That's Racing?
Posted May 30, 2005, 9:11 AM ET

I love going to Lowe's Motor Speedway for the races.

Watching a NASCAR race is like a taking a peek at Americana. You'll see every walk of life at the track. From the corporate types in the suites, to the common man in the infield...a NASCAR race has it all.

Unfortunately, the race also had the rejects from American Idol. I guess the losers from the show couldn't get booked for a lounge act at the nearby Hampton Inn, and the folks from LMS decided to put them to work during the pre-race show.

If those incredible musical careers don't take off, maybe Bruton Smith can hire them to lay down some sealer or pave the track surface...or perhaps they can start digging the ditches on Bruton's new monorail track...more on that later.

This year, the "600" had a bevy of yellow flags...22, to be exact. It is the most ever for a NASCAR race.

Humpy Wheeler proclaimed that the new track would create more side-by-side racing, but I don't think he was talking about the wreckers and saftey crews that were called to duty every ten minutes to clean up another mess.

But it is still amazing to me that after 600 miles of racing, the winner would be determined by a split second...and that was the case when Jimmie Johnson rallied past Bobby Labonte at the start/finish line.

By the way, what was Labonte thinking about during the final lap? Do you think the late, great Dale Earnhardt would have driven his line, and not looked in his rear view mirror to see where the challenger was approaching? ...I guess that's why he was Earnhardt, and Labonte is looking for his first win after 47 races.

Speaking of Earnhardt...Dale, Jr. continues to be a story. After making changes to his crew, Junior proceeded to wreck his teammate Michael Waltrip. This has not been the best of times for the #8 car. I suspect that we haven't seen the last of the changes at DEI.

Back to the track: after Jimmie Johnson won the race, his car was pelted by beer cans from the fans...this crap needs to stop. I know it is a long day and night of racing...600 miles is a beast. But any fan that wants to toss a beer can at a moving car needs to get his ass kicked.

The only good thing that can come about that action is that the beer cans could improve the condition of the track. Between the sealer coming apart, the new surface and the late addition of aluminum, barley and hops...this race had it all.

It also has a winner that knows how to get to Victory Lane. Jimmie Johnson has now won three consecutive 600's. The #48 Lowe's Chevrolet feels right at home at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

I bet the folks at Lowe's can give Bruton and Humpy a great deal on some home/track improvement items...the place needs a little repair before the next appearance in October.