Remember '08 season for the (good, bad) moments

Finally, the long 2008 Sprint Cup season has settled into the record books.

In a season admittedly dominated in the end by two teams and two drivers -- and in the beginning by one team and one driver -- there were many moments and achievements that stood out beyond the obvious. Here, then, is a quick look at the obvious and the quirky, the memorable and maybe the forgotten.

All hail Jimmie!
Let's get this out of the way first. Jimmie Johnson winning his third consecutive Cup championship -- becoming only the second driver ever and the first in 30 years to do so (after the legendary Cale Yarborough completed his three-peat in 1978) -- was more than memorable and historic (watch video). Despite those who would diminish his achievement by saying it came in a different era than Yarborough, or that it came at least in part because of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship format that was installed in 2004, this was monumental, ring-the-church-bells stuff. Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet team for Hendrick Motorsports, led by crew chief Chad Knaus, once again proved they are the best currently in the business. And it could be argued that the business is more competitive than ever, including when Yarborough paved the way with his own stunning accomplishment.

Close Carl
The other driver and team that was dominant the latter part of the season was Carl Edwards and the No. 99 Ford team of Roush Fenway Racing. Edwards won a series-high nine races and at least made it mildly interesting down the stretch, although Johnson's amazing consistency during the 10-race Chase made the championship outcome a virtual formality by the time the Nov. 16 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway rolled around. Edwards and the No. 99 showed that they should be able to give Johnson and the No. 48 a real run for the trophy next season. Some even figure Edwards to be listed as the top-heavy preseason favorite, but you know Johnson and Knaus are loving the thought of that; it would only provide them with extra motivation.

Coolest moment
Sorry, everybody. But for all those who thought Edwards took an unnecessary or unsafe risk on the final lap at Kansas, when he dive-bombed Johnson and bounced off the wall before settling for second, there are just as many of us who thought it was one of the coolest deals we've seen in Sprint Cup racing in a while (watch video). Look, the guy simply was trying everything he could to win the race and put the heat on Johnson in the Chase. Isn't that what the whole thing is supposed to be about?

Runner-up: Being at Michigan when Dale Earnhardt Jr. finally broke a 76-race winless streak was special. Too bad that was in June, and he didn't do much to follow it up. (Continued)