NASCAR: Loudon Was the Perfect Storm, On the Site of a Great Disaster

(Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

In recent years, the number of cars that could realistically win a "normal" (i.e. not restrictor plate, fuel mileage, rain shortened, or road course) race was dwindling. At points in the previous few seasons, there were less than 10 drivers on whom a bet to win wouldn't have been met with accusations that you weren't overly fond of your cash.

That number has almost doubled this season, with three, maybe four if I'm being positive, Hendrick cars, three, maybe four, Roush cars, at least two of the Gibbs cars, both Stewart Haas entries, the Dodge teams of Penske and RPM (undergoing a mini-renaissance), while individuals such as Juan Montoya, David Reutimann, Marcos Ambrose and Brian Vickers, are knocking regularly, and loudly, on the door for marks in the win column.

Joey Logano's maiden win also threw light on how the new restarts have changed the importance of the Lucky Dog rule. Essentially an artificial way of  guaranteeing no-one can lap the field (after I believe a Johnny Sauter performance in the then Busch series), I have never much been a fan of it, and it frequently proves to be more than a little pointless.

With the old restarts the Lucky Dog driver would find himself at the back of a very long line, and especially on short tracks would often soon be caught by the leaders again, and in need of yet another yellow and another fortunate canine.

The double-file starts have bunched up the field, basically awarding those at the back of the pack better track position.

Now, of course, Logano needed two of the elements I mentioned above that interfere with "normal" races, before he could get to victory lane (or victory cupboard as it seemed to be). But it showed the unpredictability that makes any sport worth watching is alive and well in NASCAR, and the Lucky Dog just puts another name in the hat.

At a track that nine years ago witnessed one of the ultimate snafu moments in NASCAR history, all the rule changes put in place over recent years and months and weeks aligned perfectly and turned a potential snoozer into one of the best races of the season.

(So far). 

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?