Carl Edwards Wins Atlanta; Johnson Second

Carl Edwards did all he could do Sunday afternoon at Atlanta Motor Speedway to catch Jimmie Johnson in the Chase for the Sprint Cup by winning the Pep Boys 500 in Hampton, Ga.

But when the Sprint Cup point leader already has a huge lead in the standings and is finishing a spot behind after a tremendous rally in the race's final eight laps, well, settling for the second place points check at the end of the season doesn't seem too bad.

The race win was the sixth of the 2008 season for Edwards and moved him up two spots to second in the standings, some 183 points behind two-time defending Chase winner Johnson.

That late race rally by Johnson came after he received a pit road speeding penalty early in the event to put the No. 48 a lap down. Naturally, and inevitably as it seems in 2008, Johnson & Co. rallied back to the lead lap and took four tires on a late race pit stop.

Johnson used the fresh tires to slice through the top-10 in the final laps, though he nearly lost everything in the final corner of the final lap. As Johnson powered to the outside of Denny Hamlin for second, Hamlin's Toyota got extremely loose and missed Johnson's bumper by mere inches.

Contact would have undoubtedly spun Johnson and allowed all of the lead lap cars by on the final lap and shaken the Chase standings somewhat. But it didn't happen, and Johnson's name is likely being printed on championship t-shirts, hats, and other knick-knacks as you read this.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-26-2008 @ 8:16PM

Susan said...

Who cares who wins a race at Atlanta when you already know the Championship team? I don't care.

I might care if the race was at Daytona. I could care less about Atlanta when I know who wins the end game.

It is patheticly boring this week and it was last week.

At least I could cheer against Kyle Busch. I can't muster enough emotion to cheer for or against the 48 or 99.

Dynasty? I don't care. I can't take 4 hours out of my Sunday to look up at the 'aweness' of the 48 team. I wish that I could care but it's not happening. I am happy for the 48 team. I congratulate them. They have done exactly what they are supposed to do.

Having said all that, I'm still wondering why anyone should watch the next 2 races. I might swap channels from football and watch some of Homestead just to see the Closing Ceremony and the Champion anointed.

I can't imagine how this is good for Nascar or their sponsors.

I think this sucks for almost everyone involved.

Have at it!

10-26-2008 @ 8:55PM

Paulie said...

You are right. It really doesn't matter. After nascar changed the rules and helped the crybaby chevy and ford teams, the season became a joke. Maybe next year the toyotas will be required to run v6 engines so roush and hendrick can run up front. nascar is totally bogus.

10-26-2008 @ 9:01PM

Sami said...

Stop hating!!! Jimmie Johnson didnt win back to back Championship's from luck!! And YES, now he has a 3rd consective championship in his sights. Say what you may about mysterious "Hendricks debris cautions" or "conspericies, its just NOT true. Jimmie Johnson is a true champ!!!!

10-26-2008 @ 9:48PM

ratrod said...

It would be great if racing would go back to how it was back 20 yrs ago. write now its crying every weekend about something.
If dale Earnhardt was still alive, this kind of crap would'nt be going on.

10-27-2008 @ 2:49AM

Don Emerson said...

Boring race....just another in the boring season this turned out to be. When the likes of Jimmie and Jeffie, not to mention the ever bright Jr took over racing, it went downhill pretty fast. did you notice all the empty seats at Atlanta today. Looks like I'm not the only on fed up with this dog and pony show. With boring drivers in boring cars at boring tracks it's no wonder Nascar fell victim to the old baseball adage......3 strikes and you're out. Works for me............

10-27-2008 @ 9:05AM

Kim said...

Jimmie hasn't "lucked into anything." He is a talented drver and his championships are well earned, including the one he is about to get. Jimmie wasn't handed anything in Atlanta, folks. He had a pit road penalty for speeding down pit road, went a lap down, got the lucky dog (Like many others before him), was in the top 15 the rest of the day, Chad made a smart pit call at the end of the race, and Jimmie charged to the front on the final laps. No luck here, just smart racing from a smart driver and smart racing team.

Don't hate, participate in the 48!

Kim