From Where I Sit: 2010 NASCAR Year in Review

Looking back on 2010, the NASCAR images that are emblazoned in my mind are those I witnessed in person.

Richard Petty and Bobby Allison running into each other before the Homestead race.

A young Dale Jr. fan telling Jimmie Johnson she'd switch drivers if he'd only sign her hat (which he promptly did with a smile).

Tony Stewart handing his Coke bottle to a little No. 14 fan after driver introductions at Talladega.

My Mom meeting Joey Logano at the Homestead Tweetup.

Dancing with my nephews on the Daytona infield to the music of Zac Brown Band.

My cousin Michael finally getting Dale Earnhardt Jr's autograph.

I've discovered that NASCAR is a highly personal sport.  Sure, there are the driver feuds, photo finishes and dramatic races that the collective remembers. But the moments that mean the most are those that are yours.  That you shared with family.  That you enjoyed with friends.

I was fortunate enough to make a slew of NASCAR memories this year.  Above are just a few of them.

The Fifth NASCAR Day of Christmas: Five in a Row

Jimmie Johnson celebrates each of his five championship wins - from 2006 to 2010.

Cale Yarborough didn't do it.

Dale Earnhardt didn't do it.

Even King Petty didn't do it.

But Jimmie Johnson, a kid from El Cajon, Calif., did.

Johnson's five consecutive Cup championships are unprecedented and unparalleled.  And with his monumental come-from-behind points win in 2010, the driver has cemented his place in NASCAR history.

And the racing world thought four in a row was impressive.

Of course, some fans may not like that Johnson has dominated the sport for half a decade. But that doesn't change the fact that Johnson is the real deal.  And his crew chief is none too shabby either.

Johnson and Chad Knaus may well be unbeatable. And 2011 may just bring win number six.

The Eighth NASCAR Day of Christmas: 8 NASCAR Babies

Ryan and Chrissie Newman
welcomed Brooklyn Sage
on Nov. 18, 2010.

In 2010, the Sprint Cup drivers' lot turned into Romper Room.

And it's not because Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski got into a play fight.

There was a bona fide baby boom in NASCAR that set this season apart.  At last count, a whopping seven babies were born to drivers and their wives - and there's one due at the end of this year.

1. Jimmie Johnson and wife Chandra welcomed Genevieve Marie. 

2. To Jeff Gordon and Ingrid was born Leo Benjamin. 

3. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Edwards said hello to little Anne Edwards.

4. Elliott and Amanda Sadler became the proud parents of Wyatt Herman Fritts Sadler. 

5.  Juan Pablo and Connie Montoya added baby Manuela to their family. 

6.  Ryan and Krissie Newman welcomed Brooklyn Sage. 

7. Carter Scott was born to Jamie and Christy McMurray.

8. Finally, Sam Hornish Jr. and his wife Crystal are expecting to end the year with the birth of their second child.

And for the record, all those skeptics who claimed Johnson would be adversely affected by the stress of fatherhood, now don't have a leg to stand on.

The Tenth NASCAR Day of Christmas: 10 Years of Harvick

Kevin Harvick celebrated his tenth year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series in 2010.

And boy, what a year it was.

Harvick was the regular season champ and the perennial fan favorite.  When the Chase began, he kept fans' hopes high that a Richard Childress team would knock the dynastic No. 48 off its pedestal.

And, as always, Harvick kept things interesting.

He tangled with Joey Logano on track and off.  He hit Denny Hamlin in practice, after Hamlin called out his teammate Clint Bowyer for being a cheater.

But the fun didn't stop with Harvick's third-place Sprint Cup run.

Harvick also had a worthy year in both the Nationwide and Truck series- notching three wins in each and a sixth place finish in the Nationwide standings.

From all appearances, Harvick is set for another stellar year in 2011  - he'll be driving the Budweiser car for Richard Childress Racing.  And, just this week, he announced that former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. will drive for his truck team, Kevin Harvick Inc., next season.

The Eleventh NASCAR Day of Christmas: 11 Car-a-Spinnin'



The team works on the No. 11 car before the start
of the Ford 400 at Homestead.



