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Champs Sports
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Die-Cast Specials
Jimmie Johnson Wins Tums 500 at Martinsville
By: Keith Bloemendaal
Jimmie Johnson won again at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, padding his lead in his bid for a third straight title with four races to go.
The two-time defending series champion led 339 laps as he and his Hendrick Motorsports teammates dominated once more on the oldest, smallest and trickiest circuit in the Sprint Cup Series.
Johnson won the fall race at this track for the third consecutive time. It was his fifth career victory on the 0.526-mile oval and fourth in the last five races.
“It’s just been good to me,” he said.
Teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second, followed by Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon, giving Hendrick three of the top four spots. The 1-2 finish was the 23rd for the multicar team and third at Martinsville.
“I didn’t have anything for Jimmie,” Earnhardt said. “That car was so awesome.”
Johnson increased his lead from 69 points over Jeff Burton to 149 over Greg Biffle. Burton started second and finished 17th.
As they had in the spring, when they combined to lead 371 laps, Johnson and Gordon set the pace all day with Gordon leading 57 laps. Earnhardt made it a three-car Hendrick party near the front and, unlike in the spring, Johnson this time managed to close the deal.
In March, Denny Hamlin won on pit strategy.
Johnson led seven times in all, passing Gordon for the top spot with 209 laps to go. He then made quick work of Matt Kenseth, who stayed out on the track under caution with 38 to go.
Johnson heads to Atlanta with the largest points lead in the history of the Chase at this point. He’s not ready, however, to start thinking about another title.
“It’s getting closer,” he said. “It’s still not time.”
The day was shaping up as a great one for Jamie McMurray, who started 20th and climbed into contention quickly. He was running fourth with about 100 laps to go when his car suddenly slowed on the backstretch. He drove it directly to his garage and wound up 38th.
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Did Tony Stewart Really Win The Amp Energy 500?
By: Keith Bloemendaal
NASCAR really needs to get a handle on the way they enforce the rules at these restrictor plate races. Regan Smith crossed the finish line in first, but NASCAR rules he went below the yellow line and gave him a finishing position of 18th. Tony Stewart, as of the writing of this article won the Amp Energy 500.
The win is the Home Depot team's first this season.
The way I understood the yellow line rule is if you pass below the yellow line, you will be penalized. UNLESS YOU ARE FORCED BELOW THE LINE! While watching the end of the race, it was clear to me that Stewart forced Smith below the yellow line. Had Smith held his ground, Tony Stewart would have been in the wall on the frontstretch!
Some will also argue that the last lap is anything goes, NASCAR did away with that last season.
Other restrictor plate races have been just as controversial. In 2007 Jeff Gordon got pummeled with debris on his victory lap at the Aaron's 499 by the fans after NASCAR awarded the win to him through the use of scoring loops because the caution flew on the last lap.
Get a grip on this NASCAR! Set rules, enforce them the same week in and week out!
What do you think, am I wrong? Comment to give your opinion.
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Jeff Gordon Gets New DuPont Paint Job For 2009 Season
By: Keith Bloemendaal
The new paint scheme will be dubbed "Fire Storm".
The unveiling of the #24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports DuPont Chevrolet came on Thurday's edition of the Today Show on NBC. It marks only the 3rd major paint scheme change for the DuPont Team. The design came from renowned motorsports artist Sam Bass who said "“I have been most fortunate to have had the opportunity to design the graphics for the DuPont/Hendrick Motorsports/Jeff Gordon race cars since they entered the NASCAR Cup Series in 1992."
The first time we the fans will officially see "Fire Storm" will be during speed weeks in Daytona. The Hendrick Team holds one of the longest standing sponsor/driver/owner relationships in NASCAR history. Richard Petty and STP come to mind when I think of other long standing relationships with sponsors. Of course, Jeff Gordon is no Richard Petty, but you have to give him credit for being a great driver and champion.
I am not the biggest fan of Jeff Gordon over the years, I don't hate him, just don't particularly root for him on Sunday unless he is somewhere near Kyle Busch! I do, however, like this paint scheme. Having DuPont as the primary sponsor of the Hendrick #24 for the last 16 years, you would think they would have cool paint schemes popping up all the time. This, by far, is the best paint job I have seen on the DuPont car. The flames look good, and I especially like the black background better.
What do you think, better, worse, don't care. Comment below to voice your opinion.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr Auctions Ride In #88 At Lowes Motor Speedway
By: Keith Bloemendaal
Dale Earnhardt, Jr., driver of the No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, is collaborating with Wrangler in a charity auction bid on ebay.com. The winner of the bid will get to ride with Earnhardt, Jr. for three laps around Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte. The winner will also receive free lessons from the Richard Petty Driving Experience. The proceeds from the auction will benefit the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
Other items available for bid include the door panel from the No. 88 car that was driven in the Auto Club Speedway race in Fontana earlier this year, and a pair of jeans worn and autographed by the driver. The door panel is scratched since Earnhardt, Jr. was involved in a crash in that race.
