Monday, December 12th 'What If' Question

It'll be known as one of the worst championship hangovers in recent NASCAR memory.

Denny Hamlin won eight races in 2010 and came one race short of winning his first championship and dethroning Jimmie Johnson. Except it wasn't meant to be as Hamlin finished second and vowed to capitalize on missed chances heading into the 2011 season, feeling his team was in perfection position to get better and stronger.

It couldn't have been more of the opposite has Hamlin struggled in 2011. He only won one race and dominated the headlines for reasons like blown engines, bad races and making the Chase thanks to NASCAR's new wildcard format. The domination that he had unleashed in 2010 when appearing champion-like seemed nothing but a mirage this past season.

Confusion seemed to be the biggest theme. Confusion on why they were running so badly when they had great equipment. Confusion as to why they were catching all the bad breaks while teammate Kyle Busch was winning races and challenging for the point lead. And confusion as to why things were suddenly no longer gelling with the only team and crew chief that Hamlin had ever known since he entered the series in 2006.

Just days after the Sprint Cup Series awards banquet in Las Vegas crew chief Mike Ford was released by Joe Gibbs Racing. There would be no repeating 2011, not even a chance to get things right. Changes were being made and someone had to go. When the No. 11 FedEx team rolls into Daytona 2012 it will be with Darian Grubb atop the pit box, the man Hamlin watched lead Tony Stewart to his third Sprint Cup Series championship.

Hamlin and company were one of the many surprises in 2011, one that wasn't expected to happen. The way they performed in 2010 would have indicated they would have been more determined to come back this year ready to fight for the title again. Instead they experienced anything and everything that could have gone wrong. Ford's release was another surprise, considering the strong relationship that he and Hamlin are said to have, as well as the support they showed each other through the good and bad times.

Yet, in a sport where it's all about winning decisions have to made. The Virginia native wants to see a Sprint Cup trophy on his mantle in the very near future, not a sports psychologist. It'll only happen if he and Grubb have instant chemistry and don't have the 2012 season end up being a rebuilding year.

But ...

What if Denny Hamlin had won the 2010 title, followed by his 2011 struggles, would crew chief Mike Ford still have been released? #NASCAR

@Talon64 I'd say yes. Especially in a sport where the 2011 champ's CC was told he'd be gone at least 2 months prior to end of season!

@cruetten not at all, but he would've only been given 2012 to redeem himself.

@TrackDiva141811 No he wouldn't have because Denny and team would have had a totally different attitude. :)

@31SpazCat15 I think the change is 1 that Denny wanted last year regardless of what he has said..Im not opposed to change, change is good

Tuesday, November 29th 'What If' Question

Before the start of the 2011 NASCAR season a major rule change was implemented for all three of sports top series. Drivers had to check a box and pick which series they wanted to receive points in.

No more could they run for the championship in Truck and Nationwide if they wanted to earn points and run for the Sprint Cup title. Meaning drivers like Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski who traditionally double dip and who have won the last few NNS titles, wouldn't be eligible to in 2011. They could still compete in the series and win races but it wouldn't mean anything except they had fun.

On the other hand it meant that CWTS and NNS regulars were given their chance to shine. While they may not have racked up as many wins as they wanted because of the dippers they would be competing for something bigger. In CWTS drivers like James Buescher, Johnny Sauter and Austin Dillon shone as they battled for their first championship. In the end it was Dillon who became the youngest CWTS champion in history.

He won two races in 2011 while drivers not competing for CWTS points won 15 of the seasons 25 races. In the NNS it was more of the same as non-point drivers won 28 of the seasons 34 races. Yet it was drivers like Elliott Sadler and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. who earned much of the spotlight for the spectacular season each had in their own right. Stenhouse also won two races on his way to the title but could have had many more as he gave the Cup drivers a run for their money nearly every weekend.

Rating were up, racing was exciting and history was made in 2011. Fans couldn't have asked for much more as they seemed much more interested in the NNS and CWTS season to see new champions crowned. Of course they'll tell you that it got old watching the same drivers, Cup, winning many of the races but most seemed pleased with the preseason rule change.

But ...

What if #NASCAR had not instituted the 'pick a series rule', would fans still have been as drawn to the CWTS & NNS title battles this year?

@Talon64 Trucks would've been the same, but Carl would've run away with the NNS title so the new rule was a big help there.

