I'm not at all surprised that Mark Martin took the high road and didn't do a burnout after the race. He is such a class act. I found it incredibly touching that so many drivers and owners came to victory lane to congratulate him. He has the respect of so many. Congratulations Martin, it's really good to see you back in victory lane!

Here's a race recap from yours truly, Jenniepoo:

Sterling Marlin brought out the first caution. He had a right front tire go down and went up and hit the wall.

It wouldn't be a Sprint Cup race without a debris caution, which is what brought out the second caution of the race.

The third caution was from a spinning David Stremme.

A.J. Allmendinger spun and hit the wall for the fourth caution.

Michael Waltrip got into Robby Gordon causing him to crash into the wall bringing out the fifth caution. Waltrip got loose in the corner, over-corrected, and ran right into Gordon.

While Dale Earnhardt Jr. only had one mishap in the pits for a missing lug nut during the first caution of the race, he had a much bigger mishap on the track much later in the race. He got a tap from Casey Mears which sent him spinning up into the wall bringing out the sixth and final caution of the race.

It didn't look like much of a tap but Junior had such an ill handling car that it wouldn't have taken much to send him spinning. After the completion of the race Junior went up to Mears on the track and hit him, sending him spinning. Temper, temper. I would be surprised if there are no penalities for it but it does seem that NASCAR adjusts the rules according to which driver is breaking them. Junior finished the race in 31st position and fell three positions in the point standings and now is in 19th.

It's going to happen sooner or later. Tony Stewart is going to win a race this year. He finished in second-place.

Way to go, Sam Hornish Jr. for your ninth-place finish. Good to see you not wrecking this week!

Junior wasn't the only Hendrick car to have issues in the pits. Jeff Gordon also left the pits with a missing lug nut. Gordon had to go back into the pits to retrieve it during green-flag conditions, ruining any chances for a win for him. Gordon finished 25th.

Rookie watch: Joey Logano finished the race in 21st position while Scott Speed finished 34th. Logano has finished in front of my pick for the Rookie of the Year, Scott Speed, in every race. Logano moved up two spots in the point standings to 33rd. Speed is 38th. It's still early in the season though.

What did you think of the race?

There's nothing like a good night race. It typically leads to getting together with friends and having a few pops -- although we didn't need a race last weekend to get together. I wish I could tell you all about the redneck ways of your trusty blogger from last weekend but it would give you a visual that you just don't need. I'm not even really sure if some sort of law was broken or not with what we did. Here's a couple hints: a school bus, drinking, dancing ... did I mention the school bus? Fun times.

It doesn't appear that the weather will be an issue at all. Qualifying is scheduled for tonight at 7 pm on SPEED.

Before I start with my usual congratulations, let me start by saying that I was scanning nascarmedia for my pictures for the blog and happened upon this picture that stopped me right in my tracks:

David Reutimann and Phil Harris

It's Captain Phil Harris folks! He's only the BEST captain on the series, The Deadliest Catch. I love the whole crew on his fishing vessel the Cornelia Marie. By far the best, period. All I'm saying is this, if I had seen him in New Hampshire, it wouldn't have been pretty. I love this man.

Speaking of men that I like, how about Clint Bowyer in the Nationwide race? Seriously, I thought he was done for. He got involved in a wreck that sent him back to somewhere around 30th position, putting Carl Edwards in the point lead. I don't know how he did it but Bowyer managed to pull off a fourth-place finish and keep his lead in the point standings. Way to drive the wheels of it, Bowyer!

Okay, so now on to the Sprint Cup race from yesterday.

Congratulations go out to Jimmie Johnson for yet another victory...big yawn. I'm so sick of him winning though. This means that he only needs to finish 36th or better next week and the championship is his. It will finally be over.

Here are a few random thoughts during the race yesterday:

-- Is anyone surprised that Sam Hornish Jr. brought out the first caution? It looked like Hornish went into the corner a bit too hot and slid up and hit Elliot Sadler.

-- Martin Truex Jr. had to end his day really early because he ran out of water in the radiator. It was hot for too long and his engine blew up.

