Today is the final NASCAR Sprint Cup race of the year. It is the end of a 10-month, 36-race marathon. If you’ve watched every lap of every race this year, you should be commended and you have accomplished a lot more than me. (My goal every year is to watch every lap, but having a kid has complicated that this season).
Much like every season, there have been some incredible finishes and some unwatchable races. When the season starts in February and ends in November, you’re going to get a few duds here and there. But after watching a good share of the action this season there are three storylines that really stand out to me as we head into championship weekend in Miami.
1. The Chase for 7
It’s still incredible to me that Jimmie Johnson has won six championships. That alone makes him one of racing’s greatest drivers with no arguments or debates. Today he can join the two greatest drivers in stock car history with a seventh title. That is remarkable considering how competitive the Sprint Cup Series is today. In no way am I discrediting Richard Petty or Dale Earnhardt, but there is a lot of money in the sport now. Money that can be spent to beat a driver who is very dominant, and it’s not like Johnson has been the only driver winning in the last ten years, he’s just found a way to win at the right times. The format changes to the Chase has prompted some old-timers to say the championships are not the same, but he’s still won SIX of them!
And to think that this season would bring an opportunity to win #7 at Homestead is another surprise. Johnson was terrible during the summer. Even he would admit that. Johnson was not winning and he didn’t have the speed to compete. But with the help of Chad Knaus, still arguably the best crew chief in the game, Johnson has controlled the Chase by winning at Charlotte and Martinsville, enabling his team to roll pressure-free and work towards the final race while others fought to stay alive.
I’d give Johnson a 40% chance to win the historic championship on Sunday. Logano, Edwards and Kyle Busch are very good. Anything can happen, but I like the experience of the #48 team and they have been very good in the pits during the Chase. We’ve had titles won and lost on pit road at Homestead, which means Johnson cannot afford a pit road penalty like the one he got in Phoenix. In order for Johnson to win the trophy he may have to do the very thing he has yet to do in his career. Win a race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
2. The Absence of Dale Jr.
Much like the sun came up the day after the Election, stock car racing did go on without Dale Earnhardt Jr. this year.
Junior had a rough year at what many perceive is a good time in his personal life. Just when it seemed like he was going to compete for a title after a strong 2015, another concussion greatly affected not just his ability to drive a racecar, but his daily way of life. Some serious issues cropped up which made driving a car traveling over 200 miles per hour unthinkable. He would post videos on social media during his time off that made shooting hoops in the gym a major accomplishment.
Clearly his health is the number one priority, but NASCAR had to face a life without the most popular name in the sport, and may have to look at a future without him as well. Dale Jr.’s comeback at Daytona in February is going to make for a tremendous day, but the grind of the season will once again take its toll. I believe that better days are ahead for Dale, but I really question whether this issue will ever allow him to be as good as he has been behind the wheel, and it really seems trivial to discuss at this point. The only thing everyone in racing is hoping for is a healthy and happy Dale Earnhardt Jr.
With the amount of young drivers that have had success in 2016, the series is in good hands. Dale has been missed, but a competitive season with some interesting stories has unfolded without him. The emergence of Chase Elliott may even provide the legion of Earnhardt Jr. fans a possible replacment for the most popular son of a former NASCAR champion. Can I picture NASCAR racing without Dale Jr. in it? No. That’s why I think the offseason is critical for him and the #88 team.
3. The Unraveling of Martin Truex’s Season
After winning two of the first three Chase races in September, many people thought Truex was not only emerging as a serious contender for the championship, but in fact was the favorite.
But he lost an engine at Talladega and just like that was eliminated. The Chase gives and the Chase takes away, all in a blink of an eye. Truex had some dominant wins in the Coca-Cola 600 and the Southern 500. He took an average one-car team in Furniture Row Racing and made it a legit threat to the super teams. They even will add a car with Erik Jones next season, effectively making them even stronger.
Despite the disappointment, Truex has emerged as a legitimate top ten driver in NASCAR. And he is paired with one of the top five crew chiefs in Cole Pearn. With proven results, this team is only going to come back stronger and more motivated to win in 2017.
(Above Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
Speed For Thought 