Stardust Fallout's recap of events.
-Jimmie Johnson
Is there anything left to be said about Johnson? I do not think so. He
might be one of the best at what he does in all sports combined in
America right now and the nickname "Superman" is very fitting. Johnson
has been racing NASCAR for ten years and has four championships and is
making a strong run for a fifth IN A ROW. Not too many athletes can
say they have won four straight championships and is in the running
for yet another title. Jimmie broke a NASCAR record at The
Las Vegas Motor Speedway with his 15th career win at a 1.5-mile track,
the most any NASCAR driver in Cup Series history. Johnson was in a
tie breaker with Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon (14)
At the press conference after the race I asked Jimmy Johnson, "What
would you accredit the success that you've been having over the past
four years with breaking records? Is it the cars that Hendrick makes?
Is it the driver? Is it the pit chief? What's the secret here?
Jimmie Johnson "It's the people. And Rick has built this company, the
company motto, what we believe in week in and week out, year in and year
out. NASCAR has a very strict rule book. We all have the same equipment. The
sport is closer today than it has ever been in the history of the sport"
snippet provided by Bobby Rose
-Jeff Gordon
Gordon looked to return to form at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway while
leading 219 of 267 laps, which would be the first time he has led the field
for that many laps since Martinsville in 2003. At the press conference after
the race I asked Jeff why he thought his car started giving out on him.
Gordon: "We did free up the car with the two tires but I think we
needed more of it. Maybe we would have had a shot at it, but I ran so
hard to get his car (Jimmie Johnson) to tighten up behind me with
dirty air, I blocked him, I did everything I could and it took
everything out of the right front tire" Gordon also went on to
say that "I knew that when Jimmie (Johnson) got by me I was a sitting duck
and would probably lose 2nd place to Kevin (Harvick) and I held on to the
3rd spot"
At the end of the day it all came down to pit decisions and when they
decided to go with a two tire change instead of four, it cost Gordon
the race.
snippet provided by Bobby Rose
-Dale Jr
Ed and I watched the race from Dale Earnhardt Jr's pit at the Las
Vegas Motor speedway for the Shelby American Sprint Cup Series and you
could sense a little bit of urgency on the pit crews side. Dale had
the car to keep up but it
seemed as if there were a few blunders from the pit crew. In the Press
conference owner of Hendrick Motor Sports, Rick Hendrick fielded a
question about Dale Jr.s current situation.
*Q:* Rick, what do you think of where the 88 is at right now?
*RICK HENDRICK:* I think we made a lot of improvements. I think we didn't
get to show the car was coming back well at California, broke an axle, and
today ran up front that long green-flag stretch. He was good there at the
end. What did he end up, 14th?
*Q:* 16th.
*RICK HENDRICK:* 16th. But I think to qualify as well as he did, went out
first, right behind Jimmie there, broke the track record by 3/10ths, and ran
up there, we had a couple of bobbles in the pits with the pit crew. It seems
like every time the car is good, the pit crew screws up. If the pit crew is
on, the car, something breaks.
So I feel they've made a ton of improvement. I think we're going to have a
really good year. I'm looking forward to Atlanta.
snippet provided by Bobby Rose
-Kevin Harvick
Harvik had a GREAT weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway winning the
Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300 on Saturday after two pit crew
mistakes and at one point he even told his crew that they “looked like
a bunch of idiots out there.”Yet despite the mistakes he was in
victory lane at the end of the day. Then on Sunday's Shelby American
Sprint Cup Series he placed 2nd after passing Jeff Gordon close to the
end of the race. I got to ask him a series of questions in both
Saturday and Sunday's press conference and I will leave you with
this...Harvick is man on a mission this year. He made it very clear
that he is in no way shape or form intimidated by the drivers from
Hendrick Motor Sports and at one point even saying "They know I can
run with them" but the tone that it was delivered in was that of
"bring them on"
snippet provided by Bobby Rose
-Kyle and Kurt Busch
Our local boys, the Busch brothers were very excited to be back home
and racing in front of family and friends. Kurt Busch broke his
brother's track record, taking the pole in the Sunday's Shelby
American but finished in 35th and Kyle finished in 15th. Kyle also
raced in Saturday's Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300 finishing 16th.
Kurt brother Kyle are Las Vegas natives and they consider this home
town race in Las Vegas the most important on the series.
*Kyle won the inaugural event last year
-My final thoughts on the race:
For people to question Jimmie Jonson's ability and talent at this
stage of his career is ridiculous. The word "luck" kept coming up at
the press conference and to be honest I was getting a little tired of
hearing it and I am positive that Johnson feels the same. His
performance in the last 30 laps of the race was amazing to watch.
However, you cannot help but feel bad for Jeff Gordon who put on a
showcase for 219 laps. As I stated before it was nice to see Gordon
racing like a mad man again.
Overall the race on Saturday and Sunday did not disappoint the fans
and what NASCAR is currently doing for their fans is far beyond what
any other sport is doing. Having the ability to be up close and
personal with your favorite drivers and be literally inches away from
the cars was a experience that I will never forget. When NASCAR rolls
in to your city it is almost like a week long celebration. If you have
never gone to a race I highly suggest living that experience. I have
been to a lot of NASCAR races and every time I go it feels like the
very first time and it never gets old.
Ed and I would specifically like to thank Jeff and Melanie for the
chance to cover one of the greatest sporting events in America.
