Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson on winning his third Sprint Cup Series Championship in a row.

Last I checked our Top 10 and the Chasers that would be going to New York for the banquet are:

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Carl Edwards
3. Greg Biffle
4. Kevin Harvick
5. Clint Bowyer
6. Jeff Burton
7. Jeff Gordon
8. Denny Hamlin
9. Tony Stewart
10. Kyle Busch

Unfortunately, Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr missