STATISTICS

2009 BEST FINISHES

Capshun by SonnyD

Happy Turkey-day all!

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Out of Bounds: Turkey Day Football, A.I. says Good Bye, Week 12 NFL Picks

By Hot Rod! The Rowdy One

Today is Turkey Day. It’s Thanksgiving. It’s a day to be thankful. It’s a time to be thankful for all of the little things in life. G.I.N.A. said it best in her latest article, and if you haven’t read it yet, get to it and read it. We all have something to be thankful for, no matter what’s going on in our lives.

Some of us may be in the dumps and on hard times, but there’s always a silver lining in some cloud out there. So be thankful for the little things in life because you’ll never know when those little things are gone and you’ll have nothing to be thankful for at all.

Speaking of being thankful, there’s a few people in the sports world who have a lot to be thankful for. Here’s a few who come to mind

To go Out of Bounds on Thanksgiving Day, click here: http://bit.ly/7fMl4P

Whilst we spend a lot of our time talking F1 and WRC, we keep our beady eyes on motorsport around the world at all times. In this regular news round-up we aim to bring you the big stories making waves across the globe.

USA
Nascar: Jimmie Johnson secures a record breaking 4 consecutive major-league stock car trophies. He won the Nextel title in 2006-7 and has now won the Sprint Cup in 2008-9, all in his #48 Chevy.

Australia
V8 Supercars: Jamie Whincup’s 1st and 4th place finishes at Wanneroo have moved him ever closer to the 2009 title. He now needs a single 28th place finish in the last two races.

Macau
Macau F3: This years famous Macau F3 race was won by Edoardo Martara of Italy. The highest placed Brit was Sam Bird who brought his ART car home in 3rd.
Macau WTCC: Another Brit performing well in Macau was Rob Huff, he won race 1 of the WTCC event with Augusto Farfus taking race 2. The real fun and games however, was the battle for the title, won amazingly by 47 year-old Garbriele Tarquini.

Odds and ends?  Well, with a lot of information coming from my friend Tony “The Paul Menard Fan” Anville and my son Matt I would say much more odds than ends.

The following is an email I received from Tony:

“You need to get Paul Menard on your side.  Can you imagine what his dad could do for your writing career? 

How about it??  A couple positive spins on Menard in print and they’ll take care of you.  You’ll be in a private jet on your way to Vegas.” 

Blog title suggestions:

1.  “Am I the only Paul Menard fan”?

2.  “Paul Menard deserves better”

3.  “Menard, Daytona 500 sleeper”?

I certainly could use some help with the writing career, so here goes:

You are the only Paul Menard fan I know, so yes, Tony Anville may be the only Paul Menard fan. 

As far as Menard deserves better, I have always said that sons of rich fathers deserve better. That is a recurring theme in my blog posts.  Look at all I have said about NASCAR CEO Brian France.  Oh wait, I have not said many good things about little Brian. OK, make that any good things about him. As the son of a blue collar factory worker, I have a difficult time feeling sorry for rich kids with expensive toys, so I probably won’t be blogging about Paul Menard deserving better.

Daytona 500 sleeper?  Maybe. Stranger things have happened.  Derrick Cope won the race one year.  I see Daytona in 2010 as being a five car race with Kenny Wallace, Joe Nemechek, Marcus Ambrose, A.J. Allmendinger, and Menard all having a great shot at winning.

Boy I hope everyone knows that my sense of humor was at play in discussing who may be a Daytona contender. Anyway, there goes by chance for a flight to Las Vegas on the Menard family jet.

Matt always sends me a link to frontstretch.com.  Website writer McLaughlin knows what he is talking about, and is the exact opposite of homer TV commentators like McReynolds and Waltrip.  His articles are funny, but I find myself nodding in agreement time after time. His take on the NASCAR season finale can be found at:

http://www.frontstretch.com/mmclaughlin/28313/

Matt also emailed me to inform me that TV ratings for the Chase races were down at tracks that had races earlier in the season.  Actually, all the Chase race ratings were down.  NASCAR spin doctors might try to pass this off as butting heads with the NFL, but the ratings were not just down from earlier in the year, all were down when compared with the same race last season. 

Check out bleacherreport.com for articles like:

-Does Tony Stewart have a beef with Dale Earnhardt Jr.?

