Alrighty, the new and improved 2008 version...nah, I decided to keep the same categories as last years'...easier on the brain that way :P

Rookie of the Year - unlike last year, this was actually a hard choice...in the end I've gone with no one in the top tier of any category; Joey Logano. Ok, so I know he did race a few times in the Cup series but he was astonishing in the Nationwide car and his biggest test will be whether or not he can fill Tony Stewart's boots at JGR next season. Personally I have some doubts but shall refrain from passing judgement until at least we hit the All-star race.

Best Race of the Year - Spa...wet/dry/wet/late race passes/the winner stripped of the win a few days later, what more do you want? The Brazilian GP was a nailbiter, as was the final Truck race at Miami...but Spa had that special "what the...?!" factor for me.

Qualifier of the Year - Have to go for Jimmie Johnson since he won my TNQC title for the second straight year.

Team of the Year - Scuderia Toro Rosso. Not only did they confuse everyone by having Sebastian and Sebastien racing for them, Seb (the Vettel variety) scored their first ever pole position at Monza and also backed it up for the win the very next day.

Pit Crew of the Year - Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. They put their boy, Lewis Hamilton, onto the inters with less than 10 laps to go in the final race of the season when the title was still very much up in the air. I would say that Lewis bailed them out but I think any of the drivers could have passed a car that was on the wrong tyres so I can't do that...still, a gutsy call by the crew.

Driver of the Year - The aforementioned Sebastian Vettel...not only for his incredible performance at Monza but he also almost destroyed a nations' hopes when he passed Lewis Hamilton with a handful of laps remaining at Brazil.

Person of the Year - A lot of candidates for this one; Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Lewis Hamilton, Jamie Whincup...but in the end, there can be only one. And that one is Valentino Rosso for winning his eighth MotoGP title.

That's the (sort of) serious stuff out of the way...on to the lighter side!

Personality of the Year - Totally different from the previous award as you can tell by the 'ality' added on the end of it. Bootie Barker takes this award for attempting to emulate Chad Knaus' raindance moves on NASCAR Performance at...uh, Atlanta I think. Either way, it was hilarious to watch.

Crash of the Year - Take a bow, Michael McDowell...that's a bow, not a million barrel rolls. Mighty glad he walked away uninjured.

Surprise of the Year - The ESPN2 commentators at the Nationwide race in Montreal for, obviously, forgetting that the V8 Supercars race in the wet and so Marcos Ambrose, who raced the series for five years, would be just as qualified as Scott Pruett to be classified as "decent in the rain".

Miracle of the Year - That Marcos Ambrose didn't take himself out at Watkins Glen in the NW race when he sideswiped a backmarker with a dozen laps to go...my heart nearly stopped when that happened, let me tell you!

Worst Looking Car Livery of the Year - Force India in F1...I know I wasn't alone in having to do doubletakes every time to make sure I wasn't seeing a McLaren instead.

Bone-headed Overtaking Attempt of the Year - Sorry jon, but your man, Kevin Harvick, gets this for taking out himself, Tony Stewart and Jamie McMurray in one mistimed brake slam at Infineon, pretty much gifting the win to Kyle Busch. Special mention to Carl Edwards for, effectively, ruining half the Chase drivers' title hopes at Talladega (ta for reminding me about that one, jon).

The Dental School Award (aka, the award that made the most jaws drop during the year) - This one goes to Felipe Massa for showing that Lewis Hamilton isn't the only driver capable of roughing people up. Not only did Felipe go the long way around at Hungary, he then gave Lewis a little love tap at Japan which sent the McLaren into a spin...and yes, he did get a drivethrough penalty for it. Special mention to Lewis for ramming into Kimi Raikkonen...in the pitlane...at Montreal which handed BMW their first ever win as a manufacturer (thanks bc, I was on the plane that day so I missed it). Also, dare I add, I agree with Chad Knaus on 'TWIN' when he pointed out that the #48 wasn't on the penalty list all season...well done, Chad!

The 'Carved from Stone' Award - The one person that stood up when the heat was on, who never buckled under the enormous pressure put on them...F1 boss, Max Mosely, who somehow avoided being sacked from his job after that whole scandal thing.

The Red Bull Award - Timo Glock for launching over the kerbs at Albert Park, destroying his Toyota in the process, in the opening F1 race at Melbourne.

The Lucky Bugger Award - Me...for picking all 3 winners in the Memorial (had Labour...the dang holiday names have me all confused *laugh*) Day trifecta. Granted, taking Lewis Hamilton and Scott Dixon were not hard choices but Kasey Kahne came through for me by taking the chequer at Lowe's, cheers guys! Apologies to Lori that Kasey's win was at Tony's expense.

Any suggestions are always helpful :)

And so, after another five week hiatus by myself to post these, we came into the final round with only Jeff Gordon being able to stop Jimmie Johnson from nabbing the QC. Sadly for Gordon, both the 24 and 48 sucked in qualifying trim and Dale Earnhardt Jr was able to sneak by Jeff into second place. Mark Martin finished up equal eighth but had I put in Almirola's performance at Talladega, he'd have ended fourth...I think.

Tez's NASCAR Qualifying Championship - Final Chase Standings:

1 - Jimmie Johnson, 97 points (2 poles in Chase)
2 - Dale Earnhardt Jr, 80 points
3 - Jeff Gordon, 79 points (2 poles in Chase)
4 - Carl Edwards, 62 points
5 - Greg Biffle, 54 points
6 - Denny Hamlin, 50 points
7 - Kasey Kahne, 48 points
=8 - Kyle Busch, 46 points
=8 - Mark Martin, 46 points
10 - Ryan Newman, 43 points
11 - Kurt Busch, 39 points
12 - Elliott Sadler, 34 points

Chad Knaus had his best raindance moves out during the Chase, effectively ruining anyone's shot to catch Jimmie with the four washouts, but even so, congratulations to the entire 48 bunch on winning this again. Martin Truex Jr ended 13th, Jamie McMurray came from the clouds to finish 14th, as did Matt Kenseth in 15th.

Jimmie repeats in the QC...and appears to be happy to have done so.

The RC was far closer, with Jimmie and Carl seperated by a single point going into Miami. Alas, for some odd reason, Jimmie raced conservatively while Carl went for it, leaving the HMS driver crushed when told about it after the race...probably...maybe...if he could be bothered reading this. Jimmie was letdown by my choice to award half points for those races under 400 miles but tough; that's what I said I'd do and that's what I did all season...better luck in 2009. David Ragan managed to hold off Clint Bowyer for 13th, while Jamie McMurray (like he did in the QC) rode a huge wave of momentum the last few races to snatch 15th.

Tez's NASCAR Race Championship - Final Chase Standings:

1 - Carl Edwards, 146 points (3 wins in Chase)
2 - Jimmie Johnson, 132 points (3 wins in Chase)
3 - Kyle Busch, 97 points
4 - Greg Biffle, 94 points (2 wins in Chase)
5 - Jeff Gordon, 76 points
6 - Kevin Harvick, 74.5 points
7 - Jeff Burton, 74 points (1 win in Chase)
8 - Matt Kenseth, 61 points
9 - Tony Stewart, 56.5 points (1 win in Chase)
10 - Denny Hamlin, 56 points
11 - Kasey Kahne, 51.5 points
12 - Dale Earnhardt Jr, 46 points

So there we have it. 2008 is done and dusted and Carl can do several backflips during the offseason to celebrate (not that I'd advise him to. I still say that, one day, he's going to misjudge it and end up wearing a plaster cast).

Carl showing off as per usual...and with good reason; as the 2008 TNRC Champion.

All up, 57 drivers scored points in the Qualifying standings and 54 for the Race one. I think I'll keep this format for next year and we'll see if it can produce another close one for the season-ender.

