Wednesday, November 19th, 2008
The 2008 NASCAR season officially came to an end Sunday night as Carl Edwards took the checkered flag for a record ninth time this season only to finish second in the points behind Jimmie Johnson who scored his third consecutive Sprint Cup Championship.
Johnson is now a part of history becoming the second driver, along with Cale Yarborough, to win three consecutive titles. Johnson’s crew chief, Chad Knaus, goes into the history books as the only crew chief to achieve the feat.
Johnson’s third title was inevitable with an 141-point lead going into the finale, but Edwards wasn’t giving up. (more…)
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Wednesday, October 29th, 2008
The Sprint Cup championship may be “in the bag” for Jimmie Johnson, who rallied back for an early race pit road speeding penalty to finish second.
Johnson, who once again “captured” the pole due to qualifying being canceled, lead early in Sunday’s race, but fell back to 30th after getting a pit road speeding penalty for too fast exiting pit road. Many laps and two cautions later, Johnson was the first car a lap down and got his lap back. He was 20th.
He never seemed to be a factor, that was until the final caution, for debris, when Johnson’s crew chief, Chad Knaus, made the call to bring him in for a four-tire stop. He restarted 11th and as quickly as the green-flag flew, Johnson was picking up spots. (more…)
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Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008
Passing the halfway mark, it’s down to four races to go until the Chase for the Sprint Cup comes to an end. And it looks like it just may very well be none other than two-time reigning champion, Jimmie Johnson sitting pretty after Homestead.
He came into Martinsville, the leader, after two not so good finishes from previous leader, Carl Edwards. The gap between Edwards, who was in fourth, and Johnson was 168 with Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle on Johnson’s tail. The gap now is 198 points between first and fourth-place, Edwards. Burton and Biffle, who switched positions after Sunday’s race, are more than 140 points behind Johnson.
How did Johnson gain so many points to sit nicely on top of the standings? (more…)
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Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
Racing under the lights at Charlotte, or rather, Lowes Motor Speedway is always exciting, particularly during the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Saturday’s race, the only night race in the Chase, was no exception.
It may not be a Talladega race, but the race did falter some of the Chasers’ hopes of Championship glory as it brightened the hopes of others.
Carl Edwards, who started the second “big one” at Talladega a week ago, could not get away from a bad mistake — a mistake he was sorry for. The person not allowing him to get away from it was in fact, Edwards. (more…)
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Wednesday, September 10th, 2008
As predicted the weather played havoc with this past weekend’s race activities. Both Nationwide and Sprint Cup series teams and drivers were able to participate in their one and only practice session on Friday. However, Friday qualifying sessions were canceled and both races were postponed until Sunday with the Cup race set to run first.
The starting lineup for both races were set according to owner points, which meant Joey Logano was not able to make his Cup debut in the 02 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. It does look like he will be able to attempt to qualify for this weekend’s race in Loudon, N.H. (more…)
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Thursday, September 4th, 2008
The Chase for the Sprint Cup is upon us. In 11 weeks we’ll have a new champion or a returning champion and the 2008 season will conclude.
The Chase will be set at the conclusion of this Saturday’s race. There will be 12 drivers who will have the chance to race for the Championship and they are sure to make it interesting, or at least we all hope so.
Last Sunday’s race locked the race winner, Jimmie Johnson, along with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Burton into the Chase. Those three drivers along with Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch don’t have to worry too much about this weekend’s race at Richmond, Va. (more…)
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Wednesday, August 27th, 2008
I apologize for the absence of a column last week. I had spent the weekend in Ohio and Michigan for the race in celebration of my birthday on Sunday, Aug. 17, — the Cup race.
As for the night race at Bristol, well, it was as should always be expected — a shakeup in the standings, good racing, a a new “good, wholesome” feud and the inevitable pileup or two.
Carl Edwards, who captured his first pole of the season and last week’s Michigan winner, also won the Sharpie 500. Edwards’ No. 99 Ford was also in Victory Lane the year before beating Kasey Kahne’s No. 9 Dodge to the finish line. However, this year it wasn’t Kahne who lead the most laps only to be passed by Edwards in the closing laps. Instead, it was Kyle Busch that was the unfortunate one. (more…)
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Wednesday, August 13th, 2008
With the second and last road course done and over with for the Sprint Cup guys it’s on to short tracks and speedways with a super-speedway thrown in the mix. With Watkins Glen out of the way this now means there are only four more races until the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins.
But aren’t they “Chase”ing now? Yes, but they are chasing to get into the big Chase, the one that really counts.
After Sunday’s race, Kyle Busch locked himself in. His eighth win of the season gives him 80 bonus points and the top-seed come Loudon in September. He may not have to worry about making the Chase but come September he may want to watch out, because they’re all coming for him. Eighty points can go quickly especially with the field of competition now. (more…)
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Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008
With the last off weekend over, for the Sprint Cup guys, the drivers (and the fans) are on the final stretch — a 17-race showdown. Who will make it to the Chase for the Sprint Cup and who won’t? After Richmond September 6, it will be known. Most importantly, who will win the championship?
The current Chase contenders are:
•Kyle Busch: He’s been sitting on top of the charts for weeks, since Richmond in May to be exact. He currently has the most wins in the Cup series (seven), five wins in the Nationwide series and two wins in the Craftsman’s Truck series, making a total of 14 wins already this season. When the Chase starts, he’ll be seeded first, like he currently sits, but will have 70 bonus points.
•Dale Earnhardt Jr.: He has gradually and consistently made his way to the top, or as far he can get at the moment, putting himself in one of the best positions he needs to be in. (more…)
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Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
Dover a dozer?
That was my opinion at the conclusion of the Sprint Cup race Sunday — actually, even before the conclusion.
The race, which started with Greg Biffle’s No. 16 Ford on the pole, looked pretty much like a sleeper even before the big caution on lap 17. Biffle was leading and pulled away from the pack. Good cars were making their way to front and avoiding cautions.
The change was sudden and just about the time I was lulled to sleep. (more…)
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