The 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cup is almost over, but we're not going to stop analyzing the Chase! The Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 is done, and so are the hopes of almost everyone but JJ, but let's check out the scene anyway!
Standings (movement): Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch,Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers. That's right, there was no movement whatsoever this weekend. Toldja it was a boring race.
Who's up: Jimmie Johnson. Duh. He put his lead over Mark Martin at three figures, and now only has to finish 25th or better to win the Sprint Cup. And it looks like Martin will end up finishing second for the fifth time in his career. Sorry, Mark.
Who's down: Everybody else, including every fan who's not pulling for the 48. Look, let's not paint this any other way than it already is -- the drama is utterly gone from this year's Chase. We'd love to have something more to be watching for this weekend, but it didn't work out. Is that Jimmie's fault? NASCAR's? The field's? Hey, look at it this way -- only three months to Daytona!
Outlook: You're going to get it beaten into your skull over the next few days, but too bad -- Jimmie Johnson is as good as it gets, like it or not. As we've said many times before, everybody else in the field has had the chance to catch up to Jimmie and the 48, and everybody has fallen short in one way or another. There's always the chance that something catastrophic will go wrong next Sunday, but the likelihood is that this is a done deal. You can pout or you can stand and applaud, your choice.
And you're up! What's your take on the Chase? Go!
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