Fate was kind that day, GOOD enough to end Junior's 76 race winless run. For some reason, that number has a familiar ring to it. 76. The number of wins his daddy recorded over the course of his Cup career. Why am I not surprised that win came on Father's Day?

Some crews were having UGLY thoughts as Junior, having turned off his engine to save fuel, coasted past the pace car under caution. BAD Junior. It was an infraction not BAD enough to lose the win, just BAD enough to get a warning. For those who are not Junior fans, I feel your pain, but too BAD.

No change in the standings, as far as who is in and who is out of the Chase. 11th place Tony Stewart is ten points up on Clint Bowyer, who is ten to the GOOD ahead of David Ragan. Matt Kenseth is just 14 from his own invitation to the season title dance.

As for the free pass to Sonoma, Michael Waltrip's 23rd place finish was GOOD enough to pick it up at the expense of Scott Riggs, who finished ten spots behind at Michigan. However, Riggs remains close, as his auto sits just seven points behind the one driven by Michael McDowell and 13 behind Waltrip. In fact, the gap between 30th and 36th is less than 40 points.

By the way, if I were King of NASCAR, rather than one of many lowly jesters, I would give the free pass to A.J. Allmendinger for this upcoming weekend, and make McDowell have to qualify. GOOD cars finish in the Top 20, which Allmendinger did. McDowell was 37th last Sunday.

Ryan Newman, who finished 42nd after his engine gave up the ghost, may soon lose Alltel as his sponsor. It depends on how the company is branded after being bought up by Verizon. If Alltel goes the way of the dodo, then the BAD news is that Sprint's exclusivity provisions as title sponsor would lock out any other wireless company not already part of somebody's paint job. Then again, if Sprint can't figure out how to shore up its eroding customer base, maybe the door will reopen in the not too distant future.

Just in case you were wondering, I think the current gas prices suck. Prices here convert to nearly $4.95 per American gallon. That is pretty BAD considering how much of the stuff we produce in these parts. Meanwhile, high gas prices and a slowing economy in Michigan is probably the reason for so many empty seats last Sunday. You know, between market speculators, government taxation, and obscene profits enjoyed by the oil companies, I'm getting a bit peeved with folks dipping their hands into my pockets. This isn't a GOOD time to be a telemarketer calling my place.

GOOD is Joey Logano. 18-years old and he wins a Nationwide race in his third trip to the well. In fact, Joe Gibbs is thinking of putting the boy in a Cup car before the season is over. I'm thinking it is a GOOD time to be Joey Logano.

It might not be a GOOD time to be an Indy-car fan. I'm reading that Danica Patrick might get a test in a Formula One car when this season is over. She might have won just a single race in her big league career, but she is a big reason some even give open wheel a look. Some even notice the car.

Writing a column can be difficult, especially when you have the U.S. Open playoff between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate competing for your attention. GOOD outcome, great television. We can only hope this Sunday's NASCAR action brings us something similar.