Anyone interested can bid for any of the prizes at this link.
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FavoriteTeamWear asks: Would the Points Race Be Different Without Chase Points?
After watching Kyle Busch fall to 12th in Sprint Cup Chase points over the last 2 weeks, I can't help but wonder where the chasers would be without the Chase setup. I did some research on this, and found that the points race would be different.
Chase Points After Dover:
| Rank | Driver | Points | Behind Leader |
| 1 | Carl Edwards | 5390 | ------- |
| 2 | Jimmie Johnson | 5380 | -10 |
| 3 | Greg Biffle | 5380 | -10 |
| 4 | Jeff Burton | 5308 | -82 |
| 5 | Kevin Harvick | 5289 | -101 |
| 6 | Clint Bowyer | 5284 | -106 |
| 7 | Tony Stewart | 5277 | -113 |
| 8 | Jeff Gordon | 5272 | -118 |
| 9 | Dale Earnhardt Jr | 5261 | -129 |
| 10 | Matt Kenseth | 5123 | -167 |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | 5197 | -193 |
| 12 | Kyle Busch | 5180 | -210 |
While I believe everyone in the Chase still has a chance to win the Championship, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin really need to get their acts together to get there.
Dale Earnhardt Jr has fallen significantly, but still has a chance if he can win Talledega and Texas, which he historically runs well at for both.
All in all, the Sprint Chase For The Cup is still up for grabs, and any of the teams still have a chance to win it, or to throw it away.
In contrast, let us look at the points if there was no Chase Points:
| Rank | Driver | Points | Behind Leader |
| 1 | Carl Edwards | 4011 | ---- |
| 2 | Kyle Busch | 3978 | -33 |
| 3 | Jimmie Johnson | 3916 | -95 |
| 4 | Dale Earnhardt Jr | 3739 | -272 |
| 5 | Jeff Burton | 3682 | -329 |
| 6 | Greg Biffle | 3660 | -351 |
| 7 | Kevin Harvick | 3572 | -439 |
| 8 | Tony Stewart | 3562 | -449 |
| 9 | Jeff Gordon | 3493 | -518 |
| 10 | Denny Hamlin | 3422 | -589 |
| 11 | Clint Bowyer | 3390 | -621 |
| 12 | Matt Kenseth | 3355 | -656 |
As you can see, this would be a much different chase, had the points not been realigned with 10 races to go. It would only be a 3 car race at this point, a Ford, a Toyota, and a Chevrolet. Also, three teams: Rousch, Gibbs, and Hendrick.
Kyle Busch would obviously be in better shape.
Looking at the top three, Jimmie Johnson would have more work to do to win a historical Championship for him (3 in a row). Kyle Busch would only be 33 points behind leader Carl Edwards, showing the benefits of having such a strong season.
Dale Earnhardt Jr, and everyone behind him could almost be counted out, making it a three car race.
I can't help but wonder, is the Chase For The Cup really more exciting, or is it unfair to those having raced so well all season, only to fall back from 1st to 12th after 2 races.
What do you think? Is the Chase setup better?
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Greg Biffle Wins 2 In A Row:
By: Keith Bloemendaal
While Greg Biffle wins his second in a row, Kyle Busch is falling further away.
I was traveling this weekend and was forced to listen to the race on MRN radio. I actually forgot how much fun this can be. I used to listen to the race on the radio more often when traveling. Now that I have young children, I don't travel as often. We spent the weekend at the beach to finish summer officially.
I can only imagine at this point, how exciting it was to be watching the finish to this race! As it was coming down to the finishing laps, the radio announcers' voices were cracking and high pitched with excitement, and I found myself turning the volume up louder and louder. So, if you find yourself in a position where you are on the road during the race, try listening to it on MRN or PRN radio networks. You will probably enjoy it.
Jack Rousch must of been sitting on the edge of his seat as well. With Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, and Greg Biffle all trading paint for the win at the Monster Mile, I wonder who Rousch was rooting for. Maybe he simply rooted for the three NOT to wreck each other. I can't help but wonder, though, could he be rooting for Biffle in the 3M car?
At the very least, the last two weeks have changed who people may think can win the Chase for the Cup. Or has it? Could it be Greg Biffle wins his first championship? Carl Edwards or Jimmie Johnson? And you can't count Dale Earnhardt Jr out yet, two of his best tracts, Talledega and Texas, are coming up. Also, Jeff Burton could be a sleeper in this Chase.
Personally, I think any predictions at this point would be foolish, who can predict the Chase when it is this close?
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