Chase for the Cup

NASCAR Stocks (Top 10 Rankings): Movin’ Up, Goin’ Down

It’s a tight field in the top ten, and the ranks keep shifting. What I like about this season, is you never really know what’s going to happen. I was lucky enough to predict Kasey Kahne’s victory, but the truth is that there’s very little separation from driver to driver. Things are a little different this week, and I think you’ll be surprised where some guy landed.

#10- Kasey Kahne- (unranked last week)- Can a little confidence make that much difference? Apart of the reason, I predicted a Kahne win was the way he carried himself during his press conference after the All-Star win. He’s gone from acting like a top 15 driver to acting like a champion. Gillett Evernham has benefited greatly on Ray Evernham’s emphasis on the racing side of things. They keep this up, and we’ll see Elliott Sadler in the chase!

#9- Greg Biffle- (unranked last week)- The two week run at Lowe’s has been good for “The Biff” too. Except for Kahne’s Coca-Cola 600 win, Biffle is better across the board than the “9.”

#8- Tony Stewart- (unchanged from last week)- A flat tire was all that kept him from winning at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. But have no fear Smoke fans, it ain’t July yet, and history tells us that Stewart heats up with the weather. Statistically, the “Big Orange” is just ahead of Biffle in terms of average finish, 14.7 to 15.1.

#7- Jeff Gordon- (up 2 spots from 9th last week)- Based on the way he ran most of the race, I never would have imagined him here. The way Gordon’s talking right now, he’s the “anti-Kahne.” Take it easy Jeff, you’re getting better. Your average finish of 9.6 is 4th behind Kyle Busch, Junior, and Jeff Burton.

#6- Denny Hamlin- (down 3 spots from 3rd last week)- I’m quite sure some members of Junior Nation feel like Denny’s 24th place finish was just desserts after Hamlin swatted JRM driver Brad Keselowski in the Nationwide Series Saturday night. Hamlin’s starting to fade, but his 4th place standing in the points reminds us of what he’s accomplished up until recently.

#5- Clint Bowyer- (up 1 spot from 6th last week)- Bowyer’s been kind of quiet since the traveling NASCAR circus came to Concord, but 1 win, 3 top 5s, and 7 top 10s cannot be ignored.

#4- Jeff Burton- (up 1 spot from 5th last week)- “Mr. Consistency” racked up another top 10, 6th in Sunday’s marathon race. All race long, you kind of forget he’s around, then, the checkered flag drops, and by golly, there he is. Burton is 2nd in the points, and tied for 3rd in top 10s with Carl Edwards- both racers have 8.

#3- Carl Edwards- (down from 2nd last week)- Did Edwards really race Sunday? I gotta say that’s just about the quietest top 10 anyone’s ever run. I think Carl lucked up on attrition, but hey, it’s all about where you are at the end, and the Missourian managed to miss all the mid-race fireworks and kept gas in his car.

#2- Dale Earnhardt Jr.- (up 2 from 4th last week)- Give Junior props for not quitting on his team Sunday. It would have been a legendary finish if he could have come back from the wreck with J.J. Yeley to take the checkered. Kinda makes you think of Earnhardt’s old man, doesn’t it? The only drivers more consistent than Lil “E” have been Kyle Busch and Burton.

#1- Kyle Busch- (unchanged from last week)- Love him or hate him, you can’t ignore him. Give “Rowdy” props for fighting through mechanical problems to finish 3rd at Lowe’s behind Kahne and Biffle. I thought the altercation with Gordon was childish, but that doens’t affect the points, it just solidifies his standing as “NASCAR’s resident bad boy.” Still, Busch keeps running like a scared jackrabbit.

Falling Out- Sorry Johnson fans, Jimmie’s 38th place finish hurt him this week. He’ll be back. David Ragan didn’t last long in the top 10, BUT  Ragan’s 12th place run Sunday reinforces the idea he’s capable of running up front and staying there.

Ready to Strike- Kevin Harvick is actually 7th in points, a couple of good races and he’ll be back. I’d also keep my eyes open for runs by Matt Kenseth, and maybe even Juan Montoya.

Up next is the “Monster Mile”- Dover. Check out tomorrow’s preview as we bring you another edition of “Pull Those Belts Tight!”

    

 

Open Wheel Racers: Welcome to NASCAR

Many of the issues currently facing NASCAR revolve around change. There’s been a lot of change going on this decade from the Chase to the ”Car of Tomorrow”. Issues like this and controversies over the “Lucky Dog” and invasion of open wheel drivers to stock car racing’s top level have pitted long time fans versus NASCAR leadership and a newer wave of fans who may be fewer in number.

