Crazy Kansas race brings back memories of Pocono

I can't get my blog to work..but I really wanted to post this. I just wrote this story up out of..well..I guess randomness, tell me what you think :)

Crazy Kansas race brings back memories of Pocono

It was a cool, June morning in Pennsyvania. The fans were rolling in, the campers had already found their temporary homes, it was Pocono. No rain in the forecast, the day was set to be a great one. Fans were jubilant, having the time of their lives, awaiting the beasts that were to be awakened later in the day. That day, however, didn't turn out as well as some had hoped.

Just hours before the day's activities began, a big, ugly rain cloud drifted over the Pocono Raceway and had plans to truly rain on our parade. The skies opened up, soaking the racetrack and fans equally. The day that had gone according to schedule had become flawed. It was obvious this race wouldn't be starting until atleast two, maybe three o'clock.

Just about that time fans poured into the track, covers came off the cars, it was finally time to go racing! Well, not quite. Anticipating the firing of engines, a sprinkle or two began to fall. Minutes later, more sprinkles. Having lived this situation before, everyone knew what would come next. Within seconds, the skies opened up and it yet again, began to pour. The track was drowned in water, as were people's hopes of seeing a race.

Fans had begun to file out of the Pocono Raceway, expecting to come back the next day. The day had gone from colossal to loathsome in a matter of a few hours, and people just wanted to get the hell out. Yet, NASCAR felt compelled to continue track drying efforts. The sun had come out, the temperature up about 10 degrees, and the wind picked up a little. The likelihood of a race on this soggy day was getting higher by the minute, whether fans wanted it to or not.

By five o'clock, drivers had been called to their cars--fans again piled into the stands, or what was left of them. The radio broadcast stressed that NASCAR will not start a race if they don't think they can finish it. So, lets go back to first grade math. Its five o'clock, darkness comes at eight, you want to complete two-hundred laps on a two and a half mile racetrack in three hours? Most people would say "..not a chance", and they would be right.

The green was out by five-fifteen. It had been a long day, people were wet, most were drunk, and tired aswell. The race would've been over by now, had it gone as scheduled. It wasn't as climatic as it could have been. Regardless of the time, a great race is what everyone saw--possibly one of the best for Pocono in recent memory. As the halfway mark approached, the skies over turn one became more ominous by every passing minute.

As the crossed flags flew, signifying an official race, pitstops began. It became apparent fuel was going to be the deciding factor in this race, as rain was just minutes away. Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman were fiercly battling for the lead, and the win. Just as Newman pulled up alongside, the rains came. Gordon was the victor, and the fans were none too pleased.

Sunday at the Kansas Speedway, fans were reminded of that day in Pocono. While the first rain shower only put a damper on the flow of the race, the second should have ended it. Having passed halfway, and many with a long ride home, it would've been nice to see the race end there. Strategy had paid dividends for the likes of Stewart, Biffle, and Harvick. It was to be a great day in the points for some, a bad day for others. The drama NASCAR had always dreamed about was unfolding before their very eyes.

However, for some reason, they yet again felt compelled to restart a race that everyone knew they could not possibly finish. NASCAR worked dilligently to dry the track, and by seven o'clock we were back racing. All the cars that had been trapped by the untimely yellow on the previous stint of racing were back up front. The leaders were twenty cars back, any casual fan could know what would happen next. Not even through the first turn of the first lap, chaos ensued. Kenny Schrader spun in front of the field, taking out chasers Kenseth, Truex, and Stewart--and handing the lead to Harvick and Biffle.

Not many laps after the mayhem, Tony Stewart wrecked again--this time ruining the days of Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards aswell. The day from hell hadn't ended, drivers had to begin to wonder if it ever would. In the succeeding restart, Greg Biffle had gotten by leader Kevin Harvick and set sail. Now Biffle looked to be headed for a controversy free victory, but Mother Nature had one final twist to throw in this crazy day, which would ultimately make her the winner once again.

After holding off charges from Harvick and Bowyer, Biffle was headed towards victory, or so people thought. With just a few laps to go, Montoya blew a tire and a magnitude of metal pieces flew from beneath his Dodge. The caution was out, and it was time for one last shootout; the green, white, checker.

However, NASCAR didn't like the low amount of visibility, as spotters could not see the corners. The darkness led to the race being called, fifty-seven laps before the scheduled distance and 15 laps before the original schedule realignment of two-hundred twenty-five laps. Biffle looked to have run out of gas coming to the line, and several drivers passed. Clint Bowyer had believed he had won, along with multiple drivers.

The rule and the finish was becoming more and more confusing by every replay shown. Had Biffle won the race? He didn't cross the finish line first, how could he have won? In the end, NASCAR deemed him to have maintained a reasonable speed, regardless of how fast the pace car was pulling away. Biffle had been declared the winner, much to the displeasure of many fans and competitors. How Biffle won, none could understand.

This entire controversy could have been avoided in one way, calling the race. Had it been called when it was raining buckets, some drivers would actually have race-cars left, and fans would have much drier socks. NASCAR is beginning to set a precedent that they had not set before, that they will try to race until attempts become futile, regardless of how many laps they can complete. So next time NASCAR comes out and says that they will not start a race they can't finish, don't believe them. These two crazy, tedious days at the race track simultaneously proved that NASCAR will do anything they want, regardless of precendent.