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Sprint Cup
HEMBREE: By The Time They Left Phoenix…
In the wake of Sunday’s Phoenix pandemonium, some winners and losers…
Brad Keselowski, driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge, waves to the crowd during driver introductions prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. (Photo: Getty Images)
Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway was a rather placid affair for 95 percent of the afternoon.
The last 5 percent? Holy cow.
Some now will remember it as the best race of the year, and you’ll be seeing the video clips for months and years to come.
In the wake of a wild Sunday in the desert, a list of winners and losers:
WINNERS
Brad Keselowski – Obviously. The kid from Michigan is on the brink of scoring an unlikely Sprint Cup championship in only his third full year in the series.
Kevin Harvick – After Sunday’s chaos, it’s a race victory perhaps remembered only by his family, friends and teammates, but Harvick finally got rid of an odious winless streak.
5-Hour Energy – The remarkable images of Clint Bowyer sprinting through the garage area in search of Jeff Gordon after the race is the sort of publicity sponsors can’t buy. Might get some myself.
Clint Bowyer – Sure, he got knocked around by Jeff Gordon and lost what was a slim chance to run for the championship. But T-shirt sales and fan numbers will skyrocket. Of such things are legends built.
NASCAR officials – A tip of the cap to the brave officials who jumped in the middle of the scrum of Bowyer-Gordon team members and attempted to limit the physical damage.
Homestead-Miami Speedway – Can you say ticket sales?
LOSERS
Jimmie Johnson – He could have taken control of the championship race. Instead, a sixth title looks very unlikely this year.
Jeff Gordon – Although Gordon felt aggrieved, there’s no excuse for the sort of retaliation he used to crash Bowyer. Cars are not weapons. Significant penalties are in order.
NASCAR officials – No caution at the end of the race, with a car – Danica Patrick’s – crashed and limping along and fluids spraying the racing surface? This is why somebody made the caution flag.
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED
The last 5 percent? Holy cow.
Some now will remember it as the best race of the year, and you’ll be seeing the video clips for months and years to come.
In the wake of a wild Sunday in the desert, a list of winners and losers:
WINNERS
Brad Keselowski – Obviously. The kid from Michigan is on the brink of scoring an unlikely Sprint Cup championship in only his third full year in the series.
Kevin Harvick – After Sunday’s chaos, it’s a race victory perhaps remembered only by his family, friends and teammates, but Harvick finally got rid of an odious winless streak.
5-Hour Energy – The remarkable images of Clint Bowyer sprinting through the garage area in search of Jeff Gordon after the race is the sort of publicity sponsors can’t buy. Might get some myself.
Clint Bowyer – Sure, he got knocked around by Jeff Gordon and lost what was a slim chance to run for the championship. But T-shirt sales and fan numbers will skyrocket. Of such things are legends built.
NASCAR officials – A tip of the cap to the brave officials who jumped in the middle of the scrum of Bowyer-Gordon team members and attempted to limit the physical damage.
Homestead-Miami Speedway – Can you say ticket sales?
LOSERS
Jimmie Johnson – He could have taken control of the championship race. Instead, a sixth title looks very unlikely this year.
Jeff Gordon – Although Gordon felt aggrieved, there’s no excuse for the sort of retaliation he used to crash Bowyer. Cars are not weapons. Significant penalties are in order.
NASCAR officials – No caution at the end of the race, with a car – Danica Patrick’s – crashed and limping along and fluids spraying the racing surface? This is why somebody made the caution flag.
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED
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