Bristol was basically like Britney Spears‘ supposed “comeback” performance at the MTV Video Music Awards a couple years back. Everybody was all excited leading up to it and then it happened and it was a complete FAIL.

Bristol was friggin’ boring. Well not entirely but still a vast majority of it. So much so that I was actually sad I couldn’t take a nap to get through it. The Nationwide race was far more entertaining because when crashes happened it wasn’t just one car spinning out, it was one car veering into another and causing mayhem.

Yes there were crashes in the Sprint Cup race, they were just sad, not so much entertaining. There’s a difference, a fine line.

Watching Kyle Busch on Friday and then again on Saturday, I found him to be, dare I say it, almost endearing?? I mean, after the kooky collision with Chase Austin took him out of the Nationwide race he took a moment before speaking to the media and he sounded mature. And then on Saturday after he won, he gave a crying fan his checkered flag AND seemed genuine in his post-race interview. He didn’t even do that annoying whining while winning thing that he’s done in the past. Did he see a therapist in the past week? Or maybe it was the idea of not making The Chase that got to him? I dunno, but I dug it.

Kyle Busch gives the checkered flag to a fan after winning the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. (Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

So this is what you look like when you’re Scott Speed’s crew chief. Hehe. Just kidding.

Crew chief Jimmy Elledge analyzes data from Scott Speed’s practice session. Speed qualified third for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. (Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

David Ragan celebrates winning the Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway, his second career NASCAR Nationwide Series victory. (Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Hellooooo, Casey! Hotness.

Casey Mears helps push his No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet to grid before qualifying for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. (Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

NASCAR Nationwide Series points leader Kyle Busch spins after making contact with Chase Austin on Lap 52. (Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images)

Also of note: I really, really need to start watching more hockey. I’m just sayin’.

Oh and check out this little video (below) of Joey, Mark and Chase at their photo shoot for ESPN The Magazine:

In other news…

– You might have noticed the new logo gracing the back of Carl Edwards‘ No. 99 Office Depot Ford Fusion at Kansas this past weekend. If you didn’t, you’re just not paying attention now are you? Anyway, the logo I speak of was for the Mystique Salon & Spa (located in Boise, Idaho) owned by Julie Catalano*, which is this year’s “Official Small Business of NASCAR, courtesy of Office Depot.” Julie was flown out to Kansas for the race weekend and will receive a $10,000 small business makeover from Office Depot, plus her company logo will stay on Carl’s car for the remainder of the season. Now how’s that for great advertising?!

If you have a small business, keep this contest in mind for next year!

“This is an amazing opportunity for any small business owner, and I am thrilled to have the Mystique Salon and Spa logo featured on the No. 99 Office Depot Ford Fusion,” Catalano said. “Office Depot helps me take care of my business every day and having that kind of support, along with hard work, has been very important in expanding my business during the past eight years.”

Edwards, who also created his own small business, Back 40 Records, said he was impressed by the hard work and dedication Catalano had put into her company.

“As an entrepreneur myself, I know how hard it is to run a small business,” Edwards said. “It takes a lot of time, effort and creativity to build and operate a successful small business, and Julie (Catalano) has done an incredible job — Mystique Salon and Spa truly deserves to be the Office Depot ‘Official Small Business of NASCAR.’”

*Okay, so this is beyond off topic but her last name reminded me of the character Jordan Catalano from the awesome show “My So-Called Life” from the mid-90s that I absolutely LOVED when I was in high school. Jordan Catalano was played by the insanely hot actor Jared Leto (who also fronts a band called 30 Seconds to Mars). Anywho, I just had to share that totally irrelevant piece of sort-of trivia. Ha! This is seriously how my mind works.