The Speeding Bullets: Toyota/Save Mart 350

• Congratulations to Kasey Kahne for getting his first Sprint Cup victory in over a year. This win was long due and did him so much good mentally and in the points standings. Kahne is now only three points out of the Top 12 and has all the momentum to carry him through Richmond. He clearly had the best car on every restart which was the reason he won this race. It still amazes me that he didn't even have a top 20 at this track before Sunday's race. I'm really happy for him and his whole team; it's nice to see a different face in victory lane. Richard and Kasey; you guys better not be fighting over who gets the wine... lol.

• Tony Stewart has been exemplifying the definition of perfection week in and week out. He is at the point now where he considers his second place Sonoma finish just run-of-the-mill. I really think that it is his turn again to win the championship this year. We still aren't even halfway through the season, but just remember how valuable consistency proves when it comes Chase time...

• Pats on the back go out to Marcos Ambrose, Juan Pablo Montoya, and A.J. Allmendinger for their third, sixth, and seventh place finishes, respectively. Ambrose has really progressed throughout this season with great finishes on tracks ranging from Bristol to Pocono. I just have to dog Montoya because of what he said before the race about being happy if he got out of Infineon with a top five. I smell points racing, the smell that every NASCAR fan hates!!!

• I am going to say that the incident between Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson was just hard racing combined with the fact that JJ had a lack of patience; Kurt happened to be the innocent victim. Jimmie was too competitive to step back in a section of the course where passing is nearly impossible. I have seen a different side of Johnson this season that I really like, a competitive one that isn't willing to give at all. Last week, I told you about Carl's alter ego; this week, I am telling you about Jimmie's. I have decided that the two drivers traded places over the offseason. No, it is not Wife Swap; it's Driver Swap!

• I really enjoyed watching this race; it was one of the best Sonoma races I have ever seen. I think the double-file restarts were part of the reason the racing seemed so competitive. The restarts were the opportunities for drivers to make their big moves because passing during a long run isn't as common on a road course. Once again, I have to applaud NASCAR for implementing this rule when they did. We fans will prosper from it all the way to Homestead...

• I hope all of you guys and gals who went to the dinner and the race had a great time. It looked like beautiful weather and was a great race. I spotted Kristen on t.v. during Kurt Busch's post-race interview!
  

I just want to let all of you know that there will be no bullets next week because I'm going out to Phoenix, AZ to hang with my cousins for a couple of days. Hope this community overhaul happening while I am gone doesn't mess anything up...