NASCAR 11/19/08
What a season with changes all around. Dale Jr. starting with a new team, the COT at all the races, Joe Gibbs sporting new colors and Tony Stewart announcing he was starting a new team in 09. What did it all mean?
First it was Ryan Newman winning the Daytona 500. Ryan came out of nowhere as all fingers were pointing to Dale Jr. at the start of the 500. Dale did push his way to the front but for the most part it was Gibbs’s Toyotas all day long. Then like a bolt of lighting Newman took the led from Tony Stewart on the back stretch on the final lap. It was team mate Kurt Busch with a big push and that push put Ryan in to victory lane. It was Roger Penske’s first win at the legendary track and it was Kurt Busch’s first time looking like a good guy. Was this a sign of things to come?
It was Carl Edwards turn next to take the wheel of the 2008 Cup season. NASCAR headed west and Edwards put it into high gear. Edwards won the next two races in California and then at Vegas. Edwards in his Jack Roush Ford was looking tough to beat. Going unnoticed was the team that had won the Championship the last two years, Jimmie Johnson. Was Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson and there new driver Dale Jr. in hiding?
Then it was Kyle Busch’s turn. The Cup series moved back east to Atlanta and Joe Gibbs new sensation Kyle Busch turned up the heat. It was Toyota power all day long as Toyota got its first victory in the Cup series with Kyle Busch behind the wheel. Tony Stewart followed Kyle as it was a one two finish for Toyota at Atlanta. Was Gibbs and Toyota on there way to domination?
Chevy finally got its first win of the season but it wasn’t Jimmie, Jeff or Dale who got it. It was Jeff Burton who snuck by team mate Kevin Harvick in his Richard Childress Chevy to take home the victory at Bristol. Could this be the start of a year with a new Champion?
As the doom and gloommers were starting to write off Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR pulled into Martinsville. No, Hendrick did not win but all 4 Hendrick cars finished in the top seven. Was this the sign that everybody in NASCAR was looking for?
It was two races later when defending champ Jimmie Johnson pulled into victory lane at Phoenix. Now there seemed to be balance in the world with Jimmie Johnson doing burnouts and victory lane speeches. Now that was some normalcy. Would it continue?
No, it wouldn’t continue as Kyle Busch won 7 of the next 15 races. Kyle was unstoppable. Was the 23 year old star driving the Joe Gibbs number 18 going to be the next Sprint Cup champion?
The crown was being fitted for Kyle as the new Champ but Carl Edwards had something to say before Kyle took home the trophy and the big check. The next two races after The Glen Edwards picked off. This give Carl a total of 6 wins on the season which put him in second place as the Chase began in New Hampshire. Carl was 30 point down to Kyle and it would have been 20 if it wasn’t for oil reservoir lid coming off in Vegas earlier in the season. Was Edwards the man to beat as the Chase began?
Kyle’s last win came at Watkins Glen on August 10th it was now mid September. The team that looked unstoppable was now starting to look human. The Chase began and Kyle Busch’s problems started. Kyle finished 34th in New Hampshire and flipped those number in the next race at Dover as he finished 43rd. Greg Biffle was on the other side of the spectrum as he won the first two race in 08 Chase. The Biff even though he won the first two races still found himself 10 points back of Carl Edwards. Jimmie Johnson was also 10 back tied with Biffle for second. What was going to happen at Kansas?
Kansas was next and the Jimmie, Carl show was about to begin. Edward in desperation move at the end of race put his car into wall in attempt to pass Jimmie Johnson for the win. It didn’t work as Carl came in second but what a gutsy move. Get this Carl said he seen that move work in a video game. What? Johnson and Edwards traded spots as Johnson left Kansas with 10 point led over Edwards. It was a three man show now with Jimmie in front Carl 10 back and Biffle in third 30 point down. With Talladega next it was time to be careful or not?
Talladega took its toll on both Edwards and Biffle. The careful side was to ride in the back and that is just what Edwards and Biffle did. As the race wound down Edwards bumped Biffle to the front of the field. But bump drafting got a little crazy in the middle of the corner and Edwards turned Biffle into the wall all hell broke loss. Edwards ended up finishing 29th and team mate Greg Biffle was left with a 24th place finish. Was this the end for the Roush boys?
