Short track Saturday nights usually don't leave you bored and tonight was no different. What looked like an interesting victory lane with a car sponsored by an adult diaper disappeared with a late caution that took away a sure victory for Juan Pablo Montoya who was holding off eventual winner Kevin Harvick.
What has become a nearly common occurrence this year is post race fireworks that don't include the actual pyrotechnics from the track. This time it was a three way rage between Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, and Tony Stewart. Busch unhappy with a bump from Kenseth that cost him a position. Stewart unhappy with Busch for nearly the same thing. However based on replays it appeared as though the 51 driven by AJ Allmendinger checked up in front of Stewart forcing him to check up, and leaving Busch no where to go but into the back of Stewart. The two did a bit of bumping and banging before retreating to pit road where they discussed the situation at their haulers, ironically parked next to each other.
Credit Busch, one who has let his mouth get away from him, he made sure to talk about his team, and the good night they had going and tried to downplay the incident with Stewart.
Quietly Dale Earnhardt Jr struggled all night and was an absolute non factor but eventually found himself leaving Richmond with a top ten. Constantly trying to work out a tight car the 88 team rarely was able to move up through the field until late in the race.
Harvick in the meantime proved this season is not a lame duck season with his second win for Richard Childress Racing since news broke last season that he would be leaving for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014. Harvick was making his way up to Montoya before the caution had come out when Brian Vickers went into the wall. He was able to take advantage of Jeff Burton, Allmendinger, and Jaimie McMurray all staying out on old tires.
Kyle Busch had what could have been a good night go away from him after getting collected in a wreck with Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson. Not long before the incident Busch was the beneficiary of a reversed penalty after NASCAR had penalized him for missing the commitment box. After lobbying the officials to review it NASCAR came back and said Busch did indeed get both left side tires on the commitment box with the absence of a commitment cone.
As far a the standings go, Johnson saw his lead shrink a bit with Carl Edwards having a decent night that had him near the top most of the night. Brad Keselowski tumbled to sixth after losing a cylinder then being black flagged for not maintaining the minimum race speed. Aric Almirola's good year continued as he moved to 11th after his third top ten. Kenseth with his 50 point penalty currently reflected in the standings sits 13th, with one win counting enough to have him in a wild card spot along with Almirola.
No question that some of the fears many had after Daytona with the new car have gone away, but NASCAR will get a look at how teams have adapted with the new car as they roll into Talladega for their second run with restrictor plates with the Gen-6 car.
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