by Darrell Waltrip

Comment

Folks compare the way it used to be and to the way it is now. Some fans like it the way it was in the past because there were more crashes and cautions. That of course led to tempers flaring and emotions boiling over.

But from a driver and competitor point of view, nobody likes going there knowing at the end of the day you were leaving with a torn-up race car. There was always a lot of frustration, anger and paybacks created at the "old" Bristol and then NASCAR had to come in and try to get emotions back under control in an effort to get all the angry parties to agree it was just racing.

The way Bristol used to be, it wasn't racing, it was just wrecking. Nobody enjoyed that. Sure you loved winning there, but you hated going there because let's face it, there was only going to be one guy out of 43 that won. Winning there meant survival and that you had done a man's work.

With this new Bristol surface, you still have the Bristol Stomp, but Sunday Kyle Busch simply stomped the competition. I always loved that line from the song that "The kids in Bristol are sharp as a pistol when they do the Bristol Stomp." Well Sunday that kid did the Bristol Stomp. He did it on 42 other guys. He led three-quarters of the race.

Did you see the condition of his car after the race? It didn't have the fenders torn off, the sides banged in and parts hanging off of it. It was a pretty clean race car. You have to give it to Busch, he drove a really good race. That's the difference between the track today and the old track. Now instead of punting someone out of your way, you can drive by them on the outside.

This track is now more like Richmond. Every driver will tell you that Richmond is one of their favorite tracks to go to. Every driver will tell you now that Bristol is one of their favorite racetracks to go to for the simple fact that you don't have to wreck someone to pass them.

The other part of the equation along with the reconfigured track is the COT. This new car is much tougher. You can bounce off each other or even the wall. The front and rear bumpers are flat and square, so when you bump a guy, you don't spin him out. The nose on the old car was like a snow plow and it would jack the back end of the guy ahead of you off the ground and he would spin out. This car doesn't do that.

As a race fan you saw some incredible driving Sunday. You saw Kyle Busch and others go three wide at times, thread the needle between two cars and also make some great passes. I think you also have to appreciate that it's still 500 laps. There are still 43 cars out there. You are in traffic all day long. You have to drive hard. You have to drive with intensity but also with anticipation. You have to anticipate what is going to happen up ahead of you.

All the elements for a great race are still there.

We have to put the old behind us. The old way of racing at Bristol is gone. We have to look at what we have now and accept it. The old racetrack was worn out and needed to be repaired and repaved. The changes they have made to the track have only made the racing better. Hear me — made the racing better, not the wrecking. I think fans go to a race to see good racing, not good wrecking.

The Bump and Run doesn't take any skill to knock someone out of your way. It takes zero skill to do that. Again, that's not racing — that is wrecking and there is a big difference.

Oh by the way

The Busch brothers in the last two races, Atlanta and Bristol, each led 75 percent of those two events. They now have combined for three wins out of the first five races. Kyle also had the most dominant car at Daytona but got caught up in the big wreck.

Oh by the way too

You have to give Michael Waltrip Racing an "atta boy." David Reutimann is still 11th in the points. Marcos Ambrose had an incredible run Sunday too. He finished 10th on seven cylinders. That actually might have been an advantage for him as it allowed him to run the car harder through corners. Historically only three drivers who are in the top 12 in points right now, will drop out. It's going to be an uphill battle for Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray and Ryan Newman to fight their way into the Chase. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is going to have to get after it and stay after it if he is going to get himself into the top 12.

Jeff Burton is sitting there in 13th and in pretty good position to knock someone out, maybe even his teammate Kevin Harvick who is 12th.

Oh by the way three

I found this pretty interesting.

The No. 66 car has made all five races with Terry Labonte and Dave Blaney sharing time behind the wheel. They have already won $500,000 so far this season. That obviously pales compared to Matt Kenseth's $2.3 million, but remember that $1.5 million of that is from winning the Daytona 500. Jeff Gordon and AJ Allmendinger have both won $1.1 million. My point is, teams that are Start and Park are on pace for that $3.4 million that I keep telling you about for finishing last in all the races in 2009.

Oh by the way four

Congratulations to Kevin and Delana Harvick. Kevin drove an incredible race Saturday in the Nationwide Series. He got his 33rd win in car 33 and he is 33 years old so there are some threes for you.

One final, 'Oh by the way'

Jimmie Johnson has won four out of the last five races at Martinsville. Guess who I am picking to win Sunday? His teammate Jeff Gordon will be right after him though so be sure to tune in Sunday for NASCAR on FOX.

Lastly, the NASCAR on FOX team will also be covering the Camping World Truck Series race Saturday at Martinsville, so make sure to tune in.