@rustywings I don't think so...I give them kudos on that one. Who would have known who Ricky Stenhouse was this year, ya know?

@HD388 I think fans would of been less interested in the NNS & CWTS points battle if Cup guys were the ones battling out for the title over the regulars, hopefully next season Cup guys are limited to number of races they can race in the other series

@JoJo_6040 No. As a fan of both, it was great to see deserving drivers win their series. The pick a series rule helped those teams.

Monday, November 28th 'What If' Question

The season finale in Homestead-Miami was more than anyone imagined it would or could be. Sure, everyone had hoped that it would come down to the last lap with Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart going at for the championship. But no one actually thought that it would come down to the last lap with the two drivers chasing each other to the finish line with the winner taking all.

Or that after 36 races, 22 tracks, over 10,00 laps and 10 months of racing that it would end in a tie.

That's exactly what happened though when Stewart won the race and the championship for the third time in his career. He capped off an incredible Chase where he won five of the 10 races and became the first owner-driver to win the championship since Alan Kulwicki did so in 1992. The title, as mentioned third for Stewart, was the first for his organization, including co-owner Gene Haas and crew chief Darian Grubb. Stewart now sits behind Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt (seven), Jimmie Johnson (5) and Jeff Gordon (4) in the championship history books.

It didn't come easily though. Stewart started the day 15th on the grid while Edwards was on the pole. Then just eight laps into the race Kurt Busch lost his transmission which flew through Stewart's front grille. The damage sent Stewart to pit road and the back of the field, 40th, for the restart. As Edwards racked up the most laps led, 119 of 267, Stewart charged to the front.

More repairs sent him to the back of the field again where he again didn't stay long, going three and four wide as the No. 14 flew through the field, never feeling the affects of the damgae. Suddenly the race was on as Stewart earned the lead and Edwards started trailing him. Through the second half of the race the two never left the top five, even waited out a rain delay, before closing the season in dramatic fashion with a fight to the finish.

Stewart won the race, Edwards finished second but lost the championship because Stewart had the tie breaker. It will go down as the closest finish in NASCAR history and to some the best finale in history. Either driver would have been a deserving champion, both turning out gutsy performances through the Chase. Yet it led them into Homestead where it all came down to wins.

But ...

What if Stewart never had hole in front grille, would he have raced Edwards all day for most laps led & avoided points being a tie? #NASCAR

@MattEmbury Don't think it would've changed his style, that was "Tony being Tony"

@Talon64 Robert And he still has the pit stop gaffs? Then he probably doesn't lead the most laps either way.

@mrnascar2488 That my dear friend we will never know about #TonyStewart

Friday, November 18th 'What If' Question

In about 24 hours from now the NASCAR world will know who the 2011 Sprint Cup Series champion is.

Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart are separated by just three points heading into the season finale in Homestead-Miami. They've been throwing down since they arrived in town on Thursday, they've practiced and now qualified for the Ford 400. Edwards will start his quest for his first championship from the pole, while Stewart will have to come from the 15th position to win his third.

Edwards has an impressive NASCAR Cup resume and a Nationwide Series title to his name. Sunday though, he's going for the big trophy, one that Stewart has taken home twice. The Indiana native is in position for his third championship and should he accomplish the feat he'd go into the history books under a few different categories.

Smoke won his first championship in 2002 when NASCAR was still running under the point system that they had been in place since it's inception. It was also still called the Winston Cup Series then. In 2005 Stewart outran Jimmie Johnson for his second title under the newly invented Chase format. That title came in the Nextel Cup Series. Sunday, Stewart would win under a different Chase format and in the Sprint Cup Series.

Maybe even bigger accomplishments is that Stewart would be adding a third title to his trophy room. He would join many Hall of Famers with those three titles and be behind Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt's seven championships, Jimmie Johnson's five and Jeff Gordon's four. Oh, and Stewart would become the first owner-driver to win a championship since Alan Kulwicki did so in 1992.

There are many scenarios and headlines heading into Sunday's race. For the first time in many seasons the championship will truly not be decided until the final lap. Anything can happen.

But ...


What if Tony Stewart goes on to win the title Sunday, will it be remembered more for coming after Johnson's reign or because it's his third?

@Spacie_Stacie I really think Carl is going to win, but it will be a big deal for whomever wins it cause it is the first new one in 6 years!

