It was too little too late for 5-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson as Brad Keselowski held off #48 to win hjs first NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship today at Homstead-Miami Speedway. It was also the first Cup championship for legendary owner Roger Penske. Entering the final race with a 20-point lead Keselowski was helped by a gamble that didn't pan out for Johnson.
It was a big night for Clint Bowyer but it might have been an even bigger night for Jeff Gordon. Bowyer took the checkered flag in the Federated Auto parts 400 at Richmond International while Gordon beat out Kurt Busch to take the 12th and final spot in the 10 race Chase For the Sprint Cup NASCAR championship. It was an incredible finish for Gordon's number 24 car and an equally disappointing finish for Busch.
It looks like it'll be a case of pick and choose for NASCAR's Sprint Cup drivers this coming season. Apparently--and I say apparently because NASCAR officials are being tight-lipped about it--drivers will have to select which series, Sprint or Nationwide, they will race for a championship in 2011. One driver, Kenny Wallace, has come forward to confirm the report.
