Jimmie Johnson Holds Off Dale Earnhardt Jr. Late to Break a Record at Dover

         Jimmie Johnson was able to hold off teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr., on the final restart to take his unprecedented eighth victory at the “Monster Mile”. Johnson held the all time wins mark with Bobby Allison and Richard Petty since his win last year at the track, but he easily broke the tie with a dominating win at Dover on Sunday. Johnson also moved within eight points of Matt Kenseth's championship lead after Kenseth finished seventh in Sunday's third Chase race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. made a huge charge at Johnson late in the race. Earnhardt took four tires on the final pit stop while Johnson and others took two tires. Earnhardt was able to use the fresh rubber to move up to second after a few laps, but he could not get past Johnson for his first win in over a year. Even though he could not capture the victory, Junior still proved he is a definite threat in the title battle with seven races to go. A few Chase drivers struggled at the track. Kurt Busch went two laps down after a loose wheel and never recovered while Carl Edwards broke a tire hub and lost a lot of laps at the end of the race. Both of these drivers could be out of the title fight, but there is still a lot of racing to be done. Sunday's race at Dover had very little cautions, but it was still a very good race. The winner was never obvious and the strategy was about to make the race a fuel conservation race. All in all, it was a race that was filled with a lot of good racing and Chase implications that will be felt all the way until the last lap at Homestead.

        Dale Earnhardt Jr. started on the pole. It was Junior's second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole of 2013. The race went green and he was able to come around and lead the first lap of the race. He held the lead well until he moved into lap traffic. On lap 26, Matt Kenseth was able to take the lead from Earnhardt, but Kenseth's lead would be short lived as Earnhardt passed him for the lead on lap 31. The lead did not change again before the first caution waved on lap 37. Debris was spotted on the frontstretch of the track. David Reutimann received the lucky dog. Strategy became an important part of the race during the caution. Kyle Busch, Jamie McMurray, Martin Truex Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya, and Clint Bowyer took two tires while Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the other lead lap drivers took four tires. It would be interesting to see which strategy worked in the end.

        The race went back green and Kyle Busch was able to hold the lead he had grabbed under the caution. Busch would hold the lead for a while before Ryan Newman took it away on lap 71. Newman would not hold it long before Dale Earnhardt Jr. used his four tires to take it away on lap 76. Earnhardt held onto the lead until the first round of green flag pit stops began on lap 111. Earnhardt stayed on track until he decided to make his stop on lap 117. He slowed down in turn 3, but he made a huge mistake. He had not slowed down enough and could not get all four tires under the commitment line. This meant that he could not come down pit road or he would receive a penalty. He stayed on track, but he had lost a lot of time because he had slowed down. He was able to come back around and make his stop, but Jimmie Johnson took the lead after Earnhardt's mistake. It would be interesting to see if his mistake kept him from winning the race in the end.

         Jimmie Johnson continued to hold the lead after the pit stops and the long green flag stretch continued. On lap 159, Kurt Busch interrupted the action by coming to pit road. It was an unscheduled stop for Busch because he had noticed a vibration. His team replaced all four tires and discovered that one of the wheels on the car was loose. Busch had avoided a lot of damage to his car by pitting, but he has lost a bunch of time to the leaders on track. Shortly after this, the second caution of the race waved on lap 165. Debris was spotted in turn 1 of the track. Jeff Burton received the lucky dog. Since the lead lap drivers had not pitted in a long time, all of them came down pit road for four tires with Matt Kenseth coming out as the leader. The race went back green and Kenseth was able to hold onto the lead. It looked like he was in position for a third straight victory, but Jimmie Johnson was able to pass him for the lead on lap 198. Johnson held the lead as the third caution waved on lap 227. Brad Keselowski went to the apron of the track because he was experiencing possible engine problems. He had not come down pit road in time as oil from his car went on the track. Keselowski did make it to the garage and his team diagnosed the problem as a broken rear seal. Keselowski returned to the race, but he was a good many laps down. Jeff Burton received the lucky dog. All the lead lap drivers came to pit road for four tires with Jimmie Johnson coming out as the leader. At this point, a few drivers began to think about the possibility of only making one more stop, but it would be interesting to see if they could save enough fuel to make it.

