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Week of 12/18/05
Happy Holidays
From everyone here at The Final Lap, and United Stations Radio Networks.
Have a Happy Holidays, and a great 2006!
December 24, 2005
Driver Review: Mark Martin
#4 Mark Martin
Our review of the top 10 drivers continues, and at #4, from Batesville Arkansas, driver of the #6 Ford, Mark Martin. This was supposed to be Mark's final year of full time competition, but circumstances will have Mark back in the car next year even after his "Salute to you tour." Fans and tracks alike honored Mark all season long, where he ran up front with these impressive stats: 12 top 5's, 19 top 10's, 1 win, and only 2 DNF's all season. Martin takes home $7.7 million in winnings for a career total of close to $54 million.
Mark's only win of the season came at Kansas Speedway where he led 139 of 267 laps. That is a dominating performance.
Mark Martin is the 4th place driver for the 2005 season
Carl Edwards is next as we Recap The Top 10 Drivers of 2005 December 24, 2005
Driver Review: Jimmie Johnson
#5 Jimmie Johnson
Our review of the top 10 drivers continues, and at #5, from El Cajon California, driver of the #48 Lowes Chevrolet, Jimmie Johnson. He led the point standings for much of the start of the season until Tony Stewart caught fire, but stayed close throughout 2005. Jimmie's stats are amazing with 13 top 5's, 22 top 10's, 4 wins, 1 poll, but 5 DNF's hurt his chances at the Championship including at the season ending race at Homestead-Miami. Johnson's bank account saw an $8.3 million deposit in winnings as well.
The #48 crew saw success early with a win in Las Vegas, where they led 107 laps.
Two of Jimmie's wins include a season sweep of Lowes Motor Speedway. At the first race, remember the battle he had to the line with Bobby Labonte? At the second Charlotte race, Johnson was the sole survivor amongst the wreck fest.
Jimmie Johnson is the 5th place driver for the 2005 season
Mark Martin is next as we Recap The Top 10 Drivers of 2005 December 24, 2005
Driver Review: Ryan Newman
#6 Ryan Newman
Our review of the top 10 drivers continues, and at #6, from South Bend Indiana, driver of the #12 Alltel Dodge, Ryan Newman. The 'Rocketman' did some serious damage on poll days in 2005, rackin' up 8 total, it seemed every time you checked the race lineups, Ryan was starting top 10, or in the 'P1' spot. Checking Ryan's stats for the year, he had 8 top 5's, 16 top 10's, and 3 DNF's, led 391 laps, and took home $7.2 million in winnings.
At the first Michigan race, Ryan was happy to grab his first poll at that track on Fathers Day weekend.
His only win of 2005 came at New Hampshire which just so happened to be the first race in the Chase for the Championship.
Ryan Newman is the 6th place driver for the 2005 season
Jimmie Johnson is next as we Recap The Top 10 Drivers of 2005 December 20, 2005
Driver Review: Matt Kenseth
#7 Matt Kenseth
Our review of the top 10 drivers continues, and at #7, from Cambridge Wisconsin, driver of the #17 Dewalt Power Tools Ford, Matt Kenseth. The start of the 2005 season saw Matt having no shot at the Chase for the Championship with only 1 top 10 in the first 12 races. The he seemingly came from nowhere midseason and even grabbed his only win at Bristol just 2 races before the chase...good timing. Taking a look at Matt's stats, 12 top 5's, 17 top 10's, 2 polls, 1 win, and about $7 million winnings heading toward his bank account.
His only win of 2005 came at the second Bristol race where he absolutely dominated the race leading 415 of 500 laps, and he wins from the poll.
Matt Kenseth is the 7th place driver for the 2005 season
Ryan Newman is next as we Recap The Top 10 Drivers of 2005 December 20, 2005
'Dega to get repaved for 2nd race
Talladega Superspeedway is getting it's first new racing surface since 1979. The repaving will begin after the first 'Dega race of the season, and will be ready in time for the second race in the Chase of 2006. They are actually moving a portable asphalt plant out to the track this month to start getting ready for the massive change. A new surface is certainly a curve-ball to teams for an already chaotic track. December 18, 2005
Judge says Kentucky suit stays in the state
A federal judge has ruled that Kentucky Speedway's lawsuit with NASCAR will be heard in their home state rather than in Florida. The $400 million suit is looking to force NASCAR to award the track a Nextel Cup race. Remember the last time this happened with a track: Texas Motorspeedway, the track won and was given a race. December 18, 2005
Stewart drives Tahoe off the line
New champion Tony Stewart recently paid a visit to the GM Arlington Assembly plant where the 2007 Tahoe is being built. Tony got a tour of the plant, met with employees, and drove a freshly made Tahoe off the line. That SUV will be used next year for promotional events, and eventually auctioned off for charity. December 18, 2005
Driver Review: Rusty Wallace
#8 Rusty Wallace
Our review of the top 10 drivers continues, and at #8, from St. Louis Missouri, driver of the #2 Miller Light Dodge Rusty Wallace. Tracks and fans honored Rusty all year long for his "Last Call" tour as we see a legend retire from full-time racing in NASCAR's top division. Wallace went winless in 2005, but amazing consistency landed him in the Chase, and here at #8. Check out these stats for the season: 8 top 5's, 17 top 10's and no DNF's for a total of just over $6 million in winnings and a grand career total of $49,741,000.
His best finish of the year, came at the second race at Pocono, where he finished 2nd. At Dover later in the year, Rusty grabbed a solid 3rd place finish.
?Rusty Wallace is the 8th place driver for the 2005 season
Matt Kenseth is next as we Recap The Top 10 Drivers of 2005 December 18, 2005
Driver Review: Jeremy Mayfield
#9 Jeremy Mayfield
Our review of the top 10 drivers continues, and at #9, from Owensboro Kentucky, driver of the #19 Dodge Dealers Dodge Jeremy Mayfield. For the second year in a row, Jeremy has made The Chase for the Championship. Let's run down Mayfields stats for 2005: He had 1 win, 4 top 5's, 9 Top 10's and only 1 DNF. He led 151 laps over 12 races with a grand total of $5.7 million in winnings.
His only win of 2005 came at the second Michigan race, which ended up being a fuel mileage gamble that paid off big, and the 19 team visited victory lane.
Looking toward the Chase, Jeremy offered his predictions, and what his team needed to do to finish up front in the points standings. Jeremy said consistancy was the key to unseating Tony Stewart from the top spot.
Jeremy wasn't able to back that up finishing 20th or worse with only 2 top 10's in those final 10 races.
Jeremy Mayfield is the 9th place driver for the 2005 season
Rusty Wallace is next as we Recap The Top 10 Drivers of 2005 December 18, 2005
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