Jimmie was kind of upstaged by Mark at the Champion's Week ceremony

Mark stepped to the stage and let his charisma and understanding of life and NASCAR come out in words that sparked energy in the crowd and stole the show from Jimmie Johnson. Listening to Mark’s words had me a little misty around the eyes and made me think of other racers who hadn’t quite been able to win it all during their racing careers.

The week long celebration begins on Monday as Jimmie Johnson and his wife Chandra will handing out about $1 million in donations to various schools around California, North Carolina, and Oklahoma, and giving something back to their fans.

On Tuesday Jimmie will show up at the Auto Club Speedway to have breakfast with and answer and ask a few questions with about 700 fans and friends.

Wednesday Jimmie is scheduled to take part in a photo shoot as he travels around to various spots along the Las Vegas strip. Jimmie will then spend a little quality time with the other racers he was competing against during the year and I bet he can expect a little fun pay back for his four years of making them second best.

On Thursday Champion’s Week heads to the real celebration and the official crowning of Jimmie Johnson as a four time Sprint Cup Series Champion. They’ll be having a parade where Jimmie’s fans can watch him come down the street and wave as he heads toward a strip where they’ll be a few burn outs planned, before they head over to have lunch.

On Friday they’ll bring the affair to its pinnacle with the annual Sprint Cup Series awards show at the Wynn Las Vegas and this is when the party will reach its peak and they’ll start to head off to their private parties.

“Image: Zuma Press”

Post from: EveryJoe

Jimmie Johnson at Champion’s Week

Jimmy Johnson spends his time off behind the wheel of other types of race cars

Jimmy has actually competed in five of the last six Rolex 24 races, and has actually helped his team finish second twice in the six races he has driven in. He helped the Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing team finish second in 2008 and the Howard/Boss Motorsorts Pontiac Crawford team finish second in 2005. He also raced in the Rolex 24 in 2006 and 2007 and in the summer drove Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona for Riley Motorsports.

The passion the Jimmy has for racing just can’t be denighed and it shows in the results he has no matter what he’s driving or driving for. His smile when behind the wheel of a race car is only second to his skill and desire to win no matter what he’s driving or who he is competing against.

The accolades and compliments he has recieved from his fellow team mates and the owners of the teams he drives for is amazing to hear and he is impressive no matter what he’s driving.

He also brings out the best in his competitors and his team mates and this is something that can’t be over rated and is surely one of the reasons that he would be welcome as a team mate for any team that he wanted to drive for.

If you want to see Jimmy Johnson in action behind the wheel of a race car other than a NASCAR entry, you can live live coverage of the 2010 Rolex 24 at Daytona on SPEED at 3 p.m. ET on January 30. The action will last until 10 p.m. and will resume again at 7 a.m. ET and continue until the end of the race at about 4 p.m.

“Image: Zuma Press”

Post from: EveryJoe

Jimmy Johnson is a Busy Racer

2009 was an eventful year on the NASCAR track

Also notable in 2009 was the financial problems of NASCAR and the state of the financial institutions around the world, which definitely made the ground the racers’ were racing on a little more hazardous and put the future of some teams and races in jeopardy. Chevrolet and Chrysler were on shaky financial ground the whole year and had to make cut backs in the spending of teams in order to make it through the season. We saw teams merge and a few had to put the wraps on their racing and hundreds of NASCAR industry professionals lost their jobs. Still others went with a start and park routine to try to reduce costs and keep the teams working. The drug problems of a few racers surfaced during the year and took the focus away from the racing, and Danica Patrick’s continuous talks with team owners kept interrupting the racing.

Add to these problems reduced attendance at many of the race venues, which certainly can be partly blamed on the financial crisis for many Americans, and 2009 wasn’t the best year in NASCAR history. Media professionals also saw a decrease in advertising budgets and revenue, which resulted in cut backs and downsizing in order to compensate for the reduced funding. 2010 is expected to be a better year for NASCAR, but things can change so quickly that making assumptions can cause real problems.

Jarrod Breeze’s problems with NASCAR dominated the events in the last few days of the season and this still has yet to be resolved. Jarrod’s problems could just be starting and the facts surrounding this whole affair could bring an end to his career. He may win the fight, but his chances of getting behind the wheel of another race car in a NASCAR race, is probably zero.

The events and facts of the 2009 season were often more about the events surrounding the races and racers, than the actual races. Hopefully, in 2010 we’ll get back to concentrating on the racing, as long as the financial situation settles a little and the financial ground becomes a little more secure for the teams and racers.

“Image: Zuma Press”

Post from: EveryJoe

2009 Nascar Wrap-Up

Denny Hamlin is expecting to have a better year in 2010

Every body is feeling sorry for Mark Martin, but they should be praising him for being able to keep his mental focus and not to take the second place finishes in the Sprint Cup Series as a personal thing. He finished his first full year in the Sprint Cup Series a shade behind one of the greatest Sprint Cup racers ever to slip behind the wheel and he has lots to be proud of. He finished the year with five wins and seven pole position starts, which in itself is an amazing feat when you think about the level of competition on the track.

Is it possible to finish third in the Sprint Cup Series and still feel like you left lots on the track and didn’t meet your own and team expectations for the season. This is probably how Jeff Gordon feels after a less than stellar year that has left him wondering what could have been. Jeff was expected to win more than once in 2009 and 2010 is going to be a watershed year for him and he needs to rise to the occasion and give Jimmie another challenger to the title. Jeff Gordon will also be seeking his fifth Sprint Cup Series title in 2010 and he’s probably tired on running second to Jimmie, which is going to make the 2010 Sprint Cup season a real barn burner.

“Image: Zuma Press”

Post from: EveryJoe

2009 Sprint Cup: The Bottom Line

Mark is sitting and wondering about 2010

Mark Martin and team tried their hardest to put together ten races during the Chase that would give them their first Sprint Cup Series Championship, but in the end they found themselves brides maids once again and looking in as Jimmie enjoyed all the accolades. Mark Martin just didn’t appear to have a strong enough car to allow him to catch Jimmie, but he kept his hands on the wheel and foot on the gas pedal and gave it his best try through ten of the hardest races of his career. The adjustments they made in the pits during the race didn’t seem to provide the change in performance and handling they needed to win, and Mark found himself trying to keep his car straight and fast, rather than actually being able to race with Jimmie.

The 2010 Sprint Cup Series is going to be interesting as we can certainly expect Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson and the rest of the boys will be out to win it all. Mark can win it all, next year I believe, as can a few of the other racers, but Jimmie will still be the one to beat. In the end the racer with the most consistent car will probably win and take home the Sprint Cup Series title. Hopefully we’ll get to see another barn raising affair that will leave us wanting more.

“Image: Zuma Press”

Post from: EveryJoe

Mark Martin Left Wondering at the Line

Jimmie Johnson kicks open the doors of NASCAR's hall of fame

Jimmie Johnson is one racer who started his NASCAR career with realistic expectations. He was maybe hoping to win a few racers, have a chance to compete against the best in the business, but he certainly wasn’t expecting to be a four time Sprint Cup Series Champion.

Mark Martin certainly looked to be every bit the racers that Jimmie Johnson is when he first appeared on a NASCAR track and five runner up finishes later, he’s still trying to catch the racer in front of him. In fact, Martin is one of the best NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to never win a title, but you would never know it by his reactions to coming second again.

Jimmie Johnson just wasn’t available for him to catch after a certain point in the Sprint Cup Series season and he needed help from the gods and other racers to become the 2009 Sprint Cup Series Champion. Jimmie was once again consistent and fast on the track and came home fifth Sunday on Homestead-Miami Speedway and became the only racer to win his fourth consecutive Sprint Cup Series Championship. This punches Jimmie Johnson’s ticket to the hall of fame when the day comes for him to walk up the steps and should put him in the same part of the hall as drivers like Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and his friend and teammate Jeff Gordon as the only racers to win more than three championships.

Job well done Jimmie and enjoy your accomplishment. You deserve all the accolades and awards they throw upon your shoulders. We raise out glasses to you once again and acknowledge you’re the best of our generation.

“Image: Zuma Press”

Post from: EveryJoe

Jimmie Johnson Shoe-in for Hall of Fame

Ron Hornaday wins World Camping Truck Series

Kevin Harvick could be heard screaming into his radio after the race that they had done it and this was a great way to end the 2009 Camping World Truck Series. Kevin has won the last two races of the Camping World Truck Series season and has three wins in his past six starts. It wasn’t looking very good when Harvick came into the pits on Lap 114 for more fuel, but once he got back out on the track, he turned things around and was back in the lead within eight laps. Over the remaining laps Harvick was able to increase his lead by over four seconds, before Ryan Sieg’s spin caused another caution to occur.

Kevin Harvick’s win played second fiddle to the real story of the day, as Ron Hornaday was able to finish eighth and secure the Camping World Truck Series title. Ron Hornaday has had a fast truck all year and this is a much deserved championship for Hornaday, who battled all year, despite his problems.

Matt Crafton finished second, just ahead of Colin Braun’s truck in the Ford 200 Camping World Truck Series race; while Timothy Peters was able to stay strong and consistent with a fourth place finish. Todd Bodine finished fifth in his Toyota, in front of Mike Skinner and his Toyota, and just ahead of David Starr and his Toyota. Ron Hornaday stayed out of trouble and obviously knew he didn’t need to win and just tried to finish as best he could, without putting himself in jeopardy of being taken out of the race. Johnny Sauter finished ninth and T.J. Bell rounded out the top ten in the Ford 200.

“Image: Zuma Press”

Post from: EveryJoe

Ron Hornaday Wins Camping World Truck Title

Kyle Busch wins Nationwide title

It was a tough race for Busch, but he won with his usual flare and was the best car on the track again. He should buy his team a dinner tonight and thank them all for giving him the car to compete and win. Kyle Busch never would have accomplished this without the little people surrounding this affair doing their jobs and making it possible.

The day was exciting as Brad Keselowski took Denny Hamlin’s purposeful spinning of Keselowski’s No. 88 Chevrolet, before the excitement had even started. This scene played second fiddle to Kyle Busch and his championship though and it’s certainly a good thing. Keselowski should be sanctioned for his actions and he needs to keep control of his emotions and show some maturity in his actions on the track. There’s no place for such choices and actions on a track where the possibility of death or serious injury is always present. Two laps after a restart on Lap 163 and pitting for new tires, Kyle Busch passed Edwards and pulled into the lead and then held on for the win.

“Image: Zuma Press”

Post from: EveryJoe

Kyle Busch Wins Nationwide Title

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

The Nationwide Series boys will be out on the track again this week

In other news, Braun racing has decided to expand their line up of Nationwide Series cars to four for the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series season and put team member Brian Scott behind the wheel of their fourth Toyota. Braun is looking forward to 2010 with their leader and founder Todd Braun confident and happy as he prepares to take Braun into another Nationwide Series season. Braun has been making steady progress in the Nationwide Series since they first entered the series in 2003, before racing full time in the Nationwide Series in 2004 and capturing their first win in the series with Jamie McMurray behind the wheel at North Carolina Speedway. In 2005 Braun decided to drop their Arca team and concentrate on NASCAR’s Nationwide Series for 2005. This team has come along way in a few years and they appear to have a bright future and understanding of what it takes to win in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series.

This week NASCAR also announced two fines and penalties for Nationwide Series teams during the Nationwide Series race at Texas Motor Speedway on the weekend. The crew chief of Kyle’s Busch’s No. 18 Toyota was fined $5,000 for violation of NASCAR Nationwide Series Sections 12-1, 20A-2.3A and 12-4-I. Kyle Busch and owner Joe Gibbs were also docked 25 points respectively from their Nationwide Series driver and team point totals. Brad Parrott, the crew chief of the No. 9 Ford with John Wes Townley behind the wheel was fined $5,000 and placed on probation for violation of Section 12-1, 9-4-A, and 12-4-I.

The Nationwide Series will have Reed Sorenson on the track for Saturday’s Able Body Labor 200 on the track of Phoenix International Speedway. Reed will be a dark horse for the race certainly, but he has finished in the top ten three times in his four starts at Phoenix. If he’s able to get a good start and get out front of the main pack along with the leaders, he has as good a chance as any of winning.

“Image: Zuma Press”

Post from: EveryJoe

Nationwide Series Changes