Cross' Words: Loudon

Every once in a while good guys finish first. And they wear black.

Clint Bowyer's victory at Loudon, his first Cup Series win, did more than just vault him to fourth in points. The W also erased the scarlet zero on Bowyer's resume.

• Send Duane your thoughts

Prior to Sunday, how many times had you heard that Bowyer was the only Chase driver without a victory? Too many times -- especially for Clint's big brother Andy.

E-mail is a wonderful thing. It's anonymous enough where fans can speak their mind, yet personal enough to make a tangible connection. Such was the case a few months ago when Andy sent me a note regarding a comment about Clint in the weekly Power Rankings.

After clearing the air we've corresponded a few more times, including last week. Andy took exception to (another) reference to Clint's winless streak and said, matter of factly: "Just watch that 07 in the next three weeks..."

And on Sunday, Nostradamus proved prophetic. And I sent him a note to congratulate Clint -- and a nod for his prediction.

His reply:

I can't tell you how happy I am. I stayed up all night long watching Victory Lane over and over ... and over. I've always just wanted to hear that song, "...victory in hand ... I AM THE MAN!!" then see Clint standing on top of his car with his arms up.

All of those ones that got away, the times he crashed while leading, bad pit stops ... blown motors ... it was ALL worth it. That feeling in my stomach when I saw him spin out last year at Kansas after leading 49 laps, then last weekend a Richmond -- where it was another one of those times when I said, "I think we have them this time ..."

Those last 30 laps were complete torture. Once he got to 10 to go I just lost it and couldn't stop crying until he finished his burnout. Mom and Dad were there and called me from victory lane ... then Clint called ... Casey ... we didn't get to all be together but we still shared it and it was awesome. It still is.

Victory. There ain't nothing better than winning.

-andy

I can relate to the "we didn't get to all be together" part.

Counting down the laps, I was thinking about all those people -- some of them kin folks -- in Lynchburg, Tenn. (pop. 361) who were high as a kite ... and not from overindulging on the city's most well-known export.

My mama's family is from Lynchburg. Many times I spent Sunday afternoons sitting under the mimosa tree in Granny Cunningham's front yard, listening to races with my Uncle Richard and Uncle Jackie. Both of them worked at the Jack Daniel's Distillery in between Sunday afternoons listening to the races while eating pimento and cheese sandwiches and drinking Sun Drops.

We've long since buried both of my uncles and Granny was laid to rest earlier this year. I wish they could have seen Bowyer's victory on Sunday; they, too, would have cried.

I did.

Say What?

"I don't think I'd start fitting the crown [on Hornaday] yet."
-- Truck Series driver Mike Skinner, who trails Ron Hornaday by 29 points with seven races remaining

Figuratively Speaking

2.8 -- Overnight rating for the Loudon race on ABC. The 2.8 is not only the lowest overnight for a regularly scheduled Nextel Cup race this season (on broadcast or cable), but also is the lowest overnight for NASCAR on network television since at least 2004.

The rating put NASCAR behind NFL telecasts on FOX and CBS, and behind the final round of the Tour Championship on NBC.

Last year, eight Chase for the Nextel Cup races on NBC averaged a 4.0 overnight rating.

Prior to Sunday, no Chase for the Cup race on network television had drawn less than a 3.4 overnight, according to the Sports Business Daily.