The Trucks Are Providing the Chase for ‘07
I’ve been watching NASCAR for quite a few years now, and I’ve gotta say that this has become one of the absolutely most boring seasons I’ve ever witnessed. I’m a very strong supporter of the playoff format that they rolled out with, known to us as “the Chase”. I think it’s done wonders for our sport, and it normally gives me the ability to stay tuned into Homestead without falling asleep. But, this year’s been different … even with Clint Bowyer still technically in contention to win the Championship, I think we all know that’s just not going to happen. Instead, we’re left with a nine point spread between the two drivers that have bullied the entire field all season long. Okay, so there’s only a nine point gap between first and second place with just three races to go – this should be an interesting Chase, right? If it were anybody other than the combination of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson running the show, I’d probably say yes. And, I’m not just saying that because I dislike both of them, I’m saying that because anyone who’s not a fan pretty much sees these two as being one in the same. Their driving styles are identical, they’re both from California, and it often seems at times that they share a brain together. In essence, for anyone who’s not a fan, you may slightly dislike one more than the other, but either way, you don’t really care which one wins the Cup because you’re just not going to be happy either way. And, if you are a fan of the Hendrick dynamic duo, then you probably root for one more than the other, but at the end of the day, you’re not going to be upset at all if the other one wins outright. So, basically, whichever side of the fence you’re on, you just don’t care about this year’s Chase anymore.
Okay, so typically when you get to the point of the season where you lose interest in the Chase, your next alternative tends to lie in the Busch Series to fulfill your racing needs … well, you can definitely scratch that one off your list, too. For the second year in a row, the Busch Series points race has been an absolute runaway courtesy of a Cup regular. Last year Kevin Harvick stole the show, and 2007’s been Carl Edwards all season long. In fact, Edwards has been so dominant that he now boasts a 531 point lead over second place David Reutimann, and I believe all he has to do is start the race at Texas this weekend and he will officially clinch the Championship. Wow … that’s pretty exciting. (Note the subtle sarcasm that lies in that statement).
So, what’s an avid racing fan to do at the beginning of November when they find themselves in this predicament? That’s right, baby … the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has still got it going on. Ron Hornaday and Mike Skinner have managed to swap the lead amongst each other three times in the past four races. They not only drive for two different race teams, but for two different manufacturers as well! Hornaday (who drives a Chevy for Kevin Harvick, Inc) is a three time former Truck Series Champion, the last of which came in 1998. He’s won four races this season and has somehow managed to compile twenty top ten finishes in twenty-two starts. Skinner (who drives a Toyota for Bill Davis Racing) is a former Champion as well, winning the title back in ’95. He’s been equally impressive with five wins and 18 top ten’s. Perhaps more impressive, though, would be 16 top five’s this season! I mean, what we’ve got here are two veteran drivers that have been able to get it done in the past … they have no connection to one another … they both deserve to be where they’re at in the points (Hornaday currently leads Skinner by 4 points) … and, they’ve been the class of the field all season long. Basically, if you don’t follow the Truck Series, watching these two go back and forth would be about the equivalent of watching a late 90’s battle between Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon for the Championship. It’s just priceless. So, hat’s off to the Craftsman Truck Series for being able to provide us racing fans with at least a glimmer of November excitement at the end of a long, struggling NASCAR season!
Related Stories
POSTED IN: NASCAR
2 opinions for The Trucks Are Providing the Chase for ‘07
TrackHazard4Real
Nov 1, 2007 at 10:58 am
You know, Waltrip ruined the face of the truck series for me. It just seemed like a statement that said, “hey the drivers here are such crap, that ol’ bones can still get a seat”. I would just like to see a younger truck series so people can be groomed to run the trucks. It will allow them to create their own image rather than it be a second hak attempt for alot of the cup and busch drivers.
Don
Nov 1, 2007 at 10:59 am
You mean 3rd or 4th - hak attempt.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: