Jimmie Johnson comes up the big Mack Daddy with more victory row bling for his trophy case as Ford drivers are clearly in a funk with New Hampshire now in the rear view mirror. About the only thing one who is not a #48 fan can find as consolation to Johnson’s victory, Kevin Harvick still has a 105 point advantage in the pre-Chase standings one race shy of the half-way point in the 2010 season; however, with the Chase shakeup rewarding winners, Johnson would stand atop the heap just above Denny Hamlin both of whom have five victories. For those who thought Joe Gibbs Racing figured out how to surpass Hendricks operation, look again. Jimmie Johnson finished first. Tony Stewart, who races with Hendrick gear, ran second. Jeff Gordon – 4th, Ryan Newman racing Hendricks gear – 6th, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. – 8th all placed ahead of the first Gibbs car, Joey Logano in 9th. Kyle Busch finished 11th, and the fellow who looked so dominant just weeks ago, Denny Hamlin finished in 14th. The only Hendrick car not invited to the party was Mark Martin in 21st but on the lead lap.
No drivers moved in or out of the top 12 Chase positions. The New Hampshire race was cruel to those drivers fighting to move up into the top 12. Kasey Kahne’s blown engine dropped him two positions and put him 174 behind Carl Edwards in 12th. Reed Sorensen taking over the #83 car wrecked poll-sitter Juan Montoya knocking him back two positions in the standings, 183 points back.
The real action in movement toward the Chase exists in positions 13 to 15th. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is only three points out, while Ryan Newman sits 15 points out and Clint Bowyer is 16 points out. It would take very little for any of those three drivers to surpass Carl Edwards next week in Daytona. For Joey Logano, in 16th, the task is much greater having to overcome 99 points to equal Edwards.
Ford failure surely has to be another big story for today’s race in Loudon. Kasey Kahne was the one competitive Ford effort but a blown engine threw him back to 36th just ahead of the shameful quitters who pulled off the track early in the race refusing to compete. How bad was Ford futility?
Only A.J. Allmendinger finished in the top 10 in 10th. Four cars finished between 11th and 20th, Greg Biffle (16th), Matt Kenseth (17th), Elliot Sadler (19th), and David Ragan (20th). Carl Edwards finished 25th and Paul Menard finished 28th. The remaining Fords finished 31st, 32nd, and 35th. At least Ford has no start and park embarrassments.
Perhaps the story could just as well be written in terms of Chevrolet dominance taking seven top ten positions. Toyota cannot be pleased with only one top 10, but a thick cluster in the next six positions at least showed them knocking on the door: Kyle Busch (11th), Marcos Ambrose (13th), Denny Hamlin (14th), and David Reutimann (15th).
Toyota must accept some responsibility for supporting failure as five of the start and park rides were Toyota entries.
Next stop, Daytona, Saturday night firecracker racing, much attention will fall on NASCAR’s decision to give drivers a little bigger restrictor plate hole bumping up the horsepower.
No comments:
Post a Comment