Boring Who?! Not NASCAR Cup Series Racing!

Total winners in the 2008 season: 12. Winners so far in the 2009 season (with 15 to go): 12. I’m sorry. What’s boring? You can’t possibly mean the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season!

First time winners last season: 0. First time winners so far in 2009: 3. Boring who?

Alright, folks, I think it’s time to get down to business. In the 2009 season, we have already had more competition and more unpredictability than all of 2008 last year and we still have fifteen races to go!

Ok, I’ll admit it. Sometimes the races have been dull. Clean air seems to trump all strategy and even mediocre cars have been able to pull away for several laps. However, more often than not the ending has made up for several laps of strung out racecars. Even Indianapolis, which had to have been one of the most uneventful races all season, had a thrilling finish when teammates Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin battled for the lead for the remaining 5 or so laps. Remember the Samsung 500? Though not outright dominated by one driver, Jeff Gordon led 105 of 334 laps (could have been worse!). Seeming to have it in the bag, Jeff Gordon drove to the closing laps on the way to an apparent victory. However, teammate Jimmie Johnson gave Gordon a run for his money and left the winner in question until the checkered flag had waved.

What about even the uneventful finishes that were still memorable? Think the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Mark Martin led 157 of 312 laps. Not necessarily what you’d call show-stopping. However, Mark Martin was coming off of a 97 race winless streak and many people were really hoping and praying for a victory. Every fan in the stands at PIR, and countless fans around the country, were on their feet and cheering when

Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Claritin Ford, wasn’t about to let a last-lap crash ruin his chances of finishing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway. He got out of his car and ran to cross the finish line (Ricky Bobby style). (Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Martin crossed the finish line first. Several fellow competitors stopped by victory lane that night to congratulate Martin, who is one of the most respected people in the garage area. Not many fans were complaining of a boring race after that win, because it was such a popular victory. However, do you think we would have taken such a dominating performance that well if, say, it had been Kyle Busch in that position? Probably not.

Let’s not forget the exciting races we have had! The Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway immediately comes to mind. 13 different leaders among 7 drivers for 500 laps really isn’t a bad deal (though a little low for Talladega). Restrictor plate racing brought us leaders that aren’t normally near the front of the pack such as Scott Speed, Bobby Labonte, and Dave Blaney. However, the memory of every lap except the last one is wiped away by Carl Edwards’ spectacular crash coming to the start-finish line and the checkered flag! No need to go in-depth. I’m sure you remember it. Also, we can’t forget the Toyota/SaveMart 350 at Infineon Raceway earlier this season! Normally a drag, the race was thrilling and intense from start to finish, due to the then newly-implemented double-file restarts (shootout style!). To add to the excitement, Kasey Kahne broke a 37-race winless streak and Richard Petty was able to visit victory lane for the first time in a decade.

Are you noticing all of the winless streaks being broken as well?

Seriously, the racing hasn’t been that bad, has it? I’m sure if you go through every single race this season you can find something exciting and fun that happened between the green and checkered flag (even the rain shortened/delayed races!). There is almost always something memorable that comes out of every weekend. I can’t wait to see what happens this weekend!

Godspeed and have a great week!