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Rank Name Points
1. Jimmie Johnson 5878
2. Jeff Burton 5809
3. Greg Biffle 5792
4. Carl Edwards 5710
5. Clint Bowyer 5693
6. Kevin Harvick 5671
Rank Name Points
7. Tony Stewart 5650
8. Jeff Gordon 5633
9. Kyle Busch 5552
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 5524
11. Matt Kenseth 5518
12. Denny Hamlin 5498
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Rea White: A win is a win

By Rea White - Associate Editor

Monday, June 16, 2008

Article Rating: 5.0
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COMMENTARY

If one is a fan of a driver, isn't a win just that? Does it really matter how that win came to be?

After all, a fuel-mileage gamble is a risky, gutsy move for a team to make, especially one trying to maintain a top points position and make it into the Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup. A decision to literally run a tank dry, to know that extra laps are coming and still maintain the steely nerves needed to head to victory lane is something that's a sign of a team's belief in itself.

OK, it may signify a bit of desperation as well, but it's not like the men who made such a gamble on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway were drivers deep in the points trying to get their first win.

These were two of the top drivers in the sport. One was a man who's on a hot streak and beginning to visit victory lane with what must be alarming regularity to his competitors. The other is a driver off to perhaps the strongest season start in his career but still hungering for his first win with his new team.

The men were Gillett Evernham Motorsports' Kasey Kahne and Hendrick Motorsports' Dale Earnhardt Jr.

In the end, it would be Earnhardt Jr. cruising across the finish line as the race ended under caution - a race that had already been extended three laps because of another caution period.

Then Junior Nation went wild.

Earnhardt Jr. snapped a 76-race winless streak, a stretch dating back to May 2006 at Richmond International Raceway. He solidified his opening stretch with Hendrick Motorsports, a group he has led in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings all season, with the victory. He showed why he speaks highly of crew chief Tony Eury Jr. and why, though they will argue from time to time, the pair prefer to work with one another instead of with anyone else. And he showed why team owner Rick Hendrick worked to add the pair to his powerful arsenal of drivers.

So say what you will about how Earnhardt Jr. won. He's certainly not the first driver to win with fuel strategy, and he won't be the last. Perhaps it makes a difference that he won because of his call, not because of the call of someone else who faltered and left the leader running out of gas and Earnhardt Jr. skating by to take the win.

At the end of the season, how many people will really remember how each race was won? At the end of this decade, when drivers' total wins are listed in stories and spoken of by fans, will people remember how many wins each of those drivers gained on fuel mileage?

In the end, it was Earnhardt Jr. hoisting the trophy in victory lane. It was Eury Jr. keeping his driver on the track and at the front instead of taking on fuel. And it was Junior Nation celebrating wildly following the win by NASCAR's most popular driver.

To most, that's all that really matters.

Average Rating: 5.0

Comments

20 responses to "Rea White: A win is a win"
  1. 1
    cline holloway said:
    Jun 16, 2008 at 12:31 PM

    Sure a win is a win and the fuel mileage is part of it, but to break the rules not once but twice and still be allowed to win is a slap in the face from NASCAR ,again.

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  2. 2
    Scott Bachelder said:
    Jun 16, 2008 at 12:51 PM

    Hey, It's Junior you think NASCAR is going to penalize Junior?????? So he passed the pace car, big deal. It's Junior!!!! (all said tongue in cheek)

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  3. 3
    Billie Brooks said:
    Jun 16, 2008 at 1:21 PM

    Why should they penalize him, all he did was pass the pace car, he didnt slide up the track and put a driver out, (which happened to him early in the season,) and that driver wasnt penalized by NASCAR but should have been. I know rules or rules, he was warned not to do it again, and he complied. Some drivers do stupid, dangerous stunts and puts drivers in jeopardy and NASCAR turns a blind eye. If penalities are forthcoming then THAT WILL BE A SLAP IN THE FACE FROM NASCAR!!

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  4. 4
    Mark Elms said:
    Jun 16, 2008 at 2:23 PM

    Give me a break coasting across finish line under caution is something to brag about..come on Jr. nation Kyle Petty coulda done that!!!

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  5. 5
    Marshall Wilson said:
    Jun 16, 2008 at 2:30 PM

    Someone had to win the race, why not Jr.?

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  6. 6
    Francine D'Alonzo said:
    Jun 16, 2008 at 3:47 PM

    Junior won, without taking out another driver, without cheating - his crew chief made a gutsy call and won the race.

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  7. 7
    Maggie Gregg said:
    Jun 16, 2008 at 11:30 PM

    Lotsa new drivers and a COT. A new driver put out the last yellow flag (Dario). I for one am glad the MOST POPULAR DRIVER won. His heartaches have been my heartaches. I still shudder when I see replays of that 3 car go into the wall back on Feb 2001. Have a good thought for Junior. It aint like he has been running middle of the pack all season so far. He's been up there, baby! Could have won multiple races but for a few ardent drivers. WTG Junior!

