Close counts in Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

Two races were lost today on the last lap,one due to a rookie mistake at Indy and the other by a quart of fuel short.

Dale had it won hands down,maybe he could have peddled it a little to conserve a thousand feet of fuel.

Indy was given away by a rookie mistake by frifting high to pass, with the lead he had he could have backed out of it completely. Hilderbrand just made a mistake on passing and the other by not staying in the gas to maintain speed to the checkerd flag.

My take on the two races,whats yours

Dale Jr lost on a gamble on fuel. He and his crew did everything they could to conserve fuel. The team made the choice to stay out and go for the win. Kahne ran out too. Dale Jr said he could have pitted and finished 20th or stayed out and went for the win. He tried. The gamble did not work out. He fell back after the last turn. Hilderbrand's mistake was his own as well. It could have happened to anyone too. Unfortunately it happened on the last lap he was leading. Both were great and memorable races.

As much as I wanted to see Dale J win it I would have been happy to see Biffle or Kahne win it. They ran a good race all race and both did not have the fuel for the end either. Kahne looked great out there. Biffle gained alot of ground too. He was having a frustrating night and he and his team stuck it out and they got back up there. Rickey Stenhouse Jr looked good out there for a bit. Kevin Harvick is fun to watch on the final laps. I did not think he had a chance at all. He had a car that was crap all night and could not run well but somehow he pulled it off. He is smart and always plots his next move strategically so well in the closing laps. Hes bringing alot of excitement to the sport. I think he could be Champion this year if he runs races like this.

Kinda ironic also that the RCR car was Black and Budweiser sponsored, it was almost like Dale was controlling the car.

But the RCR cars rallied together to save on gas

Didnt Dale linger in the back at a few races only to appear out of nowhere to steal the show?

Jr was ecstatic over the way his car ran and where he was at the finish---doesn't this show that he still has the ability to win?

Even Richard Petty cars were up in the hunt at Indy and Charlotte

So I think this proves that there is power in rcr still? without dale?

There's no question that Hildebrand made a rookie mistake - as you said, he could have gotten out of the gas and still won. He's still young and this race was certainly a learning experience for him - maybe he'll have another shot at winning the "big one". I do feel good for Wheldon - he's a "good guy" and this race was a one-time deal for him - hopefully, he'll be fortunate enough to find future employment as a result.

Regarding the World 600 - I have no idea who would have won that race if it had finished under "normal conditions" (if there is such a thing). I just know that I hate these races that end with fuel being such a big issue. I do realize that fuel strategy is one of the components involved in winning races (especially an endurance race)- it's just a factor that I wish wasn'tsuch a big part of determining the outcome of a NASCAR race.

Robbie!!!! You can NOT be serious. A computer makes an inaccurate calculation and a veteran with common sense gets it right??????? There is something communistic about that outcome. Since when does common sense and experience have a place in racing, in life, in America?????