Jimmie Johnson achieved the first part of his goal of absolute domination at Phoenix International Raceway by securing the pole and that coveted first pit stall selection. This pole is Johnson's sixth for the season but his first at PIR.
Other notable moments from today's qualifying session include:
*Jamie McMurray, who was quick in practice, had a great qualifying effort, securing the outside pole. Jamie also secured a fiancé, proposing to his girlfriend and joining the ever-growing number of drivers getting engaged this season.
*Kurt Busch was on the pole for most of the early part of the qualifying session. After the runs by McMurray and Johnson, this other Busch brother will have to settle for the third starting position.
*David Reutimann has been on fire at the end of this season. He too had a great qualifying effort, ending up in the fourth starting position.
*Dale Earnhardt Jr. had his game face on. Junior also sported some budding facial hair on that game face, perhaps getting an early start to the off-season. Junior's car was fast in practice, so he was hoping to secure that elusive pole. Unfortunately, he will have to settle for the fifth starting position.
*Flyin' Ryan Newman looked pretty racy in qualifying. He will start in his No. 12 car in the sixth position for the race.
*Jimmie Johnson's other teammate, Jeff Gordon, had the opportunity to go for a pole run. However, he overdrove the corners and will have to settle for the seventh position.
*The rest of the top ten are Denny Hamlin in eighth; Paul Menard in ninth; and Mark Martin in 10th.
*Kevin Harvick is doing triple duty, running the Truck, Nationwide, and Cup races. Happy qualified in the 19th starting position.
*Greg Biffle had an eventful qualifying run, hitting the wall at almost exactly the same spot in each of his two qualifying laps. The Biff will start in the 31st position.
*Marcos Ambrose was the last to go out to qualify and had to get in on time. The only problem: his car wouldn't start. They finally got it cranking and out he went, securing the 18th starting spot.
*Kyle Petty ran his final qualifying laps this season with an uncertain future for 2009. He had to qualify into the race on time and he did so, starting in the 35th position.
*Front Row Joe Nemechek was in the last row when qualifying was said and done. He will not race on Sunday, his first missed race since mid-May of this year.
As Johnson confidently signed the Coors Light Pole Banner, it seems that total domination for that No. 48 Lowe's team is in sight. And with that domination, the Championship may also soon be in their grasp.
18 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment
Mike Sieber 8 months ago
I didn't do the math yet, but is it possible for Jimmie to clinch the championship this Sunday?
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Mary Jo Buchanan 8 months ago
It is possible - if he dominates and the others falter. See Dave's analysis below.
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Dave Gainer 8 months ago
Yes if Carl has a dnf and the biff falters to a 25th place finish and Jimmie wins the race...but that will likely not happen, i predict Jimmie will win the race Carl 15th the biff will finish 3rd..Gordon or Mcmurray will finish 2nd....
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Mary Jo Buchanan 8 months ago
Dave, I think you're right about Jimmie for the race win - he has the car to beat. But I do think Carl and hopefully Biff will keep it all close.
Jeff Gordon's major goal is just to keep climbing up one spot at a time to as high as he can.
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Kara Martin 8 months ago
Yawn! So sick of seeing Jimmie on the pole, I swear I almost threw a brick through the TV screen when he won it! I wished that "guy" who "gave him the dirty look" HAD punched him in his face!
OK...I've gotten that off my chest, carry on!
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Mary Jo Buchanan 8 months ago
That was the funniest thing wasn't it? I think that guy really got under Jimmie's skin!!! Maybe he's your next mojo maker!
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Kara Martin 8 months ago
That guy was hilarious, he really did get under Jimmie's skin, not only did he comment before he got into the car to qualify but he also brought it up after the qualifying laps were over! But with that, I also saw a funnier, lighter side of Jimmie during that interview that I liked a lot!
I'm gonna find that #12 fan and work some 2009 spells with him!
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Dave Gainer 8 months ago
Kara that was funny , i hope you don't really feel that way, if so i will order you a straight jacket when Jimmie wins the race...Hows this i guarantee you he wont get the pole at homestead....! Kara you must have known ahead of time, that this is 1 of the 48's tracks. you know the ones where he takes complete control , like last weeks track was the 99's.
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Kara Martin 8 months ago
I know...HAHAHA, don't send me to the funny farm just yet! I like playing the devil's advocate once in a while. I know that Jimmie's got it in the bag and I am truly happy for him, but would I still secretly like to for Jimmie's engine to blow on lap one tomorrow...heck yes!
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Mike Sieber 8 months ago
Okay. I messed around with the numbers and what it comes down to is this: For Carl to win the championship, he has to be exceptional the next two races. For Jimmie to win, he only has to be average. Carl and Greg really have to hope that Jimmie's team experiences the same kind of meltdown that hit Kyle at the start of the chase.
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Mary Jo Buchanan 8 months ago
Yep, Mike, you've got it. Jimmie does look like he is struggling some in practice though....
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Dave Gainer 8 months ago
Let me remind everyone that happy hour for most teams is getting the fuel mileage down, getting the tire wear down and seeing how the long run balance is with their race setups. its not a speed session. for most part, its a bit of fine tuning for good balance thru out the race .......Denny looked fast in happy hour but did you notice the speeds were slower then the nationwide cars. I would take what happened at hour with a grain of salt, because the race will be different for the chase drivers.
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Mary Jo Buchanan 8 months ago
Point well taken Dave. It looked to me like the 48 team was trying some things and then decided to switch it back to what they had before.....just my perspective - what did you think?
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Dave Gainer 8 months ago
yeah i would expect all the chase drivers were. i mean thats the norm, to explore every possible avenue till exhausted . Sometimes you find something sometimes you don't...
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Mary Jo Buchanan 8 months ago
That part has always puzzled me a bit...like what you have...then change it....then change it back....but racers are never satisfied and always looking for that holy grail of just a little bit more speed.
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Dave Gainer 8 months ago
You got it..
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S M Napier 8 months ago
Yawn, after the CTS race Friday night, whoever wins the title in trucks between Johnny Benson or Ron Hornaday at Homestead, they should award the Sprint Cup title to the second place guy. The series earned it for showing up the Cup guys, the ratings don't lie and I hope this is the Chases swan song.
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Mary Jo Buchanan 8 months ago
Agreed.....CTS is where it's at and the Nationwide is not so bad either! Just ho hum to the Cup and the chase.
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