The Chase format proved to be a GOOD thing for Johnson. Under the former system, Edwards would have won it by 16. Also being determined at Homestead was the guaranteed starting 35 for the Daytona 500 based on Owner's Points. Miami meant one final change in that lineup. The Waltrip related auto of Marcos Ambrose is out, at least for now, while Brian Vickers put the car Scott Speed will be driving next season in the Show. Joining Ambrose on the outside looking in will be Sam Hornish Jr, whomever will be in the Woods Brothers car, and the Petty pony Kyle appears to be leaving.

More BAD news for a few of the stars. The last season Jeff Gordon failed to pick up a victory, or two victories for that matter, was 1993. He got none in 2008. Meanwhile, when they invite the boys for dinner in New York City next month, two guys who will have the evening free will be Dale Earnhardt Jr and Matt Kenseth. Both finished outside the Top Ten in the final standings.

Change can be GOOD, especially if you have a plan. Take Tony Stewart's new outfit. Smoke seeks to lock his new #14 in the opening races of next season by using his former champion's provisional, if need be. Team mate Ryan Newman, in the #39, has the Top 35 point total of the now former #66 to keep him on the track. On the other hand, Clint Bowyer stays with RCR, but loses his safe seat in the #07, which goes to Casey Mears, for that of the new entry #33. I don't know how that is going to work. They must have a heck of a lot of faith in Bowyer's qualifying abilities.

Also in Miami, the Nationwide title went to Bowyer by 21 points over Edwards. I would like to wax poetic on the race, but TSN had CFL football playoff action to broadcast, and didn't bother running the race until 1 in the morning. Quite frankly, if NASCAR can't get its television partners to take them seriously, how can they expect us to? Meanwhile, the other sports station up here broadcast darts and poker. GOOD Lord. These are not sports, nor is running them just a BAD deal. It is bloody pathetic.

GOOD finish to the Craftsman's truck season, as Johnny Benson finished one spot ahead of Ron Hornaday to win the crown by seven points. Two tires instead of four got Benson in front, and skipping the pits while his challenger pulled in for service did the trick. I thought Benson was destined to suffer a blowout and a meeting with the wall, but he obviously struck the right cords on Friday night.

Talking of Craftsman, what is it with their red mechanical dude in their commercials? You know the one, where robo-boy is the tire carrier, tire changer, and jackman who beats out the GOOD ole human pit crew in servicing their cars. Too BAD the dear gear guy only changes the rubber, as he sure doesn't add any fuel. Oops.

So, that is it for 2008, with the next race being the lame excuse that is to be the Bud (Dud) Shootout in February. Gone is the former format of celebrating pole winners and past winners of the event in exchange for the six best of each manufacturer through this season. That is, the six best cars based not on the driver but on owner's points (like we give a damn). Here is a hint. It is the drivers, stupid. Too BAD for four of them, as Ryan Newman, Joe Nemechek, Patrick Carpentier, and Paul Menard all won poles, but wind up getting the shaft. Former winners like Bill Elliott, Ken Schrader, Mark Martin, and Stewart are also "s.o.l."

At least Chevy will have a GOOD lineup, with six of the Top Ten, including Johnson, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, Gordon, and Earnhardt locked in. Bowyer should be, but it will be up to Richard Childress if Bowyer returns for a final ride in that car, or if the trip goes to new driver Mears.

Ford will have six of the Top Twenty-Four, with Edwards, Greg Biffle, Kenseth, David Ragan, Jamie McMurray, and Travis Kvapil. It starts to slide down the crapper with Toyota represented by Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano (replacing the departed Stewart), then the 20th ranked Vickers, David Reutimann, and Michael Waltrip. Yes, Michael Waltrip. I kid you not. Dave Blaney came within seven points of changing that on Sunday, but Mikey is in. Feel free to book your tickets now. Too BAD for us that Dodge's lineup will be even weaker.

For the Society of the Horny Ram, or Team UGLY, their best was just 15th on the season charts. You might enjoy watching Kasey Kahne, but with Newman moving on we will have David Stremme or someone else replacing him in the Penske auto. Kurt Busch will be there in the other, along with Bobby Labonte and Elliot Sadler. As for Juan Pablo Montoya, he won't be if his owner exchanges the ram for the bowtie. Ditto for the ride Reed Sorenson currently sits in. That could leave the sixth spot open to Robby Gordon if he sticks with Dodge. If not, then to hell with it. I'll try to enter my Caravan. The GOOD thing is I don't have to even think about it for another three months.