-Can Denny Hamlin unseat Jimmy Johnson in 2010?

-Why NASCAR desperately needs a resurgence of Dale Earnhardt Jr. I didn’t read this, but I suspect it might have something to do with TV ratings.

-Is Volkswagen interest in NASCAR? And will anyone not call a Volkswagen NASCAR machine The Love Bug?

-Should NASCAR eat crow or turkey on Thanksgiving?  OK, I made that one up.

-Jimmy Johnson or David Pearson the greatest stock car driver of all time?

In my opinion Jimmy Johnson isn’t better than David, Cale, Richard, Bobby, Dale Sr., or Darrell.  And he may not be better than Jeff or Tony either. Heck, he may not even be the best NASCAR driver ever having the last name of Johnson.  Junior Johnson was pretty good in his day.

Since almost anything can be computerized, how about a series of  computer races with the following drivers:

Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Mark Martin from the 2000’s.

Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, Tim Richmond, Cale Yarborough, Bill Elliott, Davey Allison, Terry Labonte, Harry Gant, and Benny Parsons-the mid 70’s thru the 90’s.

Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Fred Lorenzen, David Pearson, Fireball Roberts, Curtis Turner, Ned Jarrett, Buddy Baker, Bobby Isaac, Tiny Lund, Joe Weatherly, Lee Roy Yarbrough and A.J. Foyt-the early days of NASCAR thru the early 70’s.

Run ‘em on old tracks that have long since made way for shopping malls, including the dirt tracks NASCAR was not to proud to race on before TV.  Run ‘em in old cars on old tires.  Run ‘em on today’s tracks with today’s cars (except for California, even a computer would tire of that track). See how Jimmy fares before automatically anointing him as Pope of NASCAR. That would be a great show for Speed TV, at least it would beat the heck out of watching Pinks.

Anyway, bleacherreport.com is a great source to help feed your racing addiction in the off-season too, and it is free.

According to Dirtondirt.com (you should subscribe, and I don’t say that just to keep out of trouble for using this, you should subscribe):

“Scott Bloomquist has been suspended for 6 months from WoO/UMP competition and fined $22,700 (withheld $11,350 in purse money and additional fine equal to purse) for chemically altering a left rear tire during a WoO race on November 5th at the Lowes Motor Speedway Dirt Track.  The tire that was found to be altered was used in time trials.  Lab results indicate the tire was softened to gain traction.
 
Bloomquist has sought legal counsel as he denies all accusations and plans to appeal the fine and suspension.”

Well, I have always said that rules are open to interpretation, but Bloomquist seems to go down this route more often than other big name dirt track drivers.  Maybe a crew member doctored the tire and Bloomquist did not know it.  Yeah, that did sound stupid as I typed it.

Finally.  I finally was able to connect with IMCA hobby stock driver Dusty Poessnecker for an upcoming blog article.  Talking with him reinforced why I like writing about dirt track drivers.  Dusty has a passion for the sport that is impossible to hide.  I am not saying NASCAR drivers don’t have a passion for racing, but it is tempered by a passion for all the trappings that come with celebrity and huge salaries. Dirt track drivers aren’t encumbered with press agents, jet planes, and the need to make payments on the mansion near Lake Norman.

Enjoy your family, turkey, and football tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping by.

When Juan Pablo Montoya arrived for his first Indy 500, the story is that he took a tour bus around the track.

10 years later, the Colombian is probably the only driver to have raced at Indy in two different directions and three kinds of machinery.  Montoya won the Indy 500 in 2000, has competed in F1 races at the Brickyard (driving clockwise), and now competes in the Brickyard 400 as a Nascar driver.

Bus tours not included.

Name any other driver who can claim such a feat.  For good measure, throw in wins at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.  Say what you want about Jimmie Johnson and his four titles, Montoya is the most versatile and talented driver on the grid.  There is no arguing with Johnson’s dominance, nor that of his crew chief, Chad Knaus.  But for sheer talent and the raw ability to get into a race car–any kind of car–no one beats Montoya.

In Nascar, success begets success.  This goes a long way towards explaining the Hendrick team’s dominance in the sport (although it does not explain why Dale Earnhardt, Jr. continues to flail on the same team as a four-time champion).  Johnson is at the peak of his abilities right now, and his team is right there with him.  He finds a way to win, and he has learned to be consistent week in and week out (something Kyle Busch hasn’t grasped).  The Chase, contrived as it is, rewards consistency.

