Fan columnist: Heading to Homestead-Miami Speedway for Cup finale
COMMENTARY
As if we had any doubts, Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 48 team of Jimmie Johnson went to Phoenix and laid to rest the championship. It’s amazing, but Jeff Gordon may win more championships as an owner than as a driver. No one would have thought that seven years ago.
When crew chief Chad Knaus was interviewed after the race, you could just tell he had a total understanding of how the race played out. He exhibited complete control.
You have to believe Johnson and Knaus would be successful paired up in any venture or circumstance. I could see the duo raising venture capital in a board room, designing a new pump to extract waste from a port-a-potty in record time or as partners on "Dancing With The Stars."
Here in Bolingbrook, Ill., the last 35 or so laps of the Phoenix race were run on ESPN 2. Like a plastic baseball bat to the groin, being bumped by "American’s Funniest Home Videos" is a bit embarrassing. I understand there was a rain delay, but the networks have to commit to the finish.
Johnson was a rookie the same year as Ryan Newman, my favorite driver. Newman was probably our only semisurprise winner this year. Not because he won, but because he won at Daytona. Penske Racing had never won a Cup race at a restrictor-plate track prior to this year’s Daytona 500.
Rough economy or otherwise, next year will be an expensive one for my family. Both my driver, Newman, and my wife’s driver, Tony Stewart, are switching teams and numbers next year. New Newman No. 39 stuff is pretty much going to be my Christmas list this year. At least the camouflage car looks cool. I guess it was time to replace that faded 12 magnet that has been stuck to my tailgate for the past seven years. I have to replace it; the paint underneath the magnet is a different color than the rest of the truck.
I now know how the Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans felt last year. The amount of No. 20 Home Depot Tony Stewart stuff around our house is enormous. Tara and I laughed as we took count of the No. 20 Stewart rug, crock pot, coasters, coffee-filter container (yes, this exists), atomic clock, wall clock, PEZ dispensers, Christmas tree ornaments, numerous Home Depot car shaped tins that once contained tiny chocolate cars and apparel items too numerous to count.
I want to believe, but I just cannot see the Stewart-Haas Racing teams winning next year. Although Stewart and Newman will get chassis and motors from Hendrick Motorsports, it is common to hear teams hype up their own chassis when they build them. This leads me to believe that building your own is the way to go. Plus, in the recent past, no one has had much success with purchased equipment.
For the past 10 weeks, I have been looking forward to attending the last race of the year. It’s time for me to find the scanners and pack our stuff for the trip. The toughest part is narrowing down which three Newman hats to pack. According the to Homestead-Miami Speedway Web site, it looks as if we can each bring one soft-sided 6-by-6-by-12-inch cooler. I love tracks that allow you to bring in your own cooler.
Look for one more column from me next week when I get back from Homestead-Miami. Please enjoy the last race of the season.
