Denny Hamlin

When Kevin Harvick joked about Jimmie Johnson having a golden horseshoe last season, he problably wasn'r that far off. Because winning a Sprint Cup championship is not just about having an incredible amount of driving talent. It's also about team work, strategy and luck. Just ask Denny Hamlin. "We've just honestly been stricken by a lot of bad luck,' said Hamlin. "We've ran out of fuel, we've gotten in wrecks, we've cut tires, things like that.  We've blown engines, we've had mechanical parts that have failed, had so many different things that's bitten us this year.  I can't pinpoint one reason why those things have happened.

Before I jump into this blog let me check my email and the wires real quick and make sure no one else has clinched a spot in the Chase for the Championship...nope all good for now. As I watched the news that first Kevin Harvick and then Jeff Gordon had clinched a spot in the Chase, I couldn't help but giggle. So this is it? This is the easier points system that's going to change the way we watch races? It's so easy that it takes NASCAR four days after the race to figure out who has already clinched a spot?

Ryan Newman has held off his boss and teammate Tony Stewart to win his first race of the season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Newman won from the pole Sunday and became the 13th different winner in 19 Sprint Cup races. Newman and Stewart made it the first front-row start for Stewart-Haas Racing in qualifying Friday and they went 1-2 again when it mattered on race day. It was a banner weekend for SHR, and Newman and Stewart hope they've positioned themselves as championship contenders.

At least that's how it seemed this weekend. I have to be honest, I am not a big road course fan. They are interesting to watch for a while, but honestly there is just enough speed, its too hard to pass and they way pit strategy works out, it's too hard to figure out who really has a good car when you are watching on tv. I usually lose interest pretty quickly. Um, not on Sunday. By they time Tony Stewart's car ended up propped on a tire barrier n turn 11, I was already hooked. But Brian Vickers vs Smoke was just one of many feuds on the day. Kasey Kahne and Brad Keselowski where both unhappy with Juan Pablo Montoya, and Denny Hamlin described his day on twitter as being "dingered" (a reference to driver AJ Almendinger)

So if you have seen some of the series top drivers like say Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton or Jamie McMurray, please let me know. There might just be a reward for their whereabouts. In all seriousness, each has shown a flash of the greatness they have shown in recent season.but all three are already in serious trouble when it comes to the points. And I don't know about you, but for me it's really kind of a shock. After all Hamlin, came with in a hair of winning the championship, Biffle is constant contender, Burton is the pillar of constancy and McMurray is most peoples eyes is the reason the changed the chase rules.

There are really only two names you need to know when NASCAR heads to Martinsville: Hamlin and Johnson. The two drivers have dominated at the paperclip shaped track in Virginia. And no one is happier to see this track up next on the schedule then Denny Hamlin. He was the driver that took five time champ Jimmie Johnson down to the wire an nearly unseated him last season. But the 11 team could really use a do over to the '11 season. After a blown engine last week in California, they currently sit 21st in the points.

For the second straight week, Kevin Harvick takes the checkered flag, this time at Martinsville. Harvick beating Dale Earnhardt Junior to the line with Kyle Busch finished third. The win ended a stretch of 9 races at the Virginia track that had been won by either Denny Hamlin or Jimmie Johnson and it's the first win at Martinsville for the 29. Juan Pablo Montoya and Jeff Gordon rounded out the top 5. "I didnt think we had the car to do that. I had a lot of fun racing with Dale Junior," said Harvick.

The say you have to lose a championship to win one. Jimmie Johnson lost his in 2003 and 2004. For Denny Hamlin, he lost that championship last season, more than JJ won it (not taking anything away from 5 time). Love Hamlin or hate him, you can see the desire to win in his eyes and the determination he has to be the best. He wants this. As he said last year, he would rather Jimmie Johnson win the chase then some one else, because he wants to be the one to take down the champ.He won the most races last season, but just came up 39 points short.