It is a popular notion among NASCAR traditionalists that the sport is pure American with a particular emphasis on the southern U.S. When you consider that NASCAR was Florida born and its top legends from places like North Carolina, Alabama and the Sunshine State- you’d tend to agree. These same traditionalists have tended to cringe at the building of new tracks throughout the North and West, and they, as a general rule, are not fans of West Coasters such as Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. Adding to the angst is the presence of a foreign manufacturer (Toyota), and a flood of drivers from foreign lands with names like Franchitti and Carpentier who used to drive funny looking race cars.

Many traditionalists will argue such events are ruining NASCAR, taking it away from its roots. Some will tell you that your dad’s NASCAR was just fine without all of this, and they point to falling TV ratings and ticket sales as evidence to their point. You can imagine the delight of some when owner Bill Davis replaced former open wheeler Jacques Villenueve with Johnny Benson and Mike Skinner on an indefinite basis after the Canadian failed to qualify for the Daytona 500.

Such prejudice is short-sighted at best, and downright prejudicial at worst.

First of all, this is not the first time open wheelers have been present in NASCAR. Do names like Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt and Johnny Rutherford ring a bell? They all ran part time NASCAR racing schedules back in the 60s and 70s. In fact, Foyt earned 7 NASCAR victories and even once won the Daytona 500. What about Tony Stewart? He came over from Indy Car racing. J.J. Yeley and A.J. Allmendinger are also just a couple of NASCAR’s drivers of today who have made the switch- so this is nothing new.

Some argue that these drivers, by jumping from IRL and Formula One without rising through the ranks, are depriving up and coming drivers from sitting in a Sprint Cup ride. Oh really! So if the likes of Scott Wimmer or Jason Leffler were truly ready for the big time, wouldn’t they be given full time Cup rides? Well, considering the expense of competing and the need to be as successful as possible, I think it’s safe to say NASCAR car owners will put the most successful fannies in the seats of their cars, even if it’s a 74 year old from Botswana. What’s more- these are not unproven neophytes, but accomplished drivers. There’s a learning curve, but the open wheelers are just as qualified, if not more to master the learning curve. I submit Sam Hornish’s solid run Sunday as evidence of a guy who’s "getting it" quite quickly. 

Besides, if our home grown guys are so great, let them prove it on the track against the likes of Juan Pablo Montoya and Sam Hornish (an American born Indy champ). Given the pressure and need to make money in this expensive business, the open wheelers will be gone quicker than you can say Patrick Carpentier if they can’t perform.

I know many fans think the sport was just fine the way it is. In this ever change day and age, NASCAR would have stagnated without the growth brought about by the infusion of new blood behind the wheel. No major sport can sustain itself on purely regional support. Just ask the National Hockey League.

NASCAR fans hate it when I compare it to other sports, but what if baseball kept out the Latinos? There’d be no Juan Marichal or Big Papi Ortiz. What if the NBA shut out Europeans? Say good-bye to Tony Parker and Dirk Nowitski. Without the presence of foreign born players, the NFL would be deprived of Christian Okoye and Usi Omenyura. So why should NASCAR be any different?

I, a proud American of conservative political leanings, want to go on record as being supportive of the presence of the open wheel drivers. It’s a great topic for debate and its good for growing the fan base of the support. Think about it. Your favorite driver is someone you relate personally….more than anything else.

Welcome to NASCAR open wheelers…..let’s see what you’ve got. 

  

2008 Sprint Cup Team Preview- Day Two- Joe Gibbs Racing

Anybody looking for good story lines in NASCAR need look no further than Joe Gibbs Racing. There’s more potential here for high drama than National Treasure with a combustible mix of personalities, a switch in manufacturers and a heightened presence of the team owner, who just gave up his day job as coach of the Washington Redskins. There’s more question marks here than there are for the presidential primaries for one of the sport’s most successful, yet colorful teams.

Tony Stewart is without a doubt the most recognized figure on the team. As one writer has put it, the driver known as “Smoke” (for his ability to smoke the competition) has 12 personalities, nine of whom are likable and funny and three that would like to punch you in the month. A solid late season run, including one in his home state of Indiana, helped temper an otherwise frustrating season that included more run-ins with the press and teammate Denny Hamlin- plus a tactical mistake at Kansas that cost a shot at a third Cup title.

