I’ve been resisting it, but I can;t help but think that Team Johnson smells blood in the water. It’s amazing what command the “48″ team seems to take of a clutch situation- like Michale Jordan during his days of greatness, or Tom Brady with the Patriots in a tough spot.
You see, in mind mind, there’s a heavy “luck” factor in NASCAR- unlike any other sport. Jordan could fall back on his knowledge of an opponents’ weakness and he could fall back on one of whatever his best move was to capitalize. Brady could red a defense and deliver a pass with precision, knowing that his receiver would be there. You really don’t have quite as much of that in NASCAR. As I’ve said before, confidence is huge. A extra special skill for handling a certain type of track pays dividends in motor sports. No doubt, you have to have the equipment to compete. I don’t know about you, but I do wonder what Martin Truex’s luck would be like driving for RCR instead of DEI. Or wonder what Brian Vickers might do with a team further along in its development than his is. Oh yeah, he won at Talladega while driving for HMS. Hmmm.
But there’s so much you can’t plan for. Why was Jeff Gordon’s car so good in qualifying and so lousy in practice today? How many times has Junior’s car completely gone away in a race? Then there’s the wrecks, tire blow-outs and unplanned, no-way-it-should-have-happened equipment failures. There’s a lot of bad that can befall a driver in a race. Just ask Jeff Gordon. As prone as fans are to blame it on Steve Letarte, I just don’t buy it- and neither apparently does the HMS team.
Yet somehow- Jimmie Johnson just hasn’t had slip-up. The unassuming Californian has done no worse than 9th in the Chase, when I would have sworn back in July, the title was Kyle Busch’s to lose. John and crew chief Chad Knaus have an incredible sense of strategy and a knack for dodging danger.
So I pick Jimmie Johnson to claim his crown tomorrow at Texas. There- I’ve probably jinxed him now.
Should that be the case, keep your eyes on Carl Edwards. He’s been on fire and he he’s tasted victory here. The Ford driver seems to think he has a better than outside shot, so he’s as poised as anyone to take advantage of a Johnson slip-up. If not Edwards, I look for Kevin Harvick, who’s owned this track in the Nationwide Series to be another guy to watch for. Edwards’ Roush-Fenway stable mates could be factors as well. Matt Kenseth is a smart strategist, Jamie Mc Murray is looking solid these days, Greg Biffle’s been a stallion in the Chase, and David Ragan will break out some day soon.
Jeff Gordon won the pole, but he looked horrible in practice. All you Junior fans can take solace that Earnhardt qualified 5th to counter his non-descript practice.Looking for another dark horse? Jeff Burton has tasted victory here.
They say luck is where preparation meets opportunity.
Jimmie Johnson is one luck son of a gun.
