Hello Angels,

I’ve thought of a few ways to start off today’s commentary.  Should I mention Ronald Reagan’s passing, or the 60th Anniversary of D-Day? What about Smarty Jones falling short of Horse Racing's "Triple Crown?"  But really the only thing that I can think of to talk about though is today’s special word, “carnage.”

It’s been a while since I’ve mentioned carnage, and highly unusual for me to mention it in regards to Dover International Raceway. But today, when the nation is remembering both President Reagan and D-Day, The MBNA 400, “A Salute to Heroes” race at Dover brought to us race fans a whole bunch of carnage.

The carnage started early in the race, on lap 13, when Casey Mears wrecked himself instead of teammate Jamie McMurray after the two were going for the same piece of real estate.  Mears did eventually come back in the race several laps down, but later in the race he played a big role in the outcome of the race.

Brendan Gaughn and Elliott Sadler crashed on Lap 39 after Kurt Busch tapped Sadler sending him spinning.

Joe Nemachek crashed out of the race after he made contact with Terry Labonte.  Jeff Gordon lost a right front tire and crashed out of the race also.

The real carnage happened in the restart of a caution after Ryan Newman missed the entry to pit road and crashed into the tires marking the entry into pit road. Most of the field had already made green-flag pit stops, but Newman and Blaney stayed out when Newman’s spin brought out the caution.  The two were basically on a lap of their own.  Newman had many problems during his pit and was penalized one-lap because of several mis-cues including the missed pit, too many people over the pit wall, and several others that I can’t remember.  I’m telling you this because this caution period lasted between 35 and 40 laps while NASCAR officials figured out where everyone ended up, including Newman because he and Blaney were on a lap of their own.

When everything was figured out, the leaders were started in the middle of the pack because of the green-flag pit stops. (are you confused yet?). 

Start the carnage.  On the restart, Michael Waltrip got loose and Blaney clipped him trying to pass. Blaney spun and hit the wall, and in the process, took out 19-cars including Jeremy Mayfield who was having one of the best runs of this year, along with most of the leaders.  Somehow missing that wreck was Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Jeff Burton and Tony Stewart. Stewart had his own problems during the green-flag pit stops and fell a lap down when he missed pit road.  He made it back on the lead lap when the other cars pitted, and of course maintained a lead-lap presence when the crash happened. 

After a lengthy caution and red-flag period, the race was restarted with Kahne, Martin, Burton and Stewart on the lead lap.  

I mentioned Mears had his crash early in the race; well he got stuck in the middle of the “big-one” also. After making several repairs to his car, Mears came back onto the race track, now many laps down.  There were about 18 laps left in the race when his engine gave way and he left a bunch of oil on the track.  He also blew a tire at the same time, but maintained his speed, so it didn’t appear to NASCAR that he blew an engine.  No caution was thrown. Now Kahne, just 17 laps from winning his first race, hit some of the oil, spun his car and hit the wall hard.  Somehow, Stewart and Martin missed the oil and made it through.  Kahne was out of the race.  He’ll remember today’s race as the one that got away, not because of anything that he did wrong, because he didn’t. Everyone knew that he had this race won had it not been for NASCAR not throwing out the caution. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. got the lucky-dog pass and got to go from one-lap down onto the lead lap. 

In the end, it was a challenge of who could avoid the carnage. I believe there were only two cars that did not have any damage to their cars…Stewart, and eventual race winner, Mark Martin. 

Congratulations to Martin on his first win since 2000. He showed everyone that patience pays off and even though a lot of people will say the win fell into his lap, he still had to have a strong car to hold off a charging Stewart and Earnhardt to be the best today.

So, after all this carnage, where did we end up?  Well, if our combined team’s average finish of 19.02 says anything, not so well.

Natalie, welcome back to Charlie’s Angels. Unlike last week you automatically got the GOLDEN CABOOSE AWARD because you missed the cutoff to pick drivers. This week, unfortunately for you, your drivers earned you the GOLDEN CABOOSE AWARD. I’m just going to list them for you. Blaney – 33rd; Jimmie Johnson – 32nd; Sterlin Marlin – 29th; Kahne – 21st; and Elliott Sadler – 18th.  Your average finish is a dismal 26.6.

