NASCAR Update

NASCAR has not stopped just because my blog did. And I do not feel like I can adequately catch you up on what has happened since mid-May. But I can fill you in on some of the highlights so far.

This season has been filled with first time winners. Brad Keselowski won Talledega due to a last lap maneuver that was completely legal. David Reutimann and Joey Lagano have also won a race due to rain. Just because of these exciting finishes, the 2009 season has been one that will be remembered.

But there has also been hot-head Kyle Busch who has shot his mouth off on more than one occasion and received much ridicule over the things that he has said during and after a race. He cannot lose graciously, and he never finds fault in himself. He has destroyed a trophy and been caught up in a horrible wreck (which left him soar for a few days). But that is not surprising. The surprising part of his 2009 season is the fact that he is less than 15 points from being left out of the chase. If his luck does not turn around soon, he may find himself outside the top 12 in New Hampshire.

Then there is 50 year old Mark Martin who has made a tremendous comeback, winning 4 races already this year. But due to some bad luck early on in the season, he barely sits inside the top 12 with Kyle Busch. If he can just hold on to the chase (which I am hoping he doesn't, even though I do like him), he will be the leader when we get to New Hampshire.

Hendrick has once again been the story of 2009. Mark Martin has the most wins, Jimmie Johnson is the 3-time defending champ, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has flopped most of the season but may be on a comeback, Jeff Gordon has won a race already and is poised to make a run at the cup, and Tony Stewart's new team (along with Hendrick's help) is at the top of the points. Stewart has won on more than one occasion this season, and his new team took off in 2009 with no problems.

So who will win in the end? Hopefully Jeff Gordon. It is almost certain that he will make the chase, and if he does, I believe he has a good shot at winning it all. But first, he must get past the "old man," the "hot-head," the "teammate" at Stewart-Haas, and the "3-time defending champ." It will take a lot to win championship number 5, but if anyone can do it, Jeff Gordon can.

Matt