Hello Angels, Bosley, Mr. X and the UnNamed One,

Well, it was another exciting day of racing, this week in sunny, but cold Las Vegas for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Congratulations to Matt Kenseth on his first victory in 2003.  He and his pit crew put together a stellar last pit-stop, giving him a 4 second lead over the rest of the front-running cars with 30 laps to go.  The real battle happened on the white-flag lap between 8th place finisher, Sterlin Marlin and 11th place Jimmie Johnson.  Johnson was ahead of Marlin going into the fourth corner when Marlin tapped Johnson's left rear quarter panel, sending him spinning towards the infield.  Johnson didn't hit anything, but lost valuable track position and ended up finishing the last car on the lead lap.  While there only three positions were lost, Johnson would've come out of the race as the Winston Cup Points leader...instead he's in third position, 14 points down.  That just shows you how valuable each finishing position really is.  

Today's race was not a good race again for any of our teams either.  This is because of blown engines, rookie mistakes, a big crash in front of the leaders, and of course having a driver on your team not qualify.

The later is the case for those of us who have Greg Biffle.  His owner has no owner points to allow for a provisional start, so he was sent home.

So, it is with no further adieu that I bestow  the CHARLIE'S ANGELS' FANTASY LEAGUE "GOLDEN CABOOSE" AWARD for this third race of 2003 to both the UnNamed One (Ray) and myself.  Both the UnaNamed One and myself share three drivers...Biffle, Jamie McMurray and Ricky Rudd (Go Air Force!). McMurray had one of those rookie mistakes and spun his car.  He finished 32.  Rudd had an average day and finished 18.  That is where the UnNamed One and I separate.  He has Dale Jarrett, who won this race last year, and I have Jeff Gordon, who won this race two year's ago.  Today wasn't good on past winners.  Jarrett spun out early and finished 41.  Gordon was involved in a 7-car crash that took him and Kurt Busch out, along with Rusty Wallace and Mike Skinner, who caused the accident.  Gordon finished 38.  The real separator though was that I have Johnson and his 11th place finish, and the UnNamed One has Matt Kenseth and his win today.

While I can't compute our 5-driver average finish, our four-driver average finish has me with 20 and the UnNamed One with 18.4.  I think we can count on the rest of the Angels to wish us and Biffle, a much better week next week.

The UnNamed one and myself aren't the only one sharing this week.  We also have two teams here, and another two teams later that share their average finish.

Jill (Jennie), I'll start with you.  Last week you were the Golden Caboose recipient.  The only thing stopping you again this week was Biffle.  This is because you have three drivers finishing in the bottom third of the field.  Your two-worst drivers were caught in the 7-car pileup on the backstretch.  Both Busch and Gordon were favored to win the race today, but that was not to be the case as they finished 38th and 37th respectively.  You also had rookie McMurray who finished 32nd after he spun his car and damaged the left side.  Todd Bodine had a decent car all day, but faded in the end for a 20th place finish.  Johnson's spin in the end didn't hurt you too much, but still allowed for the tie in average finish.

Mr. X (Ray), I'll bet you weren't expecting me to have to write about your average finish this early either.  Your cause is Mark Martin and his 43rd place finish after his blown engine.  That really hurt you because you also have Busch and McMurray on your team.  Saving you from complete disaster is Johnny Benson and Kevin Harvick finishing 12th and 13th respectively.  

Your average finish when all was said and done is a disastrous (like I can really call it that, look where I finished) 27.6.  Much better luck next week, you two.

Bosley (Jude), Rusty Wallace, and his crash caused 40th place finish, is your worst driver today.  Add to him McMurray's 32nd and Bodine's 20th and your looking at a dismal day.  Saving you from rolling craps today was Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman.  Newman found himself down two-laps after a tire went down early in the race.  He found himself lucky twice because of caution flags and was able to make up those two laps.  After the final caution, Newman found himself back on the lead lap.  He finished 7th.  Stewart dodged a bullet also after he and Jeff Green go together, bending Stewart's fending in causing a tire-rub.  He finished 5th.  Your average finish is a not so bad at 20.8.  Better luck next week.

Tiffany (Jen R), because of Elliott Sadler and his blown engine, you didn't do much better than Bosley.   He finished 42nd.  Also not helping you was McMurray and his 32nd. Ultimately, having Harvick and Johnson finish 13th and 11th definitely helped you, but putting you in front of Bosley this week is none other than who your team is named after, Dale Earnhardt Junior and his 2nd place finish.  Your average finish is an even 20.  Better luck next week.

Kris (Peggy), like the rest of us today, you didn't have that great of a day, but at the same time, compared to everyone's average finish this week, you're not that bad off.  Your worst driver is Busch and his 38th place.  So much for him having the home-town advantage.  Anyway, he was by far your worst driver because next is Ward Burton finishing in 25th spot.  Bodine and Harvick didn't hurt you this week with their 20th and 13th place finishes, either.  But, helping you the most today is Earnhardt with his 2nd place finish.  Your average finish today is 19.6.  Better luck next week.

That brings us to our second set of average finish ties.  This time it's Sabrina (Susan) and Kelly (Sarah).

Kelly, I'll start with you.  Like Kris you have both Busch and Burton on your teams, and their 38th and 25th place finishes.  Here's where you went original to the rest of the Charlie's Angels, and picked Bill Elliott (who was fighting the flu today), Joe Nemachek and Pole Sitter, Bobby Labonte.  Well, there is no better place to gamble like Las Vegas (did you really think that I'd forget to put some sort of gambling reference in here???   lol) and you hit the jackpot today.  Elliott finished 14th and Nemachek finished 9th.  Labonte who faded in the beginning came back to finish 4th overall. 

Sabrina, McMurray's 32nd makes him your worst driver today.  Robby Gordon didn't have a stellar day, but he avoided that 7-car crash and finished 23rd.  John Andretti did you well with his 19th place finish. Your tie could've been avoided had Johnson not have his run-in with Marlin, but it's the 11th place finish that is recorded in the record books.  Your top driver today is your favorite, NASCAR Winston Cup Driver, Tony Stewart and his 5th place finish.

Your average finish Sabrina and Kelly is a whopping 18.  Better luck next week.

Well, Julie (Jen T), that leaves you to be our CHARLIE'S ANGELS' FANTASY LEAGUE "TOP ANGEL" for this third race of 2002.  Your worst driver today is McMurray and his 32nd place finish.  Like Kelly, you gambled a little bit...for you though it is with Jimmie Spenser.  This was a good bet, because he dodged the crash too, and actually led a lap or two, I believe.  He finished 17th. Harvick and Johnson's 13th and 11th didn't hurt you any...and it is only fitting that your top driver today is also your favorite NASCAR Winston Cup driver too, Dale Earnhardt Junior.  His 2nd place finish solidified your having our Top Angel Award winning average finish of 15 even.  I think everyone will help me congratulate you on your first Top Angel Award!!!

Because of Biffle, I'm not able to accurately account for our combined average finish. 

So, look below to see where we stack up against each other this week, and look below that to see our standings overall after the UAW/DaimlerChrysler 400. 

Next week's race is the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.  Update your drivers if you choose to, by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 6.

Good luck Angels,

Charlie