NASCAR pundits will want to save their ink concerning any thought of Kyle Busch setting sail in the Chase. Jimmie Johnson has joined Carl Edwards as a third serious contender for the 2008 Cup.
In fact, if I were a betting man, I’d put my money on the trifecta.
Anybody who knows me knows that I am not a Jimmie “Kool Aid drinker.” He’s o.k. to me, but I am NOT a fan. Among the three front runners, I’ll confess to being a Carl Edwards guy, and I also like Busch’s owner and his nameplate if not him. That said, the Lowe’s Chevrolet team is primed for a dominant stretch run and they’ve got all the pieces in place to “three-peat.”
The Johnson/ Knaus driver/ crew chief combo has to be the smartest in the business. I’ve made the comparison before of Johnson and David Pearson, the slick old school legend, who’d just lurk for 490 laps and then pour it on the the last 10. The Pride of El Cajon does it race after race.
All race long, you had to know it was coming.
Props to to Tony Stewart for not mailing it in though he’s running his final laps for Joe Gibbs. He really looked like he might take Johnson over late.
David Reutimann came so close before settling for 9th. Team Reutimann sasy they’ve found something- and given how he’s running, I’d say they’re right. It’s great to see one of NASCAR’s good guys running towards the front.
How about this? Denny Hamlin finished third for the third race in a row. Way to go Denny!
David Ragan is out, Clint Bowyer is in. You had a feeling with his short track prowess, that this track favored Bowyer’s chances of getting in. The Kansan ran the race he needed, while Ragan was just one of many Roush racers to struggle today.
What a bummer to see Kasey Kahne miss out on NASCAR’s playoff. After a mid-season hot streak of an all-star win and back-to-back points wins, Kahne fell out of the picture. Sadly, Kahne is the 2008 season’s picture of inconsistency.
Busch and Edwards were pretty close to invisible with top 15 runs today. I’m not reading anything out of that. Even the best of the best won 20 percent of their races run.
I’m just saying Busch and Edwards had better be very aware of of one Jimmie Kenneth Johnson, because he’s not handing the title over.
They’ll have to pry it from him. With support like Chad Knaus and Rick Hendrick on hand, it won’t be easy.
This “Race for the Chase” is getting good.