Montoya finished 8th in the Chase this year, but this year he delivered the goods.  Many thought Montoya was foolish to trade the rarefied air conditioning of F1 for the cold beer and corndogs of Nascar.  Why would anyone making tens of millions of dollars in F1 trade that for a grueling 36-race calendar?  Racers, that’s who.

This is a driver who won the Indy 500 in 2000, and was “traded” to the Williams F1 team for 2001.  In the Brazilian Grand Prix that year, Montoya forced world champion Michael Schumacher onto the grass in an overtaking maneuver that shocked and thrilled the paddock.  Wheel-to-wheel with one of the best racers in history, and no backing down.  Yet, after a few seasons, Montoya lost patience with Williams, with the utter Englishness of it all.  He joined McLaren.

McLaren was a terrible fit for Montoya, and many wondered what Ron Dennis was thinking with that move.  It was hard imagining Montoya in the cool calm collective that is McLaren.  It did not help Montoya’s case with the team that he also injured himself off track, under circumstances that probably involved reckless behavior.

At the US Grand Prix in 2006, Montoya collided with his teammate.  There are many forms of sin in racing, but the most unforgiveable sin is to take out your own teammate.  Montoya’s F1 career–his driving career–seemed done.

After a telephone chat with Chip Ganassi, Montoya announced a shock switch to Nascar for 2007.  He was ridiculed by those in F1 who said that Nascar was beneath his talents, and others who said he was beneath Nascar.  Yet, to his credit, Montoya produced a road win at Sonoma in his first year (although, in fairness, he took out his teammate for the win.  La plus ca change….)   He even joined Ganassi drivers for a win at the 24 hour race at Daytona.  Fast in any kind of machinery indeed…..

This year Montoya reached the next level and was competitive in the Chase up to the bitter end.  Perhaps Ganassi’s tie-up with the DEI organization made the difference, maybe it’s just maturity and experience finally showing through.  His driving remains aggressive, but he is showing more patience in races.

Montoya has won the Monaco Grand Prix in F1, the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, and the Indianapolis 500.  He’s won twice in Nascar and regularly finishes in the top five.  Find me a more complete racer.

Juan Pablo Montoya is always on the limit.  And that’s why he’s a racer we like.

2009 Truck Schedule

- Jimmie Johnson and Chad “Darth” Knauss make it look easy again in winning their fourth consecutive Sprint Cup championship. Head-scratchers wonder what Chad manages to get away with under the hood of the No. 48, but actually it’s what Jimmie is managing under the sheets with Winnie, the NASCAR’s wild woman of trackside luck.

- Double file restarts make for much on-track messiness and closer finishes; fans love ‘em but they give drivers a severe case of the willies.

- Digger becomes a national symbol of annoyance at NASCAR. Best use for the Gopher cam: track chick upskirts.

- Most notable crash: An airborne Carl Edwards nearly clears the catchfence in the first Talladega race, lands in a pile of wreckage, climbs out unscathed and runs across the finish line. Generic car and drivers 1, aerodynamics 0.

- Other notable crashes: Ryan Newman (going airborne again at the second Talladega race) and Jimmie Johnson (Texas).

- Usually in a wreck: Michael Waltrip and Robbie Gordon.

- Usually starts race but never finishes: “Back row” Joe Nemenchek.

- Jeremy Mayfield’s drug-testing and ban from competition forces dozens of drivers and crew members to stow their stashes closer to the toity.

- Kyle Busch fails to make the Chase by eight points, but kicks ass in almost every Nationwide race. What’s the difference? Kyle also displays a habit for harrumphing off the track after a bad finish without speaking to the media, which he much later explains quoting the words of management theorist Dr. Lawrence J. Peter: “Speak when you are angry, and you’ll make the best speech you’ll ever regret.” Riiiiiiiiight.

- Rankest firesuit: Sprint Cup gal Monica Palumbo’s, after doing photo op duty all afternoon prior to the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona in July. Say rotten cheese…

– Miss USA Kristen Dalton models NASCAR-themed costume for the Miss Universe Pageant. Dalton narrowly beat out Miss California, Carrie Prejean, for the Miss USA crown, a gal whose augmented breasts caused her to be stripped of her Miss California title when they started appearing in nude photos and sex tapes posted on the Internet. (Note to NASCAR: Consider a topless Prejean to wave the starting flag at the next Talladega race.)

