Johnson Rides Midnight (EDT) Train to Victory
Jimmie Johnson may have won his fifth race of the year, but he failed to arrive at the East Coast “train stations” on time. As he crossed the finishing stripe on the Left Coast the clock ticked over to 0010am Eastern Daylight Time.
That would be Monday for the chronographically challenged.
Despite not beating Monday across the line he did clinch a spot in the Chase two weeks hence. And if things remain the same he’ll be the #1 seed with a ten point advantage on the field.
The other stories Sunday/Monday were Dale Jr. gaining 30 points on 12th place with a single event to make up the rest. That’s a tough mountain to climb unless K. Busch blows up or is taken out.
Brian Vickers continues to be Toyota’s shining light after leading a few laps and finishing 8th. Remember you heard this here first… Vickers will play spoiler during the Chase costing a “Chaser” some points by winning one event.
This weeks “spin of the week” didn’t occur on the track. It was orchestrated off the tarmac and issued by Gillian Zucker, president of California Speedway: “With triple digits all week long, and the number of people who were in that grandstand, I was really, really impressed,” said the California Speedway president.
She forgot to mention the luckiest fans were the 15,000 or so that dressed as empty seats.
Does anyone beside me think a bit of karma was in play this weekend? Think about it, the weekend featured scorching temps and both Saturday and Sunday featured fiery crashes.
Maybe it’s just me.
California Speedway, NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Sports, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle
SoCal fans can be incredibly fickle. But, it was a scorcher down there. Heck it was a scorcher up here in the desert.
So, it’s not surprising that a lot of fans didn’t show up for the race. Though, will have to add, doubt that would happen in other parts of NASCAR land - even if it were to be extra hot.
My 3 years in San Diego taught me all need to know about SoCal fans. Go to a Padre game and half the fans are in Cubbie or Mets jersys.
Having said that, Fontana is marketing the track to the wrong people. Screw that Hollywierd crowd. Their nothing but “drive-bys” anyway and will be gone when the next fad rolls around.
The track sits smack in the middle of the Inland Empire. It’s populated with people that are much closer to the east coast NASCAR crowd than most realize.
The vast majority is farm land worked by hard-working people just as in the east. If the track EVER markets to them they could sell the place out. Of course a November date to get away from the heat wouldn’t hurt.
That’s true about who Fontana should be marketing to. Skip LA & Hollywood. Go for San Berdu and Riverside and those type of areas.
It would be better if Fontana had a date later in the year, instead of the first week of September. Guess that’s why Phoenix is the next to last race and in November. But, a quick look at the schedule it might be tough fitting Fontana in that late.
Some of the Fox Sports Radio hosts who are in the LA area bust on Padre and Chargers fans for being so willing to give up their tickets to visiting team fans.
All one needs to know about the LA sports fans is this: Second largest TV market - 0 NFL teams.