Jimmie Johnson celebrates his win in the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500

One can almost feel sorry for Mark Martin, until one remembers that he’s a racer in one of the most popular and well paid motorsports in the world and has a great life. Just because you don’t win it all, doesn’t mean you should hang your head. Mark has had a tremendous year and unfortunately for him, he has been racing against a better overall package the last few years. Jimmie and his No.48, along with his team, have consistently been the best for four years running and it doesn’t look like they plan on making any changes, so there could be a difficult few years for his competition ahead.

One could make an argument for Jimmie Johnson being the best to ever sit behind the wheel of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car. Jimmie is best when closing on the line of his goal, which is usually the line of a NASCAR competition, and now that he has gotten his bearing and line on the track back, the 2009 Sprint Cup Series could be over. He might have let off the gas a bit in Texas, but now he’s back on the pedal and his line to the Chase finish line appears to be clear ahead of him.

Jimmie will come to Homestead Miami Speedway confident and only really needing to stick to his lines and stay out of traffic that could possibly take him out of the race and it should be good enough for the win. This is Jimmie Johnson were talking about and he’ll come out and see if he can win the race, not play it safe. Legends are legends for a reason and Jimmie isn’t someone to play it safe or he wouldn’t be out on a NASCAR track. This doesn’t mean he’ll be reckless, but I do expect him to try to win, if the chance shows itself.

“Image: Zuma Press”

Post from: EveryJoe

Jimmie Johnson Closing on the Finish Line

10. Matt Kenseth – 22 races – Last Win: Homestead-Miami Speedway, Fall 2007
9. Jeff Gordon – 27 races – Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Fall 2007
8. Greg Biffle – 29 races – Kansas Speedway, Fall 2007
7. Tony Stewart – 36 races – Watkins Glen International, Summer 2007
6. Jamie McMurray – 40 races – Daytona International Speedway, Summer 2007

5. Martin Truex Jr. – 45 races – Dover International Speedway, Spring 2007
4. Kevin Harvick – 57 races – Daytona International Speedway, Spring 2007
3. David Ragan – 60 races – No NSCS wins
2. Brian Vickers – 68 races – Talladega Superspeedway, Fall 2006
1. Elliott Sadler – 141 races – Auto Club Speedway, Fall 2004

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List of the Week: Longest Winless Streaks Inside the Top 20

10. Busch gets spun by Jeff Burton at the finish line as they race for the win at the Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2007.

9. Kyle Busch sets off “the big one” in the 2006 Aaron’s 499 at Talladega.

8. Richmond wasn’t the first time that Kyle Busch has been involved in an accident with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Here they make contact on pit road during the Ford 400 in 2007 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

7. Kyle is involved in another “big one” at Talladega Superspeedway, this time during the 2007 UAW-Ford 500.

6. Kyle Busch and Mike Skinner get into it at the Craftsman Truck Series’ opening event in 2008, the Camping World 300, at Daytona International Speedway.

5. In the closing laps of the Craftsman Truck Series’ Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway, Kyle plows into Johnny Benson as they race for third place.

4. Kyle’s involved in a horrific accident in the 2007 Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway, in which his Nationwide car performs several barrel rolls.

3. Kyle Busch was already quickly approaching notoriety status with the NASCAR fans, but here’s the one that pushed him over the top. Watch again, as Kyle battles Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the lead in the closing laps of the 2008 Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

2. Kyle gets into his older brother, Kurt, while racing him for the lead at the 2007 All-Star Race. Neither of the brothers appeared to take it personally, and Kurt even makes some witty comments following the race to make light of the situation.

1. Saving the best for last … at the 2006 NASCAR Awards Banquet held in New York City, Kyle Busch was giving his “thank you” speech – and, actually called his girlfriend by the wrong name. You’ll love this!

Post from: EveryJoe

the Big Ten: Best Kyle Busch Wrecks

Ritz crackers, the official cracker of NASCAR® and the brand that is always “Open for Fun,” has teamed up with Roush Fenway Racing and Ford Racing Technology to offer consumers the chance of a lifetime with the Kraft “Race to Win a Ride” Sweepstakes. Beginning February 4, 2008 through September 29, 2008, five lucky consumers will have a chance to win a trip to the NASCAR® Sprint Cup Series Championship Weekend at the Homestead-Miami Speedway® in November 2008 and will also have the opportunity to meet racing great Matt Kenseth, and other Roush Fenway Racing drivers at the race. From this group of five, one winner will also be randomly selected to win a 2009 Ford Racing equipped Mustang V6 sports car. The Ritz cracker NASCAR®-themed campaign is powered by several highly visual marketing vehicles, including an on-pack promotion and in-store displays, as well as print, radio, television and online advertising. There will also be fun, interactive consumer events taking place throughout NASCAR® Speedweeks and The DAYTONA 500® February 10th to 17th, 2008.

Beginning in February, there will be dedicated race specific advertising that is part of the new Ritz Cracker “Open for Fun” campaign. This will include television and print advertising throughout the NASCAR racing season appearing on the FOX and TNT networks. Race inspired print advertising will appear in publications such as People’s “Country edition” and TV Guide’s “DAYTONA® issue”. The advertising will also appear online at Kraftfoods.com and Fordracing.com.

Ritz “Open for Fun” campaign,” said Jim Low, Senior Brand Manager, Ritz crackers. “As the official cracker of NASCAR, Ritz is thrilled to give race fans the chance to be right there in the heart of action with this sweepstake and bring fun to everyone through on-pack memorabilia.”

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Ritz Crackers Teams With Ford Technology to off “Race to Win a Ride” Sweepstakes

On the season, Stewart has three victories, ten top 5 finishes, and twenty top 10’s.  Only points leader Jeff Gordon has better numbers than him in all three categories, and Jimmie Johnson is the only other driver better than Stewart in any of the three.  When you breakdown the upcoming races and look at some of the favorites to win them, you’ll see Tony Stewart’s name come up quite often.  Stewart, or “Smoke” as he’s commonly referred to, won the race at Kansas last year and has an average finish of 6.5 at that track – best amongst all active drivers in NASCAR.  Following Kansas, the Cup Series heads to Talladega, and it’s been no secret that Gibbs Racing has been the only rival to Hendrick Motorsports at restrictor plate racing in the past couple years.  Stewart has also experienced tremendous success in recent years at Martinsville, Atlanta, and Homestead – all races that remain on the schedule as the 2007 season dwindles down.  The key to Stewart’s success this year could lie in the races at Lowes, Texas, and Phoenix, but even those tracks Tony has faired well at over his career.

Don’t get me wrong, while I firmly believe that 2007 is Stewart’s year to shine once again, it won’t come easy.  Jeff Gordon is still working on his “Drive for Five” campaign in an effort to pickup his fifth Cup Championship, and Jimmie Johnson is valiantly trying to become the first back-to-back champion since his Hendrick partner-in-crime did it nearly ten years ago.  The biggest difference, though, is that while the two of them have been losing more and more steam over recent weeks, Tony Stewart has been heating up, and that’s why Smoke is going to be sitting at the head of the table in New York once this season is over.

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3-Peat is in the Works