RaceWay Tours Blog

Jamie McMurray Wins at Talladega

Jamie McMurray Wins at Talladega
Posted by GEORGE November 3, 2009 4:31:22 PM

An 85-race losing streak came to an end last Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway as Jamie McMurray won the third race of his career. All the excitement of Talladega racing was saved until the end when McMurray conserved fuel and raced across the finish line under a yellow flag. This was a great win for McMurray, and hopefully will secure him a driver's seat for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Currently Jamie is without a ride for next year.

A smart decision by Chad Knaus in the Amp Energy 500 may have driven the last nail in the coffin for the rest of the field, as far as the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship is concerned. Knaus brought Jimmie Johnson in during the next-to-last caution and gave him a shot of fuel, which allowed him to finish the race. Jeff Gordon and a few others in the race were not so fortunate. As others wrecked, or ran out of gas, Johnson came from back in the field to finish in the top ten. Jimmie is now a solid 184 points ahead of Mark Martin, and is 192 points ahead of Jeff Gordon.

It appears that Hendrick Motorsports will pull off a 1st, 2nd, 3rd sweep this year with 4th-place driver, Juan Pablo Montoya, 239 points behind the leader.

Any hopes Tony Stewart had of winning the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship were dashed with the race at Talladega, and Stewart slipped one place to 5th, 279 points behind Jimmie Johnson. Johnson would need to have DNFs in two of the last three races for Martin or Gordon to have a prayer of taking the championship away from him.

Does Jimmie Johnson's apparent lock on this year's championship mean the next three races are meaningless? And does it take away from the excitement of NASCAR racing for the remainder of the season? Only if you don't like NASCAR Racing! Three exciting races at three exciting tracks are in store for us, as the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winds down. Championship or not, when your favorite driver wins a race, it's celebration time.

Our NASCAR tour group will be at all three venues, and I'm betting that we're going to see three different winners. I'm even predicting that these races will each be won by non-Chase qualifiers. By the way, if you Dale Earnhardt Jr fans are thirsty for a win by your favorite NASCAR driver, better not miss the race this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. This will be Earnhardt Jr's best chance to win in a long time. It's Junior's type of track, and Rick Hendrick is throwing all he's got into trying to get Dale Earnhardt Jr a win this season.

See you at track!

Stewart-Haas, A Season to Remember

Stewart-Haas, A Season to Remember
Posted by GEORGE October 29, 2009 3:20:25 PM

Tony Stewart will probably not match his 2005 feat of leading the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings after 26 races, and then continuing on to win the 2005 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. But I would have to say this season still may be his best all-around performance of his successful career.

Tony took over a failing operation which had no hope of ever being a NASCAR Sprint Cup contender and he has it showing signs of success in less than one year. No one thought it could happen, and no one predicted the success that Stewart-Haas Racing has achieved this year.

Stewart didn't do it alone, of course. Ryan Newman's influence as a seasoned driver together with his engineering education contributed greatly to the strides made by the race team this year. Joe Gibbs is a proven leader, and possesses the ability to surround himself with the people who he knows can do the job. Stewart learned that lesson very well from Gibbs, and Tony hired the right people and let them do their jobs.

The equipment Tony chose to use has been a significant success story in itself. Hendrick engines are a cut above the rest, and Tony Stewart knew that going in. In years to come, expect Stewart-Haas engines to come into being and charge to the front. But for now, Stewart made the right decision to put the best engines available in his cars, no matter the cost.

There are two other factors which are every bit as important as the ones mentioned above: Tony Stewart is one of the best and most accomplished drivers in NASCAR Racing. A few years ago, I was saying that Smoke was the best of the best. Another year, or maybe two, and you may hear me say those same words again. Good equipment still needs good drivers to win, and Tony is one of the best. The last factor making the team successful is the maturity of Tony Stewart, coupled with the trait of accepting nothing but success.

Peaks and valleys happen to NASCAR race teams, and it has never been more evident than today. Hendrick Motorsports seems to be securely perched on a peak with no valleys in site. Some have even compared Hendrick's success with the New York Yankees. As of right now, no other team can match it, but Stewart-Haas is is a team climbing the peak at record speed. Success breeds success, and Stewart-Haas will be the next team standing with Hendrick Motorsports. Incidentally, the Yanks got beat last night.

See you at the track!

Denny Hamlin Wins at Martinsville

Denny Hamlin Wins at Martinsville
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!

See you at the track!

Hendrick Motorsports is the Team to Beat

Hendrick Motorsports is the Team to Beat
Posted by GEORGE October 22, 2009 10:21:01 AM

Other than Hendrick Motorsports fans, who would have guessed that Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, and Jeff Gordon would be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in points towards the end of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season? Not me! I might have bought the fact that they would all be in the top ten, but not pulling off a tri-fecta.