@HendrickGuy Both, and because he'd be the first owner/driver to win since Kulwicki.

@Talon64 Robert More as a 3-time champion, but also as the guy that book-ended JJ's title streak more than just ending it.

@FashionL14 because he has bookended JJ. and so far the only driver to get winston and nextell/sprint cups.

@mbauerherzog It will be remembered as the Championship that broke the reign.

Stroker Ace (via Facebook) Smoke will be remembered more for the man who ousted the 5X Champ! Stroker Ace Smoke would also be remembered as the only driver to win a championship from all three cup series sponsors: Winston, Nextel and Sprint.

Jason Remillard (via Facebook) I say he's remembered for winning pre-Chase, post-Chase and as an owner-driver.

Tuesday, November 15th 'What If' Question

It seems like just yesterday the NASCAR garage was buzzing about the start of the 2011 season and the Daytona 500. Here we are though heading in the final race of the season with the championship yet to be decided.

For the first time in five years Jimmie Johnson will not be among the drivers contending for it. Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart head to Homestead-Miami separated by only three points as they fight to be the new Sprint Cup Series champion. The title would be the first for Edwards, the third for Stewart.

While Stewart is the hottest driver on the circuit, winning four of nine Chase races, it is Edwards who holds the point lead. Having only won one race in 2011 along with the non-points Sprint All-Star race, he's maintained a steady and consistent pace to stay ahead of the competition. When it seems that he's going to have a bad finish, like Talladega or Martinsville, his contenders fall by the wayside and suddenly he's in the top 10.

Should Edwards win the championship this Sunday he would join an elusive club of drivers who have done so with only one win on the season. The last to do it was Edwards teammate Matt Kenseth in 2003. He would also join those who have a Nationwide Series championship and a Sprint Cup Series title. And Edwards would also be just the fourth driver to win under the Chase system since its conception in 2004.

But ...

What if Carl Edwards wins the championship Sunday after only winning 1 race this year, would you want #NASCAR to change point system again?

@RBleakley no! First time in years I've given a damn about racing after about the sixth chase race!

@Talon64 I'd like to see them change back to no Chase. Doesn't matter what system, you'll get runaways, 1 wins and/or "game 7's".

@DarthHendrick YES!!! They need to make it so anybody who's Father won 7 championships gets a 200pt bonus! Except the Petty's #Nascar

@ampdalejr89 No I would be happy with Carl Edwards. Wins aren't everything. Consistency is just as important.

@bfellin i dont think they will...this points system created drama at Richmond for the wild card, created a "game 7" scenario. exactly what NASCAR wanted

@AnnTRoberts No...Its like a side pot.

@twittmitch nope. Just ban Edwards from the sport. I hate that dude.

@Harvichick29 No...but I will want to puke. #GOSMOKE

@HotDog388 I say yes, overall point system is fine but still need to put more emphasis on winning need to award 5 to 10 points for the race winner instead of 3 points

@rcracer20 op 5 and top10 is what your after,win 5 crash in 20?if #nascar wonts to change something,all races a night race #yeabuddy

@smokinace88 yes the winner should get more points

Andy Marquis (via Facebook) I've been wanting to change the point system since 2004; a 36 race Chase with 43 drivers.

Dustin Parks (via Facebook) No, because the new system is simpler to understand. 43 for 1st, 42 for 2nd, etc. Way I see it, the system gave us exactly what fans wanted all year long. Carl ran well all year long, and wins don't always translate to championships (hence 2008 when he won the most races all year and still finished 2nd in the title hunt). Consistency will ALWAYS win championships.

Kyle Rickey (via Facebook) The 47-1 system is fine. Chase needs to go. Without it makes years like 1990 and 1992 more special with fans feeling it wasn't fabricated....or sorts

Stephen Taylor (via Facebook) hell to the no-drivers have to be penalized for bad finishes-we award victories as wildcards plus extra points-edwards, as kenseth did in 03 deserves the position he is in.

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Following a 'What If' question I hardly ever throw anything else out about it. But after reading many responses and opinions following Sunday's race in Phoenix I wrote that many believe winning "should mean more" and that NASCAR intended for their new point system to show that. Compared to the run that Stewart has been on in the Chase, some have said that Edawrds has been mearly point racing and riding around, something that no one wants to see a potential champion do.

After posting that, many more responses came through...