-- Scott Speed cracks me up. Did you see his interview after his wreck? Somebody needs to help him with his interviewing skills. And for God's sake, get rid of that damn flat-rimmed hat. Ridiculous.

-- If there has to be a rain delay, the one yesterday is the type that I like. Short and sweet. The rain delay was only 26 minutes.

-- I'm liking the facial hair on Dale Earnhardt Junior. Just sayin.

-- Jeff Gordon had some bad luck. The engine of his car started skipping and a valve spring broke. The engine finally quit. Gordon did not finish the race and had a 41st place finish. This was his 6th DNF of the season.

-- With about 7 laps to go, AJ Allmendinger shoved the nose of his car under Matt Kenseth who was stuck in his spot because Tony Stewart was on the outside of him. Allmendinger and Kenseth bumped and it sent all three of them spinning. The one who made out the worst in it was Tony Stewart who couldn't get his car fired back up. Stewart went a lap down, finishing 22nd.

-- Can you say, intentional? Clearly, Kenseth was all about wrecking Allmendinger after taking the checkered flag in retaliation for the earlier incident with him on the track. Only, he wrecked several other drivers as well. Juan Pablo Montoya, Joe Nemecheck, Bill Elliott and Tony Stewart all had damaged cars in the end because of Kenseth.

What did you think of the race? I would like to hear some of your observations.

Here's a look at the Chasers going into the race this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway (stats provided by NASCAR):

	1 - Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet) 6366 points, 2008 Rundown: • Six wins, 14 top fives, 21 top 10s • Average finish of 10.7 • Led 27 races for 1,736 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Driver Rating of 118.0 • Two wins, five top fives, eight top 10s • Average finish of 6.0 • Won April's Phoenix race
	2 - Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford) 6260 points, 2008 Rundown: • Eight wins, 17 top fives, 25 top 10s • Average finish of 9.9 • Led 20 races for 1,125 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Driver Rating of 103.3 • Three top fives, five top 10s; one pole • Average finish of 14.5 • Finished fourth in April
	3 - Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford) 6223 points, 2008 Rundown: • Two wins, 12 top fives, 17 top 10s • Average finish of 12.8 • Led 19 races for 458 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Driver Rating of 102.4 • Two top fives, three top 10s • Average finish of 16.4 • Finished ninth in April
	4 - Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet) 6154 points, 2008 Rundown: • Two wins, seven top fives, 17 top 10s • Average finish of 11.8 • Led 11 races for 140 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Driver Rating of 85.2 • Two wins, five top fives, 10 tops 10s • Average finish of 11.1 • Finished sixth in April
	5 - Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) 6111 points, 2008 Rundown: • 12 top fives, 18 top 10s • Average finish of 14.1 • Led 19 races for 431 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Driver Rating of 104.0 • One win, eight top fives, 15 top 10s; three poles • Average finish of 8.5 • Finished 13th in April
	6 - Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet) 6099 points, 2008 Rundown: • One win, six top fives, 16 top 10s • Average finish of 14.4 • Led six races for 188 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Driver Rating of 84.4 • Two top fives • Average finish of 15.8 • Finished second in April
	7 - Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) 6087 points, 2008 Rundown: • Six top fives, 17 top 10s • Average finish of 12.8 • Led seven races for 191 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Driver Rating of 106.7 • Two wins, three top fives, five top 10s • Average finish of 13.7 • Finished 19th in April
	8 - Matt Kenseth (No. 14 DEWALT Ford) 5973 points, 2008 Rundown: • Nine top fives, 20 top 10s • Average finish of 16.2 • Led 18 races for 531 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Driver Rating of 88.1 • One win, five top fives, six top 10s • Average finish of 18.8 • Finished 38th in April
	9 - Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota) 5962 points, 2008 Rundown: • One win, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s • Average finish of 14.9 • Led 14 races for 622 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Driver Rating of 101.6 • One win, six top fives, eight top 10s • Average finish of 9.8 • Finished 14th in April
	10 - Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota) 5938 points, 2008 Rundown: • Eight wins, 17 top fives, 20 top 10s • Average finish of 12.4 • Led 23 races for 1,673 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Driver Rating of 90.3 • One win, five top 10s; one pole • Average finish of 15.4 • Finished 10th in April
	11 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet) 5937 points, 2008 Rundown: • One win, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s • Average finish of 13.5 • Led 22 races for 896 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Driver Rating of 89.1 • Two wins, four top fives, six top 10s • Average finish of 18.0 • Finished seventh in April
	12 - Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota) 5935 points, 2008 Rundown: • One win, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s • Average finish of 15.8 • Led 15 races for 766 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Driver Rating of 94.1 • Three top fives; one pole • Average finish of 12.0 • Finished third in April