From Talladega to Charlotte as Edwards try to turn his misfortunes around only to run into more trouble. In the garage area on Thursday Carl got into it with Kevin Harvick. Harvick was one of the victims of the crash that Edwards started at Talladega. Harvick was just trying to tell Carl how he felt about it. The news was everywhere about the fight. It didn’t get any better for Edwards as he had ignition problem in the Cup race on Saturday night and finished 33rd. Jimmie Johnson drove away from Charlotte with a 69 point led over Jeff Burton and Carl Edwards was all but done in 4th place 168 points down. With just 5 races left was Jimmie Johnson on his way to three Cups in a row?
Carl Edwards and crew chief Bob Osborne were down but not out. Edwards not only was in a battle for Sprint Cup championship but the Nationwide series championship also. After leaving Charlotte Carl won three of the last four Nationwide races and three of the last five Cup series races. What run! Carl was the best driver in NASCAR at the end of the year, no doubt about it. To win 6 out 9 races in the top two series in NASCAR how could you not put him at the top? But the troubles Carl found at Talladega and Charlotte was a dark cloud. Jimmie Johnson won two of the last five and that was enough to edge out Carl Edwards for the Cup Championship.
Jimmie Johnson can now be mentioned as one of the best in NASCAR history. Tying Cale Yarborough’s record by winning three Cup championship in row is an awesome feat. Jimmie and crew chief Chad Knaus will go down as the one of the best driver crew chief combinations in the sport. As NASCAR goes into 2009 season the favorites have to be these guys. Jimmie Johnson at age 33 is just starting to enter his prime. That is bad news for everybody else. If Jimmie and Chad stay together they could
challenge the record set by two of the all time greats Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt with 7 Cup championships. They is no doubt that 48 team has set the bar higher now its time for Carl Edwards and everybody else to go after it.
The season was like a long winding road with the road coming to the end last weekend at Homestead. It was clear Jimmie Johnson was the Champ again for the third straight year but what would lye ahead? Changes announced in rules and team alignments that bring a lot of questions going into 2009.
On Thursday before the big weekend started at Homestead, Brian France CEO of NASCAR, announced that there will be no more testing at NASCAR race sanctioned tracks. This is a cost cutting move to save teams money in these tough economic times. This could make the racing a little closer as some smaller teams were already having problems with the costs of testing.
Teams are feeling the pitch and two well known teams Dale Earnhardt, Inc and Chip Ganassi were push to the brink. To survive the two teams had to merge or get out of racing. This should solve there short falls in to middle next year but after that who knows. It’s a sad day for the team started by Dale Earnhardt, the legendary driver, is no longer. With hard time in front of NASCAR and the country the question is who will be next?
The Big 3 with there struggles what will there involvement be? This week the Big 3, Ford, GM and Chrysler, testifying in front of Congress for a bailout to get them though there troubled times. If Detroit pulls out of NASCAR be the same will out them?
These are big questions to answered in the 2009 season. What is my pick for next year? I wish I knew the answer but like everybody else it a wait a see.
Things to look forward to in 09. Tony Stewart and his new team with Ryan Newman as a team mate. These guys should be tough right out of the box. My pick is that one or both with make the Chase. I know one other thing it will be fun to watch Tony Stewart as a team owner.
In 09 Jimmie Johnson is going to have a couple of challengers for the championship in Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards. Both Carl and Kyle are great talents and the numbers prove it. Thirty-four wins and sixty-five top fives between the two in the two top series in NASCAR, Sprint Cup and Nationwide. That isn’t in the last 3 years or even 2 those numbers are from the 2008 season. Now that is getting it done in a big way.
Rookie drivers to watch in 09 will be Scott Speed and Joey Logano. Both of these guys will be battling for rookie of the year. My edge goes to Scott Speed for the rookie of the year but don’t get me wrong it will be close.
I have to say it has been a great time again this year writing down my thoughts on NASCAR racing and sharing them with you. It has been an honor and a privilege for sure. I would like to give a special thanks to the staff at the Gaylord Herald Times and ex-special thanks to Jeremy Speer for they really make it happen. Big thanks also goes out to you the readers as NASCAR fan you’re the best. Your participation on Mike’s Garage forum has been incredible and so much fun. With any luck I will be back for my 8th season in 2009. Just remember the 09 NASCAR season is just 85 short days away. Thanks again everybody and have a great off season from racing.