@mbauerherzog I think winning should be rewarded more but consistency should be rewarded too. Maybe they should get rid of resetting points

@mrnascar2488 No riding around is finishing like 15th or so Carl is at least in the top 3

@denver2u I don't like that u can win a cup championship w/o winning a race in the chase.Maybe change the points just for the chase

@jlaracefan14 I say that @NASCAR should just change it to where the driver with the most wins is champion!

@SD80MAC Regardless of who wins, I think there needs to be a bigger points bonus for wins. Maybe 5 points? Not sure, but I want to see drivers racing for the win every race. Hanging in the back for a safe points day like at Talladega IS NOT RACING!

@NickBrincks No, an average finish under 5 over 9 races is impressive enough. If winners limit mistakes, they'll win. Leave it alone.

@LLH713 No, consistency pays off. Not a last minute dash to finish line. Tortoise & Hare. Plus this is a great chase finish

@JohnBarlak t's all good. He was consistent the year so there are no issues for me.

Jose L Acero (via Facebook) yes he has! #teamsmoke2011

Dustin Parks (via Facebook) Well, think about this...when Edwards was struggling at Martinsville, he wasn't just riding around to collect points...he went out, had the team get the car running better, and finished strong. The last two weeks he's been doing everything he can to get around Tony, and Tony has raced him very hard for position, but did so clean. If that's riding around, where your adversary is just as good as you, I'll take it. Still, I think even though the Chase is 10 races, you can't help but look at how well he did in the other 25 races that he ran before the Chase. I just really think the Chase determines the champion, but the entire season determines the champion-caliber drivers. They may want winning to mean more, but just like anything else, when you're not winning, you need to be running strong. CONSISTENCY wins championships

Andy Marquis (via Facebook) Best driver wins.

Stephen Taylor (via Facebook) if you count multiple 2nd and 3rd place finishes, a win in vegas, an all star victory, and a worse finish of 11th since Bristol in August riding around then so be it-if any other driver can do that be my guest. remember his 3 point lead is the bonus points from his regular season win-something tony didnt have-if he did he would be tied or leading right now. honestly I think its a silly arguement-everyone plays under the same system-whoever does it best deserves to win-theyve each taken different paths to end up where they are at-and honestly both will deserve it if they win

William Hildebrand (via Facebook) They went with this new points system because nobody knew how it worked before (of adding points etc), in other words, it was confusing as hell. THAT and they wanted a close battle for the championship, not running away with it like JJ did in 2007, 2008, & 2009.

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Even a representative of NASCAR had come across the question and the opinion of Edwards riding around. The following is the conversation between NASCAR's Josh Hamilton and myself on the topic (thanks for the time Josh!):

@joshahamilton absolutley not!!!!!! the dude has finished in the top 10 in 8 of 9 races, including 6 top 5s!!!! how is that riding around??

@KellyCrandall to @joshahamilton I'm just throwing out there what some have said to me

@joshahamilton to @KellyCrandall obviously strongly strongly disagree

@KellyCrandall to @joshahamilton I disagree to a point LOL. But was looking to spark a discussion, which it has :-)

@joshahamilton to @KellyCrandall again, sorry, but no discussion. to claim that a guy w/6 top 5s (3 runner ups) in 9 races is 'riding' around, then well....

@KellyCrandall to @joshahamilton Well, there are still those who don't feel winning means or is worth enough

@joshahamilton to @KellyCrandall now that is a discussion, i will give you that. but completely different than saying carl is riding. guy is digging.

Monday, November 14th 'What If' Question

This Sunday in Homestead-Miami it will be the end of a five-year era.

Jimmie Johnson will not be crown Sprint Cup champion, instead it will be Carl Edwards or Tony Stewart taking home the big trophy. Johnson and team will be looking to preserve a top five point finish instead. Five-time goes out without putting up much of a fight for a sixth straight championship, left in the dust of Edwards and Stewart who have blazed through the Chase and into the finale.

For the past five years Johnson has been at the top of the mountain as everyone else just shook their heads and watched. Some welcomed his accomplishments more than others. Sure, he may have been respected for making history but it didn't make it any easier or fun to watch him do it year after year.

Some will be celebrating not only an Edwards or Stewart championship, but the fact that Johnson won't be winning another. It is a day that some thought wasn't going to come any time soon. After three, then four and especially five, Johnson was expected to just keep going and going. It's why when he wasn't all that spectacular in 2011 and didn't open a can of whoop ass on the competition when the Chase started it was surprising yet welcomed.

