Kobalt Tools 400

Hello Angels,

Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 400 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway proved to be a pivotal race for several drivers, especially with NASCAR’s new point system.

Specifically, the points for Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart and David Gilliland turned upside down.

Before I get into that though, as we’ve seen two weeks in a row now, last week’s winner is on top of the w+orld – that is however, until the following week’s race knocks them back down to what some may consider the depths of hell.

For example; Trevor Bayne won the Daytona 500 two weeks ago and then crashed out of the Subway Fresh Fit 500 in Phoenix last week. And then Jeff Gordon won last week’s race, but as was Bayne’s fate, crashed out of the Kobalt Tools 400 race this week after he blew a front right tire and careened hard into the outside SAFER retaining wall. Gordon finished 36th.

Speaking of winners and losers, Sin City’s race had one clear winner and definitely one angry second-place finisher.

Edwards was the recipient of some bad luck last week after colliding with Busch, but this week, stayed clear of any issues and when the checkered flag flew, led the field to the finish line. Stewart on the other hand led the most laps, but a pit-road penalty for an air hose getting caught on his fender, took the likely winner from first well back into the field.

Stewart would battle back with pit strategy and fought his way back to the front of the pack, only to fall short to Edwards with a second place finish. Let me be clear about this – Stewart gave up nearly a four-second lead because of that penalty and while his car was good enough to pass more than 20 lead-lap cars, he still fell just short of winning the race because of the pit strategy of having to take four tires on the last green-flag pits while most others only took two tires.

Some people may consider Stewart a sore loser after he was visibly mad during his post-race interview, but I would contend that I’m happy he’s mad – it shows he’s not going to settle for second place, especially when his car dominated the race and having an air hose, which any other day doesn’t coil the way it did and get caught on his fender, take a race away from him like that. 

Not taking anything away from Edwards, he deserved that win just as much and like some people in Vegas have happen to them – luck was on his side.

With that, Busch, who was leading the Sprint Cup series points, fell hard down to 13th place overall. Gordon fell 14 spots from fifth to 19th overall in points.  Stewart jumped up two spots to lead the series, while Edwards jumped up nine spots to take third place. Of note, Dale Earnhardt Jr., had himself another top-10 finish and is now 10th in points. Gilliland fell 11 spots from 10th in points down to 21st in points after he crashed out of the race early after he too cut a tire. The biggest mover in the top 12 in points was Martin Truex Jr., who jumped nine spots to overtake the No. 7 spot.

As for all this juggling around, for us Angels, the same can be said for our league as well.

Specifically for Kris — whose good luck was not evident as she ended her hot streak of consecutive CHARLIE’S ANGELS’ TOP ANGEL AWARDS at two.

The news is worse for her though – as Gordon and Bayne found out, NASCAR racing is a humbling sport.  This week not only didn’t your team earn you the TAA, but your drivers’ average finish was so bad, 24.2, they earned you this week’s CHARLIE’S ANGELS’ GOLDEN CABOOSE AWARD. Busch and Gordon both had tire issues and cut the right front tires of their cars and hit the walls. Busch was able to continue, but later blew an engine showcased in a huge fireball out of the backside of the car. Gordon completely wrecked his car when he hit the SAFER barrier. Busch finished 38th, while Gordon finished 36th. Brad Keselowski finished 26th after bumping cars early with Jamie McMurray. A.J. Allmendinger doesn’t have a good record at Las Vegas, but managed a 19th place finish. Stewart rounds out your team with his second place “loss” as he called it. Better luck next race!

Knocking Kris off her TAA pedestal this week is Julie with a TAA earning average finish of 8.2. In fact, had it not been for McMurray having a 27th place finish, Julie, you had a great chance of breaking the record for lowest average finish. That said, your remaining four drivers – Edwards, Stewart, Ryan Newman and Truex – had top-six finishes with their first, second, fifth and sixth place finishes respectfully.  Congratulations Julie on your first TAA this season.

For me, I continue to struggle in the league after my drivers earned an average finish of 23.6. Like Kris, Busch’s and Gordon’s 38th and 36th place finishes really killed any chances at a decent average finish. Bobby Labonte had a great first two races, but struggle mightily Sunday at Las Vegas posting a 24th place finish. Jimmie Johnson also struggled with his car’s set-up for the entire race and finished back in the pack with a 16th place finish. Marcos Ambrose finished on top of my leaderboard with his fourth place finish.

Kelly, your average finish of 9.2 earned you this week’s CHARLIE’S ANGELS RUNNER-UP ANGEL AWARD. You too had four drivers finish in the top-10, save Mark Martin – who won the Sams Town 300 for the Nationwide Series on Saturday – finishing well outside the top-10 with his 18th place finish. Newman finished on top for you with his fifth place finish, while Denny Hamlin fought back from a 43rd place start after changing engines to finish seventh. Earnhardt finished eighth and Kurt Busch finished ninth to round out your team.

