Archive for Jimmy Johnson

By: Keith Bloemendaal

Jimmie Johnson won again at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, padding his lead in his bid for a third straight title with four races to go.

The two-time defending series champion led 339 laps as he and his Hendrick Motorsports teammates dominated once more on the oldest, smallest and trickiest circuit in the Sprint Cup Series.

NASCAR green flag in Martinsville VA for the Tums 500 with Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Burton On front row. Johnson won the fall race at this track for the third consecutive time. It was his fifth career victory on the 0.526-mile oval and fourth in the last five races.

“It’s just been good to me,” he said.

Teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second, followed by Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon, giving Hendrick three of the top four spots. The 1-2 finish was the 23rd for the multicar team and third at Martinsville.

“I didn’t have anything for Jimmie,” Earnhardt said. “That car was so awesome.”

Johnson increased his lead from 69 points over Jeff Burton to 149 over Greg Biffle. Burton started second and finished 17th.

As they had in the spring, when they combined to lead 371 laps, Johnson and Gordon set the pace all day with Gordon leading 57 laps. Earnhardt made it a three-car Hendrick party near the front and, unlike in the spring, Johnson this time managed to close the deal.

In March, Denny Hamlin won on pit strategy.

Johnson led seven times in all, passing Gordon for the top spot with 209 laps to go. He then made quick work of Matt Kenseth, who stayed out on the track under caution with 38 to go.

Pit stop for Lowes Chevrolet #48 Hendrick Team at Martinsville Speedway Johnson heads to Atlanta with the largest points lead in the history of the Chase at this point. He’s not ready, however, to start thinking about another title.

“It’s getting closer,” he said. “It’s still not time.”

The day was shaping up as a great one for Jamie McMurray, who started 20th and climbed into contention quickly. He was running fourth with about 100 laps to go when his car suddenly slowed on the backstretch. He drove it directly to his garage and wound up 38th.

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By: Keith Bloemendaal

For some reason, I had been thinking this was going to be Kyle Busch or Carl Edwards year to win the Cup. It is easy to wrapped up in what is happening now, and forget about the other 12 drivers in the Chase for the Cup. How can we rule out Jimmie Johnson?

Johnson repeated his championship run last year, putting his name up there with a handful of GREAT drivers including Dale Earnhardt Sr, David Pearson, Richard Petty, and Jeff Gordon just to name a few who repeated championship seasons.

This alone is an accomplishment which makes him a driver to be remembered in NASCAR history.  Repeating a Sprint Cup Championship is no easy feat, especially in this era of racing, when the competition has never been more intense. NASCAR drivers are getting younger, faster and more clever. Some people think once a driver reaches 30 he has past his prime.

Sprint Cup drivers like Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne are emerging at very young ages while just next season 18 year old Joey Legano will drive the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing.

So, if Jimmie Johnson were to 3peat his name would only be mentioned with one other driver, Cale Yarborough. Can he do it? We will find out over the next 11 races, but I can guarantee you Johnson thinks he can, I think he can, thousands of other fans think he can, even a handful of so called NASCAR experts think he can. But, that doesn't mean it will happen.

Just in case you forgot, Johnson was 6th in points after the California race last year. It was his unbelievable 4 wins in a row out of the last 5 races in the Chase that earned him his championship last year. He won at Martinsville, then Atlanta, then Texas, then Phoenix and finished 7th at Miami-Homestead to beat Jeff Gordon by 77 points. Yes, 4 races in a row! If Jimmie Johnson can come on that strong for the finish this year, he WILL 3peat!

What do you think, can anyone beat Kyle Busch, or Carl Edwards? Can Jimmie Johnson 3peat? What about one of the other 9 drivers that will be in the chase? Leave a comment to let us know your opinion.