- Junebug disappears down a spiraling oubliette of crappy luck. Cousin and crew chief Tony Eury waves bye-bye from the commode, giving NASCAR a final middle finger before disappearing out of sight.

- Tire changer Jimmy Watts chases a tire onto the frontstretch during the Kobalt Tools 500, almost becoming a hood ornament and/or human rotor-rooter down Digger’s track hole.

- AJ Allmendinger gets a DUI prior to the second Talladega race: NASCAR places him on probation; designated drivers for RVs, tracktor trailers and private planes multiply for oh, a week or so.

- Kyle Busch smashes trophy guitar he received after winning the Federated Auto Parts 300 in Nashville on June 6; Les Paul is not amused and soon gives up the ghost.

- Worst national anthem: Jesse McCartney forgets words to the national anthem prior to the Pepsi 500 in Fontana in October. Oddest opening act: Goth-haired and tattooed Buckcherry belts out Deep Purple’s “Highway Star” to seventy thousand gawking rednecks prior to the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona.

- Oddest race: The Amp Energy 500 race in Talladega last October, which begins as a polite single-file parade and ends in royal rumble wrestling match with hapless Jamie McMurray scooting by a 16-car wreck at the finish to take the checkered flag.

- Snoozer race: Lifelock 400 in Michigan.

- Makes for snoozer races: pit row and fuel strategies.

- Snoozer end of a race: Daytona 500, where Matt Kenseth got caught in exactly the right place when the rain started pouring.

- Surprisingly exciting race as well as end to the season: Ford 400 at Homestead, with Jimmy freaking out every time a car got close to him, a six-car pileup – on pit row — and Smoke playing High Noon with Juan Carlos Montoya.

Capshun by Jake

Capshun by Brett

You probably know the ref. for this LOL, but heres the clip anyway cuz its WIN!! An if anyone has not seen this movie, I beg of you…you must, MUST!! Anything less is, well, inconceivable

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Kisses to my long neglected blog!!

Okay, I know it’s not kosher to just disappear randomly even on a blog that’s mostly about self indulgence. I don’t wanna say sorry to anyone who misses my writing cuz that sounds presumptuous even in my head o__O. However, I do wanna start writing again maybe, so saklflaskwhateveriguesslkasjsdkjlf weaning myself back in??

Kpop? maybe… I mean, I still love it, but I feel like we’re in a lull just waiting for something big to happen. 2PM comeback was okay, but I still haven’t completely gotten on board with “Heartbeat,” and I know it’s old meme, but it’s not the same w/o leader. I tried to get into those new bbs, but I’m getting old and my memory just isn’t good enough to keep up. Plus, contrary to what my friends think, young, practically prepubescent boys really aren’t my thing. I am finding a bit of my SHINee love again, and F(x) is growing on me as well. The rest of SM is either inactive or well, you know, so we’ll see what happens I guess.

On a brighter note, year end awards/shows are coming up, so that should be pretty exciting!!

Moar… I still love my Chinese music, but I haven’t been finding good stuff lately and keep listening to the same stuff again and again. Lu Guang Zhong did release a new album, which I’m digging atm. Listen on YT

NASCAR! My long abandoned love!! Lol, actually no, I still enjoy it, and just like Kpop, watching fans whine about this and that is part of the fun. Actually the season finally ended, and my fave driver won the championship again! Four in a row baby! I know that doesn’t mean anything to anyone who reads my blog, but just think Tiger Woods or something. 48 is good.

Now, my new favorite activity….. (stop reading if you don’t care about rl stuff. Really, self indulgent and not interesting to strangers. I mean, if I didn’t write it, I wouldn’t read it. Really.)

I feel lame even typing this out, but okay whatever… I’m dieting!! Maybe I shouldn’t call it that since apparently it’s now stigmatized to say out loud or whatever.

All right… In order to achieve greater harmony with my mind and body, I’m making a lifestyle change through nutritional awareness and physical fitness. That sounds yippy dippy new age enough to avoid all the “omg why?!?!? but you’re not fat love you body plez don’t develop an eating disorder” talk. Maybe. Idk.

The thing is, I went to get a physical and although my doctor assured me everything was fine, I felt like maybe I was heading somewhere I didn’t want to go. After going from 2+ hours of swim practice everyday, and stuffing my face with anything I could find in high school, to ++hours of sitting around, and stuffing my face with anything I could find in college, the blubber was on. Aside from the weight, it was also about living independently and not making the smartest life decisions. alsdkfjasldkj pedantic talk is pedantic. Basically, I don’t wanna be on lipitor by 30, so cutting back on the late night burrito runs.

Actually, I’d by lying if I said I was dieting for myself only. Come on, truth is,everyone cares about what others think, and when done in moderation, it shouldn’t be considered a bad thing. Otherwise, why put on make up or wear anything by pajamas ever? Having some social standards = good.

I guess I’m not the best judge of character, but I really don’t think I’m that kind of girl. You know, the stick ones who eat like nothing, don’t exercise, and complain about their weight 24/7 (see: my roommate– 5′4″, 103lb, dieting). Point is, I like food, and ever since I began working out again, I’ve realized how much I missed it. I’d rather enjoy my foodies and run that extra mile.

Let be real, dieting takes work. You gotta bring your A game. Just “loving mybody and wanting to feel better” isn’t gonna cut it. I felt great with my carne asada fries and brownies, which is probably why all previous attempts at dieting have tots failed. Why? I lacked the true motivators– fear and envy. Okay, yeah, I know that’s so not the pc thing to say and judge if you must, but that was how it was with me. I really started worrying about my health, and I was sick of always wearing clothes two sizes bigger than my friends….Voila, results.

Changing all this crap isn’t easy, but it’s not like becoming an astronaut hard either. In less than one semester, I’ve pretty much gone back to my high school weight, my cholesterol is back to normal, and I’ve seen some of that muscle I had come back. And look at that, I really am healthier, look better, and remain eating disorder free. Miracles.

Okay, maybe I should just stick to writing about Korean boys. Hmm. Photo is what I really want to eat atm, and what I will be eating in two days. Gobble gobble!!

By Kyle Bauer

That is a very stupid title to a new feature on the site that is going to rotate between Neal and I but more times than not, it will be me.
Were going to recap some of the more interesting sports stories in the news over the past couple days, surmised in a paragraph or two.

Lions win,  turnaround suddenly imminent.

I always felt the truest testament to how delusional Lions fans are, surprisingly does not rest in all the 10 win preseason predictions, but in how they react to a win. Well, then again, the Lions have shown that wins in a season are not guaranteed so I guess I can understand the excitement and jubilation when they actually do. People seem to forget that the Lions are still the Lions and they beat the Browns who are still the Browns. It was a game mired in befuddling bad defense, and some horrible coaching calls. Matt Stafford suddenly gets it together for a few drives and everyone goes nuts.

The people who have been anointing Matt Stafford after this victory bother me the most. He did a great job finally channeling some NFL caliber accuracy on that final drive. Still he didnt show the composure I would appreciate considering the Lions should had spiked the ball multiple times. I suppose Schwartz didnt want to make that call, sensing momentum and wanting to keep Cleveland on the ropes.  It was still unorthodox and would had been costly if it werent for the pass-interference call.

The most troubling thing about peoples sudden love fest for Stafford is that he has already been severely injured twice in a season that is barely half over. A separated knee cap and then a separated shoulder in only eight starts is extremely concerning to me. A mantra you will always hear on our show is that “part of being good, is the ability to stay healthy.” You need to be durable, and accurate on a consistent basis. Stafford’s performance had some undeniable bright spots, but for me, the jury is without a doubt still out on his intangibles.

Jimmy Clausen punched outside of South Bend bar.

This doesnt surprise me. Look at this guy, wouldnt you want to punch him in the face too?

Jimmie Johnson wins fourth consecutive Sprint Cup

As I have proclaimed many times before, I am a kinda-sorta a NASCAR fan. I am not going to lie, I was raised on it, almost as an inadvertent form of child abuse. As the years have gone by, my interest has wained more and more, almost to the point where I no longer care. I check in on the races weekly, but the only time I still watch a race from flag to flag, is when I go to both races at Michigan International Speedway with my dad every year.

