Nascar Blog

Brian Vickers wins the UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega today, but, his first win was not without controversy. On the final lap, he was bump drafting with Jimmie Johnson, Johnson dives down to pass Dale Jr, who momentarily tries to block him, Vickers drops down and spins Jimmie Johnson, whose car then collects Earnhardt and both spin, allowing the No. 25 car to pass them. The caution comes out, and depending on when you call it, could’ve ended with Kasey Kahne and Kurt Busch passing him, but, NASCAR called Brian Vickers the winner. In victory circle, Vickers said Johnson had to swerve because Jr was blocking him and that is what caused the accident. Johnson didn’t swerve, but it did slow him up a hair, putting Vickers nose up past Johnson when he came down to pass Earnhardt. I don’t think it was on purpose, but it was unfortunate for Earnhardt and Johnson, who was upset over the incident.

“It’s absolutely uncalled for, completely out of line,” Johnson said. “I’m racing for a championship, OK? The only way to win [the race] was to crash us both.

“I don’t think he meant to do it, but he did it. He shouldn’t even think about putting any of us in that situation. It’s ridiculous.”
Source: Nascar.com

Chad Knaus was equally as upset, but a little harsher in his assessment of the situation.

“It wasn’t bad judgment, it was lack of talent,” Knaus said. “I just don’t think he has the talent to understand what he has underneath him.”

Dale Jr said he thought Brian didn’t do it on purpose, and was just excited to be racing for the win, since he has been winless so far. That’s just racing, he said. I agree, he was helping Johnson pass Earnhardt by bump drafting and when Jr tried to block him, Johnson had slow up a hair and Vickers of course came down to pass Jr and hit Jimmie, spinning him out.

Jeff Gordon ended up being in the big wreck that always seems to happen at these restrictor plate races, and complained about all of the hard bump drafting going on during the race. The NASCAR reporter asking him the questions jumped all over that as they had been listening to him complain about Earnhardt bump drafting on his radio. He was reluctant to reply, as everyone would love a good Earnhardt/Gordon rivalry again, and said he liked racing Jr but he was definitely bumping him hard. Later on during the race, Earnhardt, who probably heard what Jeff and the reporter had talked about, asked NASCAR if what he was doing was okay. NASCAR said no, and he said, okay, NASCAR, okay.

Here are the points standings for the ten in the Chase for the Cup:

1. — Jeff Burton Leader
2. +2 Matt Kenseth -6
3. — Mark Martin -10
4. +1 Kevin Harvick -33
5. -3 Denny Hamlin -51
6. +1 D. Earnhardt Jr. -106
7. -1 Jeff Gordon -147
8. — Jimmie Johnson -156
9. +1 Kasey Kahne -185
10. -1 Kyle Busch -185