In addition to "Jimmie Johnson Wins Fifth Consecutive Title," the headline following Homestead could well have been "The Mighty Denny Has Spun Out."

And though Denny's misstep made for a more dramatic race, it wasn't the cause of his failure to win the Chase crown.

His run for the championship started to sputter the week before Homestead.

Riding high and talking trash, Hamlin and crew chief Mike Ford entered the Kobalt Tools 500 with trophy expectations and a car that dominated most of the race.

But as events played out, it became clear that fuel mileage - not a sweet car - would be the key to a strong finish.

Unfortunately for Hamlin, Ford failed to tell his driver to save fuel. And while Hamlin ran wide open, fellow championship rivals Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick conserved enough Sunoco to make it 'til the end.

Result? Hamlin had to pit, while Johnson and Harvick had the staying power to finish - cutting Hamlin's points lead to just 15.

Hamlin was visibly discouraged after the checkers.

"It's pretty disappointing. We were in a good position going into next week," Hamlin said. "Good cars and all that, we had that today. It's tough to say what we've got to do. We had everything today. We had bad strategy at the end and it let those guys back in there."

So instead of a confident, swaggering Chase leader rolling into Homestead, Hamlin entered the Miami track a bundle of nerves.

His poor qualifying run didn't help - and the team couldn't get their mojo back all day long.

So while Hamlin's little spin didn't help his championship hopes - it wasn't the cause of the Fed Ex team's troubles.

Those can be blamed on a failure to communicate at Phoenix.

The Twelfth NASCAR Day of Christmas: 12 Chasers Chasing

.

One of the best things about the 2010 season, was that the Sprint Cup Chase was the closest in Chase history. 

Twelve drivers didn't just make the Chase, they made the Chase exciting.

There were flying fists, fingers and fines.  There was high drama and low blows. And, to top it off, there was a reigning champ who came from behind to score his fifth championship in a row - a feat unparalleled in NASCAR history.

Clint Bowyer started the Chase with a win in New Hampshire  - only to be fined and penalized days later when his car failed post-race inspection.  The judgment punted the No. 33 from second to twelfth in the points.  And Bowyer's response to the penalty made "The Wrecker Defense" a motorsports byword.

Bowyer ended the year in 10th spot.

Then there was Kyle Busch.  Although Rowdy failed to produce a "W" during the Chase, he did make for some good TV with his flying one-finger salute on national television.  Busch finished the year in eighth place.

Kevin "Happy" Harvick brought the goods all year long. The regular season champ, he stayed in contention 'til the very end.  And though he finished in third, his message was heard throughout the NASCAR world - Richard Childress Racing is back.

Second-place finisher Denny Hamlin added a heap of racing drama to the Chase.  He started the Chase in the top seed after a win at Richmond.  He then lost the Chase lead, but stole it back from the No. 48 team with a win at Texas. 

And then the mind games and the verbal potshots began as Hamlin and crew chief Mike Ford called Johnson and Chad Knaus the weaker team, vowing to beat the Lowe's dynasty. 

But words can come back to haunt you, and at Homestead, Johnson and company showed their strength while Denny spun out, ending his quest to win his first championship. 

Moral of the story? You better check yourself, before you wreck yourself.

A NASCAR Christmas List

Now that "Team Earntarte" is a reality, Junior fans  have reason
to call Christmas merry.

Logs are crackling in the fireplace.  Lights are flickering on the tree. And marshmallows are melting their gooey goodness into my hot chocolate.

It's the perfect night for writing a Christmas list.

Or better still, the perfect night for contemplating what gifts our favorite drivers and their fans might want - or need - for the holidays.

If I were Santa, here's what I'd bring the below NASCAR peeps in my big bag of presents come Christmas Eve:

Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton - If you're gonna "have at it boys", at least make it look somewhat threatening.  The Jeffs'  little dustup during the Chase was good TV - but I doubt it struck fear into the hearts of other drivers.  That's why I'm suggesting jolly ol' St. Nicholas bring the pair a little formal instruction in the art of hand-to-hand combat.