The reasons why I have lost interest is not because I no longer enjoy the idea of auto-racing, it is because NASCAR has become ridiculously dull. Races have become relatively predictable. I have said time and time before in my defense of NASCAR, that is it not always “just cars going in a circle” and most races have exciting, back and forth, three-wide racing. Now more than ever, as it is being publicized more than ever, the racing has become “just cars going in circles.” Competition in NASCAR is dead.

 Jimmie Johnson is the one driver that you could argue being responsible for the death of excitement in NASCAR. He is in the midst of a true dynasty but instead of being able to enjoy his domination, I’ve been left yawning instead of ‘aweing’. Methodically, he qualifies in the top five, finishes in the top five or wins every race. He races clean, without controversy and seemingly without passion. NASCAR is such a dehumanized sport, you could easily argue that  the car does everything. To debunk this argument, you want to have a champion with flash and integrity. Petty, Yarborough, Waltrip, Gordon, Stewart and especially Earnhardt all had it. It was so easy to root for the character in the car, but there is no character in the man who has won the past four championships. I can’t fault Johnson for this. He is the Tim Duncan of auto-sports. Johnson is only being himself, doing what he does best but doing it quietly.

I respect him, but his dominance is making me lose respect for NASCAR.

Mangino is large, soon not in charge.

Kansas football coach Mark Mangino has been on the hot-seat as of late and  not because he accidentally sat on his order from Papa Johns (I dont know Mangino just seems like he likes Papa Johns, a lot). He has become embattled over rumors of getting physical with players at practice and official accusations of being verbally abusive and more importantly, they have lost six games in a row.

Recently wide receiver Kerry Meier and safety Darnell Stucky have come to the defense of Mangino saying his actions have been understandable and they way he has handled the accusations have been inspirational.

This likely wont save Mangino, as the program he built from the ground up to a Orange bowl win a couple years ago, has now crumbled, despite All-American quarterback Todd Reesings efforts. Kansas has a decent chance at beating a Missouri team that has been equally disappointing and soft, but winning the rivalry game still might not be enough unless more Kansas players openly support him.

It really is a shame. Lets not forget the easy fat jokes Mangino brings to the table but also I am going to miss that pedophile mustache.

Misión cumplida.
El piloto del Chevrolet nº 48 del equipo Hendrick Motorsport, Jimmie Johnson, ha logrado el objetivo marcado allá por el lejano mes de Febrero en Daytona: lograr su cuarto titulo consecutivo. Nadie lo había hecho hasta ahora. Ni siquiera los más grandes. Tanto Richard Petty como Dale Earnhardt lograron 7 títulos cada uno, pero nunca 4 consecutivos. Ahora todos los aficionados a la NASCAR se preguntan cuanto tardará Johnson en batir a los 2 grandes, y también hasta donde podrá llegar el gran piloto californiano de 34 años.

A Johnson le valía terminar entre los 25 mejores en la Ford 400, última prueba del Chase for the Sprint Cup, que se disputaba en el Homestead-Miami Speedway. Al final, su sobrada quinta posición le permitía escribir su nombre con letras de oro en la historia de este deporte.

Consciente de la importancia de clasificar delante, para evitar posibles incidentes al rodar en tráfico, y para elegir un buen box, Johnson se hacía con la Pole Position en la sesión del viernes, tras pedir consejo a uno de los pilotos con más experiencia en la pista de Homestead: Tony Stewart.

La carrera se iniciaba liderada por el campeón, que tras mantener la posición en la primera vuelta se llevaba 5 puntos de bonificación. De esa manera se aseguraba el titulo terminando entre los 27 primeros, abriendo su margen 2 posiciones más.

Después de encabezar las 10 primeras vueltas, Marcos Ambrose, que había clasificado entre los primeros, se colocaba en primer lugar, aunque 3 vueltas más tarde sufría un pinchazo tras rozar el muro, y cedía su plaza de nuevo a Johnson.

El primer tramo de carrera transcurrió sin incidentes, alternándose en cabeza Tony Stewart y Kevin Harvick, pasando todos los participantes por el pit lane para hacer el primer repostaje bajo bandera verde.

Los problemas para Marcos Ambrose se iban a reproducir, sufriendo un trompo en la curva 4, y provocando la primera neutralización de la prueba en la vuelta 81.

