It was sure something to witness. The two contenders running just over a second apart, first and second, with the winner of the race the winner of the season. Would an engine blow, a tire go down, a split second lack of focus bounce one off the wall? It all made for one heck of a finale, as Tony Stewart won his third Cup championship against a very game Carl Edwards.
[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”224″]
[/media-credit]Only two drivers have won the title over the past seven seasons. There was Tony Stewart, then there was J–i–m–m–y J–o–h–n–s–o–n for five, then Stewart again. The new points system gave us the closest finish ever, dead even in points as Stewart won based on wins, 5-to-1. To do it, he had to overcome a couple of repairs that sent him to the back early on Sunday, along with an air gun that did him no favors twice, and drive like a demon to make hay during the restarts. What a wonderful end to the season, but this isn’t really the end and not everything is wonderful.
For example, Stewart wins with Darian Grubb as his crew chief, that same Darian Grubb who apparently is unemployed today. “Thanks for the title but”, as the Donald would say, “you’re fired.” What the hell? Grubb guides his boss to five Chase wins, makes a real gutsy call late that helped set up the final run to the championship, sees Stewart carrying his boy on the podium like a favorite uncle, and his butt is out the door? That decision was made five races ago, at Charlotte, but what now? Whatever happens, Grubb won’t be unemployed for long, but Stewart could find himself going from Smoke to Grinch in a hurry.
Kevin Harvick Incorporated looked like the next outfit that would grow to become a major player in NASCAR. They won a pair of truck titles, claimed 43 races, and even ten Nationwide series checkered flags. Then, they merged it all with the Richard Childress operation for 2012. We are told it makes economic sense, that it would free up time for Harvick to devote to Cup, but we are left to wonder that if Harvick and KHI can’t make it, who can? I’m sure it will also free up capital to allow Kevin and DeLana to invest in other areas where folks can make honey if they got the money to invest when prices are low.
Goodbye David Reutimann. Adios Brian Vickers. See you later, David Ragan. Sponsorship or the lack of a team send the latter duo shopping for jobs, while it appears Aaron’s did not consider Reutimann their lucky dog any longer and requested a change. Mark Martin and Michael Waltrip will take over the #00, while Red Bull’s possible demise frees Vickers as UPS moves the big brown elsewhere to park Ragan.
Jeremy Mayfield, what in hell happened? Most of us don’t know these men, just know of them and have, at best, a perception of who they might be. Of course, Mayfield could be totally innocent of all the things NASCAR and the law say he has done, but we are getting to the point where, if he is, we are in the midst of one heck of a conspiracy.
Some might not consider this good news, but I do. Might RCR’s #3 make a return to Cup action? Austin Dillon, the grandson of Richard Childress, claimed the truck title this year, and Junior is okay with the 21 year old taking the number Dillon has carried this season, that his grandpa had carried, and what Earnhardt’s daddy made famous driving for RCR back to the Cup level. It might not happen next year, but it could be running in the Nationwide series this year. You know, I would be just fine with it, too.
The new baseball season is still five months away. Our boys, and Danica Patrick, have just three months to get ready for Daytona as Tony tries to make it four championships, Jimmie six, Jeff five, and Carl seeks his first. Enjoy the winter.