        The race went back green and Jimmie Johnson held onto the lead. Not much happened for a while as Johnson continued to lead. Finally, the second and final round of green flag pit stops interrupted the race on lap 308. All the drivers came to pit road in the span of a few laps and it was crucial for the gas man to get the car full of as much fuel as possible. After all the stops concluded, Jimmie Johnson cycled around to the lead once again as Dale Earnhardt Jr. had entrance problems again. Still, Junior was in the race and one mistake could give him the lead or even the win. The race began to transition into fuel conservation mode. Many of the lead drivers had already been told they could not make it to the finish and started to pick up speed in hopes of getting far enough away that they could get a splash of fuel late and still win. Drivers like Clint Bowyer began to save as much as possible in hopes of grabbing an easy victory. All these talks would be destroyed as the fourth and final caution waved on lap 370. Debris was spotted in turn 3 of the track. Brian Vickers received the lucky dog. Now, all of the leaders would have a chance to stop and the winner would be the driver who had the best car.

        The leaders made the move to pit road. The ESPN announcers were calling two tires and Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Matt Kenseth decided to make this move. Unluckily for the them, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and all the other lead lap drivers decided to take four tires. Now, the top 3 did not have the fresh rubber that the drivers behind them had. The race went green for the final time and Jimmie Johnson was able to hold onto the lead. Dale Earnhardt Jr. made a hard charge to the front and was in second in only a few laps. He was able to get right to Johnson's bumper, but he couldn't make the move. With twenty three laps to go, Carl Edwards, a Chase driver, reported to pit road. One of the hubs that holds the tires broke on his car. His team fixed it quick and he returned to the race, but his chances for a good finish were over. This did not affect Earnhardt and Johnson as they continued to race around the track. With fifteen laps to go, Johnson still held a nice advantage, but Junior was still there. The race moved on and before long, only two laps remained. Junior was there, but he wasn't able to get close enough as Johnson ran into some lap traffic taking the white flag. Junior made it extremely close because of the traffic, but Johnson held the lead and took his unprecedented eighth win at Dover. Johnson solidified that he was a threat once again for the title, but Kenseth still holds the advantage.

        What a turn around it has been for Johnson since the start of the Chase. After having four terrible races before the start of the Chase, Johnson once again grabbed his Chase magic and is in the thick of the title hunt. It is not a surprise to the fans since Johnson is a five time champion in the sport. With Kenseth running as good as he has been, it good be an amazing battle for the title heading into the final races of the season. Kyle Busch also continued his contending ways as he held station in third place in the points. Busch has been just as consistent as the two championship leaders of late and could be the third piece in the title battle as the final race at Homestead comes ever closer. All this is not to say that the title battle is only between three drivers as Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon sit waiting for the championship leaders to make a mistake. With Talladega and Martinsville coming back to back, even Kasey Kahne could make his way back into the title hunt with a couple of wins. It will be interesting to see where the series sits in a few weeks. Before the madness begins at Talladega, Kansas Speedway will see if it can mess with the championship leaders next week. Will Matt Kenseth double down at Kansas on the year, will Kasey Kahne avenge his second place at Kansas earlier this year with a win, or will another Chase driver take advantage of the mile and a half track? We will have to wait until next Sunday to find this out and more.
(More Stats Down Below!)




Cautions:
1st Caution: Lap 37- Debris was spotted on the frontstretch of the track. 

2nd Caution: Lap 165- Debris was spotted in turn 1 of the track.

3rd Caution: Lap 227- Brad Keselowski had a rear seal problem and left oil on the track.

4th Caution: Lap 370- Debris was spotted in turn 3 of the track.

Lucky Dogs:
1st Caution: David Reutimann
2nd Caution: Jeff Burton
3rd Caution: Jeff Burton
4th Caution: Brian Vickers

Top 5 Finishers:
1st: Jimmie Johnson
2nd: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3rd: Joey Logano
4th: Jeff Gordon
5th: Kyle Busch

Notables Not in Top 5:
6th: Kevin Harvick
7th: Matt Kenseth
8th: Ryan Newman
9th: Greg Biffle
10th: Clint Bowyer
13th: Kasey Kahne
21st: Kurt Busch
35th: Carl Edwards




Credits:
-My Own Notes
-Statistics:
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series/leaderboard/leaderboard-live.html
http://racing-reference.info/race/2013_AAA_400/W
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series/lapbylap/view-all-laps.html?intid=lapbylap_lapbylapleaderboard_08292013
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series/live-standings.html?intid=livestandings_livestandingsleaderboard_08292013
-Image:
http://media.thenewstribune.com/smedia/2013/09/29/18/46/508-15KyvT.AuSt.138.jpeg

My Thoughts: Dover

         As the Cup series heads to Dover International Speedway for the third race of the Chase, we know a good many things. For one, Matt Kenseth is on a roll to start the Chase. He won the first two events to start the Chase and is sitting in prime position to take the championship with some of his good tracks  coming up. The second thing we know is this could very well be a three man race for the title. Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Busch have distanced themselves from the rest of the Chase drivers and could be the favorites, but we still have a good many races left to go. Finally, we know that the Chase is still full of races that could change the complete landscape of the battle for the title. Dover, Talladega, Martinsville, and even Phoenix are potential races left that could cause a major points shuffle. What all do these things mean? We may think we know the answers, but we won't know for sure until the checkered flag waves at Homestead. I have a few interesting topics to talk about today including a possible elimination from the championship battle, a few drivers chances to win the championship, a driver planning on making his Cup debut, a broadcaster who needs our prayers because of an illness, and the feature of my thoughts: my pick to win. That is enough of an introduction for today. Let us go ahead and get started.

1. Is Kasey Kahne Eliminated From the Chase After His Wreck at New Hampshire?
        Last week, Kasey Kahne suffered a devastating blow at New Hampshire. With only about fifty laps to go, Kahne got loose exiting turn 4 and slammed he inside wall. He would return, but he ended up finishing thirty seventh after all was said and done. This put him back to last in the Chase standings with only seven events left to go. Immediately when his wreck happened, everybody eliminated him from the championship picture except his fans. I am one such fan who has not eliminated him yet. Even though I do have fan bias, I still have two reasons I believe he is still in contention. The first is the tracks left in the Chase. When I think about Kasey Kahne, I always picture him winning and running up front at mile and a half tracks. The Chase still has a good many of those races left and they are at tracks Kahne has been successful at this year including Charlotte and Kansas. If he gets on a roll and wins any of the upcoming races, he could be back in it just like that. The final reason is because of how many events are left. We have a good many events left before the champion is decided. There is still a chance that Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, and Kyle Busch could have a bad race and open up the battle. If it does happen, drivers like Kasey Kahne could take full advantage of it. If you have eliminated Kahne already, I think it could come back to haunt you.

2. Is Matt Kenseth Going to Win the Championship? 
        After the first two races in the Chase, we have a good picture of what the championship looks like. First off, Matt Kenseth is in prime position to take the championship with two wins in the first two Chase races. Even with all this momentum, I don't think Kenseth has locked up the championship just yet. For one, Kenseth has had some moments this year where he didn't run good. Mostly this year, he has won the race or finished way back. Because of this, Kenseth was never really a favorite for the championship other than with his five wins heading to the playoffs. With a lot of tracks where drivers can mess up left on the circuit, Kenseth could have some problems and it would be someone else's chance. A final reason is the competitors behind him. If you are not going to pick Jimmie Johnson to win the championship, I personally think you are pretty crazy. When the championship is on the line, Johnson is going to be there and usually he is going to take it. If Kenseth struggles at any track, Johnson and even Kyle Busch will be there to take the points lead. I'm not saying Kenseth is not a front runner, but he needs to show the consistency that he has started early in the Chase if he wants to hoist the trophy in Homestead.

