Submitted by NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

The Joe Gibbs #20 NASCAR Nationwide Series car has been in victory lane three times so far this year, 3 times in a row as a matter of fact, and it gets better, they have done it with 3 different drivers (Kyle Busch in Mexico, Tony Stewart at Talladega, and now Denny Hamlin at his home track of Richmond).

You know, that is a pretty amazing feat, especially in this day and age.

Congratulations to the Joe Gibbs organization for the awesome job they have done with that Nationwide team. Three wins in a row with three different drivers is not easy to do, not even in the early years when the those Hudson Hornets dominated the NASCAR circuit. This is such a difficult feat that no one has ever done it before, period.

Some bits and pieces I picked up today:

1) I think Kyle had every right to be upset with Steven Wallace, but I don’t think he should have pulled in front of him and slowed down while still on the cool down lap. What he did also collected an innocent third car (don’t know who, only saw the replay once). Not fair to that driver.

2) Steven Wallace should not have reached out and grabbed Busch’s helmet. He should have got out of the car and ’spoke’ to him like a man.

3) Steven Wallace had a good interview until he quoted Dale Earnhardt when he responded “I just wanted to rattle his cage a bit” to the question asking him why he grabbed Busch’s helmet. Give me a break!

4) Denny Hamlin got some good practice in for the burn out competition at the All-Star event later in the month.

5) O.K. I hate the reference to the Cup drivers poaching in the Nationwide Series as “Claim Jumpers”. I know it is meant to be in reference to insurance claims because Nationwide is the sponsor, but all I can think of when I hear “Claim Jumpers” is the old comic book based 1950’s TV show ‘Sergeant Preston of the Yukon’ (see picture). Please, oh please, can someone come up with something better like “Occasional Drivers” or “Broker Breakers” or “Benefit Bandits” or “Cancelled Policy Holders” or “Policy Thieves” or something!