All eyes are on Stewart as his current contract will be up faster than you can say Dale Earnhardt. Some have intrepreted his “wait and see” stance on negotiations as a sign of unrest or perhaps unhappiness with JGR’s switch to Toyota- a rumor chiefly perpetuated by fans who can’t fathom the Rushville Rocket in anything but a Chevy.

Me? I’m predicting a third Cup title for Stewart in 2008. Because of those looming contract talks, I think he wants to pull down maximum money, and nothing would solidify his high profile stock more than a third Cup trophy, and a first for JGR’s new manufacturer.

Where things will really get interesting is what happens with the younger drivers in the Gibbs’ garage. Denny Hamlin was firmly cemented in the role as the up and coming golden boy until the arrival of Kyle Busch. Hamlin had his ups and downs of late. Hamlin picked up a win and rced well enough to make the Chase. On the other hand, Hamlin faded down the stretch and the driver of the #11 FedEx Chevrolet got into with Tony Stewart at Daytona, and also mixed it up with the otherwise calm and collected Kyle Petty in a late season skirmish. No doubt Hamlin would like a strong start to demonstrate that HE is the most promising young driver at Gibbs, not the driver known as “Rowdy”, or “Shrub” by his .

Kyle Busch could certainly make things interesting in either good or bad ways at Joe Gibbs. Many NASCAR insiders, including the aforementioned Petty, think that Busch the younger is the most promising driver of the younger set. No doubt the guy who’ll be driving the #18 M&Ms Camry in 2008 had his moments of brilliance in 2007. By the same token, Busch is given to moments of immaturity- leaving the track early after a wreck at Texas (ironically, the already knocked out Dale Jr. finished the race in Busch’s car), and negative comments about his team after a narrow loss in the Pepsi 400 did nothing to enhance his image in a positive way. Still, Busch put on a good face down the stretch (for the most part), and finished with solid performances.

This little battle could play out a number of ways. The question is- will the two youngsters fight like Cain and Abel? or will this be a friendly team rivalry like that of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson that brings out the best in each other? Inquiring minds want to know.

If the truth is known, it could go either way. With Busch and Hamlin, you want to believe that they get it, but there’s as good a chance that they don’t.

This team has a lot riding on it. Joe Gibbs couldn’t have timed his return to his racing team any better. If he can’t hold this bunch together, no one can. Personally, I wouldn’t bet against the team that has helped put Stewart on the champion’s podium twice and made a 2000 Cup champion out of Bobby Labonte. For all the drama and hijinx, these guys know a thing or two about winning.

A Champion By Any Measure

Give it a rest! Jimmie Johnson is the 2007 Nextel Cup champion! Keep in mind, this is from a Jeff Gordon fan who has no particular allegiance to the guy that Gordon has befriended and guided through his five seasons of NASCAR racing.

Fellow Gordon fans continue to point out that under the old system, Gordon would have won his fifth Cup title. Actually, most Chase detractors are quite quick to point out Gordon would have also been crowned champion in 2004 were it not for NASCAR’s “playoff” system that paved the way for Kurt Busch to win the big prize that season.

This Gordon fan sees things differently.

Understand that I am still not 100% sold on the Chase format as it currently stands. It does seem to me that some kind of reward is due in terms of points or seeding for a driver who possesses a big lead or has dominated up to the time of the beginning of the Chase run. To the point that Gordon fans make that his early season efforts went unrewarded, I say that I understand where they’re coming from. By the same token, I can’t sign off on the old system- which allowed Matt Kenseth a championship with only ONE victory in 2003. That’s messed up. Or Gordon fans, how about when Terry Labonte won the 1996 Cup with TWO wins, compared to Gordon’s 10? Both systems have their flaws.

I also understand that the old system rewarded consistency, and it can be argued Gordon was a model of consistency with 30 top 10 finishes. Gordon also had fewer DNFs than Johnson.

Nonetheless, Jimmie Johnson is a legitimate champion.

How can you dismiss the fact that Johnson nearly doubled Gordon’s victory total? Add to that the fact Gordon’s victory total dwarfed the accomplishments of the rest of the NASCAR field. In racing, it’s not different than any other sport. It’s still all about the win, and Johnson had 10, Gordon 6.

Johnson got hot at the end. Four victories in a row is no small feat, when you consider that the last time we saw a streak this long, Bill Clinton was still our president, and people were just beginning to worry about Y2K. Jeff Gordon was the last driver to win four consecutive races, doing so in 1998. Heck, Bobby Labonte won a cup title with four wins in 2000! Anyone who sustains that kind of streak at crunch time is deserving of a title in my book.