Jimmie Johnson - You might think that Johnson has all he'll ever need - a beautiful wife, a darling baby girl, five Sprint Cup championships and the smartest crew chief around. But that's where you're wrong.  This season it became clear that ol' Johnson is standing in the need of hair - or less of it.  Somebody give the man a haircut.  The scraggly look does not suit.

Junior Nation - When Rick Hendrick announced the formation of team "Earntarte" in November, Christmas came a little early for Junior Nation - and also for Dale Earnhardt Jr.  Request granted.

Kyle Busch - I know Rowdy has taken a lot of heat for his one-finger salute on national television, but what's a little more ribbing among fans? He claimed after being parked a lap that NASCAR was hampering his constitutional rights by denying him the right to express himself.  Turns out, he's correct. According to the U.S. Court system, "flipping the bird" is legally protected by the U.S. Constitution ... but NASCAR is a country unto itself and sometimes everyday laws just don't apply.  So in that case, perhaps Santa will leave the book "Beyond Anger" in Busch's stocking.

Brian Vickers - It'll be a gift to NASCAR fans to see Vickers back behind the wheel come the Daytona 500. Here's hoping Santa grants him a spot in next year's Chase to cement Vickers' long-awaited return.

Darrell Waltrip - When Waltrip failed to make the second class of inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, his disappointment was palpable. Even those who weren't big fans of DW felt a little sorry for him. For Waltrip's sake, I hope Santa brings him the votes he needs to make the Hall of Fame's third class - nobody would be more appreciative of the honor.

Johnson Gets Even More "Perfect" - As If That Were Possible

His chase for the Sprint Cup may not have been perfect, but his rebound from a points deficit was about as flawless as you can get.

So it's only right that five-time Sprint Cup champ Jimmie Johnson is one of the athletes featured in ESPN The Magazine's "The Perfect Issue," which is on newsstands now.

In the issue, Johnson joins top pros Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, Charles Woodson and Maya Moore as they weigh in on what perfection means to them in “Meditations on Perfection.”

Plus in the issue's back-of-the-book poll, “Scale of 1 to 10,” athletes answer the question, “Did you pursue the right sport?”

· Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets: “Five. Sometimes I wish I had played baseball. I would have been a good pitcher.”

· Phil Hellmuth, poker player: “Ten. What other sport would I be good at? There’s not enough money in backgammon or chess.”

· Sergio Martinez, boxing middleweight: “One. I love soccer, but I want to be No. 1 and I wasn’t good enough to be No. 1 in soccer.”

But there's no point asking Johnson if he pursued the right sport - with five back-to-back championships to his credit, is there any doubt?

Johnson Has Nothing Left to Prove ... Almost

 Jimmie Johnson hoists the Sprint Cup Championship trophy
after claiming his fifth consecutive title at Homestead Miami Speedway.

Love him or hate him, Jimmie Johnson is the man.

He can win the Cup title when he dominates the Chase.  He can win the Cup title when he's trailing.

And what he doesn't do in the clutch may be even more important than what he does do.

Namely, he doesn't beat himself.

Johnson needed to qualify well to gain maximum points.  He did - in sixth.

Johnson needed to lead a lap to get five bonus points. Yup, he did that too.

Johnson needed to run toward the front and stay out of trouble.  Did it.  All race long.

In contrast, pre-race points leader Denny Hamlin took a spin early on from which his team never fully recovered.  Kevin Harvick was caught speeding on pit road, which forced him to forfeit track position and drive through race traffic.  And neither Hamlin nor Harvick laid down a solid qualifying run which put them at a disadvantage in the first place.

But Johnson made it all look easy  - again.

And now "Easy Rider" has a fifth consecutive Sprint Cup championship to his credit and nothing left to prove - unless he wants to be considered the greatest NASCAR driver ever.

After the Ford 400, Johnson hinted that he now has his eye on besting the record seven championships won by Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty.

"I spent the majority of my career as a "C" class driver, I never experienced stuff like this," Johnson said.

