Have to interrupt football for a second, NASCAR's playoffs are starting and I need to get my champion pick in. The playoffs are called "The Chase," frankly and odd name but whatever. The Chase just so happens to be at the worst time of year, right when the NFL starts up, so unless your driver is in the top 12 you've checked out, as Chris will since his driver sucks. I'm gonna break this down into the have's, have not's, and sleepers. 12 guys make the chase but only about 4 to 5 have a legit shot at winning it, the guys who've ran up front all year, not just got finished every race and seemed to get top 20's all the time, Matt Kenseth, in the chase you only get 10 races and top 20's won't do it.
First up the have not's
Matt Kenseth, he drives a ford for one, which in the first 26 races as a company has one win. He also doesn't seem to have that touch anymore. Since Matt lost his crew chief that he won his championship he hasn't been as good and he seems to get a new chief every year. I just don't like his chances.
Jeff Burton, the second most respected driver in the garage, Burton is old school and drives with class every week. I like Jeff but he doesn't have the killer instinct it's gonna take to win this, you have to win races to win the chase and Burton doesn't win races.
Carl Edwards, once again a Ford they don't have as much speed at the Yoda's and Chevy's. Personally I hate Carl and hate that damn backflip, I don't like his chances, he has the aggression but not the smarts or speed.
Greg Biffle, Ford need I say more, the Rousch guys are good drivers but one win between 3 "elite" drivers I don't like their chances. Rousch has as many wins as Micheal Waltrip racing, not good.
How about a few sleepers,
Kurt Busch, he was very tough in the beginning of the year but the summer has been tough on him. He's more mature than he was, but he still has that mean streak, I wouldn't be surprised of he won this, but I also wouldn't be surprised if he got 12th.
Clint Bowyer, raced his way into the chase, has the same equipment as Harvick. He also finished second 2 years ago, but RCR moved him to a new team last year and he took a step back. I've liked Bowyer for a while and think he could sneak up on the other drivers.
Now the 6 guys who are gonna race for this deal, all are tough, a few are champions, and a couple are crazy.
Jeff Gordon, he hasn't won all year, gonna need to change that. He's a 4-time champ in a different time. He gets the "contender" label just b/c he dominated the 90's, Hendrick has the power but I think the other car in his stable is better behind the wheel and on the box.
Tony Stewart, former multiple time champion, only driver to win championship in both formats. He has his own team, gets his motors from Hendrick. He has the power, but his crew makes mistakes and sometimes he does as well. I like Smoke, and want him to be successful on his own, I just don't like the chances this year.
Kyle Busch, he's the new Kyle, whatever that means. He is a better performer this year, keeps his cars in control for the most part, he's also gotten better at driving his cars when their "junk." He has a chance b/c he can rattle wins off, but when he screws up he blames everyone and then screws up on the track and ends his day. I think Kyle can put it together just not this year.
Kevin "Happy" Harvick. Happy had the points lead all year, and has been the best driver of the regular season. He's not a sleeper since he's been up front all year, and the guy gets top 10's almost weekly. He's won a few times this year so that won't be the problem. Once again I like him but more than these last 2.
Jimmie Johnson, can struggle all he wants he's still the favorite heading into the chase. You don't win 4 in a row and not get that respect. He has the power, the crew, the ability, and the best crew chief in the series. He makes all the right calls, but this year he's had more than one incident where his crew screwed up, or he did. Those mistakes weren't made until this year. If he wins this good for him I won't be shocked but I'll be annoyed that the next guy didn't.
This years champion is Denny Hamlin, comes in leading the chase with 6 regular season wins. Last year had 2 wins in the chase and 5 top 5's. The guy is focused, his team is focused. As long as his cars don't have mechanical failures that spelled him twice last year in the chase, he more mature so he won't wreck himself like he did last year. Denny has been a man on a mission all year and that mission to replace Jimmie as champion of this series, I think he'll do it, and maybe just maybe get some fans along the way. Denny's a good driver people take notice and stop cheering for crappy 88.
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