November 17th - November 21st, 2008
Thursday: _Editor's Note: This column has been postponed due to technical issues for Matt McLaughlin._ NASCAR's testing ban for 2009 has race teams and fans up in arms. Matt McLaughlin Mouths Off and puts the ban under the microscope, dissecting the pros and cons of cutting costs in this way.
Friday: Jimmie Johnson has officially joined NASCAR's elite in the history books; but how will his chapter be written? Amy Henderson gives her take on Johnson's place in history in Holding a Pretty Wheel.
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1.868
Jimmie Johnson’s margin of victory over Carl Edwards Sunday night. (in seconds)
2nd
Career Cup victory and sixth Top 10 finish at California Speedway for Sharp Aquos 500 winner Jimmie Johnson.
3
Cars dropped to the rear of the field prior to the start of Sunday’s race.
(No. 01 – Aric Almirola and No. 42 – Juan Pablo Montoya for engine changes; No. 96 – Tony Raines for a transmission change)
3
Number of cars that failed to make the starting field at California, the smallest DNQ list of the 2007 Nextel Cup season.
(No. 4 – Ward Burton; No. 10 – Scott Riggs; No. 44 – Dale Jarrett)
3 hours, 48 minutes, 8 seconds
Time it took to complete the Sharp Aquos 500.
4
Number of times Jimmie Johnson led the race on Sunday.
5
Victories and 15 Top 10 finishes this season for California winner Jimmie Johnson, making him the top seed for this year’s Chase for the Championship if the season ended today.
10
Career Bud poles for Kurt Busch after taking the top starting spot in the Sharp Aquos 500, with a lap time of 39.474 seconds and a speed of 182.399 mph.
11th
Bobby Labonte’s finishing position Sunday, his seventh Top 15 finish of the season.
11
Caution flags for a total of 43 laps at California.
11
Top 10 finishes this season for Sharp Aquos 500 runner-up Carl Edwards.
12th
David Ragan’s finishing position Sunday, earning him Rookie of the Race honors for the 10th time this season.
18th
A.J. Allmendinger’s finishing position in the Sharp Aquos 500, a career best for the Nextel Cup rookie.
23
Penalties handed down by NASCAR Sunday night during the running of the Nextel Cup race.
28
Career Nextel Cup wins for Jimmie Johnson in 208 starts.
29
Positions gained by Matt Kenseth in the Sharp Aquos 500 to win the USG Improving the Finish Award.
30
Lead changes among 16 drivers Sunday night.
32nd
The lowest position Kevin Harvick can finish next weekend in Richmond to still clinch a spot in the Chase.
36th
The lowest position Kurt Busch can finish next weekend in Richmond to still clinch a spot in the Chase.
36
Cars running at the end of the race at California; 17 of those were on the lead lap.
43rd
Joe Nemechek’s finishing position in his first start with the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet. He completed just nine laps before retiring due to a blown engine.
84
Laps led by Sharp Aquos 500 winner Jimmie Johnson.
97
Laps led by Johnson’s Hendrick teammate Kyle Busch on Sunday, the most of any driver.
129
Amount of points Dale Earnhardt, Jr. must gain on Kevin Harvick next week at Richmond in order to clinch a spot in the Chase.
131.502
Average race speed (in mph).
142
Amount of points Dale Earnhardt, Jr. must gain on Kurt Busch next week at Richmond in order to clinch a spot in the Chase.
160
Career Cup wins for Rick Hendrick after Jimmie Johnson’s trip to Victory Lane on Sunday night.
250
Laps in the Sharp Aquos 500, equaling 500 miles.
317
Points that Jeff Gordon leads Tony Stewart by in the Nextel Cup driver standings. The top eight (Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Burton, and Kyle Busch) have clinched a spot in the Chase. Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex, Jr. only need to start their engines at Richmond to clinch a Chase berth.
900
Career Cup starts for Ricky Rudd, including 788 races consecutively. Rudd made his Cup debut driving for Bill Champion at Rockingham on March 2nd, 1975 at the age of 18; he started the Carolina 500 at Rockingham from the 26th starting position and finished the afternoon in 11th place.
85,000
Estimated crowd in attendance at California on Sunday night.
$289,411
Jimmie Johnson’s purse for winning the Sharp Aquos 500.
$6,097,134
Total purse for the Sharp Aquos 500.
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