November 2009

on

Carl Edwards, No. 99 AFLAC Ford: “A Roush Fenway car has won (at Homestead) almost every year that I’ve been doing this at this level. I have real high hopes going in there. We’re just going to go until the last lap and give it a hundred percent with guns blazing. We’re going for the win. Hopefully we’ll get a shot at it.” With three victories, Roush Fenway Racing is suffering its leanest year since 2001 when the team won just twice. The team won 11 races a year ago. Roush Fenway drivers have won six of the past seven races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Homestead-Miami Speedway is the only active NASCAR Sprint Cup track at which Jeff Gordon has failed to win. Gordon marked Texas Motor Speedway off his to-do list in the spring leaving just the 1.5-mile South Florida speedway in the way of a noteworthy sweep. “A win, you know, is huge, especially at Homestead, because it is the final race. It would be huge for us. We’ve never won there before. I think that everybody feels that way,” said Gordon.

Continue reading “Roush Fenway owns Homestead-Miami Speedway”

on

Homestead-Miami Milestones

Biffle Wins NHA number of streaks are in jeopardy this week — none longer than Greg Biffle’s (No. 16 3 M Ford) run of six consecutive seasons with at least one victory.

Also needing a win at Homestead-Miami Speedway to preserve a streak is Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet), who has victories in three consecutive seasons. A runner-up finish in Sunday’s race at Phoenix suggests the Richard Childress Racing driver might be close.

Winless in 2009 after posting victories a year ago are defending Ford 400 winner Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet) and Ryan Newman (No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet).

Continue reading “Streaks in jeopardy at Homestead-Miami”

on

Podcasts

Podcast LogoLISTEN HERE: The Final Lap CHAT Show #90 – We 3 Champions – Wed, 18 Nov 2009

A Phoenix wrap up to start, and then it’s all about the season ending Homestead-Miami Speedway. Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Kyle Busch and Ron Hornaday. Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Paul Northrop

SUBSCRIBE FROM iTUNES: Take us with you! Subscribe to our audio shows from iTunes, and they will automatically show up on your computer as soon as we post fresh shows..it’s easy, FREE, and we take no information.  It’s like a DVR for audio so you can take us with you anywhere and listen on your schedule!

NOTE: THE FINAL LAP CHAT now broadcasts LIVE on Tuesday’s at 11:30am Eastern from UStream – Click Here | Also HEARD on Stitcher Radio | Grab Stitcher Radio Here

The Final Lap Podcasts –  Subscribe Here

on

Scott SpeedTop 35 Owner Points Picture

There’s one spot up for grabs this week — 35th place –- and with it goes a guaranteed starting position in the 2010 Daytona 500.

The No. 34 team owned by Teresa Earnhardt currently ranks 35th with 2,667 points. The only team with a shot at taking the position is the No. 82 of Dietrich Mateschitz.

Mateschitz and driver Scott Speed, however, trail by 114 points. Speed, who has a single top five in his rookie season, will at least have to match his best performance of the year (fifth) to overcome the deficit.

on

Mark Martin’s Down But Definitely Not Yet Out

Mark MartinMark Martin may trail Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson by 108 points entering Sunday’s Ford 400 finale but it’s not in his DNA to go down without putting every ounce of his skill and determination into the fight.

And who knows — witness the recent Indianapolis Colts-New England Patriots game — what could happen.

If anyone can stage a comeback, it’s the veteran Martin who, on nine occasions, has gained more than 108 points on Johnson. It happened most recently two weeks ago in Texas, when Martin’s fourth-place finish coupled with Johnson’s accident-troubled 38th, resulted in a net gain of 111 points.

Continue reading “Mark Martin has outside chance at Cup”