Turn 4 Transitions
Friday, March 26, 2010
By Natalie Anthony
Goody’s
Fast Pain Relief 500
March 28, 2010 (Sunday) 12:00 pm – Fox
Jimmie Johnson - 2009 Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500
Winner!
The reference to spoilers at Martinsville
Speedway (MS) this weekend will not be just a reference to the new spoilers
that replaced the wings on the back of the stock cars. The automotive spoiler is designed to reduce
the lift and increase the dragging of the air on the stock cars to “spoil” the
unfavorable air and keep our beloved drivers on the ground in the event of a
wreck or crash. The driver spoiler is
designed to bore the heck out of NASCAR fans, win more and more races every
season, and win multiple championships in a row. The 2010 Spring NASCAR season has had just
five races completed and the reigning champion again, and again and again has
already won three of them. I bring this
point up for discussion because this Sunday’s race at MS will most likely
result in the #48 car being in Victory Lane AGAIN. Jimmie Johnson
won the race last March at MS and followed that up with a second place finish
in October at the paper-clip track. I am
sure that JJ’s success these past four years has
given his fans a whole heck of a lot to cheer about, but when you support
another driver or even multiple drivers whose last name is not Johnson, it can
be very frustrating to watch a single driver dominate the sport you are devoted
to. Is this disappointment enough to
stop watching NASCAR; a definitive “No,” but is does make for Sunday relaxing a
little less enjoyable when a fan is faced with the repeating of a commentator’s
voice ringing in their head saying “ The Lowe’s Chevrolet is in the lead” –
again. Is it Jimmie’s fault he is the
best? No, of course not, but after four
years in a row, I would have hope that the other drivers and teams had gotten
their wake-up call and give Mr. Horse Shoe some better competition.
Denny Hamlin was the majority of the fan favorite to
give the 2010 championship shot and thank goodness MS is a track he is awesome
at. The last two races at Martinsville ended with
either Denny or Jimmie Johnson in first or second. Let us just hope that Denny has awakened from
his racing slumber and ready to take the checkered flag this Sunday.
Hendrick’s top dog may rest at the feet of Jimmie Johnson,
but MS begs for no one and Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin equally have enough success at this
speedway to be Rick Hendrick’s best friend this
Sunday. Mark and Jeff finished the last
two races at MS in the Top 10.
Track Stats
Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500
(March 29,
2009)
Top 10
Results
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Tony Stewart
4. Jeff Gordon
5. Clint Bowyer
6. Ryan Newman
7. Mark Martin
8. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
9. AJ Allemendinger
10.Jamie
McMurray
TUMS QuikPak 500
(October 25,
2009)
Top 10
Results
1. Denny Hamlin
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Juan Pablo Montoya
4. Kyle Busch
5. Jeff Gordon
6. Jamie McMurray
7. Ryan Newman
8. Mark Martin
9. Tony Stewart
10.Kevin
Harvick
Post Questions
& Comments to:
NASCARNATALIEANTHONY@yahoo.com
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