Excellent racing this weekend. Great side by side action. Even the Nationwide race was pretty good.

Congrats to Jimmie Johnson and Rick Hendrick on their first win this season. He's not the one I wanted to win though. I actually would have loved to see Mark Martin or Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the winner's circle instead. I missed the interview with Mark Martin after the race but you could definitely hear the disappointment in Junior's voice when they interviewed him.

Here are a few random thoughts that ran through my noggin:

-- I appreciate the network delaying the race so that we could watch the conclusion of the rain-delayed Red Sox vs. Yankees game. The key word in that sentence is conclusion. At first I was grumpy because of it and then I started really getting in to the baseball game.

I think it was the bottom of the ninth with 2 outs and a full count. Just as Papelbon was getting ready to throw a pitch they changed it over to the start of the race. There was absolutely no warning. I'm relaxed watching baseball and then my heart started racing because 43 cars were coming at me on the big screen television. I was all confused and highly anxious. I wanted to know if his pitch ended the game...uugh.

-- Matt Kenseth had some bad luck hitting the wall early in the race. He's really had an up and down year this year so far.

-- Bad luck for Ryan Newman who's car blew up, spewing oil all over the track bringing out a caution.

-- Elliott Sadler also had a bad night. He had a tire go down and hit the wall and had to go to the garage.

-- Give Mark Martin a good car and look what happens. He was so feisty. What a great race for him.

-- I'm not a big fan of races that end on gas mileage, including this one. But I really liked watching Chad Knaus talking with Jimmie Johnson those last 3 laps.

-- What happened to Kevin Harvick in the pits?! He was looking like he was going to have a great finish. That was disappointing.

-- Jeff Burton, my pick for the race, finished fifth.

-- Mr. Consistent (yeah, my man Clint Bowyer) was consistent again at Phoenix finishing second. He's the man. That's all I'm saying.

On a different note...

Ricky Carmichael was at the Moto X World Championships this weekend. He was in the Step Up competition. Step Up is where riders speed up a dirt incline to try to attempt to fly their motorcycles over a bar high up in the air, it's kind of similar to a high jump, only MUCH higher.

Yesterday during the competition, the bar was set at 35 feet in the air. On Carmichael's first attempt, he cleared it. And I mean he CLEARED it. He was actually the only one that was able to do it. He just couldn't stick the landing and he crashed. On impact, his chin hit the handle bars on his motorcycle before he was thrown off and put a gouge in his chin. He was taken to the hospital to get stitches and to make sure there were no other injuries. He was complaining of his jaw hurting (as you can imagine).

He did go back to the event afterwards to commentate the rest of the events. The entire time I was watching him compete I was wondering what Ken Schrader was thinking about this whole thing. Afterall, Carmichael is supposed to be jumping in a car and racing for Ken Schrader this weekend in the Camping World East Series at Greenville Pickens Speedway in Easley, S.C. What if he had broken his wrists in the crash?

All for now...

I'm going with a Richard Childress Racing car this week for the win at Phoenix. Although, I almost hate picking a driver now for a race because as you know, I have never picked a winner in the history of this blog. For yucks, let's start keeping track this year. I am 0-for-7 for 2008. I'm going on the record right here and now saying that I will NEVER pick Clint Bowyer this year. I would never want to jinx him.

