Ahh Dover.  I don’t know what it is about Dover but I usually like watching it.  I have no real comments in my notes about the prerace because frankly I missed most of the pre-race because i went out to breakfast with my parents and my dad chose THE SLOWEST PLACE IN TOWN…I am like damn I hope I see the flag drop! I actually got home just in time to realize that Tony was a hotpass driver again. So I got to see Tony’s HOTPass pre-race interview…complete with his little ziplock bag of Chrissy Newman cookies (try explaining to someone the signifigance of the “lucky cookies” and then try to have them take you seriously…yeah that’s me).

Anyway Stewart and Team Home Depot has a lackluster qualifying effort and started 33rd in the field.  Early in the race they were fighting a really tight race car and at the first caution were already taking airpressure to out to help balance the car.   By lap 116 Team Home Depot had moved all the way up to a hard fought 15th place by passing Juan Pablo Montoya.   Judging by my notes (135- Still too tight need more overall grip, 208 tight, 263 Still too tight, 60 laps to go need sitebite and to be tighted up) they never really got the car at a great place.  Tony was able to get up to about 13th and just seemed stuck there.  After the pitstop at 46 laps to go crew chief Zipadelli told his driver Stewart that he “Appreciates your patience here” to which Stewart responged with “We’re not done yet.” And he kept digging and was able to pull off an 11th place finish.  It could have been better- but it could have been a heck of a lot worse (case in point- teammate Kyle Busch who finished 43rd due to engine problems).

Team Home Depot remains in 7th place in the Chase to the Cup, 113 points out of the lead.  There is still time this season to make that up and take the lead for the Cup.

Other Notes About Dover:

• Best radio communication of the day between Tony and his crew was when Tony stated that he was trying to move up through the field but there were “6 SCUD Missles” he’s “trying to avoid right now.” That made me giggle.
• Jamie McMurray was having an awesome run! I did appreciate the little tift he got into with Robby Gordon for spinning him.
• I find it incredibly annoying during the broadcasts when they displace the POINTS AS THEY ARE RIGHT NOW list. That means NOTHING because its how they finish…now where they are at any given point in the race. Please stop doing that. Thanks.

As I said in my last post- the next race is KANSAS…and I have a good feeling about Kansas.