It doesn't however, mean Johnson and his No. 48 Lowe's team won't win another championship. They'll come back in 2012 looking to get back to where they belong and add another page to the record books. There are only two other drivers ahead of Johnson in the history books with more championships, Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. It is certainly possible that he could go on to tie and surpass them in that category. He'll have to wait until next year though (something that hasn't been said about him since 2005) before he gets a chance to do so.

But ...

What if @JimmieJohnson comes back in 2012 and wins his sixth championship, will it be more accepted than his five in a row were? #NASCAR

@HarpAmyStabler I think that it depends on if he's dominant or not. If he goes a few years in btwn, then maybe it's okay to break records.?.

@golic_2004 Well the world will not end, as Johnson would need to win 7 straight championships.

@racebird if he and his team wins why wouldn't they be? Takes a team to win!

@ladybug388 I think it will be as a lot of people r now looking at how significant his 5 in a row was

@StrokerAce90 Yes, it would be more accepted. @JimmieJohnson joined twitter, showed #NASCAR fans he weren't vanilla and won over more fans.

@JoJo_6040 Break from JJ winning is nice. For yrs I've said when he doesn't win it, I'd root for him again & I will. Congrts to 5 time!!

Wednesday, November 9th 'What If' Question

Retire - to leave one's job and cease to work, typically upon reaching the normal age for leaving employment.

When Mark Martin announced that 2005 would be his final Sprint Cup Series season and he would be entering retirement, many in the garage joined in on the farewell tour. Offerring gifts and congratulations on a wonderful career. But six year laters Martin has not yet sat down in the rocking chair that was given to him by those in Sonoma, instead he's still racing and has changed his mind many times about leaving the track behind.

It started innocently enough when Jack Roush asked Martin to come back in 2006 because he couldn't find a suitable replacement for Mark in the No. 6. One more year before Martin left the big leagues and went to race trucks. Except in 2007 he decided to head to the newly merged Dale Earnhardt Inc and Gin Racing team, driving the No. 01 Army Chevrolet on a partial schedule, sharing the car with Regan Smith. In 2008 he remained with the team and shared the ride with Aric Almirola.

For the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons Martin drove for Hendrick Motorsports and he came one spot short of capturing the championship that has eluded him in his career in 2009 when he finished second in points to teammate Jimmie Johnson. Perhaps the loss has helped fuel Martin to keep going and keep trying because he still isn't leaving.

In 2012 it has been announced that Martin will be driving for Michael Waltrip Racing, replacing David Reutimann, another driver that seems to have fallen to the Mark Martin retirement rouse.

Regan Smith left DEI and is now with Furniture Row Motorsports, a less than well funded team, but one that Smith and company has made into contenders. They won this year's Southern 500 at Darlington. As for Almirola, he was never able to find another Cup ride and has landed at JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series.

Casey Mears, who Martin replaced at Hendrick after he won his first career race at Charlotte, is now with the ever struggling Germain Racing team. And time will tell what happens to David Reutimann now that he is out of the only home that he's ever known, a home that he brought their first two and currently only Cup wins.

But ...


What if Mark Martin had retired in 2005, would Casey Mears still have lost his ride at HMS & David Reutimann still lost his at MWR? #NASCAR

@ladybug388 I think Reuti wouldve because of what he's done for MWR & success compared to others at that team. Casey Mears, I believe wouldve still lost his ride because the success wasn't there for him.

@HotDog388 Mears would of still lost his ride his performance wasn't up to par for HMS, Reuitmann still would of kept his job nxt season

Dustin Parks (via Facebook) That's a complicated question. Its hard to judge. Going into 2005, we all thought Mark was retiring. He came back because unfortunately Roush didn't have things ready for his heir-apparent. So, I can't say yes or no to either Mears at HMS, or Reutimann at MWR. Too many factors to consider.

Tim Kaufman (via Facebook) Yes and both deserved to do so, also. Mark won 5 races and nearly the Cup title his 1st yr @ Hendrick Motorsports then they stripped down Mark's team 4 Jr., but that's another story. Mark's still got it... Casey never had it (still doesn't) and Reutimann is just too "quiet" to be marketable. nice guy. I got to see him win @chicagoland last year, but just not as marketable as Mark.