Let’s take a look at their performances during the Chase. According to Dan Beaver at yahoo.com, Johnson had an average finish of 5.0, Gordon 5.1.It’s very close, but when you couple that to winning 4 of the final 5 races, it makes a case for Johnson as a legitimate champion. Yes, I’ll concede it’s very close. Still, Johnson comes out on top.

Yes, fellow Gordon fans, I still get that Gordon was the best driver during the first 26 races- even though Johnson had one more win. When it’s that close, it can be argued that consistency has to be considered when sorting out the better driver. However, at “playoff time,” Jimmie pulled away.

Look at it another way. In other sports, we have countless accounts of teams that we the best during the regular season that didn’t even make the Finals. We see it happening time and time again in college basketball. How about the Seattle Mariners team that won 116 games? How many dominant Colts teams didn’t make the Super Bowl? Any number of factors, including injuries, can play a part in a great team falling down at crunch time. Sometimes, some teams can’t handle the pressure. I wouldn’t say that of Gordon, but I would say that in a comparison of Crew Chiefs, Chad Knaus made better calls than Steve Letarte.

Johnson should be commended for his aggressiveness down the stretch. That was a gamble that paid off. With any lesser team, the strategy could have backfired (see Dale Earnhardt Jr. for reference). That aggressiveness got Johnson a title.

One he deserved.

A Junior Revival? JGR Wins For Toyota? Early Bird Predictions for 2008

Man, it’s a good thing the NASCAR off-season is short. Fans are going crazy with speculation over what the NEXT season holds in store. We’ll be getting used to new names (Sprint will take over sponsorship at the Cup level, while Nationwide takes over the namesake for the the second tier series from Busch), and we’ll be seeing lots of familiar faces in new places. I won’t get too crazy with reckless prognostications about what I see happening in 2008, but I am certain of the following:

Junior Revival- Dale Earnhardt, recently voted NASCAR’s most popular driver for the fifth year in a row, will give something for his fans to cheer about in the new year. The move to Hendrick Motorsports gives Junior a fresh start after a particularly frustrating 2007 season with a truckload of engine failures and off the track distractions. Junior raced his tail off in the latter stages of the season, but you could tell he was pressing and his demeanor was de-pressing.

It’s also no secret that the move to Hendrick provides Earnhardt the best equipment and resources in the business. Their 2007 performance provides ample evidence that the Hendrick got the jump on the Car of Tomorrow. Add to that the spirit of teamwork that Rick Hendrick has instilled in his organization, and one can see why better things are expected of NASCAR’s favorite son. These guys simply have their act together, and the winning ways of Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon will rub off on Earnhardt.

I predict a minimum of 3 wins for the #88 Mt. Dew/Amp Chevrolet in 2008 and a spot in the Chase.

The Joe Gibbs Team Won’t Miss A Beat- A lot has been made of Joe Gibbs’ announced switch to Toyota from Chevrolet. Toyota endured a rough debut in 2007, as Toyota drivers not only struggled to run well, they struggled to even get in the race! These ill fortunes have left may questioning the wisdom of JGR making such a move, especially when one considers that their star driver, Tony Stewart, has had a long standing alliance with Chevrolet in some of his personal business pursuits.

I say both sides knew what they were getting into when they signed the papers. Gibbs knows that a disastrous 2008 campaign would mark the end of their affiliation with Stewart, who’s up for contract renewal. Toyota is also well aware that their credibility within the sport is at stake. We Don’t know all of what was said behind closed doors, but I am quite sure that J.D. Gibbs was given replete assurances from the Japan-based manufacturer that they would spare no expense in becoming more competitive with their engines.

You know what? I think  they will. I predict that at least two Gibbs drivers will make the Chase: most likely Stewart and Kyle Busch. I wouldn’t discount Denny Hamlin either. Between the three JGR drivers, I predict a minimum of seven wins.

All you have to do is look at how Toyota has performed in the Craftsman Truck Series to know how they develop. They went from being a punch line to powerful in relatively short order. Going with Gibbs gives Toyota a top flight organization to work with, something that was missing in 2007, with all apologies to start up teams like Red Bull and Michael Waltrip, and a reportedly cash-strapped team like Bill Davis.

This alliance will produce…..because it must.

