 | | Rick Hendrick treats his teams like family. Credit: Autostock |
By Marty Snider, Special to NASCAR.COM
November 22, 2006
04:34 PM EST (21:34 GMT)
Hey, did you hear? Jimmie Johnson won the 2006 Nextel Cup! I just thought I'd bring you up to speed ... in case you skipped the rest of NASCAR.COM. I just want to shed a little insight on the day leading up to the championship. Johnson was prepared not to win the championship just in case it didn't happen. Rick Hendrick made sure of that. Hendrick told Johnson early last week that he wanted some time with him on Saturday night. After a stressful Saturday practice Johnson obliged. Hendrick had two messages. The first was, "If I told you that you would win the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400 and the all-star race would you consider that a good season?" Johnson's response was, "Yes, of course." "Then we've had a good season no matter what," was Hendrick's response. Hendrick's second message was, "Today [Saturday] is Nov. 18. Do you know the significance of that date?" Johnson had no clue. "Ten years ago today I was diagnosed with leukemia," Hendrick replied. Johnson was dumbfounded. Hendrick made his grand point: no matter what happened with the race at Homestead it wasn't life or death. That is why Hendrick has six championships. He has talented people and he cares about them, from the drivers to the floor sweepers ... he treats them all the same. It is brought up too frequently so forgive me for doing so, but I am sure that at the culminating championship moment Hendrick was thinking of his brother John, son Ricky, best friend Randy Dorton, right-hand man Jeff Turner and everybody else on N501RH that crashed two years ago in Martinsville. Hendrick looked melancholy all week in Homestead ... he has for two years now. He looked like he was wanting someone to share the moment with -- someone who could not be with him. I am sure there were a few someone's he would have wanted by his side to share a moment or two of joy with. And there were no doubt more than a few silent this is for you thoughts after it was all over. 'It's time' Mark Martin said Sunday morning that "it's time" to leave Roush Racing. When I asked him if he planned any special events with Jack to say goodbye he simply said, "No, Jack and I aren't like that." So it was a drive-the-race and thanks-for-the-memories day for Martin at Homestead. Unfortunately, the most sentimental moment of day was a team photo taken before the race. Roush was not present. Martin is extremely excited about 2007. He will be busy. Son Matt will start racing in January and Martin will compete in the first four races of the 2007 Nextel Cup schedule. Despite only 20 Nextel Cup races on the docket Martin's schedule is starting to fill up rapidly with events that he is excited about. He has seven truck races scheduled with the Wood Brothers, for which they still need a sponsor, and will compete in few Busch races here and there, maybe even a few driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Plus, plenty of family time -- which is what this whole part-time thing is all about. Let's talk 2007 When we started tiering the Chase drivers at the beginning of the playoffs it was fun ... some people liked it and people got mad. So let's take an early shot at handicapping the 2007 field: Tier 1 • Tony Stewart Stewart has to be the man to beat next season. The 20 team was pretty incredible in the Chase this year -- they just weren't a part of it. The one aspect of their program that could stand to improve is the Richmond, New Hampshire and Phoenix type of tracks where they used to be dominant but have lost some of their edge. My prediction: Stewart will show up to Daytona 20 pounds lighter than he was when he left Homestead and he will have the best season of his career. Look out! • Jimmie Johnson How can you deny the 48 team's consistency ... nobody is better at that game? Johnson will take the championship momentum well into the 2007 season. • Matt Kenseth Despite not winning the title, 2006 was probably Kenseth's best season from an overall consistency standpoint. The late season slump should not be a sign of things to come. You will most likely see the consistently good Kenseth show up in 2007. Tier 2 • Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2006 was a maturation season for Junior. As much as the 8 team learned this season they deserve to be in the top tier, but they need to develop a little more consistency to contend for the title. • Kasey Kahne Unfortunately, we don't race on just 1.5 mile tracks. Kahne is improving at the other tracks, especially at the short tracks, but he has to work on overall consistency. It is most likely just a matter of time before the 9 team is knocking on the door to win a Nextel Cup. • Greg Biffle Two years ago Biffle used his Homestead win to propel him almost all the way to the championship the next season. Despite switching teams next season I believe Biffle and Pat Tryson will make a terrific duo who should contend for the Nextel Cup. Tier 100
(or whatever the last tier is) The Car of Tomorrow. Nobody likes it and we can only hope it makes the racing better. It will be the most talked about subject of 2007, hopefully for all the right reasons. But as of now it has a long way to go to win over the NASCAR garage area ... and I mean a long way. Thanks Just a quick note of thanks to everyone at NASCAR.COM for letting me hang out with them for the second half of this season. It was fun to bring a little extra insight straight from the garage area. I look forward to talking to everyone soon as we get ready for the Daytona 500. Have a safe and happy holiday season. The opinions expressed are solely of the writer. | 
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