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? You have our attention now what?
Can Hamlin hold on the points lead for two races? It's been since Bill Elliott in 1992 that the driver leading with two races to go lost the championship.
"There's no comfortable margin going into Homestead because anything can happen," Hamlin said after the race. "So for me Phoenix being an up-and-down racetrack for me, I've got to really be focused on practice day to get what I need to give Mike the information that I need and just 100 percent stay focused is all I can do."
Can Burton and Gordon make nice? Incase you missed it, the two crashed out on the backstretch, and the Gordon shoved Burton. After the accident, both at least agreed about who is at fault.
"100 percent, it was my fault," he said — and I have no problem with what he did," said Burton. "I don't blame him for being mad. I would have been mad too."
"You know, I like Jeff," said Gordon. "He's a guy that's usually very rational and I respect his opinion and he apologized, said it was his fault, said he didn't mean to do it, and whatever. It's over."
What's next for Kyle Busch after finger gate?
"We went through a lot of the same issues when Tony Stewart was driving for us, and I think it's one of those things that eventually -- I think he's grown in a lot of areas and really matured in a lot of areas,' said team owner JD Gibbs. "I think that's just an area that in general and in life he's going to have to address and I think he knows that and that's nothing new. We've just got to make sure it happens sooner rather than later"
We do know what is next for Jimmie Johnson and his pit crew. The 48 and 24 pit crews have been officially switched, after the 24 finished pitting JJ's car after Jeff wrecked out of Texas. The move came after the 48 team struggled most of the day with stops.
"The 24/48 shop has always operated as a team, and that is the way that we see it," Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, said after the race. "It is sad that we had to do that, but in interest of Hendrick Motorsports and what we have to do, you have to do that stuff."
Wild, crazy and finally NASCAR has given us a reason to tune in. With all due respect to Jimmie Johnson, because he is one of the sports greatest drivers and an amazing championship, this weekend's race is one of the best thing that could have happened to the sport. All of it.
Now can NASCAR capitalise as the head to Phoenix maybe find a desert rose? Or will they over react, fine the Jeffs or Busch and plant a prickly cactus?
Here's hoping this week's trip back out west is just as wild, cause this past week sure was fun.