-Jimmie Johnson
Is there anything left to be said about Johnson? I do not think so. He
might be one of the best at what he does in all sports combined in
America right now and the nickname "Superman" is very fitting. Johnson
has been racing NASCAR for ten years and has four championships and is
making a strong run for a fifth IN A ROW. Not too many athletes can
say they have won four straight championships and is in the running
for yet another title. Jimmie broke a NASCAR record at The
Las Vegas Motor Speedway with his 15th career win at a 1.5-mile track,
the most any NASCAR driver in Cup Series history. Johnson was in a
tie breaker with Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon (14)
At the press conference after the race I asked Jimmy Johnson, "What
would you accredit the success that you've been having over the past
four years with breaking records? Is it the cars that Hendrick makes?
Is it the driver? Is it the pit chief? What's the secret here?
Jimmie Johnson "It's the people. And Rick has built this company, the
company motto, what we believe in week in and week out, year in and year
out. NASCAR has a very strict rule book. We all have the same equipment. The
sport is closer today than it has ever been in the history of the sport"
snippet provided by Bobby Rose
-Jeff Gordon
Gordon looked to return to form at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway while
leading 219 of 267 laps, which would be the first time he has led the field
for that many laps since Martinsville in 2003. At the press conference after
the race I asked Jeff why he thought his car started giving out on him.
Gordon: "We did free up the car with the two tires but I think we
needed more of it. Maybe we would have had a shot at it, but I ran so
hard to get his car (Jimmie Johnson) to tighten up behind me with
dirty air, I blocked him, I did everything I could and it took
everything out of the right front tire" Gordon also went on to
say that "I knew that when Jimmie (Johnson) got by me I was a sitting duck
and would probably lose 2nd place to Kevin (Harvick) and I held on to the
3rd spot"
At the end of the day it all came down to pit decisions and when they
decided to go with a two tire change instead of four, it cost Gordon
the race.
snippet provided by Bobby Rose
-Dale Jr
Ed and I watched the race from Dale Earnhardt Jr's pit at the Las
Vegas Motor speedway for the Shelby American Sprint Cup Series and you
could sense a little bit of urgency on the pit crews side. Dale had
the car to keep up but it
seemed as if there were a few blunders from the pit crew. In the Press
conference owner of Hendrick Motor Sports, Rick Hendrick fielded a
question about Dale Jr.s current situation.
*Q:* Rick, what do you think of where the 88 is at right now?
*RICK HENDRICK:* I think we made a lot of improvements. I think we didn't
get to show the car was coming back well at California, broke an axle, and
today ran up front that long green-flag stretch. He was good there at the
end. What did he end up, 14th?
*Q:* 16th.
*RICK HENDRICK:* 16th. But I think to qualify as well as he did, went out
first, right behind Jimmie there, broke the track record by 3/10ths, and ran
up there, we had a couple of bobbles in the pits with the pit crew. It seems
like every time the car is good, the pit crew screws up. If the pit crew is
on, the car, something breaks.
So I feel they've made a ton of improvement. I think we're going to have a
really good year. I'm looking forward to Atlanta.
snippet provided by Bobby Rose
-Kevin Harvick
Harvik had a GREAT weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway winning the
Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300 on Saturday after two pit crew
mistakes and at one point he even told his crew that they “looked like
a bunch of idiots out there.”Yet despite the mistakes he was in
victory lane at the end of the day. Then on Sunday's Shelby American
Sprint Cup Series he placed 2nd after passing Jeff Gordon close to the
end of the race. I got to ask him a series of questions in both
Saturday and Sunday's press conference and I will leave you with
this...Harvick is man on a mission this year. He made it very clear
that he is in no way shape or form intimidated by the drivers from
Hendrick Motor Sports and at one point even saying "They know I can
run with them" but the tone that it was delivered in was that of
"bring them on"
snippet provided by Bobby Rose
-Kyle and Kurt Busch
Our local boys, the Busch brothers were very excited to be back home
and racing in front of family and friends. Kurt Busch broke his
brother's track record, taking the pole in the Sunday's Shelby
American but finished in 35th and Kyle finished in 15th. Kyle also
raced in Saturday's Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300 finishing 16th.
Kurt brother Kyle are Las Vegas natives and they consider this home
town race in Las Vegas the most important on the series.
*Kyle won the inaugural event last year
-My final thoughts on the race:
For people to question Jimmie Jonson's ability and talent at this
stage of his career is ridiculous. The word "luck" kept coming up at
the press conference and to be honest I was getting a little tired of
hearing it and I am positive that Johnson feels the same. His
performance in the last 30 laps of the race was amazing to watch.
However, you cannot help but feel bad for Jeff Gordon who put on a
showcase for 219 laps. As I stated before it was nice to see Gordon
racing like a mad man again.
Overall the race on Saturday and Sunday did not disappoint the fans
and what NASCAR is currently doing for their fans is far beyond what
any other sport is doing. Having the ability to be up close and
personal with your favorite drivers and be literally inches away from
the cars was a experience that I will never forget. When NASCAR rolls
in to your city it is almost like a week long celebration. If you have
never gone to a race I highly suggest living that experience. I have
been to a lot of NASCAR races and every time I go it feels like the
very first time and it never gets old.
Ed and I would specifically like to thank Jeff and Melanie for the
chance to cover one of the greatest sporting events in America.