2009 Ford Championship Weekend:
Jimmie Johnson will be staring history in the face as he rolls into Homestead Miami Speedway this weekend for the season-ending Ford 400. If he can finish 25th or better he become the first driver in NASCAR history to win four Championships in a row.
This is the final weekend of the 2009 NASCAR Season.
Tickets:
Speedway ticket office (305) 230-RACE
The Track:
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a one and a half mile oval that features computer-designed progressive banking in the turns. This race track easily supports side-by-side racing all the way around the track which makes for a great show all day long. There are multiple grooves to choose from and the fast, wide race track is a fitting tribute to motorsports. This is a fabulous place to decide the Championships.
Race Distance:
267 Laps = 400.5 Miles
The Big Picture:
Jimmie Johnson's dominant Phoenix performance was not what Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon were hoping to see. Johnson just needs to finish 25th or better next week in Homestead to clinch his record-setting fourth consecutive Championship.
The top twelve:
- Jimmie Johnson
- Mark Martin -108
- Jeff Gordon -169
- Kurt Busch -211
- Tony Stewart -285
- Juan Montoya -289
- Greg Biffle -321
- Denny Hamlin -352
- Ryan Newman -411
- Kasey Kahne -476
- Carl Edwards -520
- Brian Vickers -666
Storylines:
Since this is the final race of 2009 it is time to look back at the season behind us and celebrate the four-time Champion's amazing run.
2009 had some great stories starting with Matt Kenseth's rainy Daytona 500 score. This season saw three first time winners Brad Keselowski, David Reutimann and Joey Logano and some exciting racing on the track in Dover and Martinsville just to name a few.
2009 had its ups (All-Star Race) and downs (Talladega) and this weekend is a great time to recap.
Media Coverage:
TV: ABC Sunday, November 22nd, 2:30PM Eastern.
Radio: MRN and SIRIUS Satellite
Actual Race: 3:15 p.m. Eastern
Recent Events:
2008 Winner: Carl Edwards
2008 Polesitter: Jamie McMurray
Previously...:
Carl Edwards came to Homestead second in points behind Jimmie Johnson. Edwards did everything he could to maximize his points. He stunk up the show, leading the most laps and claiming the win in an effort to keep the pressure on Jimmie Johnson. Jimmie came into the race needed to finish 36th or better to clinch and he played it safe all day to ensure his third Championship.
Predictions:
It has been over ten years since a driver won the last race of the year and the Championship. If Jimmie had clinched the Championship in Phoenix he would have made a good pick this weekend. However since he still needs to play it safe to win the Cup Jimmie won't be racing for the win on Sunday.
The Ford 400 has been dominated by Roush-Fenway Fords since 2004. Greg Biffle has three wins since then and his teammates Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards each have a win as well. My pick for this Sunday is for Matt Kenseth to bookend his frustrating 2009 season with another win. Matt won the season-opening Daytona 500 and is a threat to win again this week.
For my backup pick this week I am going with a bit of a darkhorse. Kevin Harvick hasn't won a NASCAR Sprint Cup event since 2007 however he finished second here a year ago and could be ready to return to the top.
