So Much for the “8 in the Chase” Thing

29th October 2006

So Much for the “8 in the Chase” Thing

posted in NASCAR |

And the common NASCAR theme Cup beat writers, pundits and bloggers this past week was… closest Chase ever, eight still in hunt for Chase, eight within 100 points!!! Yadda, yadda, yadda!

Can we lay that nonsense to rest now?

Can we be honest and say Mark Martin’s consistent and overabundant pessimism has set upon him the final karmic experience - cloaked in a Kenny Wallace Halloween mask on lap 310 - with a 36^th place finish, plus 200 points out and inexorably out of the Chase picture?

Is it safe to assume Kasey Kahne, despite a brief flirtation after last weeks win, is in fact Chase history? Kyle Busch, same result. Busch the younger has entered Chase antiquity and has cashed in his free meal coupon at the Also Ran Cafe.

Jeff Burton; Sorry Jeff, you’re gonna have to give back the “Iceman” tag Dale Jr. hung around your neck. It looks better on its rightful owner who will wear it with pride as he retires next week in Texas.

Kevin Harvick, well it was a nice run while it lasted.

“It was an eventful day for us,” Jeffy said. Indeed is was thanks to Jamie McMurray. At just short of a buck and a half behind points leader Matt Kenseth he’s toast. The Hendrick hopes rests on the #48.

What’s left are Hamlin, Dale Jr., Still close but without a lot of luck, or someone else’s bad luck, their chances are about as slim as Calista Flockhart.

At the head of the class are arguably the two most deserving to be where they. Kenseth and Johnson have been the most consistent all year. Funny how that works out isn’t it? The Chase regardless of what it’s designed to do, produced a microcosm of the first 26 events.

Notwithstanding J.J.’s early problems, to Don Long’s great satisfaction and my amazement, he’s where he needs to be if that first championship is to be won this year.

And then there’s that Other Guy! Pushed aside like last weeks beef stew, he’s only won two Chase events of the 7 held to this point. Last year, the Other Guy won his second points championship without winning any of the 10 Chase events.

Proof irony also resides on top of that enormous, gigantic, 8 foot tall trophy Smoke takes home.

Tony Stewart, Atlanta Motor Speedway, NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Sports, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 29th, 2006 at 10:47 pm and is filed under NASCAR. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 On October 31st, 2006, George said:#

When he is on his Xanax meds who is a better spokesman for the sport then Tony? Even down to the fact he received a “20″ hat (well worn I might add) from some fan after his fence climb/descent. Open wheel needs characters like this if they are to survive. Thank goodness Tracy has sworn off the NASCAR cash for 2007!

posted on October 31st, 2006 at 1:39 pm

2 On October 31st, 2006, Don Long said:#

“I love it when a plan comes together.”

posted on October 31st, 2006 at 2:07 pm

3 On October 31st, 2006, Marc said:#

I figured you would Don.

I got four words for ya Don: Second place after Atlanta

2004 and 2005 also four words: Second place after Atlanta. I’ve got a hard head and will stick with Kenseth.

I still believe Johnson is the New Age Mark Martin.

posted on October 31st, 2006 at 5:18 pm

4 On November 1st, 2006, Don Long said:#

Unless I’m mistaken (always have to say that here cuz Marc has so much knowledge), Kenseth and Johnson have been the best two teams overall (championships notwithstanding) in the last three years, based on time in the top 10. I would not be surprised if Kenseth won again, but I’d be disappointed if Jimmie was the new Mark Martin.

George — I agree with your comments. Stewart, while I don’t think he’s a good spokesman, is a nasty figure on and off the track, and I don’t really mind. Unless he’s deliberately wrecking someone, which he does often, he’s a great person to have around. I’m a Jeff Gordon man (and Jimmie Johnson), but the sport would be less interesting without Stewart.

ChampCar — I didn’t follow the series this year, but I did watch the middle of the season and saw all of Tracy’s dust-ups. Fantastic. I love the guy (love to hate, I suppose). He has a NASCAR personality, without doubt.

MotoGP: Anybody follow the series this year? Marc, I know you probably did.

The Kentucky Kid took home the prize this weekend. It was fantastic, especially after the Pedrosa problem at Estoril. I had never watched MotoGP until Hayden arrived, and it’s great to see him get his championship.

posted on November 1st, 2006 at 11:00 am

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