Congratulations to Kyle Busch for his first Cup win of the season.  His win marks the first time since a Jag crossed the finish line in 1954.  It was only a matter of time when Toyota would be in Victory Lane.  I was just hoping it was going to be Tony to get the first win for Toyota, but I will take this victory.  I believe Kyle could have been 3 out of 3 this weekend if it wasn’t for a blown tire on Saturday.Once again, Tony is speaking his mind.  Tony was very critically of the tires that Goodywar brought to Atlanta.  He stated in a post race interview, “That was the most pathetic racing tire that I’ve ever been on in my professional career,” Stewart said. “… Goodyear can’t build a tire that is worth a crap. If I were Goodyear, I would be really embarrassed about this weekend and what they brought here. It didn’t keep us from winning the race and how we got to second, I don’t know.”

(Trixie note…I know there will be people who will criticize Tony for his remarks and the way they were delievered, but if you don’t want an honest, tell-it-like-it-is opinion…don’t ask Tony.) 

But Tony wasn’t the only one voicing their concerns regarding the tire issue…

Dale Jr.–“I’ll say that Goodyear Tire Company makes good racing tires, makes a safe tire,” Junior said. “There’s a lot of technology that goes into making the tires and I give them a lot of credit. It’s a reputation-risk, just to be in this sport for a company like that, especially … as far as criticism goes. They do a good job. This is just a bad combination. This tire at this track, it was just a poor combination.”

Jeff Gordon–“I felt like I was going to crash every single lap. “I’m exhausted right now. I feel like I’ve run a thousand miles here. That was the hardest day I have ever had at Atlanta, especially for a top-five finish. This car, this tire, at this track was just terrible.”

Now I know racing tires are bit tricky.  You have to think about the type of track the tire will be used for, how is the race, weather plus many other factors I wouldn’t even want to wrap my brain around.  Some tracks you definitely need a softer and some a harder combination. Plus this was the first time the newest model of the car has been run at Atlanta.  I am sure the racing tire people are going to look at the performance of this tire at Atlanta and perhaps when the fall race rolls around, the tire is a better. 

Other notes from Atlanta…Jimmie Johnson struggled somewhat, but finished 13th.  It finished on the lead lap, however.  He is now 13th in the points standing…just outside the top 12.  If you had told me prior to the start of the season that both the defending champ and his fellow teammate (Jeff G.) would be out of the top 12 through the first 4 races and have yet to win a race. I would have had to ask you what you were smoking.  But as we all know, you can never count out the HMS drivers. 

Matt Kenseth finished a respectable 8th place yesterday after starting in the back of the pack.  Matt has always been one of those drivers that quietly works his way to the front of the pack.  He’s very stealthy about all of that.  You can never count him out of anything unless he has gone to the garage and called it a day. 

Now for the shoutout portion of the program…I have to give salute to Brian Vickers for his 9th place finish yestarday as well as a 12th place finish for Bobby LaBonte.

Now for the fun part of the season…SHORT TRACK RACING!!!