RaceWay Tours Blog

Jimmie Johnson Wins at Dover

Jimmie Johnson Wins at Dover
Posted by GEORGE September 29, 2009 11:31:31 AM

Jimmie Johnson dominated at Dover International Speedway last weekend. It was pretty much a "no contest" early and stayed that way throughout the AAA 400. The only question that remained was who would finish second, and Mark Martin provided the answer late in the race.

For a while, it appeared that Jeff Gordon might be the driver to beat, but Gordon faded late and finished back in the pack. It could easily have been a Hendrick Motorsports sweep of the first three places, and Johnson, Martin, and Gordon delivered a message to the field that to take The Chase away from Hendrick Motorsports will take a monster effort.

Ten of the 12 Chase drivers finished in the top 13, and the competition remains tough. We could see four or five drivers still in the running for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship going into the last race of the season at Homestead-Miami. If the competition stays this close, it's going to take more than solid finishes to take home the NASCAR Sprint Cup trophy. It will take a lot of wins!

Denny Hamlin had a miserable race and dropped three spots to 6th-place, but the boys who need to be worrying the most continue to be Kasey Kahne and Carl Edwards. We're only two races into The Chase and these guys are already 153 and 189 points behind, respectively. Brian Vickers may also be on his way out of contention with a poor finish dropping him two spots to number 10 in the NASCAR points standings. I'll give these three guys one more race to see what they can do, and then I'm throwing in the towel for them.

Tony Stewart is in bad need of a win for a couple of reasons. He needs the extra points since he's in fifth place, 106 points out of the lead, but he also needs to prove that he didn't peak too early. My guess is that he will perk up in Kansas City this weekend and gain a spot or two in the standings.

Keep a close eye on Juan Pablo Montoya, NASCAR fans. He's a seasoned veteran now, and he has the equipment it takes to finish well. Montoya could steal the show!

See you at the track!

Up Next: Dover International Speedway

Up Next: Dover International Speedway
Posted by GEORGE September 24, 2009 11:31:07 AM

There was no lying in the weeds for Mark Martin at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last weekend. Martin was not content with merely a good points finish, as he brought home the winner's share of the purse in the Sylvania 300.

Mark Martin shook his easy going image and blew the others away, easily winning the race at the end. It was the best I've seen Martin drive in years, and it's plain to see that he's after the coveted 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.

Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards, and Jeff Gordon dug themselves into a bit of a hole with their non-productive finishes at New Hampshire, with Kahne's hole being the deepest. But it's important to remember that it's early in the Chase, and damage done in one race can still be corrected. A win by any one of these drivers, coupled with poor performances by the leaders will make up a lot of ground.

Tony Stewart may have done his thing in the regular season, and may be in for hard times from here on out. At least that's what my NASCAR friends are thinking. His finishes lately have not paralleled his success in the first 26 races. But mark my word Smoke fans, Tony will be there at the end.

Jimmie Johnson is lurking on the horizon, and he drove like the champion he is last weekend. He didn't have a winning car, but he still positioned himself in second place in the standings. A couple of other NASCAR drivers are as good as Jimmie Johnson, and I'd say at least one driver may even be better. But no team is as good as Jimmie's, and that is what wins NASCAR Championships.

Dover International Speedway is next on the NASCAR schedule, and in a short ten-race competition like The Chase, only one big mistake is allowed. Dover could spell the end for Kasey Kahne if he doesn't finish well.

I think the winner at Dover will be Jeff Gordon. He knows he needs the win, and being on the spot right now will help propel him to victory. I'll even stick my neck out a little bit more, and predict a Hendrick Motorsports 1, 2, 3 finish at Dover (with Dale Earnhardt Jr no where in sight).

See you at the track.

NASCAR needs another Jimmy Spencer!

NASCAR needs another Jimmy Spencer!
Posted by GEORGE September 17, 2009 11:45:31 AM

NASCAR needs another Jimmy Spencer! That's right! If Spencer added anything to the excitement of NASCAR Racing, it was because of his enthusiasm and his position as NASCAR's all-time best bad boy.

Many have tried to assume the job after Jimmy retired, but no one has been able to match him. Spencer was the hatchet man on and off the track, and other drivers steered away from him rather than crossing his path. Jimmy is a super color man during the NASCAR pre-race programs, but he was at his best when he was keeping other NASCAR drivers in line. NASCAR needs another Jimmie Spencer!

Earlier this week, I talked about the chances of Mark Martin, Carl Edwards, and Jimmie Johnson winning the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. Let's take a look at how the remainder of the field will fair in The Chase.

