The RCR Boys: Hangin’ In
In racing, some things sneak up on you. Jimmie Johnson can tell you a bit about that in pondering his narrow loss to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon. Just when you think someone has gone away, whoosh! See ya! That’s why I’m saying we better not be so fast to count out Richard Childress drivers Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick out of the chase for the Nextel Cup crown.
Here’s what impresses me about Bowyer: he has zero, count ‘em zero DNFs this year. Remember the season opener at Daytona? He finished on his head! No question Jack Daniels’ favorite driver has had some bouts of bad luck (like the battery switch snafu at the Pepsi 400), but he’s finished the race in the car every time! Never mind he’s had only one win. He almost captured a second in his home state of Kansas. He may yet win another before the year’s out, and even if he doesn’t grab the brass ring this year, he will have come away a big winner, having gained a much larger share of the spotlight. Not only that, I think he WILL put a couple of championships under his belt before it’s all over.
As for Harvick, I’m impressed he’ still there and checking in at number five. “Happy” hasn’t had a lot to smile about thus far in the 2007 home stretch, but he’s made the most of every ride. It seems like every week, the #29 car comes limping home with something out of whack, and we’re not talking about problems that are the result of foolish driving. In fact, Harv’s been a real survivor, dodging pile up after pile up. If Kevin Harvick wins the 2007 Cup, it will be on sheer guts and determination. It’s kind of fitting for a guy who cut his cup teeth in Dale Earnhardt’s old ride.
For many fans, it seems the only question is one of which HMS driver wins the championship this year. Seeing how quickly things can take a turn for the surreal, I wouldn’t be drafting that acceptance speech just yet. A dark horse could emerge on to NASCAR car glory. And don’t be surprised if it’s a dark colored horse with the #07 on the sides, or a bright-colored horse numbered 29. Stranger things have happened. And they often do in NASCAR. That’s why we watch.
