Jeff Burton was less than thrilled with rookie driver Michael McDowell.
It was an uncharacteristic day for the 2003 champion. Matt Kenseth has never been a master at Martinsville, but usually he is able to muster up a respectable finish. After qualifying 28th, Kenseth knew he was in for a long day at the 0.525-mile paperclip oval, but he was going to approach it the way he usually does. Patience and perseverance, a quality possessed by few NASCAR drivers, would bring Kenseth to the top ten by lap 500.
A 1-lap penalty for pitting outside of the pit box on lap 46 set the tone for a exasperating day. After fighting hard for over 100 laps to get the Lucky Dog free pass, Kenseth became a victim of an incident that started when Robby Gordon and Patrick Carpentier got together on lap 287. Roughly forty laps later, second year driver for Yates Racing, David Gilliland, slid up the track. Kenseth was a casualty of Gilliland’s gaffe as he spun out. By now, the typically unruffled driver had lost his cool.
Some 30 laps later, in Tony Stewart-like fashion, Kenseth swerved up the track and into Gilliland. The reprisal cost Kenseth 2 laps, and any chances of a solid finish had vanished.
Kenseth has a reputation as a clean driver, but he is one who will race you how you race him. If you race him clean, he usually does not mess with you. However, if you cross him, he comes back at you.
After the race, Kenseth expressed his frustration. “Every time we made up a little ground, we kept getting wrecked, or wrecked, whatever the case may be.”
Denny Hamlin captured his first victory of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, his first since June of 2007. Hamlin, who pitted out of sequence with the leaders, was able to fight back and hold off Jeff Gordon for the victory. It was the fourth of the career. Hamlin was relieved after encountering some tough luck at Bristol two weeks ago.
“Finally! The curse is over I hope. We had such bad luck over these last two weeks. It finally feels good to come here and get a win in front of the hometown fans. I can’t wait — this is a sign of things to come, I believe.”
After finishing third and taking over the Sprint Cup championship points lead, Jeff Burton was miffed with Michael Waltrip Racing rookie Michael McDowell, who was competing in his first Sprint Cup race. Burton felt as if McDowell was holding him up towards the end of the race.
“That kid in the 00 (McDowell), he’s going to learn some manners or I’m going to teach them to him. He can choose it however he wants but it will be one way or the other,” said a frustrated Burton. The veteran driver and leader in the NASCAR garage is a model of composure, so if he is mad, there is usually a valid reason.
McDowell stood up for himself. “If I felt I was holding him up, I would have moved,” McDowell said. “At the same time the 11 was trying to pass (Gilliland). … If you try to get out of the way, so I just ran as hard as I could all day long. If that was the wrong thing to do, then I’m sorry for (doing that to) Jeff Burton…"I was trying to gain a few spots and we're trying to keep our car in the top 35,” said the rookie driver.
Quote of the week
Patrick Carpentier on getting roughed up by Juan Pablo Montoya
"Montoya was having a ball. Every time he'd see me, he'd hit me and then he'd wave at me once he passed. I knew the guys were just having fun, but I was trying to stay out of everybody's way."
