This is what sports is all about where elite athletes including veterans meet greatness by achieving goals game after game and milestone after milestone.
Denny Hamiln still has it in the NASCAR Cup Series for Toyota’s works team at Gibbs while Australia came to celebrate with Souths winger Alex Johnston after he became the NRL’s record TRY scorer.
Also, we witnessed one of the legendary teams in sports history right now navigating between rise and fall who wants to win it all not just the Premier League but also Champions League.
Sports Benches is here to relive big event sports including General Hospital once a week, so roll the tape.
NASCAR Cup Series: Pennzoil 400 from Las Vegas
Denny and the No.11 Gibbs team struck Las Vegas gold where he had issues earlier on like the pit speeding penalty while struggling to get around lapped traffic.
At the end of the day, he’s still capable of winning races every year.
Three key factors stood out:
a) His fast Toyota Camry equipment is there usually under green flag racing.
b) He took great advantage off quick stops on pit road aside from the early pit penalty.
c) Race management lasted the distance if we took a sample of Chris Gayle’s race notes, that’s his crew chief.
Fingers crossed the new Playoff format that isn’t the win-and-you’re in can finally be Denny’s championship drive this year.
Best Chevy Camaro goes to the No.9 Hendrick camp of Chase Elliott who was so close ruining Denny’s last minute preparations for the victory lane honours.
Qualifying could’ve been better to dominate races after Chase rolled off 15th.
However, he has made his way though through the pack, particularly in Stage 3 with credit to his strong 2nd half momentum deservedly so — just not enough.
Up and Down Ford day but we have a different one this week from Chris Buescher in 6th for the No.17 RFK Racing squad.
He’s built some stability with his long pace from just shy of Top 10 to finishing 6th.
Sometimes the starts/restarts were a bit inconsistent when trying to capitalise on track position. Could’ve been Top 3-5 but he will be fired up & ready for race wins next time.
NRL Round 2: Sydney Roosters v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Gotta say this was something I can’t get over all weekend long when Alex Johnston became the all-time try scorer in NRL history with 213. Everyone invaded the field just to celebrate that moment with Alex.
It was dead set gold when NRL warned them not to jump the fence or else they get the $5K fine and two year ban but then that’s their problem lol.
Even Albo the PM joined the celebrations himself, who is a diehard Souths fan, so maybe the NRL should forget punishing fans only on special moments once & for all.
Aside from that hilarious but special moment — the one Alex & his family will never forget — the game belongs to the Roosters, who capitalised their good start following a 26-18 win at Allianz Stadium.
As said, Chooks played good front foot football & didn’t stop finding ways to keep on scoring, especially with that rare 15 min break straight after half-time caused by the pitch invasion. Can’t believe some Roosters fans also joined in but fair enough.
Bunnies, on the other hand, just needs to use their A game every time from kick off rather than simply pivoting to one person — this isn’t Basketball from the NBA.
Not exactly a sold out crowd but the atmosphere still matches the occasion.
Premier League Matchday 30/38: West Ham v Man City
It’s been a while between the NASCAR Season Finale last year and Australia’s biggest summer sports of Test Cricket & Tennis.
But happy to bring back the PL on what will be a massive final eight weeks whether who tops the table & wins it or survives the bottom 3 & those unfortunate ones would have to play 2nd tier.
What’s even more special was the PL Trophy Tour in Australia last week alongside former Arsenal & England striker Theo Walcott from Sydney to Melbourne and now Brisbane before heading to NZ.
Looking at West Ham v Man City, City were frustrated following another match earlier this week whereas West Ham stayed disciplined defensively with a 1-1 draw.
Hammers could’ve scored 1-2 more following some internal staff changes but their opponent has been one of the PL’s giants for so long.
For West Ham to hold out with a draw was something they will be happy to take, especially still sitting 18th. City, as said, were disappointed the other day v Real Madrid 3-0 down in the Champions League.
Yes, they have one of the best managers in the world also etched in sports history by midfielder-turned-attacking football tactician Pep Guardiola.
But that doesn’t mean they can win it all every year when some players can’t keep on playing every three days.
What now? Champions League or PL?
It will be hard to win both as they’re currently nine points off Arsenal in 2nd.