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As we move closer to the Chase, each event (only 2 left) becomes do or die for some drivers and teams. This week we Under the Lights at Auto Club Speedway are at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. Here are some details about the event:

  • Event: Pepsi 500
  • Date / Time: Sunday, Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. EDT
  • Track: Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.
  • Configuration: 2-mile D-shaped oval (250 laps = 500 miles)
  • Banking in Corners: 14 degrees
  • Banking on Frontstretch: 11 degrees
  • Banking on Backstretch: 3 degrees
  • Frontstretch: 3,100 feet
  • Backstretch: 2,500 feet
  • Grandstand Seating Capacity: 92,100

Tickets are still available for this event and can be purchased from the track website. I checked the availability and there are good seats still available for a reasonable amount.

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Jimmie Johnson are expected to qualify for the "Chase" when they leave California, as both drivers only need to finish 40th or better. Earnhardt, Jr. is third in points, and Johnson is fourth.

Broadcast Schedule:

Date Time Series Event Channel
8/29/08 3pm Sprint Practice Speed
8/29/08 5pm Nationwide Practice Speed
8/29/08 6:30pm Sprint Qualifying Speed
8/29/08 8:30pm Nationwide Final Practice Speed
8/30/08 5:30pm Nationwide Qualifying Speed
8/30/08 7pm Sprint Practice Speed
8/30/08 8pm Sprint Final Practice Speed
8/30/08 9:45pm Nationwide Race ESPN2
8/31/08 7pm Sprint Race ESPN

Be sure to check back for qualifying times and race results.

Keith Bloemendaal

2010 Sprint Car Teams

Jamie McMurray, 1 Bass Pro Shop, Chevy, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Busch, Kurt, 2 Miller Lite Dodge, Penske Racing Martin Mark, 5 GoDaddy.com/ Kellogg's/ CARQUEST Chevy, Rick Hendrick, Ragan David, 6 UPS Ford, Roush Fenway Racing, Gordon Robby, 7   Toyota, Robby Gordon Racing, Kahne Kasey, 9 Budweiser Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports, Hamlin Denny, 11 FedEx Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing, Keselowski Brad, 12 Verizon, Dodge, Penske Racing, Stewart Tony, 14 Office Depot / Old Spice / Burger King, Chevy, Stewart Haas Racing, Biffle Gregg, 16, 3M Ford, Roush Fenway Racing, Kenseth Matt, 17, Crown Royal / Ford, , Busch Kyle, 18 M&M's/Snickers/Pedigree Dog Food,/Interstate, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing, Sadler Elliott, 19, Stanley Tools, Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports, Logano Joey, 20, Home Depot / Old Spice / Burger King, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing, Elliott Bill, 21, Motorcraft Ford, Wood Brothers, Gordon Jeff, 24, Du Pont Chevy, Harvick Kevin, 29, Shell, Reeses, Hershey Foods, Chevy, Richard Childress, Burton Jeff, 31, Caterpillar, Chevy, Richard Childress, Bowyer Clint, 33, General Mills, Cherrios, BB&T,   Newman Ryan, 39, U. S. Army, Haas Automation, Tornados, Chevy, Stewart Haas Racing, Montoya Juan Pablo, 42, Target / Big Red / Juicy Fruit Chevy, Earnhardt, Ganassi Racing, Allmendinger AJ, 43, Best Buys Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports, Ambrose Marco, 47, Little Debbie's, Clorox, Kingsford, Toyota, JTG Daugherty Racing, Johnson Jimmie, 48, Lowe's Chevy, Truex Jr, Martin, 56, NAPA, Toyota, Michael Waltrip, Labonte Bobby, 71, Chevy, TRG Motorsports, Hornish Sam, 77, Mobil 1, Dodge, Penski Racing South, Smith Regan, 78, Furniture Row, Chevy, Furniture Row Racing, Speed Scott, 82, Red Bull Energy Drink, Toyota, Dietrich Mateschitz Red Bull Racing, Vickers Brian, 83, Red Bull Energy Drink, Toyota, Eaarnhardt Jr Dale, 88, Mountain Dew, Amp, National Guard, Chevy, Darnell Erik, 96, ask.com, Ford, Hall of Fame Facing, Menard Paul, 98, Menard's Ford, Yates Racing, Edwards Carl, 99, Aflac, Ford, Reutimann David, 00, Aaron's, Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing,