I’m in two minds about it, but I know for sure that it was fun to watch. I’m glad Brad was OK after the wreck (and we should never take the strides they’ve made in keeping the drivers safe for granted), but we know that Carl didn’t intend for him to flip around like that.

Now let’s talk about the other disaster in this race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets the pole and then proceeds to lead not a single lap in the ENTIRE race. How is this possible? Holy crap, I love you Dale. I really, really, really do, but what the heck?

Big shout out and congrats to David Gilliland for putting on a great show on Sunday! He led laps and ran up front a whole heck of a lot. Good things are coming for that No. 38 Charter Air Transport / Taco Bell team! It’s so nice when you support a driver and they do good things to remind you why you pull for them in the first place. Seriously, I cannot WAIT till David wins a Sprint Cup race. It’s going to be AH-MAY-ZING.

Fellow Toyota drivers Kyle Busch and Brian Vickers talk in the garage during Friday’s practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.(Credit: Tom Whitmore/Getty Images for NASCAR)

NASCAR Drive for Diversity drivers (from left) Jason Romero, Ryan Gifford, Darrell Wallace Jr., Michael Cherry pose with daughter of NASCAR legend Wendell Scott, Sybil Scott, after a press conference at Atlanta Motor Speedway. A decal featuring Wendell Scott’s image was revealed during the Saturday press conference. (Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Tony Stewart straps in with a smile during practice for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. (Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Bronze medalist members of the U.S. Olympic woman’s bobsled driver Erin Pac, poses along with team brakeman Elana Meyers, NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine, head of the Bodine bobsled project, gold-winning men’s bobsled team pilot Steve Holcomb and pushman Steve Mesler in the media center at Atlanta Motor Speedway. (Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Kevin Harvick celebrates in Victory Lane after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series E-Z-GO 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. (Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

I will say this about the Lowe’s team, I love their firesuits. Veddy nice.

Jimmie Johnson talks with crew chief Chad Knaus before the start of Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 500. (Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

How is this possible? What are the 42 other drivers, and their teams, doing?? I mean, really? This cannot keep happening. It’s not like it’s 5 dudes out there running around. There are FORTY-THREE cars!! Nobody should be winning anything in a row!

Grrr… Step it up please! Frankly, I was very sad that Jeff Gordon couldn’t get the win over Jimmie Johnson. Not because I wanted Jimmie to lose, so much as I just wanted Jeff to win.

Anyway, I have to talk about Amy of Amy’s Bad Groove. She got the chance to interview Tony Stewart, her favorite driver, in person over the Las Vegas race weekend. I am sooooo excited that she got the opportunity, and I cannot WAIT to read her interview with Tony. I have to put you guys on notice that she’s working on it so you should subscribe to her RSS feed so you can get it as soon as she posts it. I’m sure it’ll be awesome. This would be equivalent to me getting the chance to interview Dale Earnhardt Jr. one-on-one, so the fact that she didn’t pass out or forget all of her questions (which could totally happen if I was confronted with Dale Jr.) is awesome. Congrats Amy!

Fans watch Friday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series practice action from above in Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s Neon Garage. (Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Mark Martin, driver of the No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, started eighth and finished fourth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Feb. 28. (Courtesy Hendrick Motorsports)

Television personality Kim Kardashian (R) greets Jimmie Johnson (L), driver of the #48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet on stage prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Shelby American at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on February 28, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson signs autographs for fans during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Shelby American at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.(Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images)

Jeff and Mark Martin should grow beards too, it’ll even everything out.

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson talk during driver introductions on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. (Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Brian Vickers prepares to practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Shelby American at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday.(Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

I am so incredibly happy for Jamie McMurray. That was such an amazing ending to a crazy, long race. He leads just two laps and takes his place in history as a Daytona 500 winner in his first race with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing! Talk about redemption. From odd man out to freaking Daytona 500 winner. I love it, those are the best stories. And as if all of that wasn’t good enough, he was emotional in Victory Lane. I’m all for real, true emotion and it didn’t get any better than Jamie’s tears and his hugging of the Harley J. Earl Daytona 500 Trophy.

And then Dale Earnhardt Jr. *sigh* I love that guy. He kicked butt and drove from tenth to finish second. I’m so proud! I know he was disappointed that he came so close but he has nothing to feel bad about, he proved that he’s a racer and that he wants to win just as much as the next guy. BTW, I loved his interview with Marty Smith on ESPN, they showed it during the Nationwide race on Saturday. He doesn’t have to explain or justify himself to anyone!

I think it was in his interview with Jeff Hammond on FOX that he talked about marriage and how maybe it wasn’t for him and he wondered if fans could handle him having children without being married. I would like to go on record as saying that Dale has my permission to procreate with whomever he wants in wedlock or not. Again, he should live his life on his terms and everybody else can suck it.

Photos after the jump!

AKA The Adorables!

The 2010 Raybestos Rookie of the Year contenders Colin Braun, James Buescher, Parker Kllgerman, Brian Scott and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. pose in the media center before Thursday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series practice at Daytona International Speedway. (Credit: by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Former University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow waves to fans in the stands before giving drivers the command to start their engines Thursday to start the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gatorade Duel at Daytona International Speedway. (Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, and his wife Chandra stand next to his car during the national anthem before the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gatorade Duel at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday. (Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR)

(Left to right) Tony Stewart stands in Daytona International Speedway's Victory Lane with car owners DeLana Harvick and Kevin Harvick. Kevin also finished third in the DRIVE4COPD 300 on Saturday. (Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Ladies, Nelson Piquet Jr. Hello!

Nelson Piquet Jr. prepares for his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. Piquet finished sixth in his first series start. (Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne signs autographs for fans during Daytona 500 final practice Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.(Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick, who was second-fastest behind fellow Richard Childress Racing driver Jeff Burton in final practice, talks with MMA fighter Brock Lesnar in the garage during Daytona 500 final practice. (Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Tim McGraw performed a pre-race concert for the fans during his first trip to Daytona International Speedway.(Credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Jamie McMurray crosses the finish line .119 seconds ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.(Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)

The No. 1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing team of Jamie McMurray celebrates their Daytona 500 win in Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway. (Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

– So I Googled myself the other day, as I often do when I’m bored, and found out that I’ve been chosen as one of 101 Women Bloggers to Watch in 2010 by WE Magazine for Women. Check it out! It’s super cool. I’m totally honored to be on the list!

– A new book written by NASCAR’s Andrew Giangola titled “The Weekend Starts on Wednesday: True Stories of Remarkable NASCAR Fans” will be hitting store bookshelves on February 10th and I highly recommend it. It’s all about you and me, the fans of NASCAR. I got to read a couple chapters before it was complete and I think this is a book you’re going to want to pick up. There are stories that will make you laugh and others that will touch your heart. Plus, Tony Stewart wrote the foreword and Kyle Busch wrote the afterword. You can pre-order the book right now over at Amazon.com. And check out this article Texas Motor Speedway posted today about the book, highlighting some of the stories that took place at TMS, along with an excerpt.

– And speaking of Tony Stewart. I have yet another fantabulous photo of him to share with you courtesy of Office Depot. I am loving Tony’s partnership with Office Depot because they keep making him take all these photos in suits where he looks all snazzy and slick. Like, George Clooney slick. It’s cool, he’s making getting organized sexy.

Anywhoo, enjoy the picture and then check out Office Depot’s Facebook page where you can find tips from Tony on how to get organized for 2010 AND get a 10% discount coupon on qualifying organization products and services at Office Depot. Don’t delay; the coupon is only valid through January 16th!

– For my day job I work for a company called Lowepro, a product design company that builds protective gear for photography equipment and portable electronics. They recently launched a new camera sling bag that is absolutely awesome. I used the Passport Sling™ last year at Infineon and Auto Club Speedway and it is the PERFECT bag for carrying all of my raceday gear. So I wrote up a testimonial and they’ve included it on the Passport Sling™ series page on the Lowepro website. It’s pretty neat, if I do say so myself.

