Submitted by NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

OK, I’ve got to give credit where credit is due and Jimmie Johnson deserves credit for Sunday’s win in Texas. He could have easily sat back in second and let Kenseth have the lead in the closing laps of the race, but he didn’t. Instead, Jimmie put it on the line and went after Kenseth for the lead getting his car sideways in the process and hurting his Championship chances.

Not only that, but Kenseth go his car way loooose once and almost took out Jimmie right there in the corner but, by some freakish act of the God that Hendrick Motorsports worships to, Matt was able to hold onto his car and not collect Jimmie in what would have most likely been a race ending, and perhaps Championship ending, wreck. Wow.

Jeff Gordon had a good run, but not as good as Jimmie’s. Jeff now sits second in the standings and it is looking like that elusive 5th Championship will remain unwon for yet another season

Oh, I’m not writing Jeff off by any means, and I won’t until the final checkered flag at Homestead, but we’ve seen this before and it is harder to bounce back in situations like this if you are in Gordon’s position. Jimmie has less pressure on him now than Jeff does, because Jimmie never really had the lead until now, whereas Jeff has been sitting on the top of the standings for a fairly lengthy period of time and now has lost it and wants it back with just 2 races left.

It is harder to get something back once you’ve lost it, than to take something that you didn’t really have to begin with - in this case it is the lead for the Championship.

Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

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Submitted by NASCAR Eclectic

Ok, so I’m searching for a relevant image to place on this post and this is what I came up with. Not exactly what I was looking for, but it jumped out at me. Maybe because it’s a very good likeness of Stewart or maybe because I own the previous versions of the game or it could be the thing I’ve been thinking about…2008. Yes, 2008. Bring it on!! Not that I’m trying to speed up the time because it goes fast enough as it is. I’ve recently received AARP junk mail with solicitations to get me to sign up and all the good reasons why I should do so. Like I really need that!! I don’t ever consider myself anywhere near AARP status… whoever told these people to scare the begeezus out of unsuspecting “young” 50 year old males? Okay, I’ve gotten off on a tangent and the subject, although relevant to “time” but not necessarily old age.

I decided to change the logos on my sidebar today. Why today? I really don’t have a single answer for that. We still have a solid 8 weeks left in ‘07, and this year has been good to me in many ways. One reason is, the ‘07 NASCAR season has been one of the craziest ever with more changes than the weather is here in the Northeast. Then I read stuff about how NASCAR has lame ideas to change the Nationwide series.. [that’s the only logo I could find]… I agree that something needs to be done, but it’s not even the Nationwide Series yet and they’re calling it that by name. The Busch Series was founded in 1982, but it goes back to the days of the old Sportsman series of the 1950’s. It wasn’t until 1989, that NASCAR changed the rules requiring cars to use current body styles, similar to the Winston Cup cars. Now they have ideas of changing the cars to Pony’s with a COT format. I just feel that the Busch league needs a proper salute and a farewell. It’s been around for a long time and has given new, young and talented [sometimes not so talented] driver’s a place to learn and possibly make the big league. It’s also provided us diehard racefan’s another venue and has made a ton of money for the France family and Bruton Smith. What they need to do is make things easier for the single “Minor” league only car owners. They talk about changing the point system so Minor league regulars can win the championship’s, but then if they move forward with drastic car changes half, or more, of these teams won’t have a prayer with the amount of money it’ll take and these changes are said to come as early as ‘09. It’s all good in theory, but where is the logic or MONEY?

Mean Automakers Dash Nation’s Hope For Flying Cars

They could always try this.

Goodbye old friend. It’s been a pleasurable journey. I just hope your Successor brings about the positive change you so deserve.

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