"Why would I even think of those kind of goals? I don't know if it's in reach, but we are a hell of a lot closer now than when the day started. Now I'm looking at the marks that the greats have put out there and am hopeful to get up there to them.''

Five down ... and just two to go.

'Twas the Night Before Homestead ...

'Twas the night before Homestead and all 'round the track,
Palm trees were swaying in the tropical black.

The drivers were tucked in their RVs with care,
in the hopes that a trophy would tomorrow be theirs.

Mike Ford in his kerchief, lay nervous in bed,
Where visions of fuel mileage danced through his head.

Denny Hamlin paced wildly 'cross his motorhome floor,
saying "I have to catch Jimmie tomorrow for sure."

Chad Knaus knelt praying that his crew swap would win it.
Gaining spots on pit road could keep his driver in it.

And meanwhile ol' Johnson was cool and collected
saying "I'll win number five if I wheel and don't wreck it."

And then there was Harvick who refused to be idle.
He was scheming and plotting to win his first title.

With a light in his eye and a mischeivous grin,
He stroked the short hairs on his quite stubbly chin.

"I may be starting in p28,
but Denny is further behind, which is great."

"I've brought the best motor, the best pit crew," he said.
"The best chassis, best power - that'll get in their heads."

"I'll zoom through the field like a bat outta hell
in my last race for Pennzoil and the team they call Shell.

"I'll drive 29 to the front of the pack
and if I have to spin Johnson, I'll never look back."

Then he smiled to himself as he thought of the fans
who would holler and cheer from the Homestead grandstands.

And he vowed he would do just whatever it took
to cement his first place in the championship book.

So on Harvick, on Johnson, on Hamlin and Gordon
On Edwards, on Bowyer on Busches and Burton.

And if you boys have at it, well you've got good reason.
Happy Homestead to all - thank you for a great season!

Score One for Johnson

Don't look now, but Jimmie Johnson has brought his "A" game to Homestead.

In one of the most important qualifying runs of the year, the defending champ threw down a dynamite lap time to cement a top 10 start - sixth to be exact.

The best part for Johnson? His fellow championship contenders didn't fare nearly as well.

He'll begin the race 22 spots ahead of his nearest title rival - Kevin Harvick.  Meanwhile, Chase leader Denny Hamlin will have to make an unenviable run from the rear if he wants to keep his points lead. He qualified 38th.

Sure, a good qualifying run doesn't necessarily mean a winning race. And starting in the back of the pack doesn't mean you'll stay there. Just last year at Homestead, Hamlin rocketed from the same starting spot to bring home the checkers.

However, when the points spread is slim, an up-front starting spot should be cause for at least a little relief. It'll take a while for Harvick and Hamlin to catch Johnson on Sunday.  And, if he can gain just a few spots, the No. 48 will be able to lead a lap early and snag those five coveted bonus points.

So the qualifying battle goes to Johnson.

A few hours will tell if he can also win the war.

Congrats to Our No. 29 Prize Pack Winners!

The driver of the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet could well pull off an upset at Homestead Miami Speedway this weekend.

A mere 46 points behind Chase leader Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick seems to relish his underdog status. And fans are loving it as well.  Judging from online chatter, many a race fan is rooting for the Richard Childress Racing team to dethrone Jimmie Johnson and outrun Hamlin.

To celebrate their driver being in championship contention, the folks at Shell-Pennzoil were kind enough to give us some cool No. 29 swag to give away. 

Congrats to Lori N., Laurie, Bryant W., Susie H. and Tom D.  Each of these folks will receive a special prize pack, which includes a No. 29 Shell diecast car, No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Christmas ornaments, No. 29 decals, Harley Davidson koozies and microfiber clean cloths.

Remember, Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines act as a barrier to shield and protect critical engine parts against performance-robbing gunk.

Congrats again to our contest winners - enjoy!

A Few "Poison-ous" Thoughts About Homestead

Poison frontman Bret Michaels will perform
the National Anthem and give the start command
before the Ford 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway.

