Now for the stats....
After coming off perhaps
the best five-race stretch in recent memory to close the 2007 season, Jimmie Johnson finds himself currently 13th in points,
and has only one finish better than 13th -- a runner-up finish on a Monday afternoon at California's Auto Club Speedway.
Last season was Casey
Mears' first with HMS, and the pressure was on him even then. This year, that pressure got even higher as Mears had a subpar
season in 2007, especially when his three Hendrick teammates all made the Chase. Mears scored his first win, albeit on fuel
mileage at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May. To his credit it was the longest race of the year, the Coca-Cola 600.
This season has been
a disaster for Mears. A late-race mistake in the Daytona 500 relegated Mears to a 35th place finish, a wet surface at California
saw his day go upside down, followed by two okay finishes, and finally a dismal 42nd place finish at Bristol.
A four-time Cup Champ,
Jeff Gordon entered the '08 season destined to win his fifth championship. It seems kind of weird to say, but the pressure
is on Gordon to finally win the elusive fifth, especially considering it's been since 2001 since Gordon has been at the head
table at the Waldorf.
Gordon seemed like a lock for
not only a Chase spot, not only lots of race wins, but a serious contender for the championship. I know we're only five races
in, but Gordon and his team are obviously struggling.
His finishes are at either
end of the spectrum, the exception a somewhat-decent 11th at Bristol. A 39th at Daytona (while running in the top 3 all day), 3rd at California
(with a little luck -- his engine blew on the last lap right when the caution came out), 35th at Las
Vegas (while running about 5th or better all day), and 5th at Atlanta.
His two sub-30th place finishes were as DNF's. Mears also has two DNFs, the most of any driver.
2006 StockCar Review.
