Remember that "Bull Durham" scene in which Nuke LaLoosh wants to start the hitter off with a fastball, to announce his presence with authority? Even though the batter was a first-pitch fastball hitter?
Well, Saturday night at the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, Stewart-Haas Racing announced its presence with authority, and its fastball was challenging triple digits.
I know it's a non-points race, but a million dollars is a million dollars, and that cash can buy some really nice equipment -- or throw a great party. But, more likely, the team used it for both.
And I'm not talking about just Tony Stewart's run to the million. Ryan Newman was the fastest car on the track before he got caught on the high side in a three-wide situation that included Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch.
Where is the series this weekend? Right back in Charlotte for 600 miles. Despite how much I liked Stewart's and Newman's performances Saturday night, I might not have seen their heat yet.
You know what that doesn't make them? Lollygaggers! Another "Bull Durham" reference? Indeed.
Tony-winning performance
Tony Stewart's win in the All-Star Race doesn't go down as an official win for Stewart-Haas Racing, so the team will still be looking for its first points win Sunday night.
Stewart will also look to do something that hasn't been done in this millennium: win as an owner-driver.
No owner-driver has won a points race since Ricky Rudd in the Tide Ride back in 1998. The last to do it before him was Geoffrey Bodine in 1996, when the upstate New York driver fittingly won at Watkins Glen. Full list for my fans below.
Most wins as owner-driver since 1990
Driver -- Wins -- Last Win
Ricky Rudd -- 6 -- 1998
Darrell Waltrip -- 5 -- 1992
Geoffrey Bodine -- 4 -- 1996
Alan Kulwicki -- 4 -- 1992
Trivia break: Who is the only other owner-driver to win the All-Star Race?
Possible preview?
One thing I like about the All-Star Race is that it gives a nice little preview of what to watch for the next week in the 600. This weekend, by the way, is the greatest racing weekend of the year with Monaco, Indy and the 600. Prepare your grills and call ahead to your local delicatessen.
Tony Stewart was the winner and Matt Kenseth the runner-up, but look for the Hendrick cars to (again) be fast. Jeff Gordon was the fastest car in 24 of the race's 100 laps. Jimmie Johnson had the second-most with 15. Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch and Mark Martin rounded out the top five in most fastest laps run.
Could Stewart do what Kasey Kahne did last year and pull off the double? It happens less often than you probably think.
Won All-Star Race and 600-mile race in same season
Year -- Driver
2008 -- Kasey Kahne
2003 -- Jimmie Johnson
1997 -- Jeff Gordon
1993 -- Dale Earnhardt
1991 -- Davey Allison
1985 -- Darrell Waltrip
Trivia break: Who is the only driver to win the 600 after winning the Sprint Showdown qualifying race to get in the All-Star Race?
How the showdown was won
Last year, Sam Hornish Jr. finished second in the All-Star Race qualifier. He one-upped himself this year with a win.
This is a good time of year for Hornish. In 2006, he was busy winning the Indianapolis 500, and he's getting closer to running up front in NASCAR. Although he's still a ways off from winning, his talent is definitely there.
Hornish obviously had the best car in the Showdown, but you can't understate his dominance.
He had the fastest car on 18 of the 28 green-flag laps. And his green-flag speed was 1 mph faster than any other car on the track. More importantly, his restart speed was the fastest in the field, by just a tad over teammate David Stremme, but 1.5 mph faster than Martin Truex Jr.
Trivia break: Hornish got close, but what drivers won the Sprint Showdown in back-to-back years?
Trivia break's over
1. Geoffrey Bodine won the All-Star Race as an owner-driver in 1994.
2. Jeff Gordon won the 1994 Showdown and then won the 600-mile race for his first career win.
3. Michael Waltrip (1991-92) and Sterling Marlin (1988-89) were able to win back-to-back Showdowns.
Matt Willis