Now that Phoenix is in the rear view, Homestead looms large. And boy does it hold promise.

The last race of the season is bound to be a hard rockin', fender-knockin' finale that's will go down in the record books - or at the very least, the collective memory of NASCAR fans.

In fact, there's so much to say about the upcoming Ford 400 that it's hard to put it into words.

But when I heard today's news that Poison glam-man Bret Michaels will sing the National Anthem and give the start command Sunday, I experienced a jolt of rock-inspired creativity.

So here are a few of my thoughts about the upcoming season finale - all inspired by the song titles of Poison.

Rock out and read on!

Talk Dirty to Me - there's nothing like a little pre-race smack to get the fans riled up. And, if Twitter is any indication, the trash talk is only going to escalate between now and Sunday. Just look up @kevinharvick and @dennyhamlin if you don't believe me ...

Nothin' But a Good Time - a fan-tastic celebration is what folks could experience if Carl Edwards wins Homestead and climbs into the grandstand like he did at Phoenix. My opinion? This new post-race tradition may be Edwards' best PR move yet.

Look What the Cat Dragged In - This could be the reaction Kevin Harvick gets if he steals the title from the No. 48 and the No. 11 teams. Think it's impossible? Then you haven't seen the recent F1 championship ...

Every Rose Has Its Thorn - I feel bad in advance for anyone but the top three Chasers who wins Sunday's race. Such a victory will be HUGELY overshadowed by the three-team championship drama.

Life Goes On - After his disappointing finish at Phoenix, the dejected Denny Hamlin needs to clear his head and adopt this song title as his mantra - lest he arrive in South Florida off his game.

I Want Action - what race fan isn't thinking this as the countdown to Homestead begins? The race will be "have-at-it" drama at its finest. So bring it on!

For Knaus - Heavy Lies the Head That Wears the Crown

Denny Hamlin smells blood in the water.  Your pit crew's performance is costing you positions. Your driver is panicked.  And there are only two races left.

What would you do?

Would you chuck your team on the chins and tell them "we'll get 'em next time"?  Would you tell your driver to shut up and wheel the car?  Or would you take a game-changing risk that could make you a hero if your instincts are right - or a zero if you're wrong.

Leaders opt for the latter.

Sure, Chad Knaus' mid-race move at Texas won't make him the new fan favorite, but that's nothing new.  Leaders aren't always popular, even among those they lead.  But leaders do make the tough call when it counts - which is what Knaus did at Texas.

When your guy is on the ropes and your opponent is using him for a punching bag, you've got to regroup, re-strategize and come out swinging. If not, you'll be down for the count and the victory will go to your opponent.

And what does popularity count for then?

So during the next few weeks, Knaus will take a lot of heat for the pit crew swap - especially if his plan fails.

But if his instincts are true (and they have been for the past four years) he'll have steered Hendrick Motorsports to their fifth consecutive championship.

And himself into the history books.  Again.

Points Racing Is for the Birds

Thank goodness for Kevin Harvick - one of the few Chasers
who didn't points race at Talladega.

I don't claim to have all the answers.  Heck, I don't even understand all the rules.

But as I sat in the grandstand at Talladega Sunday, I had an epiphany.

Points racing is for the birds.

Don't get me wrong.  Talladega was truly fantastic.  On the whole, it was exciting, dramatic and, in the end, somewhat confusing. 

However, if you're a fan of Jimmie Johnson or say Jeff Gordon, the last thing you want to do is spend money on a race ticket simply to watch your driver hang in the back. 

I know, I know, Talladega is a monster. A driver can go from worst to first in just a few laps.  Or first to wrecked in a split second.  So it makes rational sense that championship contenders would try avoid the fray.

And even with a non-aggressive points racing strategy, drivers run the risk of getting caught up in someone else's mistake or perhaps losing the draft completely (ahem ... Denny Hamlin).

But just think how much more exciting the last 12 races would be if every Chase driver had to run for the win to move up in the points?

Imagine what would happen if (as Hamlin suggested a couple weeks ago) drivers were awarded a point per each lap led.  Such a change would kick points racing to the curb and add a heap more drama.

