win this season. My average finish is what I believe to be my season worst at 22 even.

Kelly, your worst driver is Johnson and his 36th place finish. Vickers was your second-worst after his spin with Newman. He finished 29th, while Blaney finished 21st. Bobby Labonte survived the eight-car pile-up with minimal damage and rebounded to a 15th-place finish. Your top driver is race winner, Jeff Gordon, and brings your average finish to 20.4.

Julie, Terry Labonte was having a decent day until he was collected in the eight-car pile-up and finished 38th. Johnson didn’t help your cause when his engine blew, finishing 36th. Jeff Green definitely helped you though with his 14th place finish. Kurt Busch managed a 10th place finish while Jeff Gordon won the race. Your average finish is 19.8.

Mr. X, Ward Burton’s day today started bumpy when he and pole-sitter Casey Mears rubbed fenders on the very first lap of the race today. It ended with Burton’s car destroyed after he was struck by Scott Riggs during the eight-car pile-up. He finished 39th. Newman had an up and down day, but finished down in 31st after he wrecked with five laps remaining. Busch finished 10th, Kahne finished fourth and Jeff Gordon won the race, giving you an average finish of 17 even.

Tiffany, Earnhardt and Casey Mears finished 27th and 26th respectively. Jeremy Mayfield had a decent day with his 11th place finish. Last year’s Brickyard 400 winner, Kevin Harvick, finished eighth overall today, while your fifth driver, Greg Biffle finished sixth. Your average finish is 15.6.

Natalie your two worst drivers are Johnson and Blaney with their 36th and 21st place finishes respectively. I mentioned Wallace’s crash earlier, but I didn’t mention that he rebounded nicely and finished 13th. Your remaining two drivers, Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler, finished fourth and third respectively. Your average finish is 15.4.

Thin Man, Newman was your nemesis this week with his late-race crash and 31st place finish. He was followed closely by Casey Mears and his 26th place finish. Other than that your drivers did well with Busch in 10th, Sadler in third and Jeff Gordon winning. Your average finish is 14 even.

Bosley, like Thin Man before you, it was Newman that was your worst driver. Wallace came back from the dead and finished 13th, while Busch had a nice, top-10 finish with his 10th place. Stewart and Kahne were your best drivers with their fifth and fourth place finishes respectively. Your average finish is 12.6.

Kris, your worst driver is Earnhardt and his 27th place finish. Joe Nemachek had an okay day with his 17th place finish, while Busch and Kahne enjoyed their 10th and fourth place finishes. Your top driver today is Sadler and his third place finish. Your average finish is 12.2.

Jill, you had four drivers in the top-10 today, but it’s Johnson’s 36th place finish that kept you from our top-spot today. Having Bill Elliott on your team was a smart thing to do, considering he finished ninth today. Jamie McMurray paid off with his seventh place finish, while Kahne finished fourth and Jeff Gordon won the race. Your average finish is an 11.4.

That leaves you, UnNamed One to be our TOP ANGEL AWARD winner for the 21st points race of the season. You got the award because all of your drivers finished 16th or better, with four drivers in the top-10 as well. In that 16th position is Matt Kenseth, who was in second place until he ran over some debris that hit Jeff Gordon’s car with less than 30 laps remaining. He had to pit under green, after which the caution came out sealing Kenseth at the back of the pack. He was able to stay on the lead-lap and came back through the field for his 16th place finish. Busch finished 10th, while Greg Biffle had an up and down day. Biffle finished on the up-side in sixth place. Teammates Sadler and Dale Jarrett finished third and second respectively. Your CHARLIE’S ANGELS’ FANTASY LEAGUE TOP ANGEL AWARD winning average finish is a very nice, 7.4.  Congratulations.

Well, as I’ve alluded to in previous messages, this week is my last commentary until I can figure out the set-up on my “secret mission” that I’m embarking on for the next several months. I will definitely start sending the commentaries through e-mail as soon as I get set-up.

Next week’s race is the Sirius at the Glen road-course race held at Watkins Glen International Raceway.  

Good luck Angels,