Johnson Wins Again at Martinsville

Jimmie Johnson

Can someone try to explain to me how forty three cars can start a NASCAR Nextel Cup race and but a handful only have a chance to win? Why is it that the same drivers and teams always finish up front while the majority languish in mediocrity? And why is everybody so damn happy to have a top twenty-five finish?

Jimmie Johnson won his seventh race of the season by doing what the Hendrick teams do best. Run consistently up front and take advantage of weaker opponents. With teammate and points leader Jeff Gordon finishing third it seems to me it will be a two horse race for the championship. The Hendrick Juggernaut is well on it's way to another dominant season in a sport that should be possess stronger competition. My hope for next year is that Toyota's partnering with Joe Gibbs Racing will bring on some competition for the Hendrick teams.

Maybe its allot harder to win races than I think. Why hasn't Ryan Newman won a race in over two years? He is a proven race winner but can't seem to be there at the end when it counts. And for that matter so many other drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jaimie McMurray, Denny Hamlin and Casey Kane can't seem to get a sniff of a win. Maybe as a NASCAR fan it has become to much to ask to have a different driver win every week! Here's an idea; NASCAR should limit the amount of money a team can spend in a given season. Level the playing field between the haves and havenots. It seems to work in the lower formulas. Same money, same equipment, multiple winners. Boy, now I am really asking to much.

I guess what I am really trying to say is that it's getting boring watching the same team win all the time. Like "Michael Schumacher" boring if you get my drift. Well I guess it seems like sour grapes because I am not a Johnson or Gordon fan, or for that matter a Hendrick fan. All I hope for next year is to see the wins spread among several drivers and the title won by a dark horse nobody thought had a chance.

Jimmie Johnson

Raikkonen Wins Improbable F1 Drivers Title

Kimi Raikkonen

In what must have been an unbelievable dream for Kimi Raikkonen, the star crossed driver for Ferrari F1, was a nightmare for McClaren sensation Lewis Hamilton. With the championship well within his grasp with two races remaining, critical mistakes prevented Hamilton form being the first rookie driver to win the world championship.

As the Brazilian Grand Prix started, Raikkonen had to win the race and have his teammate Felipe Massa run second, taking valuable points away from his rivals. The odds were long against this happening, but that is exactly what transpired. With the two Ferrari's running a cut above the competition, the rest fell into place when Hamilton faltered at the start, went wide at the second corner, then had some mechanical problems that left him buried in the back of the field on lap eight. The stage was set for the improbable to become reality.

You have to feel good that for once Kimi Raikkonen had good luck on his side. Remember back in 2005 when he was leading at least three races when mechanical problems struck his McClaren, once on the final lap of the European Grand Prix. He was by far the quickest driver that year, but the title went to Alonso because he had the reliable equipment. This was turn about is fair play for the Finish sensation, who does all his talking from the race car.

But remember, this is Formula1, and controversy is always going to play a role in the outcome. After the race McClaren launched a protest against both BMW's and the Williams/Toyota of Nico Rosberg for fuel improprieties. If the protest is upheld than the points Hamilton would need to win the championship would be gained and once again Raikkonen would be left out in the cold. If this happens would Lewis Hamilton really want the championship handed to him by a court of appeals? Somehow I tend to doubt that this would be anything but a blow to the sport and cast a bleak shadow over F1.

But let's leave this final race on a happy note and congratulate a true champion in Kimi Raikkonen. It was exciting to see the championship run down to the final race among three great drivers, and the driver that didn't make a mistake came out on top. That driver is Kimi Raikkonen.

Kimi Raikkonen

What's Wrong With Lowes Motor Speedway?

Lowes Motor Speedway

In what has become the mecca of crashes, last weekends Busch series and Nextel Cup series cras filled events have become commonplace at Lowes Motor Speedway. Why are cars crashing at such a high rate? I thought that when the repaved the track last year it would lessen the amount of carnage we saw this weekend. But whether it was the track with grooves cut in it or a track newly paved, the same sad result was played out.

Could it be that Goodyear can't figure out what tire to bring to this race track? Why was turn four such a common place to wreck? It seems that these are questions that may never be answered and it would be a shame because Charlotte was always a great place for a race. Maybe all this talk by track owner Bruton Smith about building a new facility has something to do with it. But it seems very strange that these set of circumstances have exited so long at this track. Oddly enough I didn't hear much being said about the abundance of wrecks from the reporters or for that matter, the drivers!

Well maybe this is what NASCAR wants for the end of the season to compete with baseball and football. In it's own way maybe the excitement of crashing and banging will draw a bigger TV audience. I did happen to notice allot of empty seats in the overhead camera shots, so maybe NASCAR's popularity is taking a hit. Anyway, this NASCAR fan is tired of all the wrecks and wants to see more side by side racing for that Nextel Cup. Get your act together Lowes!!

Lowes Motor Speedway

Jeff Gordon Sweeps Talladega

Jeff Gordon

In what was a very unremarkable restrictor plate race for the most part, the final handful of laps were full of excitement. Once again Jeff Gordon and team Hendrick showed why they are the class of the Nextel Cup field as Gordon took the victory over teammate Jimmie Johnson. It completed the two race sweep of NASCAR'S largest track for the four time Cup champion.

The only lap that Gordon lead was the final one and you didn't see him or Johnson much during the race, as each laid back and waited for the right moment. When the two Penske cars were looking good at the end and Andie Petrie and Rusty Wallace were singing their praise upon them, I knew it was only a matter of time before were heard from the two strongest cars on the circuit. Not once did they mention Gordon or Johnson but with a handful of laps to go they made their power move to the front.

Tony Stewart was most likely the strongest car all day but he didn't have any help at the end as his teammates were not in position to do so. With Dale Earnhardt Jr. out with a blown engine the Hendrick brigade of Chevy's were the cars to beat. The COT proved to be the same type of car on the super speedway as the single file racing was prominent through most of the race. The drivers always seem to say that the cars drive completely different, and that may be so, but to the racing fan it looked exactly like any other restrictor plate race.

But congrats to Jeff Gordon and the Hendrick team for once again showing why they are the team to beat and that the Chevy's still rule the roost. Although the Toyota's qualified well the lone car of Dave Blaney finished well and seem to be on the right track to being more competitive. Now it's on to Charlotte where once again the Hendrick Chevy's will be the cars to beat.

Jeff Gordon

Raikkonen Wins Wild Chinese GP

Kimi Raikkonen

What should have been the crowning of the first rookie Formula 1 World Champion, turned into a wild race that now keeps the championship open to three drivers. Lewis Hamilton had the championship in hand but the rain that fell on this race was his downfall unlike helping him last week in Japan.

After the first pit stops where all the drivers stayed on the original intermediate rain tires, the track started to dry and Kimi Raikkonen caught Hamilton up quickly. Instead of giving way to Kimi, Hamilton raced him hard doing further damage to his wounded tires. On his pit entrance he slid off into the gravel patch thus giving Raikkonen the lead and eliminating any hope of securing the championship. It looks as though the pressure finally got to this impressive rookie and his mistake cost him dearly.

But for Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen it was a nearly flawless race and a superb effort by the "Flying Fin" who once again showed how brilliant a driver he is. With Fernando Alonso finishing second we now have a three way battle for the drivers title going into the final race in Brazil. Hamilton still has the upper hand as he has four points on Alonso and seven on Raikkonen. As I stated before, I fear that once again Raikkonen will win the most races and fall short of the grand prize on racing's biggest stage. Don't miss what might happen in two weeks because in racing you never know!

Kimi Raikkonen