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Says Who?
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
By Heather Pohlabel
Well, the experts (talking heads) seem to have it all figured out. Either Jeff Gordon or Kevin Harvick will win the Nextel Cup championship, and Tony Stewart is locked in as the eleventh place one million dollar winner for the 2006 NASCAR season. So they say.
Who made you NASCAR geniuses? What exactly is the logic here?
Just because Harvick is ripping up the track in the Busch series does not mean he's going to win the Nextel Cup championship as well. Disregard the fact that he is the current points leader by over five hundred points; there is no chance of anyone catching him. Unless he dies, he is guaranteed that championship. He is NOT, however, guaranteed the Nextel Cup. He'll have to cheat a lot harder for that one.
I've heard it stated that Harvick is the most motivated to win. Really? What about Jimmie Johnson (my personal favorite). He chases this cup year after year only to lose it by a few points. He just can't seem to get his hands on it. Just because his car hasn't torn up the Busch series races does not mean that he's not motivated. The man has bad luck, and in my opinion, bad strategizing by his pit crew chief, Chad Knaus.
What about Mark Martin? Isn't he DUE a championship? Hasn't he been driving for like 20 years? Isn't he ready to retire? Wouldn't this championship do that for him? Martin could finally look at Jack Rousch (his team owner) and say, "there...what more could I possibly give you" and part in peace!
What about Jeff Burton? You know he's sick of being Harvick's sidekick and sick of not winning races. His popularity has soared this year, and he wants that championship just as much as anyone, if not more. He has fast cars and great commercials, and he'd like to secure more of a promising future in NASCAR. If he doesn't produce some wins and some results, he could be like Brian Vickers and shafted from his team. Then again, that's just my opinion.
Kasey Kahne. Possibly the only reason many women watch NASCAR races. This sparkling hunk has won the hearts of America, seriously. Even die-hard fans of Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Jeff Gordon wouldn't be mad if Kahne won. He just has that kind of persona that people like. If Kasey were the new face of NASCAR, not only would team owner Ray Evernham find himself in a much better position in the media than he has been recently, but NASCAR in general might receive a better response from the general public. If Kasey wins it, they will come....
Who doesn't like Dale Earnhardt Jr.? His win would be one for the good ol' guys. For the heart of America. Jr. stands for NASCAR. He is the best liked, most publicized racer. No one would turn off the set if Jr. wins the cup. Frankly, it would probably be the biggest celebration in America, bigger than even the Fourth of July!
Does anyone even care that Denny Hamlin is in the chase? Enough said.
Jeff Gordon. Can you be more greedy? If it comes down to Gordon and teammates Johnson and Kyle Busch running, Gordon will literally wreck his own teammates, and even his own car (he is part owner of Johnson's number 48 car). Gordon has no friends on the track, and will pull out Tony Stewart like moves to win. They say it is his experience in the chase that gives him an edge, but frankly, it's his ruthlessness that could lead him to the Cup, not his experience.
Kyle Busch. I don't think anyone wants him to win except himself, his brother (former champion Kurt), and his grandmother. His cheesy, pimply grin on camera has all but appalled viewers, and his erratic driving scares seasoned drivers and more deserving champions like Mark Martin. If Kyle wins the championship, NASCAR fans will be about as thrilled as they were when his brother was the champion, which is the equivalent of cleaning a portable commode.
And who says Tony Stewart is locked in for the eleventh place million dollar prize? He has not had the best year, and could possibly have a few more did not finishes yet this season. I'm sure the fences have been sighing in relief that Tony hasn't been taking the flag much this year, and if he keeps on having the year he's had, he will not hold on to the eleventh spot through the chase.
It's too early to call the outcome of the chase or who will be the first place outsider. While it's fun to predict and guess, we've got to keep our options open. Anyone can win. That's the fun of the game.
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