Attempting The Impossible

When Carl Edwards won the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on October 26 and Jimmie Johnson fought from troubles throughout the race for an improbable runner-up finish, I believed that Johnson had just wrapped up his third straight title. I had good reason to believe that as the California driver led Edwards by 183 points, the biggest point lead during the Chase for the Cup since it began in 2004. As the Dickies 500 started this past Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, I thought that it resembled a coronation more than a race. However as the race went along the stars of the show appeared to not be following the script as Edwards began to runaway from the pack and Johnson floundered in the middle of the field. Suddenly the lead had dwindled under 70 points and was nowhere near as safe.

Johnson would continue to try and fight his way through the field while Edwards would make a strategy call that could make or break his championship dreams. As most of the other leaders stopped for fuel and tires, Edwards stayed on the track and hoped that his tank of fuel could last an unbelieveable 69 laps around the 1.5 mile track. Against all odds Edwards made it to the end and took the checkered flag to win the race.

Carl Edwards (99) won at Texas on Sunday and closed on Jimmie Johnson (48) in points (AP Photo/Randy Holt)

Johnson would soldier on to finish 15th and give up points to Edwards who now sits 106 points out of first with just two races left. To capture his third straight title, Johnson must finish seventh or better in both races to clinch. Things have definitely gotten a bit more interesting as the season nears a conclusion.
Elsewhere in racing, Ryan Briscoe was a popular home country winner on October 25 in the IndyCar Series race at Surfers Paradise in Australia. Ron Hornaday won the Craftsman Truck Series race at Texas Friday night and closed to within six points of leader Johnny Benson Jr. as he searches for another title. Kyle Busch took his tenth Nationwide Series win of the season Saturday at Texas while Carl Edwards closed the point gap on Clint Bowyer as he tries for his second straight series championship. In California on Saturday night, Jesse "The Rocket" Hockett was the big winner at the Oval Nationals in Perris, California.