Week 9 Commentary

Racing at Richmond is always fun, but full of frustration for many drivers.

Kevin Harvick came out blazing on a re-start and jumped from seventh to the checkers to win at Richmond International Raceway.  Left in frustration, among many, was Tony Stewart.  Tony, who got his first victory at Richmond, was having a good run until he got bumped out of the way by Kurt Busch, who angered more than a few drivers.

Mark Martin, Brad Keselowski, Marcose Ambrose, Brian Vickers and Greg Biffle are among the race favorites who finished in frustrating fashion.

Eagles Nest Racing won the week, followed by Pup N Suds Racing, Punch (who survived a day of golf and beer on the Seminole Golf Tour at Shingle Creek), GBR88, Chevy Intimidators and Team Cuda.

Only two drivers gained at least 10 spots, and those were Eagles Nest Racing and GBR88.

A few former champions were among those who dropped 10 or more spots, including Big Boy, Lil Boy, Luckydog, Blue 7 Racing, Little Circle Burner, Captain Schwab and Budah.  Many were close to being included on this list, including your balding commissioner BAHL.

88AMPS has taken the point, followed by Man In Black Racing, Glynn, Blind Squirrel Racing and Team Wolf.  The overall standing are still fairly tight, and opportunities exist to move up.

Just in time, we head over to the grand crap shoot of Talladega.  Talladega was built on an old Indian burial ground, and all sorts of weird and tragic things have happened there over the years.

The Aarons 499 at Talladega Superspeedway is set to go green at 1:10PM on Sunday as the drivers seek to avoid trouble on The White Knuckle Highway.

Robin Meade/Photo Zimbio

HLN TV anchor babe Robin Meade, a big NASCAR fan, has the National Anthem, and freshly retired Atlanta Braves slugger and Jacksonville Bolles grad Chipper Jones is our Grand Marshal.

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron will be the honorary starter, and with any luck, he will have in tow his lovely girlfriend Katherine Webb. Maybe Brent Musburger will join the Fox crew in the Hollywood Hotel.

As Punch always says, keep the shiny side up!