It was so GOOD of Carl Edwards to invite so many of his friends to join him on the track to watch him win his third of the season. Too BAD he didn't allow anyone to actually compete against him, but a man's generosity should only to expected to go so far. Cousin Carl spanked this field in a fashion I can only dream to one day witness on an episode of Nanny 911.

While Edwards was the star of this movie, guest appearances were put in by runner-up Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch. At least they provided some drama as to who would actually finish second. GOOD enough for Top Fives also included Ryan Newman and a worn out Denny Hamlin. Jeff Burton was sixth to move 59 points up on team mate Kevin Harvick, who was 11th Sunday, five points up on the afore mentioned Mr. Busch.

GOOD days were also enjoyed by Tony Stewart, Mark Martin, and Matt Kenseth. Clint Bowyer finished 10th, the last guy on the lead lap. He could have finished even better had he not used the wall as a handkerchief to rub his nose on the way to the finish line.

While it was too BAD their driver faded to finish 12th on Sunday, it is still GOOD to see that Junior Nation remains solidly behind their boy. I can only wish that I could get the same amount of cheering from my wife when I enter the bedroom as Dale Earnhardt, Jr got for taking the pole and when he led the race. Instead, I get welcomed like I am Jeff Gordon. Those beer cans hurt!

So, was this the most exciting television spectacle we've seen this season? Well, I've honestly seen more exciting curling, but if you follow the sport it certainly had its moments. I do like the gopher cam, its popularity is as a result of how it provides a true sense of just how fast those cars are moving as they pass over head. Rather than providing stupid gimmicks like ESPN's draft track, what fans truly want are camera angles that cause us to say "holy crap, did you see that?" If you can't do that with a sport that has cars flying around at 188 mph and drivers like Denny Hamlin almost flaking out after the race from the effort, you are not really trying.

29th isn't great, but at least it is something. Mike Skinner has done some GOOD things in qualifying the #84 Red Bull boys in to the Show for the last four races after the team missed the first three events. While it would be nice to see A.J. Allmendinger return to the seat, we hear that has been bumped back to Talladega. It would be even nicer to see that car run on race day, which it has done lately with Skinner. Whatever it takes.

Are things turning UGLY at Petty Enterprises? We have Kyle Petty saying it wasn't his idea to sit and let Chad McCumbee take his seat in Texas, while Robbie Loomis says it was. We got that car sitting on Sunday, whether Petty or McCumbee is behind the wheel for qualifying. We see Cheerios leaving the #43 for the Childress #33 next season, with some believing Bobby Labonte will follow the same path. We have Kyle saying he would once again work for some other team if there isn't room for him as a driver with the family business. One Petty car looks somewhat competitive, while the other is nowhere to be seen on race day. If that isn't UGLY, then the Elephant Man only needed a little Clearasil to make the cover of GQ.

Even in the best of times, a lack of performance is going to generate some heat from the boss and the sponsor. Now, with the economy going BAD, I would suspect that to be jacked up somewhat. Chip Ganassi is unhappy with the way things have gone with the teams of both Reed Sorenson and Dario Franchitti. I was hearing rumblings, even before they failed to make the field in Texas, that UGLY things could be in store for the Scotsman's crew. If that isn't enough, I'm hearing the future could turn real UGLY soon for the DEI outfit of Regan Smith. That crew remains 35th in the owners' standings, but by only six points.

It was more than UGLY, it was scary. If you didn't know who Michael McDowell was before, you sure did after his car finally came to rest after being torn to shreds in Friday's qualifying. I admit the boy got me just a bit worried as his auto came flying apart with each bounce and twist. Then he got out and waved to the crowd. Once in my youth, I got more injured falling out of the bath tub. No, I don't want to talk about it.

GOOD news for Sam Hornish Jr, who replaces Jeremy Mayfield among those getting a free pass in to the field Saturday night in Phoenix. Michael Waltrip (40 points ahead of 36th place), J.J. Yeley (15), Sam Hornish Jr (12), and Regan Smith (6) have their mulligans, while Jeremy Mayfield (6 points out of 35th), Dave Blaney (23), David Reutimann (38), and Dario Franchitti (49) do not.