'Funny how time slips away:' Tight Race to Chase

For a guy named Beau it's fair to say that my working knowledge of country music is rather pathetic. However, with six races to go until the cutoff for the Chase the words of the undeniably great, George Jones, are screaming in my ears. You know the song so cue the music in your minds:

"Well the race is on"

With just a half dozen weekends left until the field is trimmed to the 12 best, the most exciting race in the sport is exactly what NASCAR hoped it would be -- the mad dash for the final spot in the Chase. Here's how things shape up with a little lyrical help from "No Show Jones."

"Here comes pride up the backstretch"

Beau Estes co-hosts the Jack Daniel's Post-Race Show with Nikki Alexander. It can be seen following every Nextel Cup race live on NASCAR.COM.

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As Dale Jr. makes his last Chase run for his Daddy's team, the "pride" of Earnhardt Nation is carrying the hopes of NASCAR fans everywhere, including Russia -- believe me, my inbox knows (more on this subject later). Just three weeks ago, a relatively cozy lead of 137 points after Loudon has been slashed by more than 100, placing the No. 8 Chevrolet team on the brink of disaster. (read more)

"Heartache's a going to the inside"

Like any great "heartache" there must be good times and bad times and the man screaming up the track and "going to the inside" has had his share of both this year.

Kurt Busch has been embroiled in controversies this season with Tony Stewart and his own brother, Kyle, among others, but let's just come right out and say it -- the man can flat out drive. For some of you that might be giving the devil his due, but a month ago Busch sat in 16th place, more than 170 points behind Junior. Since then Busch has bedeviled the rest of the bubble boys flying right up on the rear bumper of the 8 team -- a measly 23 points back.

"Somebody new came up to win her. I wound up in second place"

This goes out to three talented drivers, currently standing 14th-16th in points, who could crush the hopes of the passionate fans of the 8 and 2 teams. Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray and Greg Biffle have a combined 25 wins between them and if any one of them gets on a roll Junior, Busch or even Martin Truex Jr. could be in trouble.

For some perspective, I've put together some numbers. This is the performances during the past six races during the last two years of the drivers 12-16 in the standings.

Two things jump out at me when I look at these stats: First of all Junior is the only driver among the five who has raced his way from outside the cutoff into the Chase during this two-year span. It's a small sample size, but he did show a capacity to perform under pressure. Secondly, only two of these drivers have a cumulative positive position move during the same time span -- Junior and Biffle, currently 16th in the standings.

One point to remember in this Race to the Chase is the possibility that, as Mr. Jones said, "The winner loses all." Here is what I mean by that perplexing lyric: Being in that 12th position is a smidge tougher this year considering the season the man at the top of the standings is putting together.

In fact, the biggest gap between any two drivers in the entire Nextel Cup point standings is Jeff Gordon's 371-point lead on his nearest competitor, Denny Hamlin. So while getting into the Chase keeps a team's season alive it's the "Drive for Five" that's living largest as the season heads down the backstretch.

Pocono Raceway

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Last week's Question of the Week

Before I get to last week's question, I'd like to say to any NASCAR fan that cares to listen: If anyone ever tells you that Junior's popularity is fading, you hereby have my permission to tape that person's mouth shut forever. Or better still: Send them my way to have them sift through the thousands of responses I received from Junior's faithful supporters. I'll keep them busy until the next Car of Tomorrow rolls around in 2020.

The question was: Have the events of the last six months made you more of a fan, less of a fan, or had no change on your opinion of Dale Earnhardt Jr.?

The responses fell into some categories I didn't anticipate, but the vast majority of fans support Dale Jr. as much if not more than ever before. Below are some of the best responses:

I have always liked and respected Dale Jr., however, I'll like him even more now that he has left Teresa's shoestrings and moved on. I know that someday he'll build his own team which will far exceed DEI, which should be known as TEI. I also have more respect for him now that he has the confidence to change teams. Go Junior, 2008 Nextel champ.
-- Joyce from Michigan

My advice to Teresa Earnhardt and anyone in the DEI family: Unless you want to be hunted down by wild dogs and rabid fans, keep the "D" in DEI forever.

I think it's pretty clear that what Junior had at DEI wasn't working. If he wants to win championships (which I am more than eager to see him start doing) he needed to make a change. HMS has proven it can produce champions and looks well on its way to producing another one this year.
-- Jamie from Incirlik AB, Turkey

Jaime was an example of a voice of reason in this flurry of e-mails I've received in the past two weeks. Thanks for the moment of sanity from Turkey and stay safe.

I'm still on the Dale Jr. Express, and I don't want to get off. I am still a loyal fan of him as a person and a driver. He comes across as a very down to earth and honest person, no phony baloney. I think it took great maturity for him to make the decision he made to leave DEI. So, I guess I could say I like him even more! I will still be a Dale Jr. fan whoever he drives for, regardless of who sponsors him.
-- Marilyn from Ohio

Those who weren't busy casting voodoo spells on Teresa Earnhardt but still supported Junior fell into the category of notes like the one above from Marilyn.

At this moment I'm less a fan. I can't believe I'd say that. It's made me more a Kyle Busch fan. I wanted Junior to have more control of his life. I want to see a burning desire to win, to take control, to take a wife and get a life. Right now it's like Col. Parker just bought Elvis and we all know the end to that story.
-- Sharron from the Outer Banks of North Carolina

Any mention of Col. Parker and Elvis is worth publication, but Sharron's rationale seems a bit off. Going to HMS is nothing, if not an outright statement, of Junior's "burning desire" to win.

Also, he has taken more control of his life. It was, in fact, his lack of control that pushed him to leave DEI. I'm checking my notes to see if Sharron listed Outer Space instead of Outer Banks as her place of residence.

This week's Question of the Week

I refuse to utter the word that begins with an "s" and ends in a lump when talking about Hendrick Motorsports performance in the past few weeks. These guys set such a high standard that they were bound to fall from the sky at some point. Still, they are in a bit of a dry spell. In fact, the last time the HMS gang won a race, many would argue it was due to a break from the rain and that was nearly two months ago.

This week the HMS guys head back to the scene of their last checkered performance. Jeff Gordon won the rain-shortened Pocono 500 and at the time the team appeared on a march of inevitability. They were pointed straight at the record for highest owner win percentage for a single season in the Modern Era of NASCAR. Now, the record looks a bit sturdier. For the mark to fall, drivers from HMS will have to win six of the remaining 16 races.

My question this week is simple: Do you think HMS will break the all-time record for win percentage in a season by a single owner? A yes or no is a good start, but feel free to explain. Send your e-mails directly to my inbox at Beau@Turner.com.

Chat Room Chatter

The best of the best from the week that was during the Jack Daniel's Post-Race Show:

How 'bout Juan Pablo? Doubters eat your words.
-- Sam from Hawaii

Sam, you might want to send the "doubters" some Hawaiian pineapples because Juan Montoya is for real and the feasts of comeuppance could get quite prickly.

[Jimmie] Johnson had the luck with him for so long and the luck has run out. He will be lucky to make a good showing.
-- Jackie from Oklahoma

It's unfortunate that luck does play such a big role in NASCAR. All the 48 team can do is set up a great car and all Jimmie can do is drive it to the best of his ability. Still, the drop to ninth in the standings must have them in full crisis mode. I'm glad to see, though, that nobody doubts Johnson's ability behind the wheel.

When Tony [Stewart] wins the race he says everybody else is a clean racer, but when he finishes anywhere else he says they're dirty drivers.
-- Ahmed from Avon, Ind.

This is a bit of a disturbing trend that is hard to overlook. My best guess is that the competitor in Stewart needs a day or two to cool off before really talking to the media. Unfortunately, there are deadlines to be met so we get Tony Stewart raw and unvarnished.

Finally, Stewart's recent run has got me thinking about Halloween 2004. The reason? The most recent streak of three wins in a row by a single Cup driver concluded on that day. The driver? Jimmie Johnson.

If Stewart can pull off the trick at Pocono it will indeed be a treat for fans of the 20 car everywhere!

Enjoy the race.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.