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From the Marbles

Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:49 am EDT

Chase Watch 2009: Holding Jimmie to second ain't gonna cut it

By Jay Busbee

 

With only four races left in the 2009 season, we're taking a look at the Chase for the Sprint Cup, and we're getting down to the wire. If anybody but a certain #48 is going to make a run at this, now would be the time.

Standings (movement): Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya (+1), Kurt Busch (-1), Ryan Newman (+1), Greg Biffle (-1), Denny Hamlin (+2), Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne (-2), Brian Vickers.

Who's up: Johnson continues to extend his lead on the field, and now has triple digits between himself and everybody else. Montoya continued his impressive run in the NASCAR postseason with another top-5 finish. And Ryan Newman quietly added to what might just be one of the most unexpected runs of 2009. Oh, and Denny Hamlin reminded us of what could have been, and what could still be ... but not this year. (Aside: Okay, sponsors, we get that you want to put your products out in front of the world -- but enough with the stupid top-of-car displays. The giant Tums bottle, the giant Sprint phone -- it's ridiculous. Beer sponsors are exempt, as long as the giant products contain actual beer.)

Who's down: Everybody not named Johnson. Seriously, this is almost all over now, assuming Johnson doesn't have a wreck -- and rooting for that is seriously bad karma. In any other season, Martin, Stewart and Gordon would be waging one hell of a battle, but this year, they're all just warm-up acts.

Outlook: What can you do? Johnson is dominating. You can either curl up your fists and cry like a baby that there must be cheating going on -- must be! -- or you can just deal with the fact that we've got a team who's figured everything out and is winning based on the rules they've been given. How, exactly, is that different from our beloved drivers of the past testing the limits of the rules and then winning within those parameters? I'm not thrilled about the prospect of a drama-less Homestead, but you've got to tip your hat to the 48.

And now, your take. Air your various gripes/conspiracy theories here. Go!

Related: Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Mark Martin, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers, Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch

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71 Comments

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  1. vukesdukes
    1. Posted by vukesdukes Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:29 pm EDT

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    NASCAR PUMPKIN
    http://www.drivefast-turnleft.com/2009/10/halloween-and-such.html
  2. Willy Doer
    2. Posted by Willy Doer Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:40 pm EDT

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    Ugggggg...Is there any body out there.
  3. Jean Pierre
    3. Posted by Jean Pierre Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:46 pm EDT

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    Crapcar suckssssssssssssssssssssss
  4. penske2car
    4. Posted by penske2car Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:56 pm EDT

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    Yes, everybody tip their hat to the best 10-race champion that ever raced in NASCAR.
  5. Hans Gruber
    5. Posted by Hans Gruber Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:05 pm EDT

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    Reward for finishing first after the first 26 races: chosing the 10 tracks to be raced at during the chase!
  6. Carol
    6. Posted by Carol Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:06 pm EDT

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    That's funny; Hubby was just making fun of the giant Tums bottle...
  7. Jimmie48
    7. Posted by Jimmie48 Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:15 pm EDT

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    Good article. Altho I'm a JJ fan I would still like to see Tony in second. I like that guy and it would be a most interesting finish to a great season. If for some reason JJ didn't get it I would like it to be Tony.
  8. lbsandjr
    8. Posted by lbsandjr Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:25 pm EDT

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    Montoya had the perfect opportunity to dump JJ out of the way on that green white checker, and even up the points. No guts.
  9. Jay Busbee
    9. Posted by Jay Busbee Mon Oct 26, 2009 2:08 pm EDT

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    @penske2car: By that rationale, every Super Bowl champ is just a "one-game winner."
  10. DICK SMOTHERS
    10. Posted by DICK SMOTHERS Mon Oct 26, 2009 2:10 pm EDT

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    Jean Pierre IS A FRENCH WHORE.
  11. Mr. Danica Patrick
    11. Posted by Mr. Danica Patrick Mon Oct 26, 2009 2:31 pm EDT

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    And let's not forget drinking (spilling) a coke after each race!!! Really a coke??? I can't wait to drink a carbonated beverage when I am exhausted from sweating for 3+ hours.
  12. Rob M
    12. Posted by Rob M Mon Oct 26, 2009 2:41 pm EDT