Since about Wednesday, I had my mind made up that I was going to go with an RCR driver for Saturday night's race. Well actually two drivers but based on what I said above, I'm not mentioning the name of the second...

I get in to work this morning and look up the race lineup (because I didn't get a chance to watch qualifying) and the driver I am picking is sitting there in 39th position. I'm sticking to my guns though and going with Jeff Burton. He has two wins here and has historically run well at Phoenix. Besides the fact that RCR is HOT this season.

Who are you picking to win tomorrow night?

How about Ryan Newman earning his 43rd pole?! Incredible.

Did anyone watch qualifying last night? I didn't but got called in to the living room to watch the interview with Elliott Sadler. Did you see it? It was really funny. I guess Carl Edwards backed his truck or motor coach (I can't recall which) into Sadler's motor coach.

Sadler was saying something to the effect that Edwards is a great driver on the track and has won a few this year...but can't back the truck/motor coach up. It was funny.

All for now. Have a great weekend everyone!

Four in a row for Jimmie Johnson. Unbelievable and sickening. I am glad there's only one race left of the season. I am. It's just too long. And I'm getting a bit sick of Hendrick's domination.

If Johnson finishes 18th or better, he'll clinch the championship. If he leads a lap, then he can finish 19th or better regardless of where Jeff Gordon finishes and clinch the championship. Gordon is 86 points behind Johnson in the point standings.

Here are the trivia answers from last week:

Can any of you name the 13 different pole sitters at this Phoenix Internation Raceway?

They are: Ryan Newman – 3, Rusty Wallace – 3, Jeff Gordon – 3, Geoffrey Bodine - 2, Bill Elliott - 2, Ken Scrader – 2, John Andretti – 1, Casey Atwood – 1, Kyle Busch – 1, Bobby Hamilton – 1, Denny Hamlin – 1, Bobby Labonte – 1, Sterling Marlin – 1

What's the farthest back a race winner has started? Who was it? When was it?

29th starting spot, Ricky Rudd, 1995

Who are the only drivers to have posted back to back wins at Phoenix?
Davey Allison - 1991 and 1992, Jeff Burton - 2000 and 2001, Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 2003 and 2004, Kevin Harvick - both 2006.

Morgan-McClure Motorsports announced yesterday that Ward Burton is out of the No. 4 car for this weekend's race at Homestead. I really hate it when these press releases are so vague as to why they would make a driver change for the LAST race of the season. What in the world?

Said Tim Morgan: "Ward has worked hard for us this year, he is a good driver and a friend. Todd has been helpful to us in the past and has agreed to step in and help us benchmark our efforts as we get ready for the 2008 season.”

That says absolutely nothing about why he is sitting out the LAST race of the year.

The press release goes on to say, "Both Ward Burton and the MMM team have agreed that his change is the best way to fully evaluate the performance of the team."

Who did they get to replace him to try to qualify the car into the race at Homestead? Todd Bodine. I almost fell off my chair when I read that. I think wreckfest when I think of Todd Bodine. Uugh.

All for today.

Phoenix has been a good track for Richard Childress Racing (RCR). Kevin Harvick has won here twice, with three top fives and four top tens. Jeff Burton has won here twice also, with five top fives and eight top tens. Clint Bowyer, however, has not been so lucky with only one top five and one top ten in four starts. This year though has been an incredible year for him so I guess anything's possible.

As much as I would like to see Bowyer gain ground in the driver point standings this weekend, it is very unlikely. This track, unfortunately, has also been a good place historically for Hendrick Motorsports. And with the luck they have been having, I would expect this weekend to be no different.

My picks this weekend will be any of the RCR cars.

A little trivia, because I love trivia...

(Without looking it up)

• Can any of you name the 13 different pole sitters at this track?
• What's the farthest back a race winner has started? Who was it? When was it?
• Who are the only drivers to have posted back to back wins here?

All for this week. I am taking a few days off. I'll be back on Tuesday with my racing recap and have the answers to the trivia questions. Have a great weekend.