Saturday, November 30th 'What If' Question

Not since the championship battle of Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards in 2011 had two drivers gone into the Chase for the Sprint Cup so equally matched.

Stewart and Edwards ended up tying for that title with Stewart earning his third crown because he had more wins. This past season history very well could have repeated itself with Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth. The two drivers who all season and all Chase long, proved they were the cream of the crop.

Kenseth opened the Chase with two straight wins and quickly took commanding control of the point lead. Johnson stalked the Joe Gibbs Racing driver and racked up top fives and wins of his own. During the second half of the Chase they traded the point lead back and forth, setting themselves up for a fantastic finale in Homestead.

But before Homestead comes Phoenix.

It was Johnson on the pole with Kenseth starting deep in the field. While the 48 Lowe’s team from Hendrick Motorsports had a solid top five day – escaping what could have been two major incidents – Kenseth struggled mightily. The No. 20 team never hit the setup and were only able to salvage a 23rd place finish.

Suddenly the exciting championship battle was out of reach. The point lead for Johnson heading into Homestead was an insurmountable 28. A top 25 finish in Homestead would (and did) seal his sixth Sprint Cup championship.

An anti-climatic ending to a Chase that had been shaping up as one of the best in its 10 year history.

But …

What if Johnson and Kenseth had gone into Homestead a lot closer in points, in a winner take all, who'd you put money on and why? 

@Revvin4Seven48 Johnson, been in championship situations more often that not. Plus Knaus would have been the X Factor. 

@kbr81911 Wow...thats a hard question. They are both great under pressure! I cant say Id even want to bet on either one! 

@MC412 Easily 48. They've been through this enough that the pressure wouldn't affect them. I think the JGR crew could choke. 

Josh Jones (via Facebook) Even though I am not a fan of his, I would still say Jimmie, just because Chad and him always know what to do during the chase races

Marshall Gabell (via Facebook) Jimmie, because he's Jimmie 

Brian Cullather (via Facebook) I'd say Jimmie too because of the Chad factor 

Tuesday, July 9th 'What If' Question

Halfway through the 2013 Sprint Cup Series season, two drivers have already set the benchmark for the championship.

As well as setting themselves up to be the favorites when the Chase begins in eight weeks. Matt Kenseth has a season high four wins after 18 races, as does Jimmie Johnson. Both drivers have hit their stride with their respective teams and can dominate a race on any given Sunday.

Many have blamed Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champion, for being the reason the Chase exists. Johnson, the 2006-2010 champion, is continually shot down even in the midst of the history and milestones he continues to break.

Whereas Kenseth has seemed to find himself the right home with Joe Gibbs Racing, winning early and often, Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports team just keep getting better. Finding new ways to improve either their team or their performance. One Sunday it’ll be Kenseth the favorite, the next it’s Johnson.

Then there comes the days where the two go head-to-head and it looks like the perfect preview to the 2013 Chase title fight. Entering New Hampshire Johnson leads the points, Kenseth sits sixth, mostly in part to DNF’s that haven’t been his doing as well as a early season point penalty after a failed inspection.

Regardless, these two drivers and their respective teams appear to be the best in the series right now. A lot can change before the Chase and many more drivers can silently creep into the picture when the 10-week playoffs begin. After all, it wasn’t expected for Brad Keselowski to take home the title last year, or Clint Bowyer to finish second in his first season with his new team.

But …

What if the championship comes down between Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson, who'd you rather see win another title? Matt get #2 or Johnson get #6

@chreister89 Kenseth! 

@srs1159 Matt for sure

@kathyrmoore I'd much rather see Matt get #2!

@HD388 no question @mattkenseth. The guy is due for a 2nd championship

@Daniels_Caudill absolutely @mattkenseth, I haven't watched him win a championship. I watched @JimmieJohnson win five.

@JamersonD I'm probably in the minority, but I'd rather see @JimmieJohnson win #6. I think its cool seeing him make history.

@tpt0413 JJ for sure!

@Nascarnoll Matt

@mkdowd definitely @mattKenseth 

@Gman1439 Kenseth! 

@PenskeRacin1fan Kenseth 

@wwespnascar2924 I rather see... Johnson win his 6th actually 

@scubazuke I'm going to go against the grain and say @JimmieJohnson. It's history every time he gets another and closer to 7.

@hookemhorns51 Definitely @mattkenseth for #2

Joe Shepherd (via Facebook) Kenseth, without a doubt

Craig Taureck (via Facebook) Kenseth

Rebecca Turbeville (via Facebook) Kenseth

Josh Genthe (via Facebook) Kenseth, but if I had my druthers I'd prefer Truex Jr.

Stroker Ace (via Facebook) Normally I'd say JJ and Team Chevy. However..... I would so love to see Kenseth win it just so he could be the Top Dog at JGR

Dustin Parks (via Facebook) Despite Johnson's fast start, Kenseth has not made mistakes to this point. Just had some parts fail him. My bet is on the 20

Josh Jones (via Facebook) Kenseth

Dawn Emery-Watson (via Facebook) Kenseth!

Barb Dawson (via Facebook) don't even have to think about that one...Kenseth

Ellen Trdina (via Facebook) Def would rather see Kenseth get it. Johnson's bunch push the envelope a little too far to suit me, kinda like Ferrari did with Michael Schumacher. Yeah, they're great drivers but don't cheat (not exactly cheating, just bending the rules) to get the extra edge

Dan Sanger (via Facebook) In a battle of the Home Improvement stores I have to go with Kenseth and Home Depot 

Saturday, March 30th 'What If' Question

The Sprint Cup Series championship picture is constantly changing. Teams go from contenders to pretenders and vice versa. There are drivers who get hot at the right time and charge into the Chase.

Perhaps rarely though, if ever before, had a championship picture changed so dramatically than five races into the season. But when Denny Hamlin crashed on the final lap in the final corner of the Auto Club Speedway two weeks ago, that’s exactly what happened. The crash, involving new foe / old teammate Joey Logano, resulted in Hamlin suffering a compression fracture to the L1 vertebra in his back.

The diagnosis puts Hamlin out of his No. 11 FedEx Toyota for a minimum of five weeks. Taking him out of Chase contention, at least temporarily. Mark Martin will sub for Hamlin at Martinsville and Brian Vickers will be the driver starting at Texas. Hamlin was sitting 10th in points leaving California and will now start to slide backwards with ever race he misses.

Except, it’s not impossible for Hamlin to make the Chase when he returns. The most important thing will be for him to win and try to get himself in the top 20 in points. From there, thanks in part to NASCAR’s new wildcard rule in which drivers who are outside the top 10 in points but have a win, Hamlin could get a Chase spot.

The good news is that some of Hamlin’s best tracks will be ahead of him when he returns. Thus making it difficult, but not impossible for him to make the 2013 Chase for the Championship, something he’s done every season since he’s been in the NSCS.

It will be a few weeks though, before any of that can be set in motion. In the meantime, Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the points as teammate Jimmie Johnson looks for another Martinsville win. Danica Patrick is struggling early in her Rookie season and Tony Stewart made it clear, again, that he’s not a fan of blocking.

But …

What if Denny Hamlin comes back from his injury and makes a charge into the Chase, will he be the story of the year? 

@HD388 without question if @dennyhamlin makes the Chase after coming back from injury it is the story of the year. I think the only story bigger than Hamlin coming back to make the Chase would be if Junior wins the title

@WilliamCheerboy No because it'll be impossible

@JoJo_6040 Depends on who might win the championship. He'd definitely be one if not the biggest stories & probably for years to come