The final short track race of the season was a good old-fashioned slugfest. The majority of the cars pulled into the garage Sunday afternoon looking like they had been to the local demolition derby. But, that is what Martinsville is all about. Bent fenders and crinkled hoods is part of the charm of the paperclip. Sunday’s race gets a 4 Star Rating.
Jimmie Johnson did not win this one. Should we be concerned? Has the #48 team lost their edge? Is the Chase still wide open like every TV network was telling us two weeks ago? Nope. Johnson finished second and ahead of anyone that he needed to beat. However, just like back in some of the Winston Cup years, when the points battle isn’t all that close the racing on the track is still worth watching.
Sunday’s race was incredibly similar to the spring race at Martinsville earlier this season. Seven drivers that finished in the top 10 in March also finished in the top 10 this time around. Also, at a few points during the final 60 or so laps it looked like the finish might turn out to be exactly the same as well.
Now, while Sunday’s race was good, next Sunday’s race could be awesome. Personally, I have been waiting for Talladega since maybe late July. This could easily be the most exciting race in the Chase, and two of the three restrictor plate finishes this season have had incredibly exciting finishes. There is nothing like having 30 cars lined up three-wide going 190 mph for several laps at a time. One thing is for sure, the finish will be a close one, and there is really no way to predict a winner because almost anyone could come away with a Brad Keselowski-type miracle this week. Even Paul Menard has come close to winning at that track.
That’s it for this week. Enjoy this weekend because it is the best race left on the schedule. Over the last several weeks, unless you are a Johnson fan, there has not been much hope that your driver could bring home the trophy. That will be different at Talladega and maybe we will finally get that 14th different winner of 2009.
Good stuff, JM. There did seem to be a LOT of torn up racecars Sunday. I saw at least 3 cars with the left rear 1/4 panels badly crumpled or completely gone. I would have liked for ABC to have shown us how they could still put fuel in those cars.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to Dega also.
Nice rundown as always, Mayer. The Martinsville race just didn't do it for me. In fact, none of the Chase races have so far. Maybe that will change this week at Talladega...
ReplyDeleteGene - That is an interesting point. I remember Allmendinger not having one piece of smooth sheetmetal on the car before he finally wrecked it good, and Lord knows ABC shows us enough of the other pit stuff, they could have shown that. Oh wait, #44 isn't in the Chase.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
gonger93 - I agree. This Chase has not been that great. The race to the Chase was great, but now Jimmie took over again. Looking forward to next week though.
Thanks!
speaking of the 'dinger, will Richard Petty Motorsports do what Roush did to Kurt in 2005 and say "right, you're not driving our car for the rest of the year" since he was stupid enough to drink then drive?
ReplyDeleteSorry so late to your blog Mayer! Thought it was a pretty good race with some good side by side. Double file restarts helped. Still way too much JJ though! Course if it were Jr or Kurt I wouldnt be complaining...
ReplyDeleteDega should be awesome but trying not to get my hopes up so I actually have low enough expectations to enjoy it! LOL
Tez - I think Roush used it as an excuse to get Kurt out - he was unbearable I am sure in his final days at Roush...
tezgm99 - I think it would be tough to kick AJ to the curb right now because they just got that deal done with him in the #43 and Best Buy. Money won't let that happen.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
klvalus - True about Johnson, but overall I think variety is best for the sport. However, it has been so long since my driver has won I don't know what it feels like to have a consistant winner.
Thanks!