Tension and nervousness will raise their ugly heads in the last ten races of this NASCAR season, and it will start early. At least one of the 12 drivers will take himself out of contention this weekend in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Ten drivers will survive, but my guess is Ryan Newman or Brian Vickers, or both, will find themselves hanging on by a thread after this weekend.

Juan Pablo Montoya and Kasey Kahne will run well in the early Chase races, but will begin to fade from the picture around the fifth or sixth race.

Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin may have their problems at the start of The Chase, but each will win a race or two, bringing them close, but no cigar for them.

Greg Biffle has to be considered a long shot at best, but I just can't count him out. Biffle may be the surprise of The Chase in 2009.

This leaves Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon, and I feel pretty good about their chances. However, I feel better about Smoke's chances to win The Chase than I do Gordon's. Stewart has opened eyes and made a believer out of many NASCAR fans, including me. It's going to come down to the last race at Homestead-Miami in November, and the two drivers who will fight it out for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup trophy will be Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson.

See you at the track!

Hamlin Wins The Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond

Hamlin Wins The Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond
Posted by GEORGE September 15, 2009 12:21:25 PM

Denny Hamlin had never won a NASCAR Sprint Cup race on his home track, at least not until Saturday night. Hamlin's car was perfect, and he drove like a champion to win the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway. It was a combined effort as Denny's pit crew performed some great pit stops, and Hamlin let it all hang out on the track. Denny had nothing to lose since he was already locked into The Chase, and he was on a mission to end his RIR losing streak.

Mark Martin drove his usual consistent race and finished fourth. Ironically, Martin was on the points bubble a bit going into the race at Richmond, and now he is in the lead in the points lead going into the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this coming weekend. Martin's four regular season NASCAR Sprint Cups wins are the most by any driver in The Chase, and help propel Martin nine places to first place.

Now the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship is on the line with only 10 races left in the 2009 season. It's all up for grabs with the 12th-place driver just 40 points out of the lead. Hot streaks are important now, but consistency wins The Chase every year. That's the way Mark Martin drives, but in the past, bad luck has raised it's ugly head for Mark all too often.

This was far from a typical year for Matt Kenseth, and last Saturday night was no exception. Kenseth and his crew never did get his car dialed in, and Matt is now on the outside looking in.

Kyle Busch's year has been one of highs and lows. At times, he looked like the class of the field, and other times he drove like a rookie. Kyle also experienced some bad luck along the way. All-in-all, it has been an upsetting season for Busch, but I think I see a bit of maturity developing in him. Never the less, Kyle Busch will have to wait until next year to compete for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.

Carl Edwards was my pick to win the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, and although I don't feel as comfortable with the pick as I did before, I'm holding tight. Cousin Carl has shown signs of life lately, and he is capable of putting together one of those hot streaks.

Can you really bet against Jimmie Johnson, as I just did? What are the odds of a driver winning four straight NASCAR championships? I think Jimmie has been laying in the weeds a bit, and I think we're about to see him at his best. If I would not have picked Carl Edwards at the start of the season, my bet would be on Jimmie Johnson now. So can Jimmie win four in a row? Dang right he can!

Check back with me on Thursday at TrackChatter.com and I'll fill you in on other drivers' chances of winning the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. I also have an idea about NASCAR that I bet none of you have thought of. I'll share that on Thursday too.

See you at the track!

Kasey Kahne Wins the Pep Boys Auto 500

Kasey Kahne Wins the Pep Boys Auto 500
Posted by GEORGE September 10, 2009 12:19:33 PM

It could be the biggest win of Kasey Kahne's career, and may just be the finish that propels him into the 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Kahne took the lead with only ten laps remaining, and won last weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The big win shot Kahne all the way up to sixth place in the Race For The Chase, and all Kasey needs to do this weekend at Richmond International Raceway is finish 21st or better to make The Chase.

Some would say Kasey's win was an upset, but I disagree. Kahne has been running well lately, and has put together a successful season. His success is just what the doctor ordered for Richard Petty Motorsports.

Here's what the bottom dwellers in The Chase standings need to do to make The Chase: Twelfth-place driver Matt Kenseth needs to win the race. 11-th place driver Greg Biffle needs to finish 11th or better. 10th-place driver Mark Martin needs to finish 12th or better. Of course this is what these drivers can do to make The Chase on their own. If any of the drivers ahead of these guys, who are also not currently locked into The Chase, falter, it would make the job for Kenseth, Biffle, and Martin much easier.

After last weekend's race, only four drivers are locked into The Chase. That makes for a super-exciting Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Many NASCAR fans will tell you that Bristol Motor Speedway is the best short track in NASCAR Racing, but I beg to differ. I love the racing in Bristol, but Richmond is mighty hard to beat.

