Jimmie Johnson set a notable record this weekend. Jimmie was fastest car in each practice session, he won the pole and then wrapped it up by winning the race.
By winning the NASCAR Banking 500, he definitely sent a message to everyone. But they’re not letting up until the last lap at Homestead.
In the NASCAR Banking 500, Jimmie Johnson started out strong but had a mid-race fade that he and Chad figured out. Then they brought the car back to the front. In the meantime, Denny Hamlin had a strong car that didn’t last the race and Kasey Kahne later started showing his muscle, but it wasn’t enough.
In one of the last restarts, it was Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, side by side for a few laps. But what I saw was that Jimmie wasn’t as strong in the first laps of a restart. Once the car got it’s wheels under it, which took a couple of laps, he got around Jeff Gordon’s car and went about his business.
Jeff Gordon kept making me scream. He was holding his own in the high line, but kept coming down and run the low line. In that fashion, a few other cars got past him, relegating him to a 4th place finish. Still repsectable.
The cars between himself and Jimmie Johnson were Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne.
There were good fights for position all around the track in those last few laps.
But it was a dark night (Not the movie, The Dark Knight) for other Chase contenders.
Mark Martin struggled to keep the lead lap under him, and managed a 17th.
Juan Pablo Montoya had a miserable night as one thing after another went wrong and finished an ugly 35th.
Carl Edwards finished 35th after his own engine failure.
Denny Hamlin finished 42nd after losing his engine. I think he’s having an out-of-body experience, trying not to make it feel so bad. During the press interview he referenced how parts failure affected him tonight, but referred to himself in the 2nd person by saying “The driver made a mistake last week.”
I cringed when he got into the Chase, saying his team is dangerous. I hate making such claims. It never pays out for me. It’s looking the same for Denny.
Another notable victim of circumstance was Dale Earnhardt Jr.. As frustrated as the team was about this years’ performance, it didn’t get any better when their transmission decided to give up the ghost and not stay in 4th gear.
The top 10 finishers tonight were
1. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet
2. Matt Kenseth Ford
3. Kasey Kahne Dodge
4. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet
5. Joey Logano Toyota
6. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet
7. Casey Mears Chevrolet
8. Kyle Busch Toyota
9. Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet
10. Kurt Busch Dodge
After the race, the engines that went to the NASCAR R&D center were the 48, 17 and 16. The cars of the No. 48, 16 and 5 went to the center also for post-race inspection. (Dustin Long Twitter account: twitter.com/dustinlong)
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We have 5 races left and no one is mathematically eliminated yet.
In fact, far from it. No one is 985 points out of first yet. But dang, anyone from 9th on back being over 300 points out of first, it’s looking bleak except for possible factors of luck affecting the front runners. That and mechanical issues or Talladega issues.
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Mark Martin – 90 points back
3. Jeff Gordon – 135
4. Tony Stewart – 155
5. Kurt Busch – 177
6. Juan Pablo Montoya – 195
7. Greg Biffle – 268
8. Ryan Newman – 288
9. Kasey Kahne – 331
10. Carl Edwards – 341
11. Denny Hamlin – 372
12. Brian Vickers – 485
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We still have some great potential stories developing.
From the seasoned veteran, the Colombian born F-1 / Cart driver turned NASCAR driver, to the driver / owner, to the 5th title or the 4th title in a row… this will not be a disappointing season at all. A record of some sort will be made this season.
I’d love to witness 4 titles in a row, but I’d be happy with any of the aforementioned possibilities.
For finishing and points details, check out: LMS: Results | Standings