3. Is It a Three Man Race For the Championship?
        In the first two races, we have also figured out who the main front runners are for the championship. Right now, they are Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Busch. Kenseth and Busch started off the Chase with 1-2 finishes and are running really well. Jimmie Johnson is his usual self with consistent finishes in the Chase. I don't think it is too much of a shock right now that these three are the main front runners for the Chase, but I am shocked by a couple things. I am shocked that Busch is running as well as he is. I mean, he has been a very good driver in the past, but usually that is before the Chase. When you take a look at his record, he has never won a race during the Chase and hasn't really been the main figure when it comes Chase time. To me, I think he has turned a complete corner. After missing the Chase last year, Busch worked his life back in order and is now a very competitive driver. If he keeps working like he does now, he could be a Champion this year. Matt Kenseth has also surprised me a good bit this year. After making the move from Roush-Fenway Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing, Kenseth has won seven races and has a nice cushion at the top of the points standings. Kenseth is a former champion, but it is just really surprising. I know he can win races, but he just has never been the guy at the top of the standings or even a constant threat. I think Kenseth has also turned a corner and looks very good right now. With him and Busch battling hard for the title, this could be a good battle for the championship that comes down to the final race of the year at Homestead.

4. Brian Scott to Make His Cup Debut at Charlotte; Will Run Partial Schedule Next Season 
         Some good news came out this week for Brian Scott. It was announced that he would make his Sprint Cup debut at Charlotte for RCR and he would run a partial schedule next year with the team. In case you aren't familiar with Scott, I will give you some background. Scott began running full time with Joe Gibbs Racing a few years ago. Scott was pretty good with the team, but he never grabbed any wins for them. This year, he moved over to Richard Childress Racing where he has had two races that he could have captured the checkered flag. He did not take the victory, but the team was proud of his good runs and decided he should get a Cup opportunity. I am very glad for Scott. One reason is that he is going to be a good driver in Cup. When you look at his record, there aren't any wins, but if you watch the races you see that he has a lot of promise. He doesn't wreck people, he can finish consistently at the front, and he has that natural ability as a race car driver. Now, you might not feel the same way, but based on what I have seen from him in Nationwide, he shows these qualities to me. I mean, he has had some moments where I and many others questioned if he would be the future of the sport, but I think he answered the call this year. With a team of Ryan Newman, Paul Menard, Austin Dillon, and Brian Scott for some races, Richard Childress Racing is looking very formidable heading into next season. 

5. Steve Byrnes Diagnosed With Cancer; Taking a Medical Leave of Absence From Broadcasting
        This week, we received some sad news in the world of NASCAR broadcasting. Steve Byrnes announced that he would have to take a medical leave of absence from broadcasting because of cancer. Byrnes has been a mainstay in NASCAR for a long time. He was a part time pit reporter in the late 1990s and early 2000s before becoming a full time pit reporter with FOX in 2001. Byrnes has been with FOX since then and is one of the hosts of NASCAR Race Hub on FOX Sports 1. Byrnes has always been one of my favorite pit reporters and I hope he makes a speedy recovery. If you read this Byrnes, I hope to see you at the track very soon and I hope you defeat that cancer as quick as possible.

6. My Pick to Win
        Last week, Matt Kenseth continued his winning ways with another victory in the Chase. Earlier this year at Dover, Tony Stewart took the win after Jimmie Johnson jumped the final restart of the race. Today, I think this race is going to be one of the wild card races in the Chase and the points are going to shake up. I think Dale Earnhardt Jr. (What!?!?), Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, and Kevin Harvick are good picks to win the race today at the “Monster Mile”. Another thing is that this race could have a very different winner compared to the rest of the races this year and it should be a very good race. Once again, I thank you guys for reading through my opinions. If you guys have differing opinions on any of the issues I have discussed, please let me know in the comments down below. I hope you guys enjoy the race at Dover today and until we meet again.




Credits:
-Image:
http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/ac1394dbdcca6a36cbf486633b129cd813095ac3/r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/06/02/1370211354000-c08-doverjimmie-03-1306021817_4_3.jpg