Jimmie Johnson

Think fast...when was the last time there was a caution in a race for an accident? There wasn't one at Kansas or the week before at Texas and it has people talking. “It seems like crashing to most is more important than racing,” Five-time champion Jimmie Johnson tweeted Monday morning. So obviously he's heard the chatter. But here's the thing, my dad and I had a conversation about the race Sunday night. He's not much of  race fan, but he's a car guy so the sport does present some interest to him, especially now that I'm into it so much.

In two week's there could be a new sheriff in town, and that's not even the most shocking story from this past Sunday's race at the Texas Motor Speedway. If you didn't watch, let me just tell you, you missed the most entertaining race in years. If you did then you know NASCAR just turned into the "Shoot Out at the OK Corral. " From Kyle Busch predicting the finish of his teammate, and giving his prediction to a NASCAR official, to the Jeff's recreating the jockey fight at the Breader's Cup, and Jimmie Johnson's team pulling an audible in the middle of the race by switching crews during the race, every turn of the 500 miles drew your closer to the tv. So what in the world can NASCAR do for an encore?

If you think getting to the top of the mountain is hard? Staying there is even harder, despite how easy Jimmie Johnson made it look. After winning an epic championship in 2011, Tony Stewart could only muster a ninth place finish for an encore in 2012. "It's hard to keep that intensity up coming off a Championship is hard," said Stewart. "Especially in an industry like this where technology is constantly changing. I's a big focus for us to keep pushing our guys to make what we have better.

When Denny Hamlin walked into the Martinsville Media Center Saturday, sat down an exclaimed. "Who said it was over?  Told you it wasn't over," you have half expected him to go into a Bluto from Animal House diatribe about nothing is over until we say it is. And while I would expect that Hamlin knows the Germans did not bomb Pearl Harbor, the Chase for the Sprint Cup has gone a little Animal House. Now the wildest wild card of them all, NASCAR's toga party in so many ways, Talladega is next up. And we've got ourselves a points race.

So something odd has happened at Martinsville the last three times NASCAR has visited the Virginia track, someone not named Jimmie Johnson or Denny Hamlin has won. From 2006 to 2010, those two drivers combined to win nine straight races at Martinsville. Should make things interesting as both are still strong contenders for the chase as NASCAR heads back to Martinsville this weekend. "It should be a good track for us," said Jimmie Johnson. "As excited as I am, I know also that the No. 11 (Denny Hamlin)

This week NASCAR is headed to my old stomping grounds, Kansas City and the Kansas Speedway. Having grown up about a half an hour from where the track now sits, its amazing to see the transformation the area has undergone. Not just the track, but the baseball stadium, Sporting KC's soccer field and all the restaurants and shopping. Plus a casino that will open next year. It's truly a unique track on the circuit. As for the racing this weekend, midwest race fans will get to get a look at Danica Patrick this weekend.

It's got to be frustrating, Clint Bowyer is having one heck of a Chase for the Championship. The Kansas native has finished in the top 10 in seven of the eight races so far this NASCAR post season, he even has a win. And yet, he is a very long shot for the title at this point, 36 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson, third in the standings. "It's just unbelievable,” Bowyer said. “You keep having these top-10 runs, flirting with the top five week in and week out, and, unless you're winning these races every week, you just can't gain points.