Chasing the Chase

We made it. It's been a pressure stresser. From the green in Daytona to the checkers in Homestead, we have seen it all. Some drivers had big hopes for 2006. Who would have thought we would see a season like Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle gave us? Has anyone seen Carl's driver this year, and his 'won't shave till Carl takes the checkers?' Poor guy. And The Bif! What happened? The #16 was never in one piece for very long this year. For a few, this season could not come to an end any faster then we race.

Others still have work to do. Mainly the one that has arguably worked harder then all the rest all year. #48 has seen it's share of tv time, and picture patient victory lanes. He's flirted with the Cup before, but never has he come on this strong. He had made a huge crush off the green in that small race to start the season, and had the moves to end in afternoon at the Brickyard with a kiss. Miami seems destine for perfection for #48. Mr. Perfect races for 3/3 in 2006.

The Chase. One Race. The season comes down to one chance. One moment to throw down and go home. Put this season in the rearview with some smoke. Leave it all on the track at Homestead. While there can only be one Championship crowned for the season, the last race holds so much for so many.

The Contenders

Jimmie Johnson #48 - (Rank: 1st) -300 odds for Cup

He has been the league leader for most of the year. He started off hot, winning the Daytona 500. He stayed hot for the first quarter of the season. He came up huge and won the Brickyard 400. The #48 turned it on again at the end. Pretty much every time it counted JJ ended the day in Victory Lane. The only track that he wasn't fast enough was Lowes. A small price to pay for the Cup. He has placed 2nd in the league for two of the last three years. Has always came close, but never brought home Homestead. Jimmie has won plenty of headlines, but will still race for one more. 

Matt Kenseth #17 - (Rank: 2nd, -63 points behind) - 4/1 odds for Cup

The #17 never under performs anyone but themselves. They have such a high standard on that team. Even when they are struggling they always seem to stick around and race.  There Wisconsin boys, and we won't even hold that against them. Back in the day, Kenseth and crew chief Robbie Reiser were rivals. Now in the press, they are starting to look like that again. If the #48 takes the pressure drop, Kenseth will be there to catch the Cup. It wouldn't suprise anyone in the garage.

My Shine -

The Chase Curse has nothing between Reiser and Kenseth. It stems from Roush Racing. That team looks shaken up right now, and the #17 is the only thing close to together. I give Kenseth a good 40% shot at taking home Homestead. He needs a slip up from JJ to do it, but I can see Kenseth taking the title most any day of the week. 

Fortunate Few 

Kevin Harvick #29 - (Rank: 3rd, -90 points behind) - 20/1 odds for Cup

Harvick could have easily won both the Busch Series Championship, and the Nextel Cup Championship. He has come on strong when it counts, and if everyone had not done so well last week in Phoenix, it would have been a completely different story right now for the #29 team. With two cars in the Chase from RCR, this team has come back strong. Strong enough to make Harvick resign before his contract was up. Strong enough to bring Burton back into victory lane. The hats are off all around the garage for the job they have done.  

Let's think how they got there. Last year Harvick was found with a gas tank before qualifying that would appear to be full. When in fact it was to make the car lighter during qualifying. Happy was not happy about being caught. This year both the #29 and #31 were found with questionable rims. (Starting to see a pattern for success in NASCAR?) Hey, all the more power to them. If your not working for the slightest edge, your not doing your job. I expect RCR to be working a lot in the off-season. 

Denny Hamlin #11 - (Rank: 4th, -90 points behind) - 20/1 odds for Cup

Read that again. 4th place in the league, and 20/1 odds. Rookie. What more can you say about Game Boy? Maybe, 'welcome to the Chase.' Joe Gibbs Racing has been a power team in NASCAR. With Tony Stewart on your team, a top sponsor in your pocket, and a garage that is as dependable as Gibbs himself, you can only dream of all the good things this kid is going to bring for years to come.

If he can avoid the sophomore slump next season, he is going to take over the NASCAR nation quickly. In my opinion he has more natural talent as a driver, then anyone I can remember. He has arguably the best crew chief in the league, Mike Ford. Being a part of Joe Gibbs Racing, with his teammate Tony Stewart, has him learning fast. And no one in his rookie class can be compared to him. Game Boy could win the whole damn Cup this year, if his luck can continue. He is that much of a real deal.  Joe Gibbs has put together an incredible team, with the #11 Fed Ex Chevrolet. He still has some work to do to keep his spot on top, but someone is going to have to wreck him to take it. Game Boy is my Dark Horse pick to take the Cup! (This was an exact quote by me in midseason. It still sticks.)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. #8 - (Rank: 5th, -115 points behind) - 12/1 odds for Cup

No one can say anything about the year Junior has had. He has raced hard every week. He has overcame wrecks, engine failure, enemies, the flu, you name it, Junior has raced it. He has really been clutch for his team. Where most stars at Juniors level would have a big head about their weight in their sport, he still comes off as June Bug. The first to admit when they are slow, and the first to ask for a beer straight off the checkers. He got a win in Richmond, and made the Chase. A huge improvement from last year, but the team still is missing that edge. They are just a bit shy of being that threat they set out this year to be. But just like anyone with the name Earnhardt will be a favorite at Daytona, he will be considered a favorite for the Cup for that first race next year as well. next year.

My Shine -

It was almost like everyone was just holding their breath about the #8 in the Chase. All the drivers, fans, NASCAR officials, even the beer vendors. Everyone didn't really want to talk too much about him, because he was hanging in there. The #8 had just as bad of luck as the rest of the Chasers, but Junior has that incredible survivor factor to him. He is still the face of NASCAR, and as long as they race every week, there will be Junior fans to watch them. For myself, I had a blast watching him all year. When the day comes that Junior wins the Cup, everything will be right in the NASCAR Nation.