| Jimmie Johnson Wins First Championship | | | | Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway Recap |
| The math was easy. All he had to do was finish | | | | Jimmie Johnson stole the show at Homestead in |
| 12th or better, and the championship would be his. | | | | yesterday's Ford 400. While the 2006 NASCAR |
| That's what everyone was telling Jimmie Johnson | | | | Nextel Cup Champion never lead a lap and ran |
| leading up to the Ford 400 yesterday at | | | | outside the top for most the day, he took care |
| Homestead-Miami Speedway. That sounds easy | | | | of business by finishing 9th to win his first |
| to a team that has averaged a top 2 finish over | | | | championship. |
| the past 5 races and a top 10 finish throughout | | | | While Jimmie Johnson was the highlight at |
| the entire 2006 season. However, if you think the | | | | Homestead, the other Chase drivers were |
| championship was a lock for Jimmie going into the | | | | gunning with nothing to lose. See how the others |
| Ford 400, think again. | | | | faired below: |
| Throughout the Ford 400, Jimmie calmly | | | | 1. (leader) Jimmie Johnson finished 9th and |
| overcame a number of obstacles; a piece of | | | | secured his first championship. Johnson overcame |
| debris flying through his grill, near misses on 2 | | | | several obstacles including a piece of debris that |
| wrecks, and a hard charging Matt Kenseth looking | | | | flew up from the track and through his grill on his |
| to win his second championship; to post the ninth | | | | way to his 24th top ten finish of the year. |
| place finish that earned him his first championship. | | | | 2. (- 56 points) Matt Kenseth's night was good, |
| The poise that Johnson showed in the Ford 400 is | | | | but not good enough. The former champion |
| indicative of how much he has mentally matured | | | | finished in 6th place, but his championship hopes |
| as a driver. | | | | were undermined by Johnson's 9th place finish. |
| Jimmie displayed a high level of mental toughness | | | | 3. (-68 points) Denny Hamlin finished his rookie |
| through the last 10 races of the season. After | | | | season strong by finishing 3rd at Homestead. The |
| starting the Chase with three consecutive poor | | | | 3rd place finish secured him a 3rd place finish in |
| finishes, Johnson found himself in a 165 point | | | | the championship. His 2006 season was strikingly |
| deficit that he was desperate to recover from. In | | | | similar to Carl Edwards' rookie year. Let's hope |
| previous years, Johnson would have crumbled | | | | Denny fairs better in his sophomore year that |
| from the pressure. However, in 2006, it seems | | | | Carl did. |
| Johnson has found himself. | | | | 4. (-78 points) Kevin Harvick rang up a strong 5th |
| Over the past four seasons, the #48 Lowe's | | | | place finish in the Ford 400. The 2006 Busch |
| team has been the team to beat. They have | | | | Series Champion tried to pull off a sweep of |
| finished 2nd and 5th twice in the championship | | | | NASCAR's 2 top series, but came up just short. |
| standings. That leaves the rest of us to ponder | | | | 5. (-147 points) Dale Earnhardt Jr's championship |
| how many championships Jimmie Johnson can win | | | | bid was nixed with a 19th place finish at |
| now that he has finally matured into a champion! | | | | Homestead. Ever the fan favorite, Earnhardt's |
| Montoya off to Rocky Start in NASCAR! | | | | hopes were tarnished when he qualified 14th, and |
| Juan Pablo Montoya's entrance into NASCAR's | | | | never made it to the front. |
| elite Nextel Cup Series at the Ford 400 at the | | | | 6. (-219 points) Jeff Gordon was already |
| Homestead-Miami Speedway was largely | | | | mathematically eliminated from the championship |
| overshadowed by the story of Jimmie Johnson's | | | | heading into the Ford 400. However, we still |
| quest for his first championship. The former | | | | expected a strong showing just out of pride. The |
| Formula One driver couldn't have asked for a | | | | four time champion has tons of pride, but it didn't |
| better situation to make his first start. Coming | | | | show on Sunday. He finished 24th after running in |
| from the technologically superior yet competition | | | | the 30's for most of the day. |
| light F1 circuit to the highly competitive world of | | | | 7. (-247 points) Jeff Burton started 5th, but |
| NASCAR would prove challenging, and the lack of | | | | finished 14th. There is no doubt that Burton has |
| press helped take off any additional pressure. | | | | helped turn Richard Childress Racing around in |
| After qualifying 29th in the Ford 400, Juan spent | | | | 2006. Expect big things from him in 2007. |
| most of his day nestled back in the mid 20's. | | | | 8. (-292 points) Kasey Kahne jumped a spot in |
| After climbing his way up to 21st position, | | | | the standings by finish 4th at Homestead. It |
| Montoya was taken out in a wreck with Ryan | | | | appeared that Kahne would win his 7th race of |
| Newman. From all appearances, Newman | | | | the year after leading for much of the race. But |
| intentionally wrecked Montoya in retaliation for a | | | | in the chaotic closing laps, Kahne was shuffled |
| previous incident where the two drivers collided | | | | back and could never recover. |
| sending Newman spinning out of control. | | | | 9. (-307 points) Mark Martin finished his career at |
| Whether the wreck was intentional or not, Juan | | | | Roush Racing yesterday. One of NASCAR's |
| got his first real taste of the high speed, fender | | | | longest serving veterans finished in 18th place. |
| banging action NASCAR provides. Next season, | | | | 10. (-448 points) Kyle Busch started the race |
| Juan will run every race for Chip Ganassi in the | | | | strong, but finished poorly in 38th. The poor |
| Nextel Cup Series. There is no doubt Juan will | | | | showing in the final 10 races of the season can't |
| provide tons of excitement and credibility to the | | | | take away from his strong performances in the |
| sport of NASCAR. However, expect him to | | | | first 26 races. Expect Kyle to come out strong in |
| wreck a number of cars along the way. | | | | 2007. |