THIS WEEKS STORY LINES:
1. JIMMIE JOHNSON WINS AT RICHMOND: ( jayski Richmond results)
2. JOEY LOGANO MAKES SECOND ATTEMP AT CUP DEBUT: ( nascar.com)
3. GILLETTE-EVERNHAM SUES ROBBY GORDON: ( Winston-Salem Journal)
4. SCOTT SPEED TESTING WITH RED BULL RACING:( www.jayski.com )
5. RED BULL RACING POSSIBLY WITH 3 TEAMS: ( espn.tv )
6. JAY FREYE STILL IN LIMBO: ( espn.tv )
7. DODGE NOT TO SUPPORT THE TRUCK SERIES: ( www.jayski.com )
8. NATIONWIDE SERIES TESTS COT AT RICHMOND: ( Scenedaily.com )
The first 26 races have been ran and the contenders for the Chase are set in stone!!! The scores have been adjusted for the winning bonus points and the REAL race is about to begin!! From the outside looking in, one might view this championship as a three horse race between TLVW, aka Kylie Busch, Jimmie Johnson, and Cousin Carl, aka Carl Edwards. But don’t be fooled, my friends, there are TWELVE capable teams that can take this championship home!!
There was much hype and anticipation before the season started about the Henrick Motorsports Dale Jr. #88 AMP/NATIONAL GUARD/MOUNTAIN DEW team! They quickly came out of the box and won the first two races at Speedweeks in Daytona. They were very consistant in their finishes through the first 20 races. Although they only won one race, they were a top 5 team and every week. However since that win at Michigan, the #88 team has experienced some bad finishes resulting from some bad decisions. Does the #88 team have what it takes to wrestle the top spot away and take the trophy home after Homestead????
The Joe Gibbs Home Depot #20 is lurking back in eighth place and has had a VERY sub-par year!! They have yet to post a victory this season! That team was a dominating team in the very early part of the season leading lots of laps, but couldn’t close the deal and bring a win home. Has the magic vanished with Zippy and THE SMOKER, aka Tony Stewart????? Can they gather it up and “win one for the Gipper”?????
What about the #24 Dupont Chevy???? They too have fallen on hard times!!! They have not been to the winners circle in 2008. Does La Tarte and Gordon have anything for the three horse team at the top??
Well these and many more questions are about to be answered in the next ten races, my friends!! This is where the contenders separate themselves from the pretenders!! This is where you see the talent and desire come together to lead them to their goal…………The Sprint Cup Trophy!!!!
COMMENTARY:
As the picture above shows, the sun is starting to set in the West. It is time to dig down deep and see if you got anything for the leaders! The twelve race teams in the Chase have got to go to the front NOW, if they can!!! After twenty- six weeks of the week in and week out grind of BIG TIME RACIN’, this is where we see which team has what it takes to get it done!! Will the Joe Gibbs #18 Toyota prevail? Can the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy continue to add to their momentum? Can the #99 Office Depot Ford continue in their winning ways? Or will a spoiler like the #88 AMP/National Guard/ Mountain Dew Chevy driven by JR be the Sprint Cup Champion?? Could a really long shot get hot and steal the championship away from the favorites???
These questions and many more are about to be answered in the next ten weeks!!