The "Luck" of Jimmie Johnson - A Response to Kevin Harvick and a "Horseshoe" in the posterior

Good gracious ... Kevin Harvick is the classic "happy" self he has always been. If he can't find something good about which to complain, he can't say anything good at all. Harvick, seriously, get over yourself when it comes to your "relationship" to Jimmie Johnson. Face facts - he's better than you are. You got lucky back in 2001, lest you forget, in winning in someone else's car (um, who could that be?!?) ... beating somebody in Atlanta named Jeff Gordon using a white 29 car ... but we fail to remember only 9 short years later that car belonged to Richard Childress and "the man" himself would have been driving it if you didn't get to take his place. Knock it off with the crap about being lucky ... you don't even know how lucky you were in 2001 to be the beneficiary of Dale Earnhardt's misfortune.

Nobody in NASCAR gets the chance to rest on their laurels forever, and nobody can be lucky for seven years in a row! Geesh, I am a Tony Stewart fan, I've been a NASCAR fan for the past two decades, I grew up loving Dale Earnhardt, and I love the racing I have seen so far in 2010. My god, 2009 was a snoozefest ... and, yes, seeing Jimmie Johnson win ad nauseum doesn't help. Do I begrudge his success? Are you crazy? Hendrick Motorsports is the product of team chemistry and exchange of ideas. Rick Hendrick himself saved the JJ-Chad Knaus dynasty only a few short years ago when it looked like it was going to fall apart.

The reality is this: luck is the result of good preparation. Chad Knaus is the best crew chief in NASCAR, period. Anybody who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves. The uncanny resemblance of Johnson-Knaus to Gordon-Evernham is just as obvious to me now as it was in 2002. Johnson was given - yes, given - Jeff Gordon's equipment heading into the 2002 season the YEAR AFTER Gordon himself won his last championship. Why? Hendrick and Gordon wanted Johnson to have every chance to succeed for sponsor Lowe's ... and, guess what, he has more than exceeded anybody's expectations. The last non-Johnson championship, if any fan still remembers back that far, was Tony Stewart in 2005. Oh, by the way, the *least* legitimate champion of the Chase era is still the first one - Kurt Busch, 2004. Johnson could have won that year (if not his teammate Gordon, who perpetually is stuck on his now very unlucky four titles).

JJ has four titles, three to me for this man are undisputably his. Don't play the revisionist history game of "well, [fill-in-the-blank] should have won in [this year] if not for the [expletive] Chase" ... JJ earned what he did playing by the rules he was given. As they like to say ... Don't hate the driver, hate the game. Gag all over Brian France if you like, but the only two guys other than Johnson in the past few seasons who had any legitimate shot to win an outright title if not for the Chase were Jeff Gordon (who easily would have six or seven titles by now ... um, who got "hosed" by the Chase changes again?) and, possibly, Carl Edwards (which, in hindsight, seems debatable from two seasons ago). Even Tony's "regular season" win last year (2009) wasn't necessarily a given into the post-season final ten. JJ outraced him and won more times.

Who deserves last year's title - the guy with more wins or the guy who was better over the whole year (which was mathematically Johnson TOO)? We wouldn't have a Chase if Matt Kenseth hadn't cruised to the 2003 title on the merits of one lone win. Anybody remember far enough back to hearken a guy named Benny Parsons who did the same thing three decades earlier?


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NASCAR News and Notes (St. Patrick's Day Edition - March 17, 2009)

This is a quick post to let everyone know that your "track reporter" is heading to Bristol on Friday (probably arriving at the track by mid-afternoon), and I will file my report as soon as I return home on Monday, March 23rd.

While I typically try to make my NASCAR Report more "observational" and less "subjective", this entry will be very subjective in nature. I have found significant fault with the start of the 2009 season, mostly because it has been filled with boring racing, bad (preventable) accidents, and numerous mistakes on pit road that make me wonder if these guys are truly the best drivers in auto racing. I am impressed that a true professional like Jeff Gordon has reemerged to take the top spot in the standings ... and not at all surprised to see him rebound from a very disappointing 2008 season in doing so. Whether we still see him at the top at season's end remains to be seen. I am also VERY confident in the Chase prospects of guys like Matt Kenseth (who hasn't missed one yet) and Tony Stewart, who has shown a great ability in running strong even with a new team.

There are a few drivers who haven't exactly impressed so far. Dale Earnhardt Jr. would probably be number one on the short list. His Daytona accident was mind-numbing, his pit road mistakes have been inexcusable, and his on-track performance has been mediocre at best. While I think he can still make the Chase and rebound with some great races ahead (including this weekend at Bristol), he has dug himself an gaping hole to begin the season. The worst performance with the highest expectations is easily ... Mark Martin. Coming into a seat that so many claimed Casey Mears was ruining seems to be a slanderous remark at this stage of the game. Martin is the drivers' driver without a doubt, and most guys look up (figuratively, not literally) to the diminuitive driver from Arkansas. Mark will be the first to admit this "comeback" is looking worse and worse with every bad race so far. Wonder what might have been had he run the whole season two years ago ... I do. Speaking of Mears, he isn't exactly lighting the world on fire ... but expectations for him are pretty low anyway. Jeff Burton, on the other hand, is struggling out of the gate, but I truly see him rebounding before this is over. He is too good to be outside looking in by September ... but Bristol will be a test for the cagey veteran.

Bristol will rock the standings like no other race can. The "demolition derby" as many drivers view it will commence on Sunday afternoon, and a number of the aforementioned drivers get their last Top 35 exemption with this race. By Sunday night, I anticipate some positions will have changed ... and some will stay the same. Here are some "fearless predictions" for Sunday's race in the "bullring" of Bristol:

Jeff Gordon - statistically speaking, it's time to break the winless streak. I saw him do it in August 2002, and I think he just might do it again. The #24 team is cruising on all cylinders in the early going ... and this is one of his best.

Kurt Busch - Wow, is all I can say after his dominating Atlanta win. I guess we all forgot that the 2004 champion was still racing after younger brother Kyle decided to go crazy with victories in 2008. His switch from Roush Racing to Penske Motorsports took some "growing pains" to say the least ... but Bristol is like an "old friend" to the elder Busch brother. I've seen him win here twice before (in 2003), when he swept the Spring and Fall races ... don't be surprised to see him go back-to-back in 2009.

Matt Kenseth - The driver from Wisconsin started off so well (two straight victories) that most of us were shocked and awed. He hasn't really left our consciousness yet, but Atlanta (and Las Vegas' disaster before it) brought him back to Earth a bit. Kenseth is still dangerous, particularly at this track, where Roush Racing has been dominant in recent years.

Carl Edwards - The two-time defending champion of the August race, "Cousin Carl" still hasn't notched a win in the March Bristol clash. Could this be his first win of 2009? Odds are in his favor for a good finish, if not the victory itself.

Best of the rest ... Dale Earnhardt Jr. (loves Bristol ... needs a good showing), Jeff Burton (won here a year ago ... ditto the thought for Junior), Kevin Harvick (solid running in the early going if not spectacular), and Kyle Busch (he's the favorite a lot these days)

"Worst" of what's left ... Jimmie Johnson - let's be realistic ... this just isn't his track (yet, anyway); Joey Logano - Welcome to the big leagues, kid ... the learning curve is steeper than you probably expected; Ryan Newman - I hope the Indiana native has figured out how to drive his new ride ... or he'll be qualifying on time in Martinsville for sure.

It's Bristol, baby! Racin' the way it was meant to be ...

Early Season NASCAR Headlines

Matt Kenseth - (1) Back on top ... Reunion with spotter the key to return?
- (2) Is a championship in play? Is another Roush title imminent?

Jeff Gordon - (1) Is the winless streak destined to end? Possibly by today (Las Vegas)?
- (2) Has fatherhood mellowed the California "Kid" who has to reflect on an excellent career to date?

Jimmie Johnson - Remember "three-peat"? Where is he hanging out after two races? Probably right where he wants to be ... the "underdog" again ...

Tony Stewart - (1) This ownership thing isn't so difficult ... when you're the driver, too
- (2) Can Stewart-Haas fix the #39 team with Ryan Newman?

David Ragan - Growing pains? Accident in Nationwide race leaves some doubts for Sunday's Cup battle ...

The Brothers Busch (Kyle, Kurt) - Is the "hometown track" an advantage ... or disadvantage ... while driving in Las Vegas?

Joey Logano - Is he really "sliced bread" ... or are the expectations just unrealistically high (i.e. he's "toast" before he gets a legitimate shot)? [Casey Atwood anyone? Even Reed Sorenson fits in this camp to an extent ...]

Any other early headlines, folks? If you are reading the Rentz Racing Report for the first time (or a repeat visitor), we value your feedback and storyline input. Leave your comments and feedback following the links provided. Thanks!

Election Day 2008: Decision Time ... in Many Ways

Happy Election Day, America!

For those who have already fulfilled their civic duty (either at the polling place earlier today or via absentee ballot prior to Election Day), I commend you for exercising your constitutional right to vote. I, myself, will be voting later this afternoon (waiting to go with my wife to our polling place), so I will get my "I Voted Today" sticker as well.

As my previous post alluded, I felt the concluding sports seasons and the timing of the year (heading into winter) would not compel to write about much of anything. Then, the last few days happened to change my mind just a little bit. Yes, baseball is definitely over ... that one I know for sure. I am curious to have some "hot stove league" talk about my Reds as possible trades / acquisitions might develop, but it's a little premature to talk that now. Also, yes, golf is about to be officially over for 2008 this week, but, realistically, I wasn't going to be watching intently until the Masters in the Spring. The one other season I mentioned - NASCAR - is the one that might actually not be over yet ... much to my surprise.

Heading into Texas last weekend, Jimmie Johnson looked like the odds-on favorite to win his third consecutive title, tying a record held only by Cale Yarborough in NASCAR history. A funny thing happened at Texas, though, as Carl Edwards, now Johnson's closest pursuer, nearly cut the pre-race lead in half by winning the race and leading the most laps (10 bonus points). Johnson, meanwhile, finished a relatively distant (by his standards) 15th place at a track where he had won once previously, finished top-5 five times, and notched eight top-10 finishes in only 10 previous attempts. His average finish was an 8.5, making Texas one of his better tracks. An interesting statistic that I saw the ABC crew flash during the race was that the previous fall Texas race winners had won at Atlanta the week before in each of the last three seasons (Edwards did it previously in 2005, Tony Stewart in 2006 and Johnson in 2007). History was certainly on Edwards' side. While the lead is still comfortably in Jimmie Johnson's hands, Carl Edwards has at least made the series worth watching for another week (and possibly two).

I said I had given up on the NFL ... generally speaking, that hasn't really changed. I do follow the games for fantasy purposes (where I am having pretty good seasons with the pair of teams I have over on Yahoo), but I actually saw my home team win a game for the first time this season. The now 1-8 Bengals unremarkably won a 21-19 game against the Jaguars, fortunately holding off a late rally by the visiting team which could have tied the game and sent it to overtime. Now, the only winless NFL team is the hapless squad in Detroit, where they have looked like potential victors the past couple of weeks only to snatch defeat from the hands of victory. The Bengals still don't have a season worth watching, particularly with Carson Palmer's injury (which I'm still surprised they haven't treated surgically at this stage if it makes him better for next season). I guess I'll check back on the NFL by the Playoffs, anyway.

How about Texas Tech, pulling off the upset on #1 Texas? Of course, having the home-field advantage looked to be a very good thing, but I'm not sure I understand, or believe, that Tech deserved to jump all the way to #2 ... OR that Texas is now ranked below USC in the USA Today / Coaches poll in 7th place? But, the BCS match-up would now feature two undefeated teams (Alabama and Tech) while leaving another (Penn State) out in the cold. Odds are that at least one of those three teams will get a loss by season's end, but what if they don't? Once again, the playoff concept will be discussed (and should be, in my opinion) where fairness goes out the window.

I don't typically write about the NBA, particularly in the early season, because I just don't find the early part of the pro season compelling. However, when news broke yesterday that the team I do follow - the Detroit Pistons - traded for Allen Iverson from the Denver Nuggets in return for Chauncey Billups (former Finals MVP), Antonio McDyess, and Cheikh Samb. Do I believe Iverson, former league MVP, is worth three other players? Yes and no. No, because I believe Billups was a top-notch contributor and McDyess a key bench / rotational cog. Yes, because he is the "marquee" name player, who certainly still has the skills to play the game and will help be a floor leader along with rising star Richard Hamilton and established presence Rasheed Wallace. A bigger YES, if the bigger strategy of GM Joe Dumars (a former star in his own right) is to make the team "in play" for the King himself, LeBron James. Do I think James wants Detroit as his stage? Probably not ... BUT, if the team is a winner, and the New York market area teams (the Knicks and loosely the Nets) are his only other real target, would he pick the known versus the unknown? Only time will tell on this one ...

I'll close like I started ... Go out and VOTE if you haven't already.