30 Degrees of Banking

NASCAR Nuggets: Bojangles Southern 500

By Ryan Frisco

Photo Cred www.yahoosports.com

The Victor:  Once again, we're calling Matt Kenseth's name in this segment!  All he does is win!  We're used to seeing Matt run consistently well, around 5th-6th-7th place, not consistently GREAT around 1st-2nd-3rd place.  This is his third win of the year.  Jimmie Johnson currently has the points lead, but it's because of circumstance, not skill, that has him there over Kenseth.  Watch out Jimmie, there's a new sheriff in town!

The First Loser: Denny Hamlin, I am sorry I ever doubted you.  I take back everything I said about you not being able to make it through Darlington physically.  Hamlin finished runner up in his first full race back from a compression fracture in his lower vertebrae!  How's that for silencing the critics (me)?  Good finish.  I don't see him having any trouble breaking into the Top 20 in points before the Chase starts.  Now, let's start moving up to 'The Victor' segment soon so we can grab that Wild Card Berth!

Pat on the Back: There really weren't too many guys finishing ahead of where they should have.  Juan Pablo Montoya is the only one that really comes to mind.  On a team that has struggled as of late with a million different issues, this is the second Top 10 he's reeled in in the past three races.  Things seem to be moving in the right direction at Chip Ganassi Racing.

Other notables: Ryan Newman finished 10th, a great finish for any Stewart-Haas Racing car this year.  Kyle Busch was the favorite to win, but cut down a tire in the last 15 laps. He limped the car around the track to come home 6th, which is crazy good considering most drivers either would have had to pit or spin the car out.

Photo Cred www.nascar.com

The Feud:  I'm making more out of this than is necessary, but that makes it more fun.  Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch have some sort of rivalry brewing between them.  To set the stage; Kahne currently drives the #5 car for Hendrick.  Kyle Busch started out driving the #5 car for Hendrick.  Coincidence?  Probably.  Three times this year, Busch has inadvertently taken Kahne out.  Two weeks ago at Talladega, he got into him from behind and started a chain reaction crash the collected over a dozen drivers.  In the Southern 500, they were battling for the lead when Kyle got into the corner a little deep, drifting up the track and making Kahne's car lose control. Watch now.

Now, I totally believe Kyle in that there was no purposeful intent in any of these situations, and Kasey understands that as well. But c'mon man, same guy three times?  I'd totally support Kahne if the next time he sees Kyle on track, he gives him an 'innocent' spin around the rosie. 

This weekend is the All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Enjoy it Saturday night as racing's finest take their best shot at $1,000,000!