It's just not the high speed, slam-bam racing on the short track that makes Richmond a great place to watch a race. The hospitality pavilion is a great experience with most all of the corporate sponsors in attendance. This means a NASCAR fan can usually spot a driver or two in hospitality village. The pit road tours at RIR afford NASCAR fans an up close look at the track itself, and a chance to talk a little NASCAR with some of the pit crew members. It's also a great opportunity to take a few pictures. At Richmond, the grounds are compact, compared to many NASCAR tracks, which results in less walking around during the Richmond experience. I've been to Richmond International Raceway many times, and I've enjoyed every trip!

See you at the track!

Danica Patrick to Stewart Haas?

Danica Patrick to Stewart Haas?
Posted by GEORGE September 3, 2009 11:09:11 AM

This week, Danica Patrick made a visit to Stewart Haas Racing. Does this mean Danica is headed for NASCAR Racing soon? For her sake, I hope not. Danica is a "middle-of-the-pack" Indy Racing League driver. So far in her career, she has won only one in IRL race, and NASCAR racing would simply not be her thing. She is showing a lot of interest in NASCAR, however, and Danica has visited a number of teams. Abilities aside, she would be a super revenue-booster for any team, and for NASCAR racing, in general.

Penske Racing has announced the addition of Brad Keselowski to their racing team. It's a good move for Keselowski, as he will be joining seasoned veterans Kurt Busch and Sam Hornish Jr. Penske is even discussing the possibility of adding a fourth driver to the fold.

Brad Keselowski has shown great promise lately, which makes letting him go a bad move for Hendrick Motorsports, as I see it. How much longer will Rick Hendrick have Mark Martin available to him, and how much longer will Dale Earnhardt Jr be in a Hendrick Motorsports car? Keselowski would have brought youth to the Hendrick organization, something it will be lacking very soon. But there are other young drivers nipping at the heels of Earnhardt Jr, and a couple of them are going to be deserving of a chance to drive in NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing very soon. The departure of Brad Keselowski may have saved Dale Jr's place at Hendrick, at least for the 2010 season.

Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, and Jeff Gordon have clinched spots in The Chase for the Sprint Cup, and I look for no more than three other drivers to clinch this weekend in the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The drivers who fair well this weekend will stay in contention, but a dose of bad luck will ruin Chase hopes for someone this weekend.

There will be six places up for grabs going into the last race for The Chase at Richmond International Raceway next weekend. That will definitely make the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 a "run for the money" and a real NASCAR shootout! What a season this has been so far, and it's far from over!

See you at the track!

Edwards Beats Ambrose in Montreal

Edwards Beats Ambrose in Montreal
Posted by GEORGE September 1, 2009 10:54:30 AM

Carl Edwards fans had to be happy with his last lap win at the Circuit Gilles Villenueve track in Montreal on Sunday. Edwards didn't lead many laps in the NASCAR Nationwide Series NAPA Auto Parts 200, but he led the lap that counted as he passed Marcos Ambrose on the white flag lap of the green, white, checkered finish.

It was a disappointing finish, once again for the now seasoned driver Marcos Ambrose as he led 60 laps of the race, but couldn't hold off Carl Edwards at the end. Ambrose has now led more laps than anyone since the race in Montreal became a reality, but has never won there.

A rain shower caused teams to break out the rain tires late in the race. It's disappointing to see a rain-shortened or postponed race due to rain, but I also can't imagine a good race on rain tires and a slick race track. In addition, getting soaked while watching a race doesn't really appeal to me either, but I would probably have to brave it out if the race continued. Come to think of it, I sat through a snow storm in Bristol a few years ago, so maybe a rain shower wouldn't dampen my spirits at the track that much. I'm just not certain about the quality of the race.

Nervousness has set in for the drivers on the points bubble. There is very little time left to make The Chase, and a few drivers will be disappointed after this weekend in Atlanta. Someone will most certainly drop out of contention this weekend, and I bet Mark Martin will be one of those drivers. If not this weekend, then it will happen in Richmond next weekend.

It looks like Kyle Busch finally has in his head what it will take to make The Chase, and possibly win the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. My money is on Busch, but my heart is rooting for Mark Martin.

We'll talk more about Richmond International Raceway next week. It's another "must see" track on my list of favorite NASCAR tracks, and I'll tell you why next week.

We're already starting to see "NASCAR musical chairs" being played as a number of teams are putting their feelers out to see who they can land for next season. It's getting serious, with hefty sums of money being put on the table. Bobby Labonte is the most recent name up for bids with Hall of Fame Racing currently the top bidder. One thing we are sure of is that there will be more to come!

See you at the track!