Michigan provides sneak peek at title battle
NASCAR roundup
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- Story of the year
- Race of the year
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- Crew chief of the year
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Blog:
It was interesting how things played out on Sunday. Edwards had to dig himself out of a hole after qualifying 27th, but in the end, he did just that. Crew chief Bob Osborne did a great job of getting that No. 99 Ford to where it was fast, and he also made the right calls at the right time.
In the end, we got to watch what I believe is the two best teams in our sport performance-wise. If Edwards hadn't been penalized earlier in the year for the oil cooler infraction in Las Vegas, it would be interesting to see where things would be point-wise, too. It looks like we have two really good teams starting to peak at the right time as the number of races dwindles down to the start of the Chase.
But don't count out two-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson. He'll be a factor in the Chase before it is all said and done.
Putting the Chase in perspective
When you head into the Chase for the Sprint Cup, the final 10-race portion that decides the season champion, you never know how a team will respond. We've talked in previous columns where some guys will simply burn themselves out just trying to get into or stay in the top 12 in points and then have nothing left in the tank for the actual Chase.
You have to believe that the top teams in the points that have a pretty good comfort zone aren't in bad shape. You might also see them try a couple things between now and the start of the Chase that they might not normally try because of the pad they have. Don't get me wrong, sure you want to win every week, but look at the big picture and the goal is to win the championship. That is the ultimate. That's what everyone in our sport lives and dies for — being the champion.
If you look at the comments guys like Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin made, you can start to see the pressure is building for the Chase. Sure, there are still three races to go before the 12-driver field is set, but for these teams that are on the bubble they can't afford to let a race slip through their fingers. There's just not enough time left to make it back up.
I think after this weekend's race at Bristol Motor Speedway, we will see the pressure skyrocket because Bristol can bring out the worst and the best in everybody. The Tennessee short track is one of those wild card races because it can be so unpredictable and you can get caught up in someone else's problem so quickly.
It is showtime and a lot of guys are peaking at just the right time. Folks are gearing up for Richmond, the last race of the regular season. Now is the time to be putting your best foot forward and getting into a rhythm. You want to get positive momentum rolling. Not only is it good for you and the team, but it also puts your competitors on their heels wondering, "Man, how are we going to stop the guys up front?"
| Speed Mail Jeff Hammond |
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I think Edwards winning that race the way he did Sunday not only sent that message to Busch, the current championship leader, but also the other competitors. Now it's like, "Man, we have to beat two guys, not just Kyle anymore." Sure, Busch has been dominating, but you are seeing the other competitors starting to ramp up their efforts and sending a clear signal that NASCAR shouldn't start engraving the trophy just yet.
Final thought
I think the Red Bull team winning the pole position at Michigan shows how healthy their program is becoming.
It's just good to see a group that was brand new a year ago and have all the struggles along the way turn a corner. Now it seems like the sky is the limit.
There are a lot of good guys and girls over there on both the No. 83 and 84 teams that are working really, really hard to make these positive things happen, and I think it's good to see them be able to make a difference.
FOX race analyst Jeff Hammond led Darrell Waltrip to two of DW's three Winston Cup championships as his crew chief. They also teamed to win the 1989 Daytona 500.
For autographed copies of Jeff Hammond's book "Real Men Work in the Pits" plus magnets, hats and more, check out www.dwstore.com.
For photos and appearances, visit Jeff's web site www.jeffhammond.com.
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