Moving the race to ESPN2 slap to the face of NASCAR (cont'd)

What they missed

If you went to grab a sandwich or go to the bathroom and came back to find the race disappeared from your television screen, you might have had no idea exactly what happened or where it went. Several e-mailers -- and no doubt Hendrick's mother -- already were registering complaints about this to anyone offering a forum to listen Sunday night.

They have a legitimate beef. It was ridiculous.

“

It seems a little odd to me, as big as NASCAR is and as many people as there are who watch the sport. I can't believe that 'America's Funniest Home Videos' would take priority over us.

”

-- JAMIE MCMURRAY

They missed some good stuff, too. They missed the final three of 10 cautions, which admittedly was too many overall. The first two -- Reed Sorenson wrecking himself in his No. 41 Dodge on Lap 285 and one for debris on Lap 293 -- weren't exactly candidates for America's Funniest Home Videos, but they did tighten up the field and make those still watching wonder if that would affect the outcome.

The third caution the blocked-out viewers missed was more entertaining, in that it involved Chase participants Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth, who appeared to get turned by an over-aggressive A.J. Allmendinger (watch video).

As Johnson came to the checkered flag a few laps later, Allmendinger was at it again, wrecking this time with Juan Montoya after a little apparent payback from Kenseth and literally skidding across the start-finish line. It was entertaining stuff.

Maybe the network types will be able to use some of Allmendinger's hi-jinks on the next episode of America's Funniest Home Videos. Montoya won't find it funny, though. Neither will Stewart, nor Kenseth.

Meanwhile, the eventual victor of Sunday's race tried to find a silver lining in the television fiasco.

"Well, I thought it went dark and nobody could watch it," Johnson said. "So the fact that it was on another television channel was -- I mean, it's better.

"But to go to America's Funniest Home Videos, that one hurts, no doubt. I thought we have a lot of characters. Why do we need that show?"

Amen, brother. Johnson laughed as he delivered the last line. It was all he could do.

But it's doubtful they were laughing with him at NASCAR headquarters in Daytona Beach.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer