The Fat Lady’s Warmed Up, But Not Singing

Leave it to Eddie Gossage- one part Humpy Wheeler, one part Bruton Smith and three parts P.T. Barnum. He had “The Fat Lady” singing after Sunday’s race. Thing is, the outcome left the stunt singing a flat note.

Did you have the same feeling I did before the start of the Dickie’s 500 at Texas? I caught myself looking at the starting grid, to where Jimmie Johnson was sitting, and thought, “Hmmm, next to Sam Hornish? That could be trouble.”

Let’s get one thing straight, I think Sam Hornish can wheel a car. I mean, this dude was an IRL beast. At the same time, I think no one would argue he usually rubs a little paint off his cars before settling into a groove. In other words, Sudden Sam works it out, but the process is a little messy.

Well, sure enough, what some of us suspected came to pass. Now it does appear Hornish had a little help from David Reutimann, but regardless of who’s responsible, Hornish and Beak grabbed a little spotlight they’d rather not have by collecting a defending champion in a quest for history. As it stands now, the trophy engraver I’ve been talking about has ceased his labor, and is turning around and watching.

Now NASCAR Nation stands divided between those who hold out hope that the venerable Mark Martin can catch Johnson in Phoenix and Homestead, and those who feel a fourth straight title is an inevitability.

For Martin, he’s got a lot going for him. He’s coming off a spring win at Phoenix, and heck, he’s even run good races there in less than brilliant equipment. Guess who’s 1-2 in average finish in the desert? Johnson and Martin. This race could be a stand off, which still leaves Martin in striking distance going into Homestead, though it can be said he’ll want to do a heck of a lot better than that, and he can.

Lord knows, he’s dealt with tactical errors in his career, Michigan comes to mind, but by the same token, fewer racers are smarter. Few do a better job of catching the cars in front of them, and few do a better job of holding a driver off. Just ask Jimmie Johnson.

Still, Johnson’s in the catbird seat. He’s the one with the lead. While one bad finish can sometimes breed another (just ask Martin), the word slump appears nowhere in Johnson’s bio. You know what I admire the most about the guy? He has no concept of “points racing.” He could have bagged on Texas, but didn’t, and it helped earn him a few more points. Jimmie Johnson is out to win every race. Except maybe one. More on that later.

Another thing I admire about Johnson is he is a strategist, a planner. He’d probably never admit, but he sure appears to play with other drivers about what he has. Eventually, he throws down his cards (with about ten laps to go or so), but I think Jimmie’s got a little David Pearson in him. Some guys have no plan. They just go out and run flat out all race. You know, the LeeRoy Yarbrough types. Johnson ain’t one of those.

If Martin can slice a good chunk out of Johnson’s lead, then it’s going to get real interesting at Homestead. Neither have been bad, but neither have been exceptional either. As Andy Petree has pointed out, the champ has never won there, because he’s never had to. It’s the one track where Johnson has been content to click off laps and play it safe. With that said, I still bet he’s compiled quite a notebook in the process.

For Martin, he’s spent the better part of these last few years either racing in what I will diplomatically describe as “average” equipment, and he’s also been in that semi-retired mode. Imagine what could happen if these two really have to race each other.

It may be a foregone conclusion Jimmie Johnson wins this championship. Jenna Fryer seems to think it, the Yahoo! boys predicted it, and we know only to well what Brad Daugherty thinks. They may be right. Personally, I predicted a Johnson championship at the beginning of the season, but I’ve also proposed reasons why I thought Jimmie wouldn’t pull it off.

I say, let’s let them settle it on the track. These last two races should be an indication that no one really knows what will happen out there. Johnson has had, and made, insane luck over the years. Martin conjures up images of Charlie Brown, the Buffalo Bills and the Utah Jazz.

Let’s just leave it with this thought. A sign that basketball immortal Bill Russell had hanging in his office when he was coaching:

“History doesn’t mean squat.” (paraphrased)

One way or the other, history is being made right here, right now. It could be a heckuva show.