November 11, 2009
By Chuck Abrams
So everyone thought that Talladega was the race that could determine whether or not Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus could make NASCAR history.
It appears everyone was off by just one race.
Texas, a track that Johnson normally runs well at, is the track that bit Jimmie and Chad. But the team showed its professionalism by getting Johnson back out on track and making enough laps to finish a few palaces higher and potentially saved their record setting year.
If things go as most people expect, the #48 team can point to the day that they got back on the track at Texas to earn valuable points and stay just enough in the lead to win a fourth consecutive championship.
And while Johnson sat in the garage while his teammates worked feverishly to get him back on the track, Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin had only one thing to do – win the race and keep Johnson as far behind them as possible.
Neither could do that. While Martin did manage to finish fourth, Jeff Gordon struggled to finish 13th and Johnson came back to finish 38th.
Mark Martin could only wonder “what if” when he looks at the day at Texas where Johnson nearly handed him a gift.
As it was, Kyle Busch dominated the race but ran out of gas (as did many others) near the end, handing the race win to his brother Kurt.
With a win, Martin could have shaved the distance between him and Johnson to under 70 points, but he now rests 73 markers behind Johnson. And it won’t get any easier at Phoenix this week where Johnson has been dominant even though Martin won there the last time out. So even if Mark repeats as winner, having Johnson finish in the top 5 doesn’t help much.
That sends them both to Homestead where all Johnson has to do is just get an average finish and it is all over but popping the champagne bottles.
Other thoughts…
Will Kurt Busch’s win and his praise of his team (yes, I said praise) help him feel a bit better and make nicey-nice with new teammate Brad Keselowski? Or will Kurt continue to brood and be Mr. Mean? Brad K finished a very disappointing 35th at Texas and will be looking to redeem himself at Phoenix. Let’s hope he stays out of the way of the Chasers.
Danica Patrick seems to be headed to JR Motorsports next year in a partial Nationwide Series schedule while she runs a full Indy schedule. As we discussed last week on racetalkradio.com, what is she thinking? Just when we thought it was all over with her, this news pops up via ESPN.
If they are right, holy cow. If they are wrong, holy cow. While I think Danica could be good for NASCAR, I think that only if she is as good as she thinks she is. Will she be like Stewart or Montoya or Franchitti? Or Sam Hornish, Jr.? No other driver has run an Indy and NASCAR schedule before so this will be interesting. She is in rarified air here, but then that is what she likes to breath.
Dodge appears to be once again winding down its stay in NASCAR. In the Chrysler deal with Fiat, there may be no mid-sized model for Dodge to race in, and I pray to goodness they don’t run a Dodge-skinned Fiat.
That’s all for now. Let me know your thoughts.
Drive fast, turn left and keep the shiny side up.
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