Amid the hullabaloo -- now that's a fun word -- of Thursday's off-track activity at Lowe's Motor Speedway between Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick, Sprint Cup series qualifying for Sunday night's Bank of America 500 was canceled.It was the eighth time this season qualifying got the axe thanks to rain on track, and the biggest beneficiary from precipitation was the guy who seems to benefit from everything, Mr. Jimmie Johnson. Though, I'm certainly no Johnson apologist because luck is something that you partially make with your performance -- something the No. 48 has plenty of.
Rain was persistent throughout the day at LMS -- where yours truly will be stationed for the weekend as a fan -- and not a lap of practice was turned by Sprint Cup cars.
Johnson secured the pole because of his position in the owner points, and the rest of the field was set the same way, allowing for all 12 of the contenders in the Chase for the Sprint Cup to be right on top of each other at the front of the field when the green flag is dropped Saturday night.
Johnson's teammate Jeff Gordon was likely somewhat disappointed with the session being wiped from the weekend schedule after turning the fastest lap in qualifying mode during the testing session a few weeks ago at LMS. Instead, he'll start in his points position of eighth.
The biggest losers of Thursday's cancellation were some of the up-and-coming drivers hoping to get their first Sprint Cup starts. Those drivers included former Formula One driver Scott Speed who entered the event in a Red Bull Racing No. 82 Toyota, Chip Ganassi Racing's and my fellow hometown driver Bryan Clauson, and Hendrick Motorsports' Brad Keselowski.
Derrike Cope also didn't make the race.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-11-2008 @ 1:42AM
Rob said...
Jimmie on the pole? Surprised? NASCAR gave hime all the phantom debri cautions he needed last week (none were ever shown) and any other time Rick or Chad tells them to? Why wouldn't they do this as well? Since the Hendrick/Rousch Racing Series has to be politically correct. The only reason Jimmie wins is because of flags for debri,Chad Knaus,Rick Hendrick and NASCAR. All in the order as listed. Robbie Gordon or Joe Nemechek could win with the deck stacked that well! If he loved the sport he would learn from Smoke. Jimmie was given or bought Kearney Mesa Chevrolet while the track (Cajon Speedway) that gave him his break was torn down after the owner was murdered. I think his wife said "No, no Jimmie! Mommie says no!" Can you say "MO MONEY Wittle Jimmie?"
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10-11-2008 @ 9:01AM
Jack Hall said...
LOL dipshit!
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10-11-2008 @ 9:25AM
Kim said...
Rob,
You seem to have some serious anger issues, bud. That or just plain old fashioned green hord jealousy. I don't know what race you were watching last Sunday, but each time a caution was called for debris, the cameras did show it. Also, the majority of the time that cautions are called for debris, it is the spotters for the drivers who do so because they have the best view of the entire track.
Jimmie's one hell of a driver! You must hate winners? That's the only sense I can make out of your post. That or you are a conspiracy theory freak. Don't hate, participate in the 48!
Kim
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10-11-2008 @ 2:55PM
Don Emerson said...
Lot of anger yes, but some good points too. Johnson has been on the lucky end of the stick more often than not. granted he's a good driver, despite his lack of passion, but methinks the powers that be do shineth down on the lad now and again. No conspiracy, just good business practices. Think of all the good press Nascar will get when it helps it's golden boy win his third crown in a row. When money talks, honesty, integrity, and fairness.....walk. Works for me...........
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10-11-2008 @ 10:07PM
Snarky said...
Rob, you are an idiot. While nobody likes setting the race grid by points due to rain, it is the reward for being the better teams. It would be great if every week all the drivers would have to go or go home and every week the entire race would get in with no rain delays but it is an outdoor sportnig event that just does not work well in the rain. Deal with it, Nascar does.
MBL
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