Brad Keselowski.
Sprint Cup Champion for 2012.
It was close. Or rather, could have been.
The #2 Miller Lite Dodge team and Penske Racing ran a season that was consistent and put them into the position to be on the final podium for the Sprint Cup.
However, there was a hitch. The Lowe’s #48 team of Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Racing. They made a push. They got on top. They had problems. They fell back.
A crash, a mechanical, another mechanical… (more…)
Phoenix fans got a deal on their tickets.
One ticket gave access to a NASCAR race and a WWE event combined with championship drama and flying language suitable for an “R” rating if it were on the big screen at the cinema.
It was a mash-up of the bloopers from “Days of Thunder”, “Ricky Bobby” and “Last American Hero”…
Throw in the Nationwide Series race the day before and you have championship hopes dashed away by two.
Elliott Sadler in the Nationwide Series and Jimmie Johnson in Sprint Cup had practically the same scenario. Sadler had his hopes dashed away with a wall hit that took the #2 OneMain Financial Chevy out of the Great Clips 200 and left him 20 points out with only Homestead to go.
Jimmie Johnson also had a run with the retaining wall that took the #48 Lowe’s Chevy to the garage long enough to loose several laps and 20 points. Johnson also faces the prospect of one race remaining with the only hope of gaining resting on the potential bad luck of another.
On any race weekend fans would consider themselves lucky to have a seat while a game-changing scenario plays out on the track in front of them. (more…)
Jimmie Johnson. “J” X 2…
The #48. 4 X2 = 8.
Texas. Pole X 2. Johnson started on the pole two weeks in a row. This one at Texas and the week before at Martinsville.
Texas. Win X 2. Johnson wins from the pole for two straight weeks. Martinsville and again at Texas.
Also like Martinsville, the #2 Miller Lite Dodge of Brad Keselowski was there and in front of Johnson for the lead in the final laps but could not hold against the charging #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet.
Keselowski was up in the front more at Texas than back in Virginia but Johnson was, like Martinsville, holding the lead quite a bit as well and was at the front when it counted. (more…)
Martinsville. It can be a turn to turn slug-fest or a lap by lap run down trading positions. The classic scenario mixes the two for moves through the field and pushing the way to the front.
This weekend we got a bit of the classic Martinsville. Twenty-two lead changes, plenty of clashing bumpers with some spins and wall-hangers to an “anyone could take it” 20 lap final.
This was the Chase from Martinsville as the track celebrated 65 years of racing with Hall Of Famers, a showing of historic memorabilia at a local museum, a points grab on the line and a return to his car by one of the top stars of NASCAR.
If that wasn’t enough to make a full day throw in a constant threat of hurricane Sandy off the eastern coast and another front pumping through from the west. As the race ran through scheduled 500 laps it was raining 80 miles west and 100 miles east. Martinsville sat between the weather for racing but 15 minutes after the checkered flag the temperatures began to plummet and the wind was kicking it.
Martinsville fans are used to dealing with a little weird weather but this may have pushed it up a notch. (more…)
Rain… It is as necesary as air…
However, on race day for NASCAR Sprint Cup, it is as unwelcome as a Bud hat in a Miller campsite…
The entire season blew the storm of the Chase into Richmond with wildcards and points on the line. That storm was put off as another storm blew in and kept the race in the garage for almost two hours. NASCAR and RIR staff kept things tight as the rain moved out. After all, the plan was to run under the lights. The weather was watched and the decision was held. Jet dryers and utility vehicles did a number on the track to dry it out but even then they ran the first few laps under caution.
Finally they went green on a green track with any rubber from qualifying and the Nationwide race the day before thrown to the inner wall. The crowd braved the rain to watch Jeff Gordon blow by pole sitter Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Dale, Jr. to regain the lead shortly after. (more…)
The NASCAR season is into the late half and so far, by design or luck, it is shaping up for big races. The “Chase” is winding with a few aces being held to the chest. The ingredients have been mixed and all that is left is to toss it in the oven and watch it rise.
There has been drama and controversy to keep the fans talking. Kurt Busch, for example, with media trouble and a race suspension from NASCAR trying to break him back inside the corral. A.J. Allmendinger is another with a mark on substance abuse, suspension and a sanctioned rehab program. The continuing saga of Matt Kenseth making a jump for 2013 keeps some speculation in the conversation. (more…)
New pavement. New speeds.
Practice brought blistered tires and low lap times.
Now it is a wonder the place is even in one piece. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. lead and drove to the win. It is possible for miles around people in their homes were calling 911 about earthquakes. The epicenter was the Quicken Loans 400 as the #88 Diet Mtn. Dew/The Dark Knight Rises/National Guard Chevy crossed under the checkered flag.
He started in 17th. He made it to the front and of the 16 lead changes he was in front for 93 of the 200 laps.
His last NASCAR Sprint Cup win was 2008… At Michigan. (more…)