It’s funny how excited someone else’s pregnancy has made me, considering I don’t know them at all. But I’m super excited for them. This is exactly what we need, more babies on pit road! I’m not making a joke, I’m serious. After baby Edwards and baby Sadler arrive baby Johnson will be future NASCAR driver number 3 for 2010 (so far). Did someone spike the VitaminWater or what?

In other news…

– AJ Allmendinger went go-karting with Jamie McMurray down in Florida last week during the annual Daytona KartWeek By Cometic Gasket events at Daytona International Speedway. This was the third straight year that Jamie participated in the event and AJ’s first time.

“This is not kick back and relax, this is very serious and it’s very high stress,” McMurray said with a grin. “We’re trying to run two classes this year, it’s just hectic today trying to get both karts on the track today and get everything ready but I’ve got some good helpers.”

“I’m bored in the offseason, if we could race every weekend, I’d be happy,” Allmendinger said. “By the time Christmas rolls around, all you want to do is get back to a race track and race something.”

(Left to right) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers AJ Allmendinger and Jamie McMurray talk during Daytona KartWeek By Cometic Gasket events at Daytona International Speedway. (Credit: Don Bok/Motorsports Images and Archives)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jamie McMurray takes his No. 1 Bass Pro Shops go-kart, decked out like the car he’ll drive during Daytona Speedweeks, while participating in Daytona KartWeek By Cometic Gasket events at Daytona International Speedway. (Credit: Don Bok/Motorsports Images and Archives)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger takes a spin in his go-kart during Daytona KartWeek By Cometic Gasket events at Daytona International Speedway. (Credit: Don Bok/Motorsports Images and Archives)

– The two-day Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust event begins this Friday, January 8th. Once again it will serve to raise money for Victory Junction and The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum by bringing together country music artists and NASCAR stars.

Details:

Some of the greatest names in country music will kick off the two-day event at the Grand Ole Opry when Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust hits the stage of the Ryman Auditorium on Friday, Jan. 8. The special night of music will feature Vince Gill, Hank Williams Jr,. Chris Young, Danny Gokey, Holly Williams, Jason Michael Carroll, Kyle Petty and his band and many more. There will also be appearances by NASCAR standouts Michael Waltrip, Jamie McMurray and Greg Biffle during the Friday night event. Shows are at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. See opry.com for the complete artist line-ups for each show.

On Saturday, Jan. 9 the event continues at Nashville Municipal Auditorium, where fans of racing and country music will have the opportunity to get up-close and personal with drivers, team owners, and top-name artists for autographs, story-telling, and question-and-answer sessions. The fan event kicks off at 9 a.m. with show car and sponsor displays, as well as a charitable auction with memorabilia from the racing and entertainment industries. This year, fans of NASCAR stars Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch are in luck, as limited (200) early autograph passes will be available. Fans who would like to wait for the chance to obtain these passes will have access to the Exhibition Hall at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium beginning on Friday, Jan. 8 at noon, with distribution taking place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9. These are the only early passes available. For more information, read the rules and regulations at http://soundandspeed.org/schedule.

NASCAR superstar Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy Impala in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, worked with the Office Depot Foundation on its award-winning National Backpack Program in 2009 and is encouraging NASCAR fans everywhere to consider purchasing a Teddy B. Caring this holiday season. Together with the Foundation, Stewart helped donate more than 300,000 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to kids in need across the country during this year’s back-to-school season.

“It has been very humbling for me to be part of the Office Depot Foundation’s National Backpack Program this past year and to see the real impact the program has on kids in need,” Stewart said. “Every child deserves to go to school with the tools they need to succeed and to have that extra boost of confidence in the classroom. I would encourage everyone to consider giving a Teddy B. Caring bear as a gift this holiday season in support of the great work the Office Depot Foundation does all year long.”

Office Depot Foundation initiatives supported by sales of Teddy B. Caring include:

• National Backpack Program – Helping kids succeed in school by donating over 2 million backpacks since 2001.
• Caring Connection – Inspiring people to serve non-profit organizations and their communities by volunteering.
• Dream UP Career Exploration Program – Enabling middle school children to learn about future career opportunities.
• Follow Your Dream Scholarship Fund – Providing scholarships to students with disabilities to assist with college expenses other than tuition.
• 1-888-MY BIZ HELP – Helping non-profit organizations and small businesses recover after disasters by providing access to resources via a toll-free hotline.