La carrera se reanudaba 5 vueltas después con Tony Stewart aún en cabeza, aunque iba a ceder la plaza ante el empuje de Kevin Harvick, muy activo en las primeras posiciones.
El que no era capaz de rodar en posiciones adelantadas era Mark Martin, único piloto que podía arrebatar el título a Johnson, y en ningún momento daba la impresión de poder inquietar a “Superman”.

Tras 2 interrupciones provocadas por John Andretti primero, y Marcos Ambrose después, ambos por golpear el muro, llegaba el primer asalto de la pelea entre Tony Stewart y Juan Pablo Montoya.
En la vuelta 115, el Chevrolet nº 42 del colombiano golpeaba por detrás al nº 14 de Stewart, y en la siguiente, este le devolvía el favor, golpeándose ambos lateralmente.
El contacto provocaba que Montoya sufriera un pinchazo, y se fuera contra el muro pocos metros después. Los daños en el Chevy nº 42 obligaban al colombiano a retirarse a su garaje para hacer reparaciones, perdiendo 28 vueltas respecto a la cabeza.

En la entrada al pit lane durante la misma neutralización, un choque en cadena dejaba a Elliot Sadler fuera de carrera, al destrozar el frontal de su Dodge tras golpear la parte trasera del 43 de Reed Sorenson.

Kevin Harvick volvía a liderar la prueba al llegar a su ecuador, momento en el que Kurt Busch hacía su aparición y se colocaba primero.

Mientras, Juan Pablo Montoya había vuelto a pista. Poco después, en la vuelta 155, volvía a golpear a Tony Stewart por detrás, provocando que perdiese el control del coche, y enviándolo contra el muro interior. Segundos antes, la NASCAR había advertido a ambos pilotos que su incidente anterior debía estar solucionado, algo que Montoya no debió de oír. Los comisarios le enseñaban bandera negra, y era penalizado con 2 vueltas, con la advertencia de que si volvía a golpear a algún otro piloto, su temporada se habría terminado.

Por delante, Denny Hamlin se había encaramado a la primera posición, demostrando ser uno de los candidatos a la victoria. Tras ceder la plaza a Kurt Busch primero, y a su hermano Kyle después, Hamlin recuperaba el mando de la prueba después del último reinicio, en la vuelta 223, y aguantaba la posición hasta cruzar la meta en primer lugar, obteniendo su cuarta victoria de la temporada, y ganando 3 posiciones en la clasificación general final.

En segunda posición terminaba Jeff Burton, seguido por Kevin Harvick y Kurt Busch.

En quinta posición, Jimmie Johnson veía la última bandera a cuadros de la temporada, y se convertía en el primer piloto de la historia en ganar 4 títulos consecutivos.

Con fuegos artificiales y una gran ovación del público de fondo, Johnson levantaba la Copa Sprint, rodeado de todo su equipo. La única ausencia era la de Rick Hendrick, que no estaba presente Homestead.

- “La verdad es que hacer lo que no se había hecho hasta ahora en este deporte – amándolo como lo amo y respetándolo como lo respeto – hacer algo que no habían hecho Petty, Earnhardt, Gordon…es magnífico. Ganar 4 campeonatos en 8 años, lo que ha hecho este equipo. No se por donde empezar. Es increíble.”

La competición se despide hasta el comienzo de la temporada 2010, el segundo fin de semana de Febrero en el Daytona International Speedway.

Clasificación Final:
1º – (—) Jimmie Johnson: 6652
2º – (—) Mark Martin: 6511
3º – (—) Jeff Gordon: 6473
4º – (—) Kurt Busch: 6446
5º – (+3) Denny Hamlin: 6335
6º – (-1) Tony Stewart: 6309
7º – (—) Greg Biffle: 6292
8º – (-2) J.P. Montoya: 6252
9º – (—) Ryan Newman: 6175
10º – (—) Kasey Khane: 6128
11º – (—) Carl Edwards: 6118
12º – (—) Brian Vickers: 5929

The NASCAR Sprint Cup season finally ended on Sunday.  Inevitable, anti-climatic, ended with a whimper not a bang are all fair descriptions of the season finale.  There have been years I hated to see the season end, though the last time that was true Bill France was still the head of NASCAR, and the series was called Winston Cup. 

I received an email from a rabid fan asking me which was the worst President, George Bush or Brian France.  Well, I am keeping out of politics, but if Brian France was able to do to the country what he has done to NASCAR’s spotlight division, people would be looking at what the country has suffered the past few years as “the good old days.”

