Fans of the team may blame the Sports Illustrated cover that previewed this young season, or the many publications who dubbed this year’s edition of Hendrick Motorsports as a force to be reckoned with, winning races off the gate with ease. After all, Dale Jr. was going to win the Daytona 500, and in California, we might’ve seen a toss up between Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. Vegas was a sure fire shot of Jr. or JG to win in Sin City, who represent the faces of the 2006 improvement on the intermediate trovals (my term for tri-ovals) movement that are blanketing the racing schedule. Based on practices and previews at Daytona, it was going to be the Daytona/Toyota hype that writers would incessantly predict to be the dominating story of 2008. Oh and Tony Stewart and Joe Gibbs Racing were Toyota’s saviors.
But…
It’s been anything but that in 2008. Were you in the majority of NASCAR Nation who forgot Dodge existed in competition? Felt that Ford was going to be an endangered manufacturer? That Rocket Ryan forgot how to drive into VL? The 60th edition of the auto racing sanction has been a bit surprising (to me) – things we did not see in 2007 (or for that matter, even parts of 2006) are happening now. If NASCAR awarded points for the best racer based on his position in the race instead of his finishing position, Smoke and JG would be having a helluva season. In JG’s scenario, he’s had a good car in all 3 races, has run competitively, but his team is clearly experiencing some mechanical issues as well as even a few relapses in the driver’s department. It’s not too late for he and Tony Stewart, who crashed hard in Vegas (twice, thus prompting me to put in a “Hit Me” pun here) to make their case known in 2008 that they’re not to be counted. Nor is Jimmie Johnson.
Or am I simply sticking by the book? Because some writers felt that way for Kasey Kahne and Jamie McMurray last year. Kahne was definitely your “Troval King” of 2006. He swept the races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, won at Texas, Atlanta, Michigan and the fall California race. Last year, McMurray took honors at the summer 400 miler at Daytona, showing glimpses of a resurgence in his career. However, both drivers failed to make the cut for the Chase, and were relegated to racing for 13th place and Forgetful Jones’ Land.
No offense to Kahne and McMurray, as both are not former NASCAR Cup champs, though they are formidable and excellent racers. Would it be weird to see Gordon finish outside the top 12? He’s shown to us that he’s human as recent as 2005, when he missed the Chase due to a summer of struggles in the handling of his DuPont Chevy Monte Carlos (which led to the departure of then crew chief Robbie Loomis). His team this year has more team spirit and togetherness than ‘05, but he and his team cannot afford more poor finishes if they want to make the “playoffs.” I definitely see the 24 team getting their act together, winning at Bristol or Martinsville after a solid top 5 finish this weekend at Atlanta.
And no need to worry Smoke fans. Provided, he drives for a well financed, high profile sponsored race team with tons of money, but it seems like whatever manufacturer Tony Stewart drives, he excels. Like JG in ‘05, Stewart also struggled tremendously in the 2006 season, but in his case, it was plain inconsistency and too many accidents that led him to be the “best 11th place” driver of that year. We’ll see some resurgence too in the Home Depot/J-Gibbs Racing camp as he’s traditionally prone to a somewhat slow start to his seasons.
Or are these finishes indicative of what will be their seasons? To quote Larry McReynolds with some slight modifications, “It’s the racing god’s time to shine on these drivers, we’ll just have to see how it plays out.”
