2008 SPRINT CUP RACE 36: Ford 400 @ Homestead

by **Burnout** Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:19 pm

Well, I've reached my Homestead recap, a long five weeks of reviews. Homestead is now known as the 'home stretch' of NASCAR's top three series. Jimmie Johnson entered this race with a huge 141 point lead over Carl Edwards meaning he would have to at least finish the race without major problems to clinch the title. David Reutimann surprised everyone with his first career pole for the season finale. Rookie Scott Speed would start alongside in 2nd. Carl Edwards got 4th fastest and point leader Johnson started way back in 30th. Carl Edwards did what he had to do, run up front and lead the most laps. Unfortunately, Edwards still needed Johnson to blow an engine or wreck to inherit the title. Johnson played defensive during this race making sure not to make a mistake to cost him the cup. Much like Texas a couple weeks back, Carl Edwards played the fuel strategy game as a last ditch effort to gain big points on Johnson. He did just that, winning the race by a huge margin over Kevin Harvick, yet another Roush Fenway victory at that track. Jamie McMurray got his third straight 3rd place finish, certainly building momentum for 2009. Carl won the battle but Jimmie Johnson won the war and eyes soon turned onto him celebrating his third straight Cup championship. Johnson and Chad Knaus are an incredible pair, always a threat every single year. In the finale, five Chevys, three Fords, one Dodge, and one Toyota got Top 10 finishes. Carl Edwards obtained the most wins in 2008 surpassing Kyle Busch with this very race.

The Top 10:
1. #99 Carl Edwards (Ford)
2. #29 Kevin Harvick (Chevrolet)
3. #26 Jamie McMurray (Ford)
4. #24 Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet)
5. #07 Clint Bowyer (Chevrolet)
6. #9 Kasey Kahne (Dodge)
7. #28 Travis Kvapil (Ford)
8. #5 Casey Mears (Chevrolet)
9. #20 Tony Stewart (Toyota)
10. #1 Martin Truex Jr. (Chevrolet)

Congrats to Jimmie Johnson on his third Sprint Cup title. I enjoyed writing up these race recaps, made the 2009 Daytona 500 approach fast.