Smoke Rises

Congratulations to the man called Smoke. He set out on a journey 10 weeks ago that he himself said his team was not ready for. He gave himself no chance to win. But through the head games there was a fire burning deep behind those eyes. A fire that betrayed a passion that could not be denied. You may beat me but I will run you balls to the wall keep it from happening. And indeed in the final race he did exactly that passing 118 cars during the final race. But when the checkers waved it was the 14 across the stripe first. The points they ended in a tie. But the tie breaker was wins and that left Smoke sitting on top of the hill as the King of the mountain once again.

[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”224″][/media-credit]In all honesty it was a hard fought battle. Carl Edwards fought hard, raced hard and played fair and showed all the attributes of a champion. He in fact did not lose the championship. Points wise he tied with Smoke. But Smoke won more races than Edwards. Consistency brought him to the dance. But victories sent him home alone. Congratulations to Carl on being a great racer, and a great champion. For teaching his children and all of ours that there is more to winning than getting the trophy and there is more to being a champion than finishing first.

Darian Grubb gambled big time today. He rolled the dice and he took the chance. He bet that gas mileage would win the race. He was wrong. But he won the gamble none the less. He won because his risk paid off in spades when the caution waved for rain and Carl Edwards was still behind Tony Stewart on the restart. The rain gave them enough caution laps that both contenders could go the distance. It was now down to grit and guts and who could handle the pressure without a mistake on the track the best.

For 40 laps, two of the best drivers of our time ran just as hard and just as fast as they could possibly drive. Their focus on one another and their own cars. The crowd in the stands held their breath. The people at home held their breath. Could Smoke over come a day of mishaps to hold on to that top spot? Would Carl’s engine hold on when three of his teammates had lost theirs? Even the crew chiefs were feeding information. Bob Osborne radioed to Edwards, I know you are doing everything you can man but we really need that spot. You have to pass the 14. He tried. He ran so hard and so close to the wall that he should have taken paint off of it. But everything he gained Smoke took back the next lap. It became obvious that it was going to take a catastrophic failure of some sort for the 99 to catch and pass the 14.

When the white flag flew neither slowed down. Four corners and a straight away and half later, Anthony Wayne Stewart proved to the world why he is considered one of the top-10 drivers in the world today. Smoke won his 5th race of the chase and tied Edwards in points and won the tie breaker to become the Sprint Cup Series Champion for 2011.

Stewart joins an elite group of three champions to ever win the championship as an owner driver. He joins Richard Petty and Alan Kulwicki in holding the highest position in his sport while also writing the checks to pay the bills. Stewart took the championship in just his 3rd full year as an owner.

Stewart’s trophy cabinet is as diverse as any in the sport today. With wins in World of Outlaw Sprint Cars, Silver crown cars, USAC dirt stock cars, Indy cars, IROC cars and  NASCAR Stock Cars. This is Stewart’s third NASCAR Championship with his previous cups coming from 2001 and 2006.

With his first owner/driver championship, Stewart fulfilled a promise to his hero A.J. Foyt by bringing the 14 back to victory lane and into the champions circle.

As the glitter and confetti settle in the steadily falling rain, I think it is important to note that this is the first time since 1975 and the modern day points system that we have ever had to use the tie breaker. I think it is also important to note that Edwards did everything he had to do to win the championship. He lead the most laps. He sat on the pole. He just finished 2nd. But noting that I think it is just as important to make note of the class and grace in which he accepted finishing 2nd. He did nothing to detract from the victory of the 14 team. Instead he said simply “we got beat. But we will use this to build on and come back stronger next year.” The true attitude of a champion showed twice tonight.

The 2011 season has drawn to a close. The only things left are banquets with new and different stuffed chicken somethings and creamed spinach oh and seeing who Smoke’s date will be this time. It’s sad in a way. But we can look at it this way the Daytona 500 is in 98 days.

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Congratulations to Austin Dillion our 2011 CWTS champion and his RCR team.

Congratulations to Ricky Stenhouse Jr. our NNS Champion and his Roush Fenway Racing team.

Congratulations to Tony Stewart our 2011 Sprint Cup Series Champion and his Stewart Haas Racing team.

That said, to all the competitors in all the series thanks for giving us everything you have to give, you are our heroes. Most importantly, thanks to all the families who shared their loved ones with us so we could cheer our favorite driver and favorite teams. You are the true heroes of the sport and we are forever in your debt.