NASCAR spin doctors can say what they want about empty seats and plummeting TV ratings, but the truth is core fans are pissed over changes made to supposedly make the sport more exciting for new fans, and the core fans are ignoring the sport in droves.  New fans are not signing on fast enough to make up for old ones dropping out. The product is boring.  Anyone suffering from sleep deprivation should tape the races at Chicago or Fontana and watch them before going to bed.  Maybe NASCAR can market such tapes under the NAPCAR banner.

Changes that I would like to see that will not happen:

1.  Get rid of Brian France.  He is the Tony George (IRL) of the South, and I do not mean that as a compliment.  Replace him with Leesa France Kennedy-you know leadership is not going to anyone without the same last name.

2.  Get rid of The Chase, aka Jimmy Johnson Coronation Tour.  Tony Stewart would have trailed Johnson by only 13 points heading into the Homestead race.  Do you think Stewart would have been involved in a “dancing with the cars” tango with Juan Pablo Montoya last weekend if he was a mere baker’s dozen points from a championship?  I don’t think so.  Jeff Gordon would have been 56 points out when the race started a far cry from being eliminated as soon as Johnson flipped the starter switch on the 48 on Sunday.  The race would have meant something. And yes, I have hated the Chase from its inception.

3.  Make changes on the COT –Car of tomorrow/today/turmoil, based on input from drivers, crew chiefs, and owners.

4.  Shorten races.  The raciest NASCAR series is the trucks, all with fairly short races.  Only traditional races at forever NASCAR venues should go 500 miles.  Make the rest 300 miles or 300 laps, whichever is the shorter distance. 

5.  Either re-do the tracks at Chicago and Fontana, or kick them out of the series.  Yeah, fat chance, given the same family owns NASCAR and those tracks.

6.  Start mending fences with core fans.  Yes, the common starting time for events in 2010 is a baby step in the right direction.  Bristol in August as the only Saturday night race in the season would be nice.  And for the traditionalists, put the Southern 500 back in Darlington on Labor Day weekend.

7. TV coverage.  I don’t even know where to begin.  Get rid of all furry creatures on Fox coverage-well, keep Digger, but get rid of Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip, and Mike Joy.  Wally Dallenbach, don’t get me started.  I do like Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree, but fire the producer of the ABC/ESPN coverage.

Will that be enough change?  I hope no network ever pulls another AJC stunt like ESPN on Sunday.  AJC being All Johnson Coverage, from the prerace show to the post race it was wall to wall Johnson, with nary a minute of the 48 not being plastered on the TV screen or his name being mentioned in reverent tones. Gimme a break.  I really wish the networks would stop treating fans like little children and produce an intelligent afternoon of sports programming.  OK, NASCAR is more likely to shut down Chicago than for that to happen.

If the sport is going to regain its intrigue or mystic, other teams need to step up.  When motor head analysts suggest that the 48 can win five, six, seven, or even eight championships in a row I think “you gotta be kidding me.” Johnson is not the second coming of Richard Petty as a driver.  Knaus-the arrogant and self-admitted “not nice guy,” is the best crew chief, and the Hendrick teams seem to have the best of everything.  Does this mean there are no resources at other mega-teams?  There are no talented crew chiefs in any other shop?  That Johnson can make a car do things Stewart and Gordon can’t?  I just don’t see it.

So, who might challenge the tag team duo of Johnson and Knaus in 2010?  Well, Mark Martin’s team knows what it tastes like to be close and not to win a championship.  Denny Hamlin’s team won four races, though they need to learn how to finish every race.  Tony Stewart is the most talented driver and has a good team, but Stewart never seems to be able to run good for an entire season.  If Joe Gibbs could harness Kyle Busch, cool his jets a little, change the personality from being a total jerk to something less (hey, his brother Kurt was a total jerk, and he isn’t totally a jerk anymore), the 18 car could be a contender. Richard Childress Racing had a good end of the season, and has momentum going into the 2010 season.  Even with two drivers in the Chase, Jack Roush would hardly call 2009 a stellar year for Roush/Fenway.

What does it all mean?  God help us all, probably another boring season. I read that Sprint lost a lot of money this year-not just because of NASCAR.  Maybe Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream can become the new title sponsor and they can call the series The Vanilla Cup.