Top Stories in NASCAR in 2008

NASCAR's Number 1 story for 2008 is Jimmie Johnson and his third straight Sprint Cup Title. He joins Cale Yarborough from the 1976 to 1978 seasons as the only drivers to win three straight NASCAR Cup titles in NASCAR's history. That's great company. Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports deserves this honor. I take nothing away from what Carl Edwards did, but Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus made an unbeatable team. The #48 Lowes Team won 7 races, including 3 races in the 10 race Chase.

Jimmie Johnson also gave Chevrolet another Manufacturers Title in Sprint Cup with his win at Phoenix. That brings their total to 32 Manufacturers Titles in Cup Racing. Chevrolet posted 11 wins in 2008 to take the title. If kept intact, this team could go on to win a forth straight, but will have plenty of competition in 2009.

The Number 2 Story is Carl Edwards. He finished second in both the Sprint Cup Series and the Nationwide Series Championships. He stayed close right down to the last lap of both races at Homestead, winning both races at Homestead. But he lost the Sprint Cup Title by 69 points to Jimmie Johnson, and he lost the Nationwide Series title by 21 points to Clint Bowyer. Edwards will again run for the Nationwide Series title in 2009. Roush Fenway Racing definitely gave Carl the right equipment.

The Number 3 Story is Kyle Busch, winning in all three series of NASCAR in Toyota's. The darkside of this story is that Joe Gibbs Racing was sanctioned on their 18 and 20 cars in the Nationwide Series for having a magnet placed behind the gas pedal, limiting a NASCAR test and not giving the cars full testing potential. I gave this story #3, but it should have an asterisk next to each win that JGR had. I don't think we'll ever know if any other wins by the JGR equipment, including those of the Nationwide #32 car or the Craftsman Truck Series #51 Truck, weren't compromised in any way. Kyle Busch had 21 total wins, 8 in Sprint Cup, 10 in Nationwide, and 3 in Craftsman Truck. Those wins include his rides in the 32 Nationwide car and the 51 Craftsman Truck.

Many other stories graced the news about NASCAR. Too many to list, but some have real significance for 2009. Tony Stewart purchased part of Haas CNC Racing to become Stewart Haas Racing. He is in the process of rebuilding the two car team, including hiring Ryan Newman to drive his second car and signed US Army away from DEI. He also signed Office Depot away from Roush Fenway Racing for himself. He'll also be reunited with Chevrolet, after earning one win for Toyota at Talladega.

Dale Earnhardt Jr completed his first year at Hendrick Motorsports with one win at Michigan. He made the Chase, but finished 12th in points. Earlier this year I wrote that Tony Eury Jr needed to follow what the 48 team did. Well, the 48 team won the title and the 88 team finished 12th. I think it could have helped and wouldn't have hurt. Think about it for next year.

Dale Earnhardt Inc did it again. Now they've merged with Ganassi Racing. The new name will be Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Dale Sr is rolling over in his grave. To have his company merged with a company famous for Indy Car wins, instead of NASCAR wins, even though they have a few, is crazy. DEI also lost many sponsors. US Army left for Stewart Haas Racing. Paul Menard took his fathers sponsorship and left for Yates Racing. And who can forget loosing Junior to Hendrick at the end of last year, along with Budweiser to Gillett Evernham and Kasey Kahne. Good luck to them. The museum is now open.

NASCAR did there usual rule changes by cancelling testing. Absolutely no testing at any tracks that NASCAR races run at, including Cup, Nationwide, Trucks, and Camping World East and West. So what. Well they'll find something. Maybe Rockingham or Texas World Speedway. New Jersey also has plans to build an oval. Rockingham is building a half mile like Martinsville. Road Courses are no problem, like Virginia International Speedway. If they want to test, they will.

So good luck to all NASCAR fans. With the economy the way it is, I hope ticket prices don't go up, because they'll be more empty seats in 2009 than what was seen this year.