Top Row Seat - Talladega

Dateline: 04/25/99

There are very few days in NASCAR history that have ever so clearly defined one multi-car race team. Richard Childress Racing experienced both ends of the emotional spectrum as both of their drivers performed true to form.

Related Links Richard Childress Racing Official Website

For years Dale Earnhardt has been the undisputed "King Of Restrictor Plate Racing." This week he added to his legend as "The Intimidator" lead the most laps and was never seriously challenged during the closing laps. This win marks the eighth Talladega victory of his career and the sixth since the introduction of restrictor plate racing in 1988.

Undeniably, Dale Earnhardt is the drafting master.

Unfortunately, the other half of Richard Childress Racing also proved true to form during the race on Sunday. Mike Skinner has a long history of being hard-headed on the racetrack and Sunday's race was just one more example of his win-or-wreck attitude.

On a personal note I would like to add that this wreck now qualifies as the single dumbest thing I have ever seen any racer do. To make matters worse he then felt the need to blame Tony Stewart for the incident.

Crew chief Larry McReynolds said that he was not at all happy with his driver and you can be sure that both Richard Childress and Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse were watching and will have something to say as well.

For the safety of the other 42 drivers who have to share the race track with him let's hope that they either calm him down or cut him loose. The NASCAR family has no patience when it comes to life threatening ignorance.

---

Is Mike Skinner your favorite driver? Defend his honor on the bulletin board. Or you can vent your frustration in the chat room Wednesday night from 8-9pm EST.

Previous Features