Post by Diamondback on Oct 16, 2006 7:32:03 GMT -6
Chase drivers were asked about thier thoughts following the Charlotte race as to where they stand and what their chances are.
I'm reading along, finding the standard fare, when I hit on this quote:
Everyone they interviewed pretty much had the same thing to say, but no one said it quite like this. There's a ton of information in these two short paragraphs. Break it down.
"The Iceman, Jeff Burton."
Terry Labonte was (/is) the Iceman. Cool as a cucumber, hard to ruffle his feathers. Remember the Tally race? Burton cuts a tire late and loses a bunch of points, yet holds on to the lead by a slim margin. Most would be disappointed, but he seemed to have put it behind him by the time he was out of the car. Another interesting parallel... when Terry won his second title in 1996 (twelve years after his first), he mentioned in a post-race interview that Hendrick "took a chance on a washed up driver", and believed in him enough to give him a car and team capable of winning the Cup. And did. Burton now finds himself in a similar situation. After being shuffled out at Roush for young guns, RCR signed him on to tap his veteran experience in an effort to turn that organization around, and now he and Harvick find themselves at the top of the heap. Iceman, indeed.
"It's frustrating, because we should have finished [...] at least third at Talladega."
Mmmhmm. I think what happened at Talladega is starting to sink in as it relates to the big picture. That's good for Burton, bad for everyone else. The races are winding down, and with each one, the vise gets screwed on a little tighter. The fact that drivers are starting to look at the "what if"s rather than the "what could be"s tells me that they are starting to believe that they won't catch him.
Kasey Kahne seems to be the only one still looking forward, as well he should be. He got a lucky break at Talladega, finishing second, and making up some good points. He went in to Charlotte and pulled off the sweep, gaining a few more points. He also won at Texas and Atlanta this year, and both tracks are coming up in the last five. What are the odds that he can sweep at all three tracks this year? Slim. If, miracle of all miracles, he does and wins 8 races this year? What are his odds of winning the title? Slim. Especially if Burton keeps performing on par. Yet, Kahne and crew are looking forward, while everyone else seems to be looking behind them.
With five races left, anything can happen. It is way too early to concede, yet some of those who still have a chance have already done so. (Mark, you're only 100 points out. That's 20 points a race, or aobut 5 positions, given the running order. Stop using your skull as a colonoscope, and put together some good cars for the remaining races. You still have a chance, albeit slim. That goes for you too, Jr.) And, while I'm not a Gordon fan, I still don't think he's totally done. Let's see what he does this week at Martinsville before we write him off. After all, Martinsville has been a good track for him, while the RCR cars have been "decent". He maybe able to make up some ground. How much remains to be seen.
I'm reading along, finding the standard fare, when I hit on this quote:
"We didn't get to gain on The Iceman, Jeff Burton," Earnhardt said after the race. "They are there every week doing a great job. You have to pull for them a little bit to win the championship.
"He [Burton] is not indestructible. The guy knows how to win championships, he has an idea what it takes. We're doing what we need to do, and that's good. It's frustrating, because we should have finished fifth at Kansas and at least third at Talladega."
"He [Burton] is not indestructible. The guy knows how to win championships, he has an idea what it takes. We're doing what we need to do, and that's good. It's frustrating, because we should have finished fifth at Kansas and at least third at Talladega."
Everyone they interviewed pretty much had the same thing to say, but no one said it quite like this. There's a ton of information in these two short paragraphs. Break it down.
"The Iceman, Jeff Burton."
Terry Labonte was (/is) the Iceman. Cool as a cucumber, hard to ruffle his feathers. Remember the Tally race? Burton cuts a tire late and loses a bunch of points, yet holds on to the lead by a slim margin. Most would be disappointed, but he seemed to have put it behind him by the time he was out of the car. Another interesting parallel... when Terry won his second title in 1996 (twelve years after his first), he mentioned in a post-race interview that Hendrick "took a chance on a washed up driver", and believed in him enough to give him a car and team capable of winning the Cup. And did. Burton now finds himself in a similar situation. After being shuffled out at Roush for young guns, RCR signed him on to tap his veteran experience in an effort to turn that organization around, and now he and Harvick find themselves at the top of the heap. Iceman, indeed.
"It's frustrating, because we should have finished [...] at least third at Talladega."
Mmmhmm. I think what happened at Talladega is starting to sink in as it relates to the big picture. That's good for Burton, bad for everyone else. The races are winding down, and with each one, the vise gets screwed on a little tighter. The fact that drivers are starting to look at the "what if"s rather than the "what could be"s tells me that they are starting to believe that they won't catch him.
Kasey Kahne seems to be the only one still looking forward, as well he should be. He got a lucky break at Talladega, finishing second, and making up some good points. He went in to Charlotte and pulled off the sweep, gaining a few more points. He also won at Texas and Atlanta this year, and both tracks are coming up in the last five. What are the odds that he can sweep at all three tracks this year? Slim. If, miracle of all miracles, he does and wins 8 races this year? What are his odds of winning the title? Slim. Especially if Burton keeps performing on par. Yet, Kahne and crew are looking forward, while everyone else seems to be looking behind them.
With five races left, anything can happen. It is way too early to concede, yet some of those who still have a chance have already done so. (Mark, you're only 100 points out. That's 20 points a race, or aobut 5 positions, given the running order. Stop using your skull as a colonoscope, and put together some good cars for the remaining races. You still have a chance, albeit slim. That goes for you too, Jr.) And, while I'm not a Gordon fan, I still don't think he's totally done. Let's see what he does this week at Martinsville before we write him off. After all, Martinsville has been a good track for him, while the RCR cars have been "decent". He maybe able to make up some ground. How much remains to be seen.