I HATE Rain

There is nothing worse than a race that finishes under a red flag for rain. You're left questioning what could have been, feeling like you just didn't get your fill of racing. If your favorite isn't the one at the front of the field when the race is called, you're left a little angry that the chance to make up some track position was taken away.

But if your car isn't running so great and you are the benefactor of a few shaven laps you are doing a rain dance to beat all rain dances. The jubilation is heart stopping and long lived. You know when you walk away with that trophy it just shouldn't have been, but by golly you'll take it.

That's what I hate about rain. The fact that it robs drivers of a chance to make up poor pit strategy is devastating. Just ask Tony Stewart, who led 132 of 284 laps that were completed. Stewart had pitted for fuel and two tires on Lap 274, under the race's sixth caution and he was lined up 14th when the race restarted.

The only one who relatively dodged the raindrops was Stewart's teammate Denny Hamlin, who took fuel only on the same set of stops and lined up ninth, one spot behind where he finished. Now that is a finish I will take, because it aided his one position gain in the points standings. It wasn't the win that I had my heart set on, but at this point in the season having the other guys he's fighting for points with finish well behind him is a bonus. The smile on Hamlin's face during what became his post-race interview was satisfying. His upbeat outlook on the race was well taken and I will take whatever makes Denny happy.

It was great to see Denny finish second in the Nationwide Series race on Saturday. He dedicated the weekend to car owner Todd Braun's mother, "Mama B" Linda Braun who passed away earlier in the week. Todd Braun was absent from New Hampshire but the team's two cars ran all black paint schemes devoid of sponsor decals in loving memory of Mama B.

Race winner Tony Stewart also mentioned the passing of Braun Racing's icon along with crew chief Dave Rogers who won his first race in his hometown at his local racetrack. It was a great weekend for the Gibbs' teammates and Daytona only promises to get better.