Track Smack: So much to give thanks for this season

1) It's Thanksgiving week, so who in NASCAR has the most to be thankful for?

David Caraviello: Jimmie Johnson should be thankful that Hendrick team management saw greatness where no one else did -- in Chad Knaus. And sure, the guy is a heck of a driver -- he's on the brink of being one of the greats -- but Knaus is the glue that holds that 48 team together.

Joe Menzer: I think Dale Earnhardt Jr. may have the most to be thankful for. He's thankful that he's leaving this season of bitter disappointment behind at DEI, and going to Hendrick next season.

Dave Rodman: Maybe Brian France. It's been an abysmal year for his family, and as we saw on Sunday, there's a bunch of questions about the sport. Good to let it rest -- at least for a week.

David Caraviello: Joe, I think Rick Hendrick should be thankful. He has the best team in the sport, and he's adding Dale Jr. And Kyle Busch should be thankful that a ride at a solid Gibbs team was available.

Joe Menzer: It's been a rough year for Brian France. I guess he's thankful it's over -- sort of like Junior.

Dave Rodman: All of HMS is thankful for Rick Hendrick. They've been able to promote from within, as they did when they got Chad back. And having people in place who could see Jimmie's potential in the face of minimal achievement on asphalt was, DC as you opined on -- maybe the coup of the era.

David Caraviello: Who knows how they saw greatness in the guy, Dave. What a find.

Joe Menzer: And then there is Jeff Gordon, of course. With a little baby girl and six wins, there's lots to be thankful for there.

David Caraviello: Hendrick should be thankful that he has Gordon in his organization. After all, Gordon is the guy who fought to sign Johnson. He's the guy who made the big promises to Lowe's. He's the guy who urged Rick to combine the 48 and 24 operations.

Dave Rodman: Unfortunately for him, this year Gordon has to balance "thanks" with a lot of "what ifs?"

David Caraviello: Gordon is the guy who created this monster, and now he's getting beat by it.

Dave Rodman: Since that's the case, Jeff may be the coup of two eras; since he had his own big time in the sport and he was a big part of getting Jimmie in place for his -- but that goes back to Rick securing JG from Bill Davis and Ford. Talk about priceless.

Joe Menzer: And you know who seems to have had an absolute blast this year? Mark Martin. That guy ran the schedule he wanted and was pretty darn competitive, despite a lot going on around him.

Dave Rodman: Of course, Bill Davis Racing is thankful for its strong late season with Dave Blaney, which got them back into the top 35 for next season.

David Caraviello: Matt Kenseth and Robbie Reiser should be, and certainly are, thankful that they've been able to work together for so long. And surely Reiser is thankful that he's able to leave the pit box under his own terms. Not many crew chiefs can say that.

Joe Menzer: How about Michael Waltrip? He should be thankful for Rob Kauffman, whose dollars may deliver his operation from mediocrity -- or worse.

Dave Rodman: Michael still needs to be thankful for his salesmanship, because he needs to keep backing in place for all those cars while they continue to bring the performance up. And he can be thankful some good young kids like Michael McDowell and Josh Wise want to be there.

Joe Menzer: And while we're talking about a Toyota operation, Toyota itself is mighty thankful for Joe Gibbs Racing. They give them some instant credibility in the Cup Series that the manufacturer desperately needs.

David Caraviello: Golf course superintendents and orthopedic surgeons should be thankful that Johnson has sworn off cart surfing.

Joe Menzer: Amen, brother. (Continued)