For me, my carnage started with Gordon, he finished 36th. Mears finished 28th, while Johnson and Kahne finished 32nd and 21st respectively. My top finisher is Scott Wimmer, who finished an unlikely ninth, two-laps down, after he too was involved in the carnage.  My average finish is the worst for me all year with 25 even.

Jill, with the exception of Earnhardt’s third-place finish, your team was full of carnage as well.  Kahne finished 21st, while Greg Biffle – 26th; Jeff Green – 31st; and Johnson – 32nd. Your average finish is also a not so good, 22.6.

Sabrina, welcome to the carnage club. Kevin Lapage wasn’t involved in any of the carnage, but had engine problems and finished 41st. Blaney and Johnson were taken out in the carnage and finished 33rd and 32nd respectively.  Lucky for you, Stewart and Earnhardt avoided the carnage and finished second and third respectively.  Your average finish is 22.2.

Mr. X, Earnhardt’s third place finish saved you from total destruction because your remaining drivers, Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brian Vickers and Gaughn finished 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 27th respectively. Your average finish is just below average at 19.2.

Julie and Dylan you both tied.  Dylan I believe this is the second week in a row that you’ve tied someone, so, I’ll start with you.

I’ve already mentioned Nemachek’s woes, but Ken Schrader had his own problems with a track bar and went several laps down for repairs early in the race. He didn’t recover and finished 34th. Busch was involved in the carnage but came back to finish 12th. Mayfield got out of the mud and finished ninth, while your best driver, Earnhardt, finished third.

Julie, for you, Wimmer and Dale Jarrett were your best drivers with their ninth and 11th place finishes respectively. Kenseth, Bobby Labonte and Mears finished 22nd, 25th and 28th each.

All said, your average finish is barely above average at 19 even.

Kris, your worst driver this week is Nemachek and his 38th place finish. Kahne and Sadler didn’t hurt you too bad with their 21st and 18th place finishes, while your best drivers are Busch and Earnhardt with their 12th and third place finishes. Your average finish is 17 even.

UnNamed One, you had no drivers finish in the top-10, but only two finishes in the 20s. Those two drivers are Kenseth and Greg Biffle in 22nd and 26th respectively. Sadler finished 18th, while Busch and Jarrett were your best drivers with their 12th and 11th place finishes. Your average finish today is 17.8.

Bosley, Newman was your worst driver with his 24th place finish, followed closely by Kahne and his 21st place finish. Sadler finished 18th, while Rusty Wallace finished 13th. Your top driver is Wimmer and his ninth place finish. Your average finish is 17 even.

Tiffany, Marlin and Mears, who are teammates, teamed up to be your worst drivers today with their 29th and 28th place finishes. Harvick still finished 10th even though he was two laps down, while Mayfield finished eighth, one lap down. Your top finisher is Earnhardt with his third place finish. Your average finish is 15.6.

Thin Man, you almost pulled it off this week, but Gordon’s blown tire and wrecked car kept you from our top-spot this week.  He finished 36th.  Sadler finished 18th, while Busch finished 12th. Your top two drivers are Scott Riggs, who really deserved his fifth place finish and Stewart, who stayed out of trouble for the second week in a row and finished second. Your average finish is 15 even.

Well, Kelly, congratulations on your TOP ANGEL AWARD this week. You went from almost worst last week, to first this week. Gaughn and Labonte tried valiantly to take you out of the top spot with their 27th and 25th place finishes respectively, but your remaining three drivers, Stewart, Earnhardt and Wimmer, would have nothing to do with that and finished second, third and ninth respectively. That gave you the TOP ANGEL AWARD winning average finish of, if you can believe this, 13.2. Congratulations.

As I’ve mentioned before our combined team’s average finish is 19.02, and now you see why, CARNAGE, CARNAGE and more CARNAGE.

Next week’s race is the Pocono 500.  If you change your drivers, don’t forget to let me know.

Good luck next week …we all need it.