Sunday was a time for remembering our fathers. For those of us still fortunate enough to do so, it was a day to call the ole boy up or drop by for a visit. It was a time for fathers to spend some time with their children or, if one happens to be Jimmie Johnson, a time to kick butt at Michigan and then spend some quality time with the daughters.
Correct me if I am wrong, but was it not just a few weeks ago some media clowns made up the story that we should all be wringing our hands in anguish as we wondered when, oh when, might Jimmie win a race? That was three wins ago. Soon, we should again be hearing how Johnson dominates all those other little darlin’s by winning all those titles, and what a nasty thing that is. Bite me. The only down side to Six Time’s day was that younger brothers Jarit and Jessie got to spend time with their dad while the older sibling was working his day job. It marked his first victory at Michigan in 25 tries.
Good race, great race commentary on TNT, as we watched the boys and girl slip sliding away in the early going. Early was all Travis Kvapil got as Brian Vickers lost traction, went for a slide, and wound up fileting the right side of T.K.’s ride on the opening lap.
Kasey Kahne and Reed Larson, who will be a dad when the big day rolls around next year, got tied up on the eighth lap. The odd man out was Martin Truex Jr, who needed three laps worth of repairs. At least all it will take to make the Chase is just a single ole win, probably. He sure is not going to do it on points. Kyle Busch, who has a win, was a solid 41st after his car developed some issues in the late going and needed a time out in the garage.
It was a good day for some, with Paul Menard and Kahne both in the Top Five. The usual suspects did well enough, but that did not include the likes of Greg Biffle (20th), Carl Edwards (23rd), Denny Hamlin (29th) or Austin Dillon (30th). In fact, Dillon tumbles out of the Sweet Sixteen. Clint Bowyer moves up and, believe it or not, Tony Stewart is just seven behind Biffle for that final spot. Three SHR boys could make the Chase yet.
Now, if the boy could only road race. Actually, Tony won at Sears Point twice, and a few years back so did Jimmie Johnson. Oh, did I mention Jeff Gordon has won there five times? As for those road course ringers some teams import, not a damn one has claimed this race in 25 attempts. I guess we know who’s their daddy.
Driver Wins – Points
SWEET SIXTEEN
1 – Jimmie Johnson – 3 – 522
2 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr – 2 – 514
3 – Joey Logano – 2 – 454
4 – Kevin Harvick – 2 – 447
5 – Jeff Gordon – 1 – 537
6 – Brad Keselowski – 1 – 490
7 – Carl Edwards – 1 – 462
8 – Kyle Busch – 1 – 446
9 – Denny Hamlin – 1 – 435
10 – Kurt Busch – 1 – 315
11 – Matt Kenseth – 0 – 513
12 – Kyle Larson – 0 – 454
13 – Ryan Newman – 0 – 440
14 – Paul Menard – 0 – 420
15 – Clint Bowyer – 0 – 417
16 – Greg Biffle – 0 – 409
CONTENTERS & PRETENDERS
17 – Tony Stewart – 0 – 402
18 – Austin Dillon – 0 – 400
19 – Brian Vickers – 0 – 394
20 – Kasey Kahne – 0 – 391
21 – Jamie McMurray – 0 – 384
22 – A.J. Allmendinger – 0 – 382
23 – Aric Almirola – 0 – 379
24 – Marcos Ambrose – 0 – 370
25 – Casey Mears – 0 – 342
26 – Martin Truex, Jr. – 0 – 331
27 – Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. – 0 – 307
28 – Danica Patrick – 0 – 273
29 – Justin Allgaier – 0 – 269
30 – Michael Annett – 0 – 235
WISHING AND A HOPING
31 – Cole Whitt – 0 – 211
32 – David Gilliland – 0 – 209
33 – David Ragan – 0 – 190
34 – Reed Sorenson – 0 – 187