With the exception of Dale Earnhardt Jr, Hendrick Motorsports has made the statement that they are, by far, the best team in NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing today. I think Jimmie Johnson has overtaken Kyle Busch as the current best driver in NASCAR, but the success of all three teams can be credited to the garage and pit crews of all three drivers. The question no longer remains of which is more important: The driver, or the team? Johnson, Martin, or Gordon driving for another team today would definitely not fair as well, and would not be sitting in the first three slots in The NASCAR Chase points standings.

With all due respect for Earnhardt Jr, the number 88 car should also be up there, which favors the side of the fans who think the driver is most important to the team's success. But Junior's case is not normal, by any stretch of the imagination, and you need to throw out the lows of each team when considering who is the best. In Hendrick Motorsports case, even if you throw out the high and the low, they're still ranked 1st and 2nd!

Rick Hendrick has put it all together, and has assembled the best of the best when it comes to equipment, engineers, pit crew members, and design people. The only mar on the finish of the business is the number 88 car. Notice I said the car, I did not say the driver. Dale Jr is not a top ten driver, but then again, I can say that about a couple of drivers who did make The Chase. Given the right stuff, Jr could be in The Chase this year. I am not saying that Hendrick gave Earnhardt inferior equipment. What I am saying is that they have not put it all together for Earnhardt, and for Earnhardt to do well, he must have perfect stuff to drive.

Hendrick Motorssports will be the force to contend with in years to come. Lesser teams will get closer to the success of Hendrick, but Hendrick teams will be tough to catch.

See you at the track!

Jimmie Johnson Wins at Lowes (Again)

Jimmie Johnson Wins at Lowes (Again)
Posted by GEORGE October 20, 2009 4:05:10 PM

Jimmie Johnson proved that he is still the man to beat at Lowe's Motor Speedway as he cruised by teammate Jeff Gordon with 13 laps left, and won the NASCAR Banking 500 in Charlotte.

Only four of the 12 Chase drivers finished in the top 10 last Saturday night, which boosted Jimmie Johnson's lead to 90 points. The Chase for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship is not over yet, but it may be soon, unless another contender comes to the front. Mark Martin still has a chance, but the race he ran at Lowe's was more like his races from seasons past. Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Kurt Busch are also still in the running, but the fact is, if Jimmie Johnson doesn't stub his toe somewhere in the next two races, the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship is his.

My guess is that Mark Martin will continue to fade, and Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon will catch Martin and bump him out of second-place. Whether these guys can catch Jimmie Johnson is all in Johnson's and crew chief Chad Knaus' hands. Next up is Martinsville, and if Mark Martin has anything left, he needs to win this make-or-break race.

Will Danica Patrick race in the Nationwide Series in 2010, and if so, will she make a name for herself in NASCAR Racing? I think she'll be there next year. And if she shows up, she'll make a name for herself. NASCAR is licking their chops, hoping she signs up. Danica is another Dale Earnhardt Jr in the making, as far as NASCAR is concerned.

The fact is, Danica has only won one Indy Racing League race in her career, but she's the most popular IRL driver. You don't see many other IRL drivers in commercials, endorsing products, and most all of them are better drivers than Danica Patrick. The men like her for obvious reasons, and the women like her because she carries their banner. She's good, but not great, and it's like Dale Earnhardt Jr is looking in a mirror. No doubt she'll be good for NASCAR, but she won't get to see the winner's circle.

The 2009 NASCAR season is about over. In a few short weeks, we'll be talking about what an exciting season it was, and what the changes will be for the 2010 NASCAR season. We may be talking about the chances of Jimmie Johnson winning five in a row, or celebrating Mark Martin's first NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. No matter what the end of this NASCAR season brings, I'm already looking forward to next year, but first I'm going to relish the rest of this season.

See you at the track!

The NASCAR Hall of Fame

The NASCAR Hall of Fame
Posted by GEORGE October 15, 2009 2:16:58 PM

If the sport of NASCAR Racing has a home, it most certainly is in North Carolina. That's where NASCAR was born and raised and grew into America's favorite pastime. So it's fitting that the NASCAR Hall of Fame is in Charlotte, North Carolina.

I exercised my invitation to vote for the first inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and the selections were announced yesterday. I'm not disappointed in the results, and I don't think any true NASCAR fan will argue with the picks either. There are others who deserve to be in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and future voting will put them there, but this year's selections will have the distinction of being the first five to be voted in. I am pleased that NASCAR fans were allowed to vote because statistics don't tell the whole story, and what is in the hearts and minds of the fans of NASCAR needed to be recognized.

Bill France Sr and Bill France Jr put the sport of NASCAR on the map and in front of a nation hungry for another American pastime. Without the efforts of the Frances there would be no NASCAR as we know it.

Richard Petty, The King of NASCAR, was responsible for the start of the glory years of NASCAR that we continue to enjoy today. Petty was the very first superstar of NASCAR, and some of his records will stand for all time.

Junior Johnson defines every NASCAR driver and every kid that every wanted to be a NASCAR driver. When you think about the original NASCAR drivers and what they went through in order to put the sport on solid ground while sacrificing their very livelihood, Junior Johnson is the first to come to mind.

Dale Earnhardt was the first driver to put it all together. Earnhardt was a fantastic stock car driver, a true pillar of the sport, and a NASCAR god to his totally dedicated fans. The "Intimidator" earned his right to be included in the group of the first inductees by his actions on and off the track. Bill France Sr, Bill France Jr, Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, and Dale Earnhardt are all NASCAR champions in their own right, and are more than deserving to be our first inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Congratulations to them all!

See you at the track!

Jimmie Johnson Wins at Fontana

Jimmie Johnson Wins at Fontana
Posted by GEORGE October 13, 2009 4:20:27 PM

Jimmie Johnson's win at Fontana could be the statement that Johnson fans have been waiting for. Johnson dominated the race in spite of bad pit stops which cost him 8 to 10 positions on the track. No one could pass him, and Johnson drove like he wants his fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship in a row. Johnson now leads the points standings by 12 points over Mark Martin.

The Chase heads for Lowe's Motor Speedway this week, which could just as well be named Jimmie Johnson Speedway. With few exceptions, Johnson has owned the track in Charlotte, North Carolina, and there's a good possibility that he will increase his points lead there on Saturday night.

Speeding on pit road cost Tony Stewart a lap at California, and sent him back to 32nd-place. Staying on the track during the next caution put Tony back on the lead lap, and another quick caution allowed him to refuel and change tires. Then it was all up to Tony, and he drove his car to a fifth-place finish.

Mark Martin continues to show that age means nothing in NASCAR racing, as long as you have the right equipment, the right team, and the desire to win.

Juan Pablo Montoya continues to get my attention. He's the only driver this year to finish in the top five in the first four Chase races, and if Jimmie Johnson would not have had his "super car" on the track last weekend, I believe Montoya would have won the race. Juan keeps hanging around, and he will be a contender at the end.

With four of the six races over, I believe only seven drivers are still in the running for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. I had already counted Brian Vickers out, and I'm adding Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, and Carl Edwards to the list of drivers who will not contend for the championship. Carl Edwards was my pick to win it all this year, and he's not out of it, as far as points are concerned, but Edwards just doesn't have what it takes this year, and he will continue to lose ground.

This is going to be a great weekend for racing, and our NASCAR tour group will be at Lowe's Motor Speedway to take it all in. At least one more driver will bite the dust in Charlotte, and I look for Tony Stewart to continue driving hard and win the race this weekend!

See you at the track!

NASCAR Fans are the Best

NASCAR Fans are the Best
Posted by GEORGE October 8, 2009 10:28:41 AM

One of the most interesting parts about being a true NASCAR fan and writing a NASCAR blog is enjoying other NASCAR fans who I get to communicate with. My buddies at the coffee shop are a fine example, even if they don't always know what they're talking about. I don't get there as often as I used to, but the boys still get their opinions and digs in by way of phone calls and e-mails. They especially enjoy contacting me when Jimmie Johnson finishes poorly, or when their drivers do better than Johnson. Fortunately that hasn't happened much this year.

Guests who accompany us on our NASCAR tours are usually vocal and from diverse backgrounds. Taking someone to their first NASCAR race is a pleasure for our team and the new guest. I always like the kids who were decked-out in their favorite NASCAR drivers' gear. Seeing their NASCAR driver race is a huge thrill for them, whether he wins or not. If they happen to be lucky enough to see their driver up close, and possibly even get a NASCAR driver's autograph, it's something they carry with them for the rest of their life. I've seen this happen many times as I accompanied our NASCAR tour groups, and I never get tired of it. And of course, we always like to talk a little NASCAR with the old pros who join us at the race track. A burger, a beer, and some NASCAR talk is pretty hard to beat.

I've said many times that NASCAR fans are the best fans of any sport today, and NASCAR fans at the track have never disappointed me. They celebrate well, and for the most part, absorb defeat well. I think their general attitude is that there is always another NASCAR race next week. I've watched these fans shout out to a driver for his bad driving, and holler encouragement at their driver as he goes by, knowing that none of their words actually have a chance to be heard. Come to think of it, I've done both of those things myself.

Some NASCAR fans are born that way, and some are not. I started enjoying stock car racing at about the age of 10 right here in Iowa, but my next door neighbors got the NASCAR bug from me during our backyard conversations. I know a couple of them who now watch every race. Attending a NASCAR race will make you an instant NASCAR fan. Or you can move into my neighborhood, and I'll make a NASCAR fan out of you in short order!

See you at the track!

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.