Monday, November 1st 'What If' Question

The last few restrictor plate races have come down to a last lap pass: Matt Kenseth taking the lead of the 2009 Daytona 500 before the rain came 45 seconds later. Kevin Harvick on Jamie McMurray at Talladega in the spring of 2010. Harvick on teammate Clint Bowyer at Daytona in July.

This past Sunday at Talladega it looked like that could be the case again as teammates Bowyer and Harvick were side by side heading to the white flag. Juan Pablo Montoya was pushing Bowyer and David Reutimann was pushing Harvick. When they hit turn one however, 'The Big One' hit the track when Tony Stewart and a few others started spinning and AJ Allmendinger went flipping.

Since the white flag had been displayed, the race was official and the only question remained was who would be declared the winner. Boywer started celebrating as Harvick looked on and waited for the official word. About 5-10 minutes after the race was over, NASCAR finally announced that it was Clint Boywer and his No. 33 that was ahead of Harvick when the caution came out.

Boywer won his second race of the 2010 season and second in the Chase. He did so with interim crew chief Scott Miller who was atop the box for the suspended Shane Wilson. After their winning car failed inspection in New Hampshire, Wilson was given a mandatory four week vacation by NASCAR. The win was the fourth of Bowyer's career.

But ...

What if 'The Big One' didn't happen & leaders finished the race under green. Who wins: Bowyer, Montoya or Harvick, Reutimann?

@shanbedd Montoya!!

@mbauerherzog I think it would have been Harvick.

@nwnscrfan Bowyer probably. Harvick's car wasn't quite as fast after the damage as it was before & Bowyer had the inside (faster).

@RedChevy14 The 42. 00 woulda left the 29 too early, 33 woulda been a sitting duck.

@Talon64 JPM and Reutimann make their move to try and win on front stretch, all 4 wreck and Joey Logano wins!

@cruetten harvick for sure

@chuckallen2 Michael Waltrip.

@StrokerAce90 This one fired up Lugs Harvey. He says Harvick because he's a Plate Racer & a Wheelman. Haps 2.75 avg finish in 2010 says so.