image from 8racingfan.com from NHIS
Congratulations to all our Champions in NASCAR. Two out of three championships were decided this past weekend. Many storylines also took place and ending this past weekend.
Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson on his 2nd straight Nextel Cup title, beating his teammate Jeff Gordon by 77 points. Jimmie won 10 races in 2007, including 4 straight wins in the Chase. Chad Knaus, the 48 Crew Chief, called a smart race. The winner of the Homestead race was Matt Kenseth.
NASCAR will change the name of the series to the “Sprint Cup” in 2008. This change comes even though AT&T name change resulted in the cellphone carrier leaving the series after two years; in 2010. Totally unfair practice, as I’ve written in previous postings.
Congratulations to Carl Edwards on his first NASCAR championship in the Busch Series. Carl won the Busch Championship over David Reutimann by 618 points. The final race at Homestead was won by Jeff Burton in the #29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet. Carl Edwatds officially received his Busch Series Championship Trophy out by the start finish line. While Carl Edwards won the driver Championship, Richard Childress Racing won the Owners Championship with the #29 car with drivers Jeff Burton and Scott Wimmer. Richard Childress received the Owners Trophy in Victory Lane yesterday while Jeff Burton received the race winners trophy. Scott Wimmer was also on hand.
Busch officially ends it’s affiliation with NASCAR’s second series. Nationwide Insurance takes over as the new title sponsor in 2008 for the new NASCAR Nationwide Series. Official rule changes are in the works for 2009. Nationwide will force Geico Insurance out of the series in 2010, just like Sprint did to AT&T, also in 2010.
Congratulations to Ron Hornaday on winning the Craftsman Truck Series Title over Mike Skinner by 54 points. Coming into the race, Mike Skinner had a 29 point lead, but lost it when he broke the left rear wheel assembly and fell back after repairs to 11 laps down. Delana Harvick noted in Victory Lane that Ron Hornaday can drive for Kevin Harvick Inc “as long as he wants.” Ron Hornaday is 49 years old. Great Job Ron! Johnny Benson won the Truck Race at Homestead.
Speed did a good job broadcasting all 25 races this year. But Michael Waltrip needs to cutdown on the long stories or explainations to situations.
Ricky Rudd will retire after this race. His car owner Robert Yates will also retire. Doug Yates will continue Yates Racing.
Dale Earnhardt Jr’s last race at DEI and in the #8 car. In 2008 he’ll drive for Hendrick Motorsports in the #88 National Guard / AMP Energy/ Mountain Dew Chevrolet. His cousin, crewchief Tony Eury Jr left DEI after Talladega and will join him in 2008. Junior had a very interesting 2007.
Because of Dale Earnhardt Jr’s arrival at Hendrick Motorsports, Kyle Busch will drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008. Joe Gibbs Racing will change manufacturers to Toyota in 2008 with Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch.
Robbie Reiser will become a General Manager at Roush Fenway Racing and leave the Crew Chief position with Matt Kenseth. He’s been with Kenseth since his rookie year.
Mark Martin will drive the #8 US Army car in 2008 part-time with rookie Aric Almirola. Let’s see how the #8 fans react to this at Daytona.
In 2008, the COT car will be used in all the races. No switching between COT and todays car. The ARCA Series and Busch East Series will benefit from all the left-over Cup cars.
The return of ESPN with ABC has done a great job, especially in the Chase. Jerry Punch, Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree did a good job in the booth, although Rusty Wallace seemed to talk about Penske Racing more favorably. They used in-race reporters, such as Carl Edwards at Homestead, which made for good reporting, along with their Crew Chiefs. Good pit reports from Jamie Little, Allen Bestwick and Mike Massaro and the ESPN Dish Center with Tim Brewer made for good technical reporting. The new air colors over the cars was a little much.
Overall, 2007 will not be remembered for it’s Champions, but for it’s Most Popular Driver; Dale Earnhardt Jr. His move from his father’s company of Dale Earnhardt Inc to Hendrick Motorsports is huge. Darryl Waltrip feels Junior will win at least 6 races in 2008. Hendrick Motorsports could win 18-20 races in 2008 with Junior, Gordon and Johnson.
See you in Daytona.
