Who was in and who was out thie year for you

[buckaroo]

I was impressed with AJ Almendinger. If RPM is able to stay together next year with two cars, Dinger and Ambrose, AJ might be able to find himself in the chase. I would not be surprised to see Ambrose make it as well. But for many drivers, it will be a chore with lots of luck, with the exception of the #48 team. Speaking Johnson, he is truely impressing me. If he can do it again next year, I just might hop on board for him to reach that magic number of 7 and see if he can win 7 in a row. But for now, I want to see Tony at the head of the table next year. He needs another trophy.

As I expected, Earnhardt Jr. did about as well as Kasey Kahne. Kahne finished 20th and Jr. was right behind him in 21st. Ambrose finished ahead of the team he will be driving for next year (hopefully) Speaking of that team, I never understood why Elliott Sadler has kept a full time ride in the cup series as long as he has. Elliott looks like one of those boys that just can't get it done in the top series yet will be able to compete very well in a lower series. That list is a long list and nothing to be ashamed of.

Kudos go out to the entire RCR bunch. Last year they couldn't get a car in the chase and this year all three of the cars made it with one having a chance to win it all in the last race.

 

[SpeedPagan]

You know, I honestly want to see Mark Martin win at least one Championship. He is just one of those guys who races clean no matter what, and he has a good personality and good soul in him. I'd hate to see such a good guy retire without at least one championship trophy. I was disapointed that he didn't make the cut this year, but if he doesn't retire in the off season, then maybe he'll make it in 2011.

I'm honestly not surprised Jr. finished where he did. Honestly at this point the only reason Hendrick keeps him on is because he's the most Popular Driver in the Sprint Cup, so he brings in all of that merchandising money. However, I do have to wonder where he'd be if his last name wasn't Earnhardt. There are many young talented drivers who are waiting for a chance at the big time.

Say what you want about The Chase, and say what you want about the shake up at the beginning, but I don't think anyone can honestly say Johnson didn't earn his five Championship, especially not after what we've seen today. He raced hard and smart, and came away 2nd place in Homestead. I'd like to see him win 8 Championship in all, one more than Earndhardt Sr. and Richard Petty.

I hope RPM is able to stay together, because they do have alot of talented drivers in their stable, and it would suck for them to lose their ride.

Honestly Busch could've been a contender for The Chase, and Hamlin could've been a bigger threat if they could learn how to keep their emotions in check. Yes it will probably make them more "vanilla", but guess what, vanilla works. Vanilla is what got Johnson five in a row. After Phoneix, I knew Hamlin was going to choke, he just didn't have the emotional maturity to make it work. He ran into Biffle, damaged his LF Toe and splitter, and that was it for him.

Those are my thoughts.

 

[wilson89]

Allmaindinger is an easy chose for most improved driver. But I would also like to throw someonelses name out that has been in the series for years, Jamie McMurray. Last year at this time I thought he was headed back to the Nationwide series and his cup career was finished. He really under performed at Roush for the most part so it came as a big suprise to see him run so well this year, including winning at the two most famous tracks in American Motorsports.

Now on the other end of that spectrum I would look right to Jamie's teamate Juan Pablo Montoya. Remember last year how close he came almost every week to winning races? Not only was he running up front but he was doing it consistantly and was up their in the points standing at the end of the year. This year I was just waiting for him to have a break out performance and get on another roll again. But it seemed after Indy where he had probably the dominate car that he wasnt going to do any better than about 20th the rest of the season.