With only four races left in the 2009 season, we're taking a look at the Chase for the Sprint Cup, and we're getting down to the wire. If anybody but a certain #48 is going to make a run at this, now would be the time.
Standings (movement): Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya (+1), Kurt Busch (-1), Ryan Newman (+1), Greg Biffle (-1), Denny Hamlin (+2), Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne (-2), Brian Vickers.
Who's up: Johnson continues to extend his lead on the field, and now has triple digits between himself and everybody else. Montoya continued his impressive run in the NASCAR postseason with another top-5 finish. And Ryan Newman quietly added to what might just be one of the most unexpected runs of 2009. Oh, and Denny Hamlin reminded us of what could have been, and what could still be ... but not this year. (Aside: Okay, sponsors, we get that you want to put your products out in front of the world -- but enough with the stupid top-of-car displays. The giant Tums bottle, the giant Sprint phone -- it's ridiculous. Beer sponsors are exempt, as long as the giant products contain actual beer.)
Who's down: Everybody not named Johnson. Seriously, this is almost all over now, assuming Johnson doesn't have a wreck -- and rooting for that is seriously bad karma. In any other season, Martin, Stewart and Gordon would be waging one hell of a battle, but this year, they're all just warm-up acts.
Outlook: What can you do? Johnson is dominating. You can either curl up your fists and cry like a baby that there must be cheating going on -- must be! -- or you can just deal with the fact that we've got a team who's figured everything out and is winning based on the rules they've been given. How, exactly, is that different from our beloved drivers of the past testing the limits of the rules and then winning within those parameters? I'm not thrilled about the prospect of a drama-less Homestead, but you've got to tip your hat to the 48.
And now, your take. Air your various gripes/conspiracy theories here. Go!
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