The Open Wheel Invasion Will Be Inconsequential- If the conclusion of the recently concluded season is any indication, there will be many struggles ahead for open-wheel drivers converting to NASCAR. Of the group, I really only see Sam Hornish enjoying any great success as he has the backing of a top team like Penske.

Dario Franchitti may be enjoy some success as he has the guidance of another former Indy car driver (Juan Pablo Montoya) at Chip Ganassi at draw from. As much as I like Jacques Villanueve and Patrick Carpentier, I think they will have equipment and team related issues to deal with on top of a learning curve.

The Hendrick Dominance Will End- Though I expect wins from the four car team at Hendrick, I think the other teams will catch up to HMS. Jack Roush racer Matt Kenseth looked VERY good at the end of 2007 and Carl Edwards also enjoyed a stellar, if uneven 2007 campaign. Ray Evernham’s group will also improve. His partnership with Gillette will enable the former Jeff Gordon Crew Chief to focus on what does best: work on building a winning car. This means good things for Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and Patrick Carpentier.

The Chase?- I predict these guys will make the chase (in no particular order): Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Kevin Harvick and Juan Pablo Montoya will ALL make the Big Twelve.

Yes- Jeff Gordon will not make the Chase, though he will win 2-3 races.

If I had to hazard a guess for a champion? It will come down to the younger Busch, Junior, Stewart or maybe even Edwards or Bowyer.

O.K.- I’ll go out on a limb here- Tony Stewart will be the 2008 Sprint Cup Champion.

Now I’ve done it. So much for playing it safe.

Worth Repeating: A Look Back at the 2007 Nextel Cup Season

No less than NASCAR sage Mark Martin once said you should enjoy every victory as though it were your last, for it just might be. In today’s competitive climate, winning a NASCAR race is tough enough, let alone 4 in a row like Jimmie Johnson did. Now throw into that mix repeating as NASCAR Nextel Cup champion, and you get an idea of what the driver of the Lowe’s #48 Chevrolet has just accomplished.

The 32-year-old El Cajon, California native became the first repeat winner of the Cup since his friend and mentor Jeff Gordon did it in 1997 & 1998. Johnson blew away the pack with 4 consecutive victories down the Chase stretch, the first to win 4 consecutive since, you guessed it, Gordon did in 1998. “J.J.”’s 10 wins blew away the pack, with Gordon sitting back in second with 6.

Congratulations are due Johnson for his brilliant season. His achievements were overshadowed by one big NASCAR news explosion that triggered off others. The biggest news in 2007?

NASCAR’s Favorite Son Leaves The Farm- Dale Earnhardt Jr. stole the 2007 show with his announcement that he’d be leaving the company his late father founded at the end of the 2007 season. Junior’s attempts to muscle out step-mother Teresa Earnhardt as majority owner fell short, so Junior will move to Hendrick Motorsports in 2008.

Dale’s move has drawn mixed reviews from Junior Nation. Many rejoice at the notion that Earnhardt will be joining the New York Yankees of auto racing, making available to him the best equipment and deepest pockets in the business. For others, the switch represents a move to the dark side, as Junior will be joining forces with the likes of his dad’s last great arch-rival Jeff Gordon.

The Domino Effect- Junior’s defection set off a domino effect of driver moves. Earnhardt’s move left HMS driver Kyle Busch looking for a new ride in 2008. Joe Gibbs Racing, home to the prodigous Tony Stewart, will be Busch’s new NASCAR hangout, forcing former open wheel stud J.J. Yeley out of the JGR picture. Late in the season, Hall of Fame Racing announced they were signing on Yeley, leaving journeyman Tony Raines without employment for 2008. Raines is still on the free agent market.

The Foreign Invasion- With apologies to Ohio native Sam Hornish Jr., that’s what I’ll call the mass move of former Indy Car and other open wheel drivers to NASCAR. While Hornish took the wheel of the #06 car for Roger Penske, he was joined by other faces familiar to him. IRL Champ Dario Franchitti of Scotland made the move to drive for Chip Ganassi and Canda’s own Jacques Villanueve took the #27 for Bill Davis. Patrick Carpentier, also from Canada, took over the #10 Dodge from Scott Riggs.

No doubt the success of former Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya played a part. JPM hovered around 20th in the standings most of the year, and though he ruffled more than a few feathers with his agressive style, Montoya was a winner at Sonoma and put together a string of solid runs down the stretch.

So far, the other have shown it is not as easy as it looks.

Speaking of foreigners……Toyota’s maiden voyage was a bumpy ride. A number of Toyota drivers had great difficulty qualifying their cars and no Toyota made the trip to Victory Lane in 2007 at the Cup level. Super Speedway specialist Michael Waltrip did take the pole at the second Talladega race of 2007, but otherwise, it was a season of frustration Michael Waltrip Racing, Red Bull, and Bill Davis Racing as they attempted to establish the Japanese founded auto maker- much to the chagrin of the red-blooded, traditionalist NASCAR fan base.

Given their struggles, you can imagine what a conversation J.D. Gibbs started when he announced that Joe Gibbs’ team was moving to Toyota in 2008. For many old school fans, it’s hard for them to imagine Tony Stewart cruising around the oval in a Camry. With contract renewal negotiations around the corner, some expect a possible defection of Stewart to a Chevy team.

Friendly, and not-so-friendly fire- Fighting and rivalries are a part of the game- we just don’t expect to see teammates going at it. Joe Gibbs found himself putting out a fire between his top two drivers Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin after a wreck between the two in the Pepsi 400. Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth stirred up rumblings in the Roush garage, after Edwards engaged in some not-so-gentle shoving with Kenseth. Edwards cites a feeling of being undersupported and underappreciated by his teammates. Edwards and Kenseth also engaged in a fair amount of paint trading at Martinsville as well.

NASCAR hot heads Kevin Harvick and J.P. Montoya gave us an interesting show after a wreck at Watkins Glen. The normally calm Kyle Petty went after Denny Hamlin after a late season “get together.”

In other news- Richard Petty announced his team will be moving to the Charlotte area from Level Cross, North Carolina. The King’s organization has also announced the move of former Jeff Gordon Car Chief Jeff Meendering to become Crew Chief for Petty driver Bobby Labonte.

The only Crew Chief Matt Kenseth ever had at the Cup level is also moving on. Citing the desire to be home more, Robbie Reiser will be moving upstairs to manage operations at the Roush- Fenway organization. 

With Junior’s move to HMS, we will see Budweiser’s brand on a new car in 2008. The Budweiser logo will be seen going forward on the #9 car of NASCAR heartthrob Kasey Kahne in a slightly odd pairing, given Kahne’s youthful and clean cut appearance.

Sponsorship changes for NASCAR were also announced. The Nextel Cup will be known as the Sprint Cup in 2008. The Busch Series will also bear a new monicker in 2008- Nationwide Insurance will become the signature sponsor at NASCAR’s second level.

I hope you caught all that. It’s enough to make your head spin- very quickly.

   

Surrender or Psyche Job?

We all heard Jeff state after the race yesterday that the 2007 Chase for the Cup was officially over after his Phoenix foray.  Was he just paying an early compliment to his Hendrick teammate or does he truly believe it is over?  Is there any gamesmanship here?

I’m not quite sure.  Stranger things have certainly happenned and a 18 or 20 spot difference between the Hendrick stablemates could certainly happen.  Just ask Carl Edward; the way he was running early a 42nd place finish did not seem in the cards.

The way Jimmie Johnson has been running it does not seem as if an outside top ten finish can happen.  We’ll see how it plays out, but Jeff will run hard in Homestead and let the rest take care of itself.  You never know if an overzealous Greg Biffle or Kevin Harvick will play a part in the final outcome.  Johnson seems dialed in and will not take the early congratulations to heart or the possible psyche job.

Hendrick Motorsports Cup Domination

Last year, Jimmie Johnson won the NASCAR Nextel Cup series and this year we could see him win again. The two top drivers in the chase for the cup are currently Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch has also made it into the Chase for the Cup but doesn’t have a chance at winning this year. Hendrick Motorsports is like the Yankees of NASCAR, they have great drivers and lots of wins. Best of all, they are adding Dale Earnhardt Jr., the biggest superstar of NASCAR to their garage next year. I’m really looking forward to seeing how next year’s Hendrick Motorsports line up performs. Its an exciting time for Hendrick Motorsports, they are at the top of their game.

Race to the Chase: Jeff Gordon

Everyone knows what an excellent driver Jeff Gordon is, and his current place in standings for the Chase for the Cup is proof of his amazing abilities as a driver. It just goes to show where top-5 and top-10 finishes all season will take you. Currently he is about 50 points ahead of Jimmie Johnson, which is extremely close. With four races left in the season Im very curious to see how things will end up. Will Jimmie Johnson win 2-years in a row or will Jeff Gordon be able to hold onto his lead and come out on top.