And that would sure make the fans happier.

A Cure for the After-Dega Blues

The day after Talladega is kinda like the day after Christmas. There's so much buildup to the big event - it's a slow letdown when the party is finally over.

On the day after Dega, you wake up still on an adrenaline high from the sights, the sounds and the excitement. You  keep turning on your camera just to scroll through your race photos again and again.  You relive and retell the weekend's highlights with your buddies or any poor soul who will listen.

Then you gradually come back to reality as you pack for the journey home, return to work, or stand in an interminable airport security line.

Alas, it's too bad every day can't be Dega.

Personally, I can't quite come to terms with the real world just yet.  So I'm sharing some of my favorite photos from this weekend in the hopes they'll help alleviate those after-Dega blues ...

Jeff Burton and the No. 31 crew
await their turn to qualify.



Kevin Harvick laughing it up on pit road.



Jimmie Johnson chats with the boys from ESPN.

I'm still not used to seeing Kasey Kahne in
a Red Bull Racing uniform.

The "Lucky Dog" gets a place of honor
on David Reutimann's No. 00

Best off-track activity at Dega?
Playing "Costume or Not a Costume" -
sometimes it's hard to tell ...

American Idol alumnus Josh Gracin sang a
fantastic National Anthem.

There's always a camera crew following
Kyle Busch and fiancee Samantha Sarcinella

The fans are loving Tony Stewart - this was taken right after
he gave his Coca-Cola to a little girl who was decked out in No. 14 gear.

If fan adoration equaled good luck at Dega, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. would
have led every lap and won by a mile.

Scott Speed and company head down pit
road before qualifying.

The answer is "subtle".  The question is
"What is one thing Talladega fans are not?"

SB Nation reporter Jeff Gluck interviews
Clint Bowyer before qualifying.

Hamlin Names It and Claims It at Martinsville

Denny Hamlin celebrates his
victory at Martinsville.

Earlier in the week, Denny Hamlin said he'd be the guy to beat at Martinsville and that points leader Jimmie Johnson had better be worried.

He was right on both counts.

With Hamlin's prophetic win today at Martinsville (his third straight at the track) he chopped Johnson's points lead to six - a virtual tie.

The No. 11 Fed Ex Toyota didn't dominate the paper clip.  In fact, at the beginning, it looked like Hamlin had been shot backwards out of a cannon.

But the driver's surprising patience throughout the 500 laps coupled with a crack pit stop by the No. 11 crew, put him in good stead to bring home the "W".

"We did not have a race-winning car until the very end," Hamlin said. "My pit crew got me from sixth to third before the last restart and that was the key."

Hamlin's victory means the upcoming contest at Talladega could be a more strategic barn burner than usual.

With just a smattering of points separating Johnson and Hamlin - and third place Kevin Harvick trailing by a mere 62 - the boys will be forced  to race each other for position.

And that, my friend, will a wild race make.

Wonder if Hamlin cares to make another prediction?

Time Running Out for a Gordon Win

Prior to Saturday night's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, it appeared that Jeff Gordon was going to be the chaser to beat.

He was on the pole.  He was confident.  He was hungry.

And then all hell broke loose and he ended the race in twenty-third place.

Not quite the night he was hoping for.  Not quite the finish to contend for a championship.

But as time quickly runs out on the No. 24 team like so much sand through the hourglass, there is a bright spot on the nearby horizon:

Martinsville.

Gordon will enter the paper clip as the top-rated driver at the track.  He boasts seven wins, seven poles and leads all active drivers with the most top five and top 10 finishes.

Plus in March, he left Martinsville with a respectable third-place result.

If his pit crew hits their marks and Gordon can keep from speeding on pit road, the No. 24 team could well notch their first win of the season - and perhaps make up some ground on that other "four-timer".

And if it all falls apart?

Well, there's always next year ...

McMurray Routs Chasers in Another Emotional Win

Jamie McMurray put on two shows Saturday night.

