2006 Ford Championship Weekend:
We started this journey in Daytona more than nine months ago. Now it all comes down to this. One last race to determine the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship. This Sunday the Ford 400 on Sunday will determine the 2006 NEXTEL Cup Champion.
Jimmie Johnson holds the lead and needs only to finish twelfth or better to lock up his first career Championship. The whole seaon boils down to this one race.
Tickets:
Speedway ticket office (305) 230-RACE
The Track:
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a one and a half mile oval that features computer-designed progressive banking in the turns. This race track easily supports side-by-side racing all the way around the track which makes for a great show all day long. There are multiple grooves to choose from and the fast, wide race track is a fitting tribute to motorsports. This is a fabulous place to decide the Championships.
Race Distance:
267 Laps = 400.5 Miles
The Big Picture:
Jimmie Johnson holds a 63 point lead over Matt Kenseth. Johnson needs only to finish twelfth or better to guarantee himself the 2006 NEXTEL Cup Championship.
Five drivers still have a mathematical shot at the title, but this Championship is Jimmie Johnson's to lose.
Top Ten
- Jimmie Johnson -0
- Matt Kenseth -63
- Kevin Harvick -90
- Denny Hamlin -90
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. -115
- Jeff Gordon -167
- Jeff Burton -225
- Mark Martin -273
- Kasey Kahne -319
- Kyle Busch -359
Storylines:
The Chase For The Cup is the big story of the weekend.
Jimmie Johnson is closing in on the first NEXTEL Cup Championship of his career. Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. still have a shot but this weekend is a celebration of Jimmie Johnson's great season.
Media Coverage:
TV: NBC Sunday, November 19th, 2:00PM Eastern.
Radio: MRN and XM Satellite
Actual Race: 2:50 p.m. Eastern
Posted Awards:
$5,200,543
Previously...:
In 2005 Greg Biffle and Mark Martin battled door-to-door to the checkered flag with Greg Biffle getting the exciting win. Tony Stewart quietly cruised to a fifth place finish to claim the 2005 Championship when Jimmie Johnson had trouble and fell back into the pack.
Predictions:
First off, let me get the Championship prediction out of the way. I think that Jimmie Johnson will ride all day safely in the top ten and will close out his fantastic season with the 2006 NEXTEL Cup title.
As for the race, I believe that Kevin Harvick will continue his hot streak and make a strong run at the win. Harvick has nothing to lose at this point and needs to gain all of the points that he can towards the Championship.
Along those same lines my backup pick this week is Matt Kenseth. Kenseth enters the race currently second in points. All he can do is try to run up front, score as many points as he can and hope that Johnson has trouble. These two make very strong picks this week as both drivers have everything to gain with a strong win in Homestead this weekend.