Talladega may be the Chase’s “wild card”, but really, it didn’t do a whole lot to shake things up. The strongest drivers acquitted themselves decently, and the top drivers who met unceremonious ends encountered nothing more than a speed bump.
#5- Matt Kenseth- Everybody, all together now: “Gloom, despair and agony on me.” Poor Matt Kenseth, if it weren’t or bad luck, so the old “Hee Haw” song goes, he’d have no luck at all. Just when it looks like the Wisconsan is about to make a move, something sets him back. To add insult to injury, it was a teammate taking him out. It was tempting to give this spot to Harvick, but “Happy” also got collected in that wreck and the 20th place finish wasn’t enough to dislodge Kenseth.
#4- Carl Edwards- On principle, I should give Flipper a demerit for the bonehead stunt at ‘Dega, but the overall body of work that is the 2008 season outweighs the foible on Edwards’ part. Somebody needs to put his game controller on the shelf until the season’s over. The video games aren’t helping.
#3- Jeff Burton- This dude’s so quiet, somebody’s gonna forget about this guy, and he’s going to sneak away with a Cup. Burton had the best finish of any chaser at Talladega not named Tony Stewart. J.B. in typical J.B. fashion manage to dance his way around every mishap. Sometimes, the crown gos not to the swift, but to the survivor. If I need someone to rush me to the hospital- Burton’s my guy.
#2- Greg Biffle- I can’t justify docking him for a wreck that was someone else’s fault. He’s the hottest Chase driver not named Jimmie Johnson. If you’ve got the car and you can drive it well, MOST races that’s more than good enough.
#1- Jimmie Johnson- Warm up the engraver, but don’t start on etching his name just yet. Jimmie’s come to the Chase to race, and if anyone can take it from him, they know they’ve accomplished something. Can we finally admit Jimmie Kenneth Johnson may just deserve to be numbered among the greats? The boy’s been good off the truck.
Knocking On The Door: Kevin Harvick is just right there. If those RCR engines had a little more juice, he’d be there…..Junior’s still a factor, and I predict at least one more win if not two before the season ends…..Smoke’s not finished yet….Though some of the others are fading, I won’t write the likes of Busch, Bowyer or Gordon off until they are mathematically done.
This championship chase is nowhere near over, though the odds favor Jimmie.
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Great Picks! Jimmie sure is looking right at home isn’t he? And I’m all for a good ol fashioned fued, but Happy and Cousin Carl better keep their disputes off the track or they may have more drivers attending their little party! ;P
By the way HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY Junebug!!!!
Hope he gets a really nice present today….maybe say something black and white in a checkered pattern??? LOL