Posts Tagged: mark martin
5
Oct 09
What’d I Tell Ya
It's still too early to crown a champion. Tony Stewart stormed back into title contention with a win at Kansas, Juan Pablo Montoya made another impressive statement, and the 5/48 show got a little bigger as they proved that, yes, they're human. On now to California... sorry, Auto Club Speedway. It should be interesting to see who finishes where. Fun to watch? I'll get back to you on that... yesterday's ratings were brutal.
28
Sep 09
Everybody, Overreact Right Now!
Jimmie Johnson dominated Dover yesterday to record his 4th win of the year and move 10 points behind Mark Martin in the championship. However, is this really the end of the championship? I think not, there are 8 races left. A lot of media types have already written their 'fourpeat' stories because Johnson won yesterday. The same way Martin won at Loudon and everyone proclaimed he was the man to beat. Things changed in one week? Really? I must have missed the part where the last 8 races of the year were a foregone conclusion. Johnson dominated yesterday, yes. He also won the first race at Dover so it's not like he has been an also-ran there and magically found something. That would be Martin's win at Loudon. Johnson is a five-time winner at Dover.
Now that we have that out of the way, let's actually talk about this championship a little. The way I see it, there are only 8 guys that have a chance now. Not by margin, but by place. I'm only including 8th-place Jeff Gordon because he is who he is. Realistically, the only guys that can run well enough in the final stretch of the year to take it all are Martin, Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, and Tony Stewart. I was worried about Smoke since he wrapped up a spot so early and rode around for a month, but they showed they're still going to be a factor. Busch and Montoya have shown they can go toe-to-toe with anyone. If I had to give an edge I'd give it to Montoya, who is riding a huge wave of confidence and the #42 team looks the best they have all year. Not dissimilar to the way Busch's #97 team looked in the first Chase in 2004. Next up are 3 speedway races in a row - Kansas, California, and Charlotte. These races will decide who still has a chance this year. Right now you'd have to look as those same 5 guys mentioned before as the ones to watch at those races. After Charlotte, we'll know who the real contenders are.
Now that we have that out of the way, let's actually talk about this championship a little. The way I see it, there are only 8 guys that have a chance now. Not by margin, but by place. I'm only including 8th-place Jeff Gordon because he is who he is. Realistically, the only guys that can run well enough in the final stretch of the year to take it all are Martin, Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, and Tony Stewart. I was worried about Smoke since he wrapped up a spot so early and rode around for a month, but they showed they're still going to be a factor. Busch and Montoya have shown they can go toe-to-toe with anyone. If I had to give an edge I'd give it to Montoya, who is riding a huge wave of confidence and the #42 team looks the best they have all year. Not dissimilar to the way Busch's #97 team looked in the first Chase in 2004. Next up are 3 speedway races in a row - Kansas, California, and Charlotte. These races will decide who still has a chance this year. Right now you'd have to look as those same 5 guys mentioned before as the ones to watch at those races. After Charlotte, we'll know who the real contenders are.
14
Sep 09
2009 Chase Drivers
Mark Martin
Tony Stewart
Jimmie Johnson
Denny Hamlin
Kasey Kahne
Jeff Gordon
Kurt Busch
Brian Vickers
Carl Edwards
Ryan Newman
Juan Pablo Montoya
Greg Biffle
23
Aug 09
Kyle Makes It Interesting
With 2 races before the Chase cutoff, Kyle Busch did what he does best, and made the battle to get in the top 12 that much more interesting. He edged Mark Martin in the final laps to take his 4th win of the year (although first since May) and put himself firmly in the hunt after falling out a few weeks ago.
17
Aug 09
Big Win For Red Bull Racing
Certainly a rewarding win for Red Bull and Brian Vickers today. They carried the water from day one for Toyota in Sprint Cup and finally got the reward - at Michigan no less.
This race also closed up battle for 12th in the points as Vickers moves up to 13th and just behind Mark Martin. Kyle Busch still has to be considered a factor, although seemingly less so after a lackluster run today. Somehow, Clint Bowyer has engineered a run for the Chase after his impressive early season run and then the fall of the cliff with the rest of RCR.
It's now on to Bristol, or the track that used to be Bristol. BrisDull might be more fitting now.