In mythology, a phoenix is a bird that lives for a long time before going up in smoke, only to rise from the ashes. Considering how much Jimmie Johnson got burned in Texas, my guess is that he would be hoping to rise again himself at the Phoenix International Raceway this Sunday.
Johnson went to Fort Worth looking to put his opponents out of their misery, but it took only three laps before David Reutimann caused Sam Hornish Jr to wiggle and send Johnson out of shape. Jimmie soon lost it, hit Hornish again, then had a hard impact against inside wall to really and truly get his car out of shape. An hour of repairs later the defending champ returned to the track but, as they say, the damage was already done.
Mark Martin finished fourth, went from being 184 points back to now be within 73 with two races to go. Jeff Gordon was 13th last Sunday, yet climbed back to within 112. both remain a ways back, but at least it has once again become a more competitive race to the finish than, say, world champion sprinter Usain Bolt taking on your grandma. Even Kurt Busch, who won at Texas, is “just” 171 back, but he would need the wheels on the Lowe's wagon to fall off again to even have a sniff at the title.
While the rest of the Chasers have pretty much ran out of wind, Juan Pablo Montoya and Carl Edwards probably didn't need to compound their situation by meeting as they did on the track. While both cars went to the garage for some major repairs, you and I got a few moments of carnage for enhance our race day experience.
There is nothing like a fuel mileage race to keep one in suspense to the bitter end. The Busch brothers were one-two with ten to go, but Kyle's people did not do the math as well as Kurt's people did. Talk about a gas and go. When it came time for post-race interviews, the 11th place finisher had already donned his duster and rode off into the sunset to leave his crew chief to answer any questions. If past history means anything, I'm guessing Kyle was not a happy camper. Funny, he seemed so much more social on Friday and Saturday.
Dale Earnhardt Jr was up near the front for much of the race, but he also needed fuel as things wound down. What he did not need was for the car to sputter and spit as he tried to exit pit road. By the time it turned over and Junior was back up to speed he was three laps down, in 25th. Even Michael Waltrip finished ahead of him. Oh, the humanity!
What is left of his daddy's team, DEI, will return to Chevrolet next season. It is the only brand they have ever used during their portion of the Earnhardt Ganassi team history. The Intimidator himself was exclusively a Chevy guy in his final 18 seasons, going back to 1984. Richard Childress, their Chevrolet engine supplier, and Toyota both demanded a final decision from co-owner Chip Ganassi. They finally got one over the weekend.
Another engine shop, the one originally set up by Ray Evernham, is to be no more. Richard Petty Motorsports is going with Roush engines next season as they turn to Ford. Two hundred jobs will disappear with the move. Toto, I have a feeling were are not in Level Cross anymore.
David Stremme has disappeared from the #12 entry, as Brad Keselowski got an early start in his Penske ride for 2010. He wound up 35th after needing some repairs along the way, but still managed to finish in front of Montoya, Johnson, and Edwards. Okay, he did finish behind Waltrip, too.
If these were the old days, Tony Stewart would be holding just under a hundred point bulge in the standings over Gordon and Johnson. You might have noticed that these no longer are the old days. Still, being the best over the course of the entire season should still be worth something, anything.
As we look ahead to this Sunday, Johnson returns to a track where he is the defending race winner, which can't be good for the remaining challengers. In fact, he won three straight there, wins sandwiched between Gordon's spring victory at the venue in 2007 and Martin's triumph last April. It might not be over just yet, but we did see the fat lady singing at Texas. Unless Johnson stumbles again in Phoenix, she might as well start on the second verse.
