It’s now down to the final weekend that will conclude the lengthy 2009 NASCAR season. It’s champion’s weekend. A time for all racing fans to turn their attention to the Florida based Homestead Miami Speedway to officially acknowledge grand conclusions most, of which, we’ve probably already known for several days now.
THE CHASE BREAKDOWN
Of course there’s a Chase breakdown. Following his win at Phoenix last Sunday, Jimmie Johnson has a 108 point lead over Mark Martin and needs a 25th place finish or better from next Sunday’s Ford 400 to clinch that history making fourth consecutive Sprint Cup championship. That of course is extremely doable and very likely.
But let’s not overlook the other possible Chase scenario. That would be the possibility of Johnson and company experiencing an early race complication similar to what happened during the third lap of the Texas race. According to NASCAR archive stats Martin has actually gained more than 108 points over the Johnson team in a single race nine times including a 2005 event at Homestead Miami. Those stats will likely become nothing more pre race Chase hype but it’s NASCAR champion’s weekend and hype is a big part of that.
Here’s yet another set of very interesting stats that has absolutely nothing to do with the Chase, Hypothetically, if the current Chase format had never been invented and implemented the 2009 championship picture would be completely different. Under the old school points system Jimmie Johnson would still be the points leader but would only have a 13 point lead over Tony Stewart and a 56 point lead over Jeff Gordon. Now that would be a championship run.
THE STORY BREAKDOWN
There is of course some other story lines, outside of the Chase, that deserves attention.For the second time this season Ford will race its new FR9 engine at the Homestead Miami Speedway. The new engine will be placed in David Ragan’s #6 Roush Fenway Ford. The engine debuted at Talladega and had some very encouraging results during the restrictor plate race. Sunday’s Ford 400 will mark the engine’s first unrestricted outing in a race.
To no real surprise Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, presented by Felix Sabates, announced on Wednesday the official signing of driver Jamie McMurray to take over their #1 Chevrolet. It’s a reported one year deal that will reunite the driver with owner Chip Ganassi whom he drove for during the 2002 to 2005 seasons. McMurray replaces departing driver Martin Truex Jr who will finish his tenure with EGR this Sunday. Truex will be moving to Michael Waltrip Racng next year. Bass Pro Shop and Tracker Boats will return to sponsor the EGR Chevrolet. Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion is expected to also return to the team.
Robby Gordon will be incredibly busy this weekend competing in events located in Mexico and Florida. Gordon will be spending Thursday through Saturday competing in his Baja Trophy Truck during the annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 through the deserts of Mexico. Gordon is the current points leader in both the Trophy Truck Division and the overall SCORE Desert Series. Meanwhile in Florida driver Matt Crafton will be filling in for Gordon by practicing and qualifying the Robby Gordon Motorsports Ford for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race. Gordon is expected to be in Florida early Sunday morning to drive in the Ford 400.
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