Posted by GEORGE October 27, 2009 11:22:17 AM
It could have been predicted that Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson would duel it out at the end of the Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway, but what couldn't be predicted was the fact that Hamlin had the best car at the end, and he easily drove away from the field. Being from Virginia, Hamlin wanted this win above all others and he didn't disappoint his fans.
Earlier this season, Jimmie Johnson bumped Denny Hamlin out of the way to win the race at Martinsville, and Hamlin was prepared to do the same to Johnson this past weekend. But it never happened because Hamlin's car was so much better than Johnson's. Jimmie stated after the race that he would have bumped Hamlin again if it meant getting the win, but it was obvious to him that he had the second-place car.
Johnson was happy with second place as it allowed him to lengthen his lead over Martin, Gordon, and Stewart. Jimmie is doing what Jimmie does best - driving for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.
With four races left in the 2009 NASCAR season, Johnson looks like a sure thing to win it all, but wait just a minute! We're headed to Talladega, home of the "Big One!" It's not hard to imagine the hopes of Jimmie Johnson being dashed by an accident at Talladega, which would garner Johnson a last-place finish and virtually no points. If Mark Martin would win the race, and Jimmie finished last, Martin could take over the lead. The chances are not that far-fetched. The fact is, the same scenario could happen in any of the last four races, but Talladega is the one that worries Johnson the most, and me too for that matter.
On another note, Danica Patrick is talking about running a few races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series next year, just to see if she likes NASCAR racing well enough to make a permanent jump from the Indy Racing League. In one respect, it's probably a fair idea, but it won't allow her the opportunity to do justice to either NASCAR or IRL. I still don't believe it's a good idea for Patrick to make the switch, but if she's going to give NASCAR Racing a try, it should be a full-time effort. No one can tell much from running a few races.
Our NASCAR tour group is off to Talladega Superspeedway for this weekend's events, including the Amp Energy 500. Super high speeds on a dramatically-banked track will be the order of the day. I had the opportunity to try to walk up the banking in turn one a number of years ago, and it takes quite an effort. I have to say that in all my excursions to NASCAR tracks, "Dega" has produced some of the most exciting races I have ever seen. It is most appropriate that the fall Talladega race falls on Halloween weekend. Happy Halloween!
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