Top Row Seat - The Winston
Dateline: 05/18/98The Winston Defined
Every year NASCAR brings out it's stars under the stars at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It's a dash for cash running in prime time on a Saturday night. This is where NASCAR started. It's a Saturday night shootout where there is no tomorrow to worry about because there are no points on the line.
I had the opportunity to attend The Winston in 1995 and I've got to admit that it just feels different. There's a little higher level of electricity in the air because the fans, drivers and media all know that anything can happen when you throw the green flag for 10 laps and give the winner $200,000. It's a highly charged atmosphere and the racing rarely disappoints.
Segment One
The highlight of the first segment of this year's Winston was that it was actually worthy of highlights. In the past there was very little racing going on during the first segment. Except the guys running over each other trying to finish in the back so they would get a good starting spot for the final run to the checkers. The new rules in place this year (where the number of cars inverting was determined by luck) greatly improved the quality of the show because it caused the guys to run hard during the Winston's first segment.
And Ernie Irvan finished his final appearance in the Winston much like he has spent the last couple of years. He bent up his race car and went home early. I say it's his final Winston because I truly do not believe that he will ever win another race. His new ride this year in the Skittles #36 is just not anywhere near the quality ride that Robert Yates was putting under him. Sadly, Ernie Irvan is on the downhill side of his career.
Segment Two
My only comment on the middle segment of the Winston is "What was Rusty Wallace thinking!?" The wreck happened on the backstretch and under The Winston rules there is no reason to race back to the yellow flag because the race running order reverts back to the previous lap. Yet a good 20 seconds after the incident Rusty plowed into the back of Dale Jarrett in the tri-oval bending up both cars and effectively putting him out of contention.
On the list of bonehead moves this ranks right up there with Mark Martin hitting the pit wall at Martinsville, and pitting under caution at Bristol instead of taking the checkered flag (happened to Mark a few years ago during a Busch race.)
The Final Segment
The Winston this year was decided before the final segment actually started. When the start of the final segment was called back the field drove around under caution for a couple laps before restarting. This extra distance may well have proved the difference between Jeff Gordon having enough fuel left to win The Winston and taking home the additional $200,000 instead of running out and handing the win to Mark Martin.
It's a shame Gordon had to lose it like that. Ray Evernham made the correct call to take on two tires during the final pit stop while Mark Martin's crewchief Jimmy Fennig decided to take on four tires. Mark was faster and was definitely running Jeff down during the final ten lap sprint, but two tires was the right call and Gordon would have cruised home with the easy win if he hadn't been accused of jumping the start which caused him to run out of fuel on the last lap.
Did he jump the start or not? Let the world know what you think on the bulletin board.
