Run, Jimmy! Run!

Jimmy Watts, the Gasman for Marcos Ambrose's No. 47 Kingsford Toyota, will be in constant embarrassment for the next week or so. God bless him. He was only trying to do what he thought was right, by chasing a lost tire nearly all the way to the apron of the track. “I saw the tire going away and it was a reaction – the wrong one,” Watts said. Some folks, including a bunch of drivers who went a lap down with the subsequent caution flag, blame Jimmy. But, he didn't let it get away from him; he just went after it. A caution would have been called even if he didn't chase after it. But, poor Jimmy will be the butt of the jokes and ridicule for some time to come.

POST-RACE PARTS & PIECES
*How about Kurt Busch? What a strong race for the No. 2 Miller Lite race team. You won't be able to knock the smile off him for at least two weeks.

*Another strong top-5 for Jeff Gordon. He's gotten off to a nice start on the "drive for five".

*Clint Bowyer continue to surprise the doubters (me included)

*Mark Martin's final Cup championship attempt took another slap in the chops. Average 2009 start position 7.25; average finish position 31.75. Ugh!

*What evil bastard decided to schedule Bristol as the all-important 5th and deciding race, which will set the initial top-35 owner points for 2009? In danger of being out the top-35 owners points standings, after Bristol (driver, cup points, points relative to 35th):

30) Andretti, 336, +59
31) Hornish, 328 ,+51
32) Newman, 324, +47
33) Logano, 321 +44 (Sliced What?)
34) Gilliland, 301 +24 (Cinderella Man?)
35) Martin, 286 +11 (Bad luck be gone!)
36) Almirola, 277, -11

37) Speed, 256, -30
38) Menard, 238, -48
39) Kvapil, 214, -72
40) Smith, 206 -80

ATLANTA TOP-5 PREDICTION RESULTS
1) Jeff Gordon, 2nd
2) Dale Jr., 11th
3) Kyle Busch, 18th
4) Jimmie Johnson, 9th
5) Tony Stewart, 8th

Hello... hello... hello. Is there anybody out there?