November 21, 2010
By Kim Roberson
Kim Roberson
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It has taken five years to work out, but as we tune into the last race of the Championship Chase this afternoon, we still have no idea who will come out of the event as the NASCAR Champion for 2010. 35 races, nine of which have been in the Chase, and Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, and Kevin Harvick will be involved in an all out battle on the track in Homestead to determine not just the winner of the race, but the man who will be on the stage in Las Vegas in two weeks with the title of Champion next to his name.
For the last five years, there really hasn't been much of a mystery heading into the final race.
In 2005, Tony Stewart had been on top of the points standings for every race but one of the Chase and finished 15th to win his second Championship.
In 2006, Jimmie Johnson went into the final race 63 points ahead of second place Matt Kenseth.
In 2007, he had won four straight races leading up to the final race in Homestead, and it was unlikely his dominant season was going to end any way other than with the trophy in his hands.
In 2008, Johnson was far enough ahead of Carl Edwards going into Homestead that he only had to finish 36th to win his third Cup Championship. Last year, again going into Homestead there was no mystery that Johnson was going to become the first-ever four-time-in-a-row Champion by the end of the race.
So here we are, 2010. Jimmie Johnson is in a place he hasn't been in for five years; outside of first place starting the title race. Yes, he is starting today -- well ahead of the men on either side of him in sixth place. Kevin Harvick, who is coming into the race just behind Johnson in third, starts today's race from 28th spot, and the points leader, Denny Hamlin, starts from 37th place on the grid.
However, the 37th place starting position might not be as bad of a place as it would be for another driver with championship hopes. Hamlin started 38th last season, and won the race. If he can do the same today, he will not only be the Champion, but he will also be the man who broke Jimmie Johnson's streak.
"It's a much different perspective for us. I've been here in the past with even a big points lead and have been concerned about dropping the ball," explained the reigning champion Johnson this weekend.
Now, he not only can't drop the ball, he can't be trailing behind Hamlin as they cross the finish line.
Harvick, who almost quit the No. 29 team and Richard Childress Racing a year ago, says this Championship has not only meant more excitement for him as a driver, but for many fans as well.
"All these old-school (Dale) Earnhardt fans have come out of nowhere," Harvick commented Thursday. "The support has been great this week from the race fans, from people who hadn't watched races for a while."
If Kevin passes Johnson and Hamlin for the Championship win, it would be the first title for RCR since the late Dale Earnhardt won six for RCR in the 80's and 90's, the last of which were back to back titles in 1993 and 1994.
"Richard and I have been through a lot together," Harvick added, noting the difficulties last season where none of the Chlidress cars were in the Chase and where harvick's frustration with the conditioins at RCR almost led to him quitting the team all together. "We've talked about what we have to do to get to this point. Whether we win or lose this year, we've taken a huge step toward achieving those goals and put ourselves as a company back in contention to what looks to be hopefully consistency as we go forward to racing for championships."
A Championship would also be a tremendous way to head into the 2011 season, which marks the tenth year of Earnhardt's passing, and tenth anniversary of Harvick taking over the car.
Hamlin, who goes in knowing that if the No. 11 team make no mistakes both on the track and on pit road they will come out on top, says that the mind games that have been going on all week actually give him a little comfort."It's almost endearing in that we say the things we say about each other and our teams because it's so close, we're all looking for any advantage," Denny explained. "If we can get into a guy's head, then that's going to be an advantage."
Denny's main challenge will be keeping the No. 48 either behind him, or directly in front of him all day. When asked about Johnson trying to use head games against him, Hamlin smiled. "If he keeps bringing up my name, then he's pretty much worried about me." And that is the place Denny wants to be.
Many people complain that the Chase has ruined the excitement for the Spint Cup Championship, but I beg to differ. The Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series don't have a Chase format, and we have known that Brad Keselowski is the champion of the Nationwide Series for three weeks -- and that Todd Bodine was taking home the Championship for two.
It seems for the last several years, we have known the champion for both of those series going into Championship weekend.
Without the Chase, Kevin Harvick would have been crowned Champion two weeks ago in the Cup Series, and there would be no reason to watch this afternoon. Instead, we go into today not knowing who the Champion will be, and I know I for one will be glued to the edge of my seat keeping an eye on the 11, 48, and 29 cars to see who will come out in the end with the title.
If it happens to be Jimmie Johnson, then he will likely have earned the record setting fifth championship in a row in a way that makes him a deserving champion. But if Hamlin or Harvick grab the trophy away from him, think of how wonderful the celebration in Miami will be -- and in thousands of households across the country.
I can't wait to see how it all unfolds!
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
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