Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.
1. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished fifth at Homestead, easily clinching his fourth consecutive Sprint Cup championship by a comfortable 141 points over Mark Martin. Johnson surpassed Cale Yarborough’s mark of three straight titles, set from 1976 to 1978.
"Listen closely," Johnson said, admiring the Sprint Cup. "If you say ‘repeat’ into the Cup, it echoes three times."
"’V’ is for ‘victory’. And ‘V’ is also for ‘5,’ which is what I’ll be gunning for next year. Call it ‘Five In Dime,’ because it will be ‘Johnson In 2010.’"
2. Mark Martin: Needing a miracle at Homestead, Martin didn’t get it, coming home 12th in the Ford 400 and finishing second yet again in the championship race.
"Always the bridesmaid," Martin said, "never the bride. I figure if I hang around long enough, Jimmie Johnson will toss me the racer’s equivalent of a garter, the fan belt, one of these days."
3. Jeff Gordon: Gordon finished sixth at Homestead as teammate Jimmie Johnson clinched his fourth Sprint Cup championship, matching Gordon’s title haul. Gordon finished third in the point standings, as Hendrick Motorsports finished 1-2-3.
"It’s with the utmost respect," Gordon said, "when I say that Jimmie Johnson’s ‘got my number.’"
4. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin took over late in the Ford 400, leading the final 45 laps to take the checkered and his fourth win of the year. It was no doubt a satisfying win for Hamlin, but not nearly as satisfying as spinning Brad Keselowski in Saturday’s Nationwide series Ford 300.
"I won the battle," said Hamlin, "but Jimmie Johnson won the war. And Keselowski lost both. It’s funny. When I spun Keselowski on Saturday, he was more in control of his car that he ever was."
5. Kurt Busch: Busch led 43 laps at Homestead and finished fourth, his ninth top-5 result of the year. He finished fourth in the point standings, 211 out of first.
"This is a result that we can build on for next year," Busch said. "I’m really excited about where this team is headed. However, it’s with a bit of unease that I say I’m concerned about being the teammate of Brad Keselowski next year. That might have me looking for another team. As I’m sure Keselowski can relate, that’s called ‘reckless abandon.’"
6. Tony Stewart: While all eyes were on the developing Denny Hamlin-Brad Keselowski feud, Stewart and Juan Montoya actually gave people something to look at. Stewart sent Montoya into the wall on lap 116 after contact from the No. 14 cut Montoya’s tire. Montoya retaliated on lap 155, bumping and spinning Stewart. Stewart recovered to finish 22nd.
"Not only was Montoya black flagged," Stewart said, "and rightly so. But from now on, he should be forced to carry a yellow flag at all times, because, everyone knows that the caution flies when there’s a ‘foreign object’ on the track."
7. Juan Montoya: Montoya was black flagged by NASCAR officials after intentionally wrecking Tony Stewart on lap 166. Earlier, Stewart had nudged Montoya into the wall in retaliation for an incident on lap 116. Montoya finished 38th, and finished the year eighth in the points.
"You know what they say," Montoya said. "’Where there’s ‘Smoke,’ there’s usually a fire.’ And I was just doing my civic duty by trying to ‘put it out.’ Unfortunately for the fans, this feud won’t be resolved on the track, although taking into account the hot tempers of the two principals, don’t be surprised if one or both ends up in ‘track-tion.’"
"For the immediate future, though, there should be some very entertainingly awkward moments at the NASCAR awards banquet."
8. Greg Biffle: Biffle closed the year with a 14th in the Ford 400, and finished seventh in the Sprint Cup point standings, 321 out of first. Biffle and Carl Edwards, the only two Roush Fenway drivers in the Chase, finished the year with no wins.
"Regardless of what Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray say," Biffle said, "myself and Carl are not collectively known as ‘Biff And The Stiff.’ At Homestead, the only Fords at the top of the race results were the sponsors."
9. Carl Edwards: Edwards posted only his third top-10 finish of the Chase, scoring a seventh in the Ford 400. He finished 11th in the point standings, 534 out of first.
"After nine wins last year," said Edwards, "it’s certainly disheartening to end the season without a single win. I honestly though I would be the man to dethrone the king. So, my season could be summarized with ‘Frisbees, Flipping, And Flopping.’ And, yes, the Aflac duck, like myself, can lay an egg."
10. Kasey Kahne: Kahne finished 17th at Homestead, closing out the year in tenth in the Sprint Cup point standings.
"Jimmie Johnson’s accomplishments have been an inspiration to drivers and fans alike," Kahne said. "He’s inspired fellow drivers to try their best to unseat his championship run, and he’s inspired fans to stop watching unless we do."
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