For race fans, the final race of the season is like watching the other boy's of summer walk off the field for the last time.
It can be either celebratory or heartbreaking. But for all of us, it only makes us want next year to come that much faster.
There were many sad moments on Sunday's race: Watching Tony Stewart say goodbye to all of his crew, and watching the fans salute what has been one of NASCAR's best crew chief and driver pairings.
The moment when you knew Jimmie Johnson was destined to win this championship, no matter how hard Carl Edwards pushed. A long, hard-fought battle that only left you wondering...what if?
Many drivers were saying goodbye to their current teams and organizations. Casey Mears, Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart, and Ryan Newman were all leaving current teams or organizations to start-over with new teams.
There is also the uncertainty that comes with this particular off season, with NASCAR announcing on Friday a ban on testing at sanctioned race tracks. The economic slowdown is not only affecting the fans coming to the races, but the crew members who found out that, come Monday morning, they would be looking for a job.
Between NASCAR organizing body, close to 1000 people will be looking for jobs right before the holidays this year. As fans, we forget that we are not the only ones affected by this current economic crises. We have no idea what will come this off season—what further steps NASCAR will take, or will have to take, to ensure the longevity of this sport.
There were moments of celebration watching history transform right in front of you. Jimmie Johnson doing something that has only been done one other time in the storied history of this sport. Watching Carl Edwards win his series leading ninth race, but fall short in the championship hunt.
Watching guys like Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, and Kevin Harvick go win-less but steadily improve from earlier struggles in the year—allowing their fans to hope that 2009 will be better than the last.
Finally, the one thing we do have during this off season is anticipation and hope for next season. Hope that next year, your driver will be the one standing in the rain of confetti come Homestead. Anticipation for what is to come; what will be the 2009 season changing event, which will either propel or halt your drivers chase for the cup.
Hope that in this downturn in the economy, we will all find a way to work through this. As fans, we will stand by our favorite sport, driver, or organization through the good times and the bad.
Sunday evening, as the checkered flag waved in Miami—we realized that 2008 might be over, but 2009 promises to be one of the most historic years in NASCAR history.
As we watch what what will happen coming to the green in Daytona...
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