To learn more about the Office Depot Foundation and its programs, please visit www.officedepotfoundation.org.

The bear is adorable and a perfect gift for the kid in your life. Also, isn’t the photo of Tony with Teddy B. Caring supercute too!? I say, print out the photo of Tony with the bear, buy the bear and then give both to a Tony Stewart fan.

(photo credit: Action Sports Photography)

3.) Verizon V Cast Babies – This one is just cute all around. You think the guys are talking about actual cars but it turns out they’ve figured out how to supe up their baby daughter’s walkers.

2.) Tony Stewart School of Endorsements (Burger King) – The ad that launched Estrada Sunglasses! Very, very awesome and definitely the coolest commercial in the bunch. When people see my Estrada sunglasses they’re jealous, as they should be.

1.) Gillette Young Guns – This commercial wins top honors for one reason and one reason only: Kyle Busch on the phone interrupting Clint Bowyer while he delivers his lines. So funny. It, inexplicably, tickles me every time.

So I changed my clothes and tried to walk quickly to the monorail at Harrah’s/Imperial Palace station so that I could get to the MGM Grand as fast as possible because that’s where the start/finish line was for the Victory Lap. I wanted to see the top-12 drivers doing burnouts, but it wasn’t to be. I missed the whole thing. What I did see, from the windows of the monorail, was the traffic that was backed up for at least a mile next to the Strip. That was kinda neat.

I should have stayed at the Mirage and just watched it from there, but I wanted to be in position to attend After The Lap presented by Tissot at that MGM Grand, and I was also seriously if-i-don’t-eat-something-now-i-will-faint hungry. So I had lunch and then snuck into an already packed theater for the After The Lap fan Q&A session with the top-12 drivers.

Inside the place was packed with more people still waiting outside the theater hoping to get in. Jamie Little hosted the event and asked each driver a question submitted by fans. It was a very fun event and if they don’t do it again next year that would really suck. I think it was an awesome way to connect with the fans and give them something extra. They weren’t shaking hands and all that but I think because of the roast the day before all of the guys were more relaxed and really went “there” in showing their personalities.

For example, someone asked Brian Vickers if he’d seen the movie The Hangover, to which he said “I’ve lived it.” Then Brian launched into a story about going to Las Vegas with Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears, and how after a long night out they’d been at a diner eating breakfast and Jimmie ended up with butter in his hair. I don’t know about you but those are the stories I want to hear. That one little anecdote did more to tell me about who Jimmie Johnson really is than a lot of stuff you get in routine interviews.

The cherry on top of the After The Lap presented by Tissot event was when UNLV’s marching band came in and performed “Viva Las Vegas.” Perfection.

Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle

Tony Stewart

Ryan Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya

Kurt Busch

Kasey Kahne and Jamie Little

Jimmie Johnson

Kasey Kahne (left) and Carl Edwards

UNLV Marching Band

All photos credit: The Fast and the Fabulous

I wasn’t mad about the whole no touching each other in the corners rule because of the rule itself, but more anxious about the enforcement of that rule. As it is, Talladega is a race that I love but one that also makes me crazy with anxiety because I’m hoping that my driver doesn’t get caught up in the “big one.” I hold my breath during Talladega because you just never know.

So then you add in the fact that my driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., could get caught on some lame rule NASCAR cooked up an hour before the race starts, you’re just tacking on another layer of panic for me to deal with for the ENTIRE race.

Seeing those guys run in a big long line was actually kinda relaxing, I could breathe for a little while. I also thought it was a nice little F-you to NASCAR. I don’t know if everyone saw it that way but I did. It’s like they were saying “Fine, we’re not going to touch each other and make this race as boring as possible.” But again, the real action happens at the end, when it really matters, because who cares who’s leading on lap 20 when there are 188 laps.

Even with Dale Jr.’s charges to the front, it just wasn’t meant to be. It’s sad because he was so much better than 11th.