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  8. 8
    Maggie Gregg said:
    Jun 16, 2008 at 11:33 PM

    Oh WOW How could I have not commended Tony Jr and the crew??? You guys make it happen to0o!

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  9. 9
    Mark O'Brien said:
    Jun 17, 2008 at 6:41 AM

    NASCAR should have pentalized him, he went passed the pass car and was warned, that was fine but he did it again he should have been black flaged. That deal in Richmond was a racing deal. I for one have no respect for him or JR Nation after the bellyaching for them at Richmond and all of yall just think it great when NASCAR caters to him but you whine b/c you think Toyota has some big advantage. They don't they have spent the money and made there stuff better.

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  10. 10
    Mark O'Brien said:
    Jun 17, 2008 at 6:46 AM

    Oh yea this is me saying JR. Is over rated and deserves none of the attention he get and he is NASCAR most popular drive yea right his Dad built that for him. I was a big Dale SR. fan and most people understand that this is true. Case in point he went to the top team out there. Wrong doesn't appear to be the case this year, and to Tony Jr, he is Jr. weak link he has rode is coat tail all these years i think Darren Grubb whould have had him victory long before now.

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  11. 11
    Anonymous said:
    Jun 17, 2008 at 6:51 AM

    Grow up you whiney babies, Drivers have been winning under caution for yesrs now. Had they not gone to the green/white checkered he was going to win anyway. If it wasn't him , someone would have been in the lead and went on to victory lane to celebrate. Do you think the new Nascar rule should be "There will be no winner if the race ends under caution?"

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  12. 12
    cline holloway said:
    Jun 17, 2008 at 7:33 AM

    Don't you mean he could have won multiple races IF he was half the driver the JR nation thought he was?

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  13. 13
    Valeri Leist said:
    Jun 17, 2008 at 7:43 AM

    To all of you Jr. haters: GET A LIFE! Jr. has the trophy and the prize money and most importantly HE HAS THE WIN! You can gripe and moan and whine all you want to and it will NOT change the fact that he WON!@!! Have a good week HATERS because I KNOW Jr. Nation will!!!!!!

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  14. 14
    Mark O'Brien said:
    Jun 17, 2008 at 8:47 AM

    yea you should enjoy it. It may not come for another 76 races and yes he could have one more race if he was as talent as Nation says he is. Proof is where you all compare him to Jimme Jeff and Tony all the drivers that have more wins in his carrer and aobut the same decade as him. Well all of them have atleast 2 championships. Jr. 0 and take away the secert's Dale Sr. Taught them about restrictor plate racing he more than likely would have about 8 to 9 wins about one a year. so yea he is over rated. But that cool all Jr. nation can go back to Hating on the rest of the feild for next 76 races.

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  15. 15
    Pearl Roll said:
    Jun 17, 2008 at 9:32 AM

    What a laugh for the JR. fans-It is called racing not coasting. Accept your so called win, be proud(haha) and move on-maybe now you will quit whining and blaming jr's losses on other reasons.

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  16. 16
    McReal Name said:
    Jun 17, 2008 at 1:30 PM

    all of jr nation better enjoy this nascar approved win. hope jr nation can stand another 76 mediocre races....

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  17. 17
    FRANK LAVACCA said:
    Jun 17, 2008 at 4:11 PM

    go jr. go!!!!!!!!its a win and kyle busch was no where in site to take him out.

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  18. 18
    Timothy Schultze said:
    Jun 17, 2008 at 6:11 PM

    Where's Worm Dirt ???????????

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  19. 19
    Pearl Roll said:
    Jun 18, 2008 at 12:55 PM

    Jr' fans are scared of KB-he is showing them how to git'r done and they don't like it. Jr said he would give it all up to play football for the redskins-maybe that is what he should go do since his heart obviously isn't in racing(and it shows). Maybe he likes that closer contact with the boys. Could be- ya never know now do ya!!

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  20. 20
    Worm Dirt said:
    Jun 19, 2008 at 1:12 AM

    Huh? I thought i heard something....Did someone summon me? Is there something I can straighten out for you Timmy?!?! Or are you just BAFFLED that I'm not on here trying to RAIN ON JUNIOR'S PARADE after his win? SORRY sir....but that's not how I operate. It'd be stealing a page from the the Jr. Nation conformity-herd playbook, to try and throw mud at the winner and downplay their achievement. Don't assume that everyone plays by your sad rules Schultze. I say congratulations to Junior and the HANDFUL of level-headed individuals who are the silent MINORITY w/in his fan base! Anyway...Thanks for the laugh.

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