The first ended with McMurray out-restarting chaser Kyle Busch and out-running points leader Jimmie Johnson for a win at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The second was his touching post-race interview in Victory Lane.

Saturday night sure was special for McMurray.  It not only marked his second win at the track where he won his first Cup race in 2002, it also also marked his third checkers of 2010. 

Pretty amazing for a guy who, just a year ago, was wondering if he'd even have a ride this season.

In addition to spoiling all Chasers' hopes of a mammoth points gain and schooling the field in how to beat Busch (the self-proclaimed "Restart King"), McMurray endeared himself to fans with his humble post-race interview.

"As those laps were winding down I was thinking about Daytona and why I cry and the power of prayer," McMurray said. " I never got to explain that then and I just want to take the time to explain that now. I had a tough year last year. I found out the power of prayer and what that can do for you.

And in the post-race press conference, McMurray elaborated on winning and prayer a bit more:

"I wanted people to understand that sometimes you see people's emotions on TV, and I don't know, I just I just wanted it to be understood that after the season that I had, or the last four years I had, I found the power of prayer and that it's something that I really believe in," McMurray explained.

"And when I got to victory lane in Daytona that's what I was thinking about. You know, I was crying, obviously because I was happy, but also because you feel like a prayer has been answered. And so that is, as a very powerful thing, and it's obviously very emotional when you feel like you I don't know, that's a very selfish thing to ask for."

"Certainly it's not the first thing that I pray about every day. But everyone wants to be successful and you want to do well in life, so when you feel like that's been answered, it's emotional. And I don't know, I thought about it the last eight or ten laps. I was like, you know, if I win this race, Lord, if you don't throw a caution, is what I said, and I win this race, I'm going to explain to people my feelings and why I felt that way," McMurray continued.

"And I think that's important. I watch other professional athletes, whether it's bull riders or basketball players or motorcycle riders, you hear them get out and you hear them thank God and talk about the power of prayer, and I just think that that's important for people to understand, and understand why my feelings were the way they were."

We get it Jamie. 

Don't stop believing.

Why NASCAR Fans Like Harvick

If lots of NASCAR fans have their way, Kevin Harvick will be the man who kicks Jimmie Johnson off the Sprint Cup pedestal.

Harvick, who is currently third in points, trails Johnson by just 54 ticks - mere peanuts.

And while the current Sprint Cup champ has been dubbed "vanilla," there's little chance that Harvick would garner such a moniker.

Rocky road? Maybe.  Vanilla? Never.

Harvick can be a punch-throwing good ol' boy one minute and a strategic-thinking team owner the next. He has been known to cuss out the media on a bad day, but he has a rep for being always gracious with fans.

He's a winning driver and a successful businessman.  And, thanks in large part to his presence on Twitter, fans know he's one of the funniest NASCAR drivers around.

But enough of my Harvick assessment.  I recently asked fans to tell me what they like about the driver of the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil car.  Here's what a few of them had to say -

"I like Kevin because of what he did after Dale Sr. was killed - how many young drivers could step into shoes as big as Dale's and survive in this sport? He handles situations with grace and humor sometimes, wit sometimes, and then at times (with reporters and drivers) is arrogant and cocky, but with fans he is thoughtful and very available. No other driver has these qualities, so how could you not like Kevin?" Jeannie J.

"He is just one of NASCAR's nice guys. I have met him and his wife several times and they are just really down-to-earth people," Michael H.

"Harvick is great. He stepped into big shoes and took on a huge challenge. He is outspoken and isn't afraid to move someone," Jonathan G.

"Consistency. Lead the year without the hype." Steven B.

"He's in your face, tells it like it is. No apologies. Loves his job but has fun while doing. Fierce competitor. Plus Bristol in 02 vs Biffle!" Kelly C. 

"Why I like Kevin Harvick? What you see is what you get. He is who he is and is fine with it!" Denise H.

And finally this quote from Bryan N. - who won an autographed Kevin Harvick hat for this answer: 

"I like Kevin Harvick because he always has that fire to win. He's also a great car owner. He is a threat to win in whatever he races."  

The fans have spoken.