But, it was very, very awesome to see Jamie McMurray in Victory Lane. That guy needed that win, if it helps him get a ride that’s great. He definitely needs one, but I think it matters more for him on a personal level. And his shout out to his fans was soooo sweet. Loved that. And speaking of Jamie Mac fans, I have to give my own shout out to THE Jamie McMurray fan, Margaret, aka RivenSky on Twitter. She is the only Jamie McMurray fan I know, er that I talk to via Twitter, and she loves the Jamie and every race this year she’s been having a hard time (a feeling I can relate to!) so I knew that she was going to be over the freaking moon on Sunday.

And over the moon she was! You have to read her tweets from yesterday and today. I’m almost happier for her than I am for Jamie! She also writes for LOLdrivers, it’s hilarious, you should check it out.

Oh and since I’m already on the subject of Twitter I would like to cut & paste some tweets from Michael Waltrip (@mw55) and Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) after yesterday’s race.
—
mw55: So if drivers bitch about nascar ignore them. No better yet teLL em to grow up. We all signed up for it. Its not nascars fault. Wieners.
3:06 PM Nov 1st from UberTwitter

dennyhamlin: @mw55 we signed up to drive our cars.. Not be told how to
3:10 PM Nov 1st from UberTwitter in reply to mw55

mw55: RT @dennyhamlin: @mw55 we signed up to drive our cars.. Not be told how to,,, all sports must be officiated. Without rules there’s chaos.
3:15 PM Nov 1st from UberTwitter

dennyhamlin: @mw55 so what did it prevent?? I wasn’t in a wreck.. But I knew what was coming.. Harder hits on straight because we aren’t able to push any
3:21 PM Nov 1st from UberTwitter in reply to mw55

mw55: @dennyhamlin there isn’t a fix.It is what it is as the kids say these days. just look in the stands and the ratings and take it twice a year
3:30 PM Nov 1st from UberTwitter in reply to dennyhamlin

dennyhamlin: @mw55 I agree there isn’t a full fix. but those people in the stands and watching tv aren’t very happy right now. Jus sayin. Golf this week?
3:34 PM Nov 1st from UberTwitter in reply to mw55
—
Soo now they’re going to go golfing. I wanna go!

But on a serious note, I loved reading this exchange between Mikey and Denny. It’s cool to see drivers debating a real racing issue in real time, and it’s interesting how you can tell which one is the younger driver and who the more experienced older driver is just from the text. Being one of the youngest people in my office there’s always a Michael Waltrip type telling me about the “rules” and I’m always the Denny Hamlin questioning each and every one of ‘em wishing I could just do what I was hired to do.

Supercool! And Chrissy finished 13th, not bad at all considering it was Talladega.

(Left to right) Chrissy Wallace, driver of the No. 08 Fuel-Doctor.com Chevrolet, Carla Wallace and Mike Wallace, driver of the No. 48 Rockingham Speedway Chevrolet, pose on the grid before the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Mountain Dew 250 at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday in Talladega, Ala. Chrissy and Mike became the first father and daughter to compete in the same national series race. (Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Even in a silly costume, Carl is still a cutie.

(Left to right) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Carl Edwards and Subway’s Jared Fogle dress as each other to celebrate Halloween at Hallowdega Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala. (Photo Credit: Stephen Arce/Action Sports Photography)

Crew chief Steve Letarte and driver Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) chat with driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief Lance McGrew (No. 88 AMP Energy “Get on the 88″/National Guard Chevrolet). (Courtesy Hendrick Motorsports)

If you look really, really, really close you can see people’s names.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove a specially-painted No. 88 AMP Energy “Get on the 88″/National Guard Chevrolet on Nov. 1 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. (Courtesy Hendrick Motorsports)

Crew members work on the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet, driven by Tony Stewart, in the garage area after an incident on track that also claimed his teammate, Ryan Newman, in the No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday in Talladega, Ala. (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

(Center to right) Team owner Jack Roush and Jamie McMurray, driver of the No. 26 IRWIN Marathon Ford, celebrate in McMurray’s third career win in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday in Talladega, Ala. (Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)