Mr. Munday, unfortunately for you, you didn’t have any drivers finish in the top-15 and your average finish of 23 even reflects that fact. The good news is you didn’t earn the GCA this week though. On top of your driver’s chart is Johnson and his 16th place finish. His Hendricks’ Racing teammate, Martin, won Saturday’s race, but that win didn’t translate into a victory for him on Sunday as he spent a part of the race a lap down ultimately finishing on the lead lap, down in 18th place though. David Ragan finished deep in the pack with his 22nd place finish, while Joey Logano didn’t have an engine blow up this week, but did have trouble with the handling on his car. Logano finished one spot back of Ragan in 23rd place. Rounding out your team is Gordon and his 36th place finish.

Evelyn, your drivers combined had a better day then most, but not without a wrinkle or two – specifically with Gordon and his banged up Dupont Chevrolet. He crashed out of the race with his 36th place finish. Martin fought back to get on the lead lap and finished 18th, while Edwards won the race, Ambrose finished fourth and Newman finished a strong fifth place. Your average finish is 12.8 and earned you the No. 3 Angels’ spot this week.

Gibbons and Alex, you both tie for this week’s No. 10 Angels’ spot with your average finishes of 18.6.

You both share Johnson’s 16th and Martin’s 19th place finishes for your teams.

For you Alex, Kasey Kahne was able to hitting the wall while spinning out of turn four trying to avoid a spinning Kurt Busch. Unfortunately, Kahne only managed a 14th place finish. Ragan and Logano finished 22nd and 23rd respectively for you as well.

Gibbons, for you, Edwards was your and the race’s best driver with his first win of the season. Allmendinger finished 19th, while Regan Smith crashed out of the race and finished 39th.

Pete, you had a markedly improved average finish this week compared with the previous two weeks – especially since you earned the No. 4 Angels’ spot with your 13 even average finish. This week, Edwards is on top of the leaderboard versus at the bottom where he was last week, while Newman posted his fifth place finish. Matt Kenseth set a track record with his qualifying efforts to win the Coors Light Pole Award, but cut a tire at the beginning of the race and spent a majority of the race down a lap. He fought back in the end and finished 11th on the lead lap. Bayne had a decent run and finished 20th, while Greg Biffle cut a tire late and went down two laps having to pit under the green flag. He never recovered and finished 28th, three laps down.

Mr. X, your average finish of 17.8 earned you this week’s No. 9 Angels’ spot. Busch went out in a blaze of glory – well, maybe not glory, but definitely on fire as his engine gave out in spectacular fashion with the shooting flames and all. Unfortunately his 38th place finish tarnished his weekend on his home track. Labonte finished 24th, the first car one-lap down, while Kevin Harvick struggled all day to finish 17th. On the flip side, Earnhardt had a good run with an eighth place finish. Stewart tops your drivers’ list with his second place finish.

Vivian, your team earned you the No. 5 Angels’ spot with their 15.6 average finish this week. Your top two drivers – Newman and Earnhardt – finished fifth and eighth respectively. Unfortunately Harvick, his teammate Burton and fellow competitor McMurray didn’t have the same top-10 fate as your other drivers. Harvick finished 17th, while Burton finished 21st to McMurray’s 27th.

Candy Man, you had the privilege of witnessing a Carl Edwards backflip from the side of his car after he won the race Sunday. Other than that, however, your remaining drivers had lackluster finishes. Martin, Bayne and Burton finished on the lead lap, but mired at the back of it in 18th, 20th and 21st places. Biffle would’ve loved to finish on the lead lap, but an unscheduled pit stop during a green-flag run put him down three laps and in the end, a 28th place finish. Your average finish of 17.6 earned you the No. 8 Angels’ spot.

Madison and Corwin, that leaves you to round out our teams this week with your No. 6 Angels’ spot average finishes of 16.8.

You both share Edwards, his back flip and of course his first win of the season. That’s the only thing you share besides average finish.

For Madison, regardless of Edwards or Stewart winning, you have both of them on your team which means that you have the No. 1 and No. 2 drivers of the race on your team. Adding to the top-10 finishers on your team and you get Earnhardt with an eighth place finish as well. That said, finishing well outside the top-10 with DNF’s next to their finishing spots are Gordon and Gilliland who both crashed out of the race early. Gordon finished 36th with Gilliland crashing out just prior to finish 37th.

CorWin, you only had one other driver in the top-10 – Newman and his fifth place finish. Martin finished 18th, while Ragan finished 22nd and Busch finished 38th.

Our combined teams’ average finish this week is 16.85.

Both the Sprint Cup Series and the Nationwide Series takes a break from competition next weekend. The next race is the Jeff Byrd 500 race at Bristol Motor Speeway on March 20.

Don’t forget to check the ESPN Stockcar Challenge Web site to see where you stack up against the other Angels…but for the record, Kris fell from first to fourth in points while Kelly climbed to the top of the pack leading Julie by only three points.  Looks like we’re in for some tight racing up ahead!

Good luck Angels,

Charlie