Next up...probably my awards I think. Not sure if I'll use the same categories or come up with new ones but we'll see.

Hmm, haven't updated since Bristol on here...not good.

Righto then, the QC first. Of the 12 guys who made my Chase last season, only Juan Montoya and Jamie McMurray have missed out this year, being replaced by Mark Martin and Greg Biffle. We've also had two washouts in the five Chase races so far so the points are a bit lower due to that. Amazingly, up until Talladega, Mark was third in points and I considered giving him Almirola's points since Mark chose to skip that race but decided not to and gave him the one point for 'being last Chaser'...hopefully that won't screw up the winner after Miami but that remains to be seen.

Tez's NASCAR Qualifying Championship - Chase after 5 rounds:

1 - Jimmie Johnson, 58 points (1 pole)
2 - Jeff Gordon, 45 points (1 pole)
3 - Dale Earnhardt Jr, 38 points
4 - Greg Biffle, 35 points
5 - Mark Martin, 33 points
6 - Carl Edwards, 27 points
7 - Denny Hamlin, 26 points
=8 - Kasey Kahne, 24 points
=8 - Ryan Newman, 24 points
10 - Kyle Busch, 22 points
11 - Elliott Sadler, 21 points
12 - Kurt Busch, 20 points

So a HMS 1, 2, 3 at the moment and we'll see if the rest can ruin their run at 'perfection'. At this stage, Martin Truex Jr holds 13th with Brian Vickers, Matt Kenseth, David Ragan and Patrick Carpentier close enough behind to worry him. In case you're scratching your head over the fact that 2 + 2 doesn't equal five, Travis Kvapil didn't make the Chase so that's why there's only two pole positions listed.

Bit early to celebrate yet, but Jimmie does have the upper hand in both titles so far.

To the RC I guess and, again, it's Jimmie who has stolen a march on the rest but a certain K. Busch will appreciate the fact that he's sitting third in my standings and still very much in the hunt.

Tez's NASCAR Race Championship - Chase after 5 rounds:

1 - Jimmie Johnson, 83 points (1 win)
2 - Carl Edwards, 68 points
3 - Kyle Busch, 66 points
4 - Greg Biffle, 64 points (2 wins)
5 - Jeff Burton, 59 points (1 win)
6 - Tony Stewart, 37 points (1 win)
7 - Kevin Harvick, 35.5 points
8 - Kasey Kahne, 35 points
9 - Matt Kenseth, 33.5 points
10 - Jeff Gordon, 31.5 points
11 - Dale Earnhardt Jr, 24 points
12 - Denny Hamlin, 19 points

The top five have pulled away from the rest and it would seem to be up to Jimmie to win this for HMS since Jeff and Dale aren't even close to being in the picture yet. The battle for 13th will most likely be between David Ragan and Clint Bowyer as they have more than a race in points over Ryan Newman who sits 15th thus far.

I guess all that remains is to sit back and see if Jimmie can do pull off the double double or if someone else will nip past him by seasons' end.

Yes, I know I haven't posted my points in ages...I have them updated but just haven't been bothered to putting them up here yet, will probably just put 'my' Chasers and say who's 13th some time this week.

Anyway, for the first time in 25 years, a driving pairing has won the Bathurst 1000 three years on the trot.

Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup were the guys who did it, and in doing so, remain the only drivers to win the Peter Brock trophy as that got introduced in 2006 after the tragic loss of Brock in a rough time for Australian icons since Steve Irwin moved on a month or so before that.

Lowndes taking the chequered flag at Bathurst.

The duo were the guys to beat ever since the track opened on Thursday. The other driver pairings who were hoping to displace the #888 Vodafone Falcon from the top step of the podium included Mark Skaife and Garth Tander (#1 HRT Commodore), James Courtney and David Besnard (#4 Jeld-Wen Falcon), Greg Murphy (who I think still hasn't forgiven NASCAR driver, Marcos Ambrose, for the collision in 2005 which took them both out of this race) and Jason Richards (#3 Sprint Gas Commodore), Steven Richards and Mark Winterbottom (#6 FPR Falcon).

But it wasn't smooth sailing for the 2006 V8 champion, Rick Kelly, as his teammate, Paul Radisich, had a massive shunt and hobbled away with a broken ankle. Kelly was able to jump into the sister HSV Commodore, replacing an ill David Reynolds who was to partner Paul Dumbrell in the #15 Autobarn Commodore.

Tander took the pole from Winterbottom, Courtney and Kelly were on row two with Lowndes and Murphy taking up row three. The start saw Skaife creep forward before stalling and having to rejoin rear of the field....then, to make matter worse, he had jumped the start and got a penalty as a result. Lowndes and Murphy made contact on the run up to turn 2 as they attempted to go three-wide with Courtney, the contact damaged Murphy's steering while Lowndes got away relatively unscathed.

The #888 Falcon took the lead at the first round of pitstops and never looked back. Despite the late rush of safety cars, the duo appeared in complete control leaving the best battle on the track between Richards, Murphy and Courtney. Richards battled a majorly loose car, dirt-tracking his way around most of the 6.21km track and Murphy got by on lap 157 while Courtney slipped past on the penultimate lap.

However, no one had an answer for Lowndes and Whincup as they became the first driver pairing in 25 years to win this race three years in a row.

Final results of the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000:
1 - Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup (#888 Ford Falcon)
2 - Greg Murphy and Jason Richards (#3 Holden Commodore)
3 - David Besnard and James Courtney (#4 Ford Falcon)
4 - Steven Richards and Mark Winterbottom (#6 Ford Falcon)
5 - Brad Jones and Max Wilson (#14 Holden Commodore)
6 - Will Davison and Steven Johnson (#17 Ford Falcon)
7 - Dean Canto and Luke Youlden (#5 Ford Falcon)
8 - Jack Perkins and Nathan Pretty (#11 Holden Commodore)
9 - Jason Bright and Adam Macrow (#25 Ford Falcon)
10 - Fabian Coulthard and Alex Davison (#111 Ford Falcon)

For those who want to know how Boris Said did on his first visit to the track, his #67 Supercheap Commodore covered 140 of the 161 laps before having to retire...love to tell you what happened but since I missed the entire race weekend, I have no idea. My plan was to watch Lowe's, have the V8 website giving me updates of Bathurst and washing it all down with the F1 race at Fuji but I got asked out to a Thanksgiving dinner with my girlfriend's family instead...she owes me a real good Christmas present now I tell you!

A 'technical alliance' if you will.

According to jayski, this afternoon will see an announcement that, for the first time since before the millennium ticked over, Marcos will not be racing for the blue oval as JTG Daugherty Racing will share technology with Mikey's team and, while Brad says otherwise, more or less be a fourth MWR car. He'll still be using the #47 and still have the Little Debbie sponsorship, it just will be with a Toyota badge rather than a Ford one.

Under the agreement, JTG Daugherty will get the same chassis, engines and techno-info-sharing that Mikey receives from TRD. Daugherty reckons this deal will put them about two years ahead of schedule since they would have been relying on, most likely, the NW series notes that Marcos has picked up the past couple of seasons (which would be very rough since the cars are not even remotely similar).

Homestead will be the final time Ambrose drives a Ford Fusion...for now anyway.

Based on the recent performances by both Waltrip and Reutimann, this may prove to be a good move for Marcos who, as he proved at both Watkins Glen and Dover (until damage, he was running in the top 15), can run with the big boys and will surely be a huge help to MWR with their road course program. I must say that I feel better about this than Marcos running by himself...and no disrespect to the Wood Brothers who have helped Ambrose enormously since 2006 when he entered the Truck series, he might wind up being a little more competitive than I previously thought.