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    #4 JJ is not just a 10 race champion. You have to get to the chase to have a chance. There are many drivers that cant even pull that off, including the beloved jr. Look at JJ's career numbers the avg finish, the wins per year. He is a super star. It doesn't matter if you like the man, but recognize what he has done. You dont need to compare his championships to those that raced under different formats, but to those that have raced under the current format. The question is where is everyone else? A few like Gordon, and Stewart are competing and have great numbers, but JJ is just better. He is the clear cut dominant driver of the current NASCAR age
  13. Carol
    13. Posted by Carol Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    Rob M, you'll get more satisfaction if you just go bang your head against a tree. Penske2car won't hear you.
  14. penske2car
    14. Posted by penske2car Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:35 pm EDT

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    this ain't football, busbee, your comparison makes no sense.
  15. Rudy88
    15. Posted by Rudy88 Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:53 pm EDT

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    penske 2 car - Makes a hell of a lot more sense than what you said. Your comment made ZERO sense!
  16. penske2car
    16. Posted by penske2car Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

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    oh sorry Rudy you are an 88 fan, i need to dumb it down a bit so you understand.
  17. Willy Doer
    17. Posted by Willy Doer Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    If these pancakes are gonna keep riding these dang motorcycles around town.....i'm gettin' some Ketchup.
  18. novice
    18. Posted by novice Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:12 pm EDT

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    JJ's an average driver at best made great by the ONLY crew chief that has CLEARLY mastered the CoT in the Chase era. I give Knaus' all of the credit because he proved his worth during the Gordon years. JJ didn't do much prior to the CoT & the Chase. That's the main reason why fans continue to sour on what the sport has become.
    The CoT has been a dream in terms of safety & a nightmare in terms of competitive racing. The race of pit road has become more exciting & more determinant as to who wins a race than driver skill on the track because the CoT gets a big advantage in clean air.
    NaASCAR needs to own up to this huge travesty & change the front end & take that advantage away. That may take years though. Until then they need to treat the Chase like a real post season & switch up the tracks every year.
  19. Jimmie48
    19. Posted by Jimmie48 Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:31 pm EDT

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    novice---a person new to something; a beginner. Well the name works.
  20. Mark B
    20. Posted by Mark B Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:38 pm EDT

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    Please stop watching NASCRAP... This is far worse that WWE.... What a shame that racing is like this. Fans stop going to races. Dont buy there crap... Make racing (nascar) have the same standards for all teams.. Hendricks blows helton and all is well..
    JJ is a puss.
  21. Bill
    21. Posted by Bill Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:51 pm EDT

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    So i was wrong. Yesterday i commented during the chat that at least we would not have to Listen to Hamlin wine about it being someone elses fault they didnt win.... But, he wined like he know how....
    “I’m sure on the Web sites tomorrow there will be … 12 stories, and there will be one about how much this guy lost to Jimmie, how much this guy lost to Jimmie, how much Jimmie gained,” Hamlin said.
    God i hope he hit wall early at Dega.... sniviling litle B****
  22. cg5995
    22. Posted by cg5995 Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:29 pm EDT

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    LOL@ Carol and Jimmie 48!!!
    Rob you are exactly right, if everyone read his stats, its all there in black and white!!!
    Bill What are you talking about??
  23. Kaiya
    23. Posted by Kaiya Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:56 pm EDT

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    Ill tell you what bill is talking about.....Friggin Denny Hamster F#cking B!TCHES when he looses and when he wins....the guy just does not know how to shut the F^CK UP!!!!! God I hate him! Maybe he will wreck at Dega early and we wont have to hear from him for the rest of the race!!!
    GO JJ 4 IN A ROW then DRIVE FOR 5!
  24. Carol
    24. Posted by Carol Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:05 pm EDT

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    Yeah novice, the fact that JJ began racing motorcycles at age 5 and spent all of his formative years racing in one form or another, probably doesn't have anything to do with his success at the Cup level. I'll bet if you put my dead gramma in that car with Chad as crew chief, she could win races!
  25. kinggeorge
    25. Posted by kinggeorge Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:13 pm EDT

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    Bill- Just wait till Bradski runs Cup full time next year and hopefully puts his foot up Denny's backside. I feel sorry for Logano having to put up with the two most childish drivers NASCAR has ever seen. Granted, Kyle seems to be getting marginally better as Denny continues to make an utter fool of himself.
    CG-- Jenna's story on the Yahoo NASCAR home page.

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