As the race entered into its closing laps, the inevitable happened. Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus completed the winning pit strategy, and edged out Matt Kenseth for the team's 9th win of the 2007 season. Last week at Atlanta, Knaus and Johnson took two tires and coasted to victory. This week, they opted for four fresh tires, and guess what, it worked to their advantage.
You cannot discount Matt Kenseth's efforts as he held his own much longer than most drivers would have in that same scenario. Johnson and Kenseth engaged in one of the best battles we have seen all year.
Johnson now owns a 30 point lead heading in to the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix. Jeff Gordon finished 7th. Clint Bowyer was running in the top ten when he had to make two unscheduled pit stops due to a loose wheel. Bowyer is all but out of championship contention following his 19th place finish as he is a distant 181 points behind Johnson.
Hendrick Motorsports has now won 17 out of 34 races in 2007. Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have accounted for 15 of the 17 victories. Those kind of numbers have began to strike a nerve with a great portion of the NASCAR fan base. Not to worry fans, things tend to cycle around.
1. (2) 48-Jimmie Johnson: Jimmie Johnson has now surpassed himself and Ryan Newman as the driver with the most single-season wins this decade.
2. (1) 24-Jeff Gordon: Jimmie Johnson has the edge at Homestead, but Jeff Gordon has the edge at Phoenix.
3. (3) 07-Clint Bowyer: Clint Bowyer’s championship hopes have faded. However, he has scored more points than Jimmie Johnson did in the 2006 Chase for the Championship. So if Bowyer can repeat this performance in the future, he will be a Sprint Cup champion.
4. (6) 5-Kyle Busch: Kyle Busch is leading more laps than Jimmie Johnson, but he just can’t beat his Hendrick Motorsports teammate out of the pits when it counts.
5. (5) 20-Tony Stewart: Tony Stewart was unhappy with the man they call ‘Happy’.
6. (4) 99-Carl Edwards: Carl Edwards can still smile for the camera as he is the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series champion.
7. (7) 2-Kurt Busch: Kurt Busch, Martin Truex Jr, and Kyle Busch seem to be the group that is up front early on the 1.5 milers, but cannot close the deal.
8. (8) 29-Kevin Harvick: With only four top fives, it is safe to say that this has not been the year that we expected from Kevin Harvick.
9. (10) 1-Martin Truex Jr: Before Atlanta, many would argue that Martin Truex Jr was the weakest link in this year’s Chase for the Championship.
10. (12) 17-Matt Kenseth: Matt Kenseth did everything humanly possible to protect his lead. He just couldn’t beat the four fresh tires that were on the 48 car.
11. (11) 31-Jeff Burton: Jeff Burton is running well, again, but it is a lot too late
12. (9) 11-Denny Hamlin: With a little more experience, Denny Hamlin will not be making these little mistakes such as the one that nearly took himself and Matt Kenseth out of contention.
13. (14) 12-Ryan Newman: If you are Ryan Newman, you’re thrilled that the engine lasted the full 500 miles.
14. (13) 8-Dale Earnhardt Jr: Dale Earnhardt Jr should be a threat to win at Phoenix, a track in which he owns two victories.
15. (16) 9-Kasey Kahne: At least Kasey Kahne can be listed as a logical candidate as most likely to improve in 2008.
16. (NR) 26-Jamie McMurray: Things appear to be on the upswing for Jamie McMurray. Last week he had a top five going until he was caught up Dale Earnhardt Jr’s misfortune. At Texas, he posts a 9th place finish.
Past Suite 16 Rankings
UAW Daimler Chrysler 400, at Las Vegas
Goody's Orange Cool 500, at Martinsville
Subway Fresh Fit 500, at Phoenix
Crown Royal/Jim Stewart 400, at Richmond
Dodge Avenger 500, at Darlington
Citizens Bank 400, at Michigan
Toyota Save Mart 350, at Infineon
LENOX Industrial Tools 300, at New Hampshire
USG Sheetrock 400, at Chicagoland
All-State 400, at Indianapolis
Centurion Boats At The Glen, Watkins Glen
3M Performance 400, at Michigan
Sharp Aquos 500, at California
Chevy Rock & Roll 400, at Richmond
Sylvania 300, at New Hampshire
Bank Of America 500, at Lowe's
