Better late than never…same old stuff…different track.  I really thought Jeff was going to give Jimmie a run in the last couple of races, but alas…it looks like the Jimmie will be crowned champion once again.  I make no bones about the fact that I don’t like Jimmie Johnson, but I have to raise by glass to him this season.  He has dominated the season like no one else really has well…since his teammate Jeff did it.  But watch out Jimmie…we are coming for you next year!

The 2007 season will be over as of Sunday.  This has been somewhat of a crazy year for all of fans.  The COT, Junior, cheating, HMS domination, etc.  I for one am tired and I will take the off season to rest up for the 2008 season.   Miami will be the end of some relationships.  The biggest one will be Dale Earnhardt Jr.  Dale will race his final race in the #8 Budweiser car for his father’s company.  Next year he will be with team HMS.  This will also be the last time we see Mark Martin in the #01 car.  He will split time next year in the #8 car for DEI.  Kyle Busch will vacate HMS (to make room for Dale) to Joe Gibbs racing and the #18.  I for one am looking forward to the new addition to JGR.  I have on my blog not been very kind to Kyle, but I have given him on honest since he announced he was headed over to be teammates with Tony.  I have to admit this boy can drive and I really don’t care if he speaks his mind.  I am a Tony fan after all.  We say good-bye once again to Ricky Rudd as he plans to retire after this season.  Dale J. will also retire next year after running his 5-6 races next year.  I would like to see him in the broadcast booth.  For all those other drivers and sponsors moving on to bigger and better opportuinites, we will miss you and come back and see us some time.  And last, but certainly not least we will say goodbye to the current car and HELLO to the COT full time next year. 

I am looking forward to the Truck race.  I don’t know who I want to win, but you know it is going to come down to the last laps if the last few races are indication of how this thing will turn out.

My hopes for the off season…I hope NASCAR looks at the top 35 rule and perhaps tweaking the tire for the COT.  I am hoping the open wheelers are given a fair shake in NASCAR.  A couple of them are pretty good drivers, they didn’t get where they are by being mediocre.  If history proves, open wheelers can succeed in NASCAR.  I believe Tony started out as an open wheeler and I think he’s been pretty succesful.  I hope we don’t beat Dale’s success or failures with HMS to death.  No matter what Mr. Hendrick does, it will get criticized for it.  Give them a chance to prove what he can do for Junior.

As for my off season…I plan to hang out with friends and family I have neglected over the past 9 months.  And perhaps spend some quality time with Postman besides on Sundays.  I will probably be working on our adoption process–good thing most of what I need to get done is during the off season. 

As mentioned in an earlier posting last week, I will have my 2nd annual “Not-So Championship” Awards.  I am still debating who will be crowned this years “Not-So Champion”.  If you have any thoughts or suggestions, let me know.  This year’s race has been a close one.

Have a good one.