Johnson Stakes His Claim

Like a stealth assassin, defending champion Jimmie Johnson provided a reminder to Busch and Edwards – don’t count me out yet.

The #48 dominated the race at California, the only time that anyone got close was at restart. It was the sort of display we all expected from Hendricks’s this year. The timing of the run, pivotal, with the ‘Race to the Chase’ starting in a few weeks. His experience of the Chase format, knowing what it takes to win, is something neither Busch nor Edwards can call upon.

The race was hardly one to remember. The most interesting battle was that of the bubble drivers. With this my first season to watch Nascar live in many years, it is my first with the Chase format. From the outset, I thought it was a bit cheesy for motorsport. But now, I have a very different opinion of it.

The battle at the bubble is fascinating. Kasey Kahne and David Ragan are on the outside looking in, but even a minor hiccup for current 12th spot man Bowyer and either could be in. Let’s not forget that eight position man, Tony Stewart, is only 138 points ahead of Ragan. With the reliability and durability of the cars today, an early smash at Richmond could have massive implications for those near the bubble.

It’s an interesting element for a race that is ten away from the season’s chequered flag. At the end other end, we have the battle to stay in the top-35. I still remain somewhat sceptical of this concept, but again it does offer excitement. Sure, most people probably don’t find it interesting, but I do. A.J. Allmendinger, who is one of the most improved drivers of the year, has found himself just inside the top-35, after chasing the coveted position all season. Much like the Chase, there are a number of drivers within a small point’s margin. It will be intriguing to see how this places out comes seasons end.

Elsewhere, Dario Franchitti will be returning to the IRL next season, replacing Dan Weldon in the Ganassi team. Reading this on Autosport, I did drop my jaw at the fact Weldon got the kick. He’s third in the points! Surprised a team like Ganassi couldn’t expand for a car for him, given that IRL is cheaper than Nascar. Perhaps the recent shifts – starting with the closure of the #40 team and have since been followed by the loss of Texaco as a sponsor for the #42 and Reed Sorenson moving to GEM, it is a sign of bigger issues at Ganassi.

It’s a smart move by Franchitti. He showed the odd spark, but nothing that made him stand out and made me think he could last. His injuries hardly helped the situation, with Stremme filling in and running the car up front. It’s never good to have your car do better than you managed with it. A return to the Nationwide saw him show better consistency, but I figure there wasn’t many a team willing to take him on.