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Competition under hood results in better product (cont'd)

History made in Atlanta
After winning seven of the first 10 races on the season, I busted out my calculator and pumped out a column earlier this season declaring it possible for Hendrick Motorsports to actually break the modern NASCAR record for winning percentage by an owner in a single season.

Well, lo and behold, the Hendrick boys made it happen in Atlanta. Regardless of what happens the rest of the year this team has set a new mark for team excellence that, as we move forward, will be the standard for all other teams to be judged by.

Below are the numbers for the pacesetters of the past and the stats Hendrick has put up so far this year. The percentage as it stands for the Hendrick team is a bit eerie. Is that number trying to tell us something?

Chasing History

Highest winning percentage in a single season by one team (modern era)

Team	Year	Wins/Races	Percentage

Hendrick Motorsports	2007	16/33	48.48%
Petty Enterprises	1975	13/30	43.3%
Hendrick Motorsports	1998	14/33	42.4%
Roush Racing	2005	15/36	41.7%

The Real Champion
My guess is that this will be clinched by next week and we can put this pet project to bed, but for now I'll continue posting the numbers. As a housekeeping item -- yes, I'm aware that Jeff Gordon would have won the 2004 championship were it not for the Chase. Hopefully this saves us a few dozen e-mails.

The Real Champion

Points if the Chase did not exist

Pos.	+/-	Driver	Points	Behind	Starts	Poles	Wins	Top-5	Top-10	Winnings

1.	--	Jeff Gordon	5010	Leader	33	7	6	20	27	6,658,090
2.	--	Jimmie Johnson	4571	-439	33	3	8	18	21	6,757,460
3.	--	Tony Stewart	4386	-624	33	0	3	10	22	5,968,520
4.	+1	Carl Edwards	4317	-693	33	0	3	10	14	4,282,160
5.	+1	Clint Bowyer	4269	-741	33	2	1	5	17	3,950,690
6.	-2	Denny Hamlin	4257	-753	33	1	1	11	17	4,535,260
7.	+1	Matt Kenseth	4173	-837	33	0	1	10	19	5,575,360
8.	-1	Kyle Busch	4165	-845	33	0	1	10	18	4,282,090
9.	--	Jeff Burton	4119	-891	33	0	1	9	15	5,588,720
10.	--	Kevin Harvick	3954	-1056	33	0	1	4	13	7,075,280
11.	--	Kurt Busch	3922	-1088	33	1	2	5	12	4,748,920
12.	--	Martin Truex Jr.	3838	-1172	33	0	1	6	11	4,476,020

As time winds down in the Chase just nine points separate the top two drivers on the season, and frankly, in the sport. What other fate could this season have had in the end? Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon -- two teammates, two superstars, and two friends -- dueling for just one title.

My money (figuratively, of course) is on Johnson, but if the 48 team does pull this off, how can Jeff Gordon feel anything other than the victim of high thievery?

Enjoy the race.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.