Full Throttle

The Chase for NASCAR’s NEXTEL Cup is getting to be like Mid-America’s weather. If you don’t like it, wait a hour, it will change - drastically.

As in past weeks, a points leader takes another “lightening strike” while others weather the storm and regain lost points and positions as the season whittles down to four events.

This weeks Martinsville edition featured all but one of those in the Chase finishing in the top fifteen. The lone exception was Jeff Burton who finished 42^nd after dropping a valve just short of mid-race.

Burton’s and RCR’s misfortune allowed eventual race winner Jimmie Johnson to climb back into the race by gaining over one hundred points, four positions, and sits a scant 41 points from new leader Matt Kenseth. It also breaths life back into some that many thought were long dead. (read, Dale Jr. and Kasey Kahne)

Going into Atlanta the top eight are only separated by 99 points and Kasey Kahne (a 61 point gainer this week) must be licking his chops. He won the spring event followed by Martin, Dale Jr. and Jeff Gordon.

The topsy-turvy nature of this years Chase makes one wonder why the television ratings are down from last year. On the other hand the mythos of TV ratings and how they are determined are a bigger mystery than a NASCAR rulebook.

Martinsville, NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Sports, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle