Miscellaneous reasons to rejoice

 


Not every driver can be a Chase contender in hot pursuit, but here are various reasons still to celebrate the 2010 season. Kyle Busch (above) won all kinds of races, even though they didn't matter enough in Sprint Cup competition.
 

AVONDALE, Ariz. – As is the case with every sport except college football, where the champion is mythical and the arguments endless, everyone in NASCAR except one (driver or team, take your pick) is going to be a bit disappointed in two weeks. Add wistful “what ifs” to those still in the hunt who fall short.

Really, though, even if winning is everything, winning it all isn’t necessary. A coach whose football team lost 10 games a year ago isn’t going to crushed by 7-5 and a minor bowl. In NASCAR, it’s a big day for some when they make the starting field.

The year’s winners extend far beyond the final three locked in combat. More than Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick have reason to rejoice. (Come to think of it, since Johnson has won the past four championships, he may no longer be capable of rejoicing in anything but another title.)

So who’s got a big year going other than the Big Three?

Greg Biffle’s got a big year going. He drives a Ford. Only two Fords have won races this year. Biffle drove both of them.

Jamie McMurray’s got a big bank account going. He won the season’s two richest races and another that was among them. He makes me think of the old Presbyterian College football coach who used to say, “You beat Newberry, you beat Wofford, it’s a good year.” McMurray won the Daytona 500. He won the Brickyard 400. He won the Bank of America 500. It’s a good year.

Jeff Burton has a lot of years exactly like this. He’s not overjoyed, but he ought to be pleased.

Clint Bowyer has won two Chase races. Unfortunately, they couldn’t make him relevant, at least not after those 150 points were deducted.

Kyle Busch seems to dominate everything that doesn’t matter. It’s entirely possible that he wants to win the Sprint Cup championship too badly. Maybe he’s obsessed, crazed and haunted. That theory would explain a lot.

Remember that old movie “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”? Kevin Conway is going to be the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Who Never Had to Try. Save for the first handful of races, the rookie of the year was the only rookie of the year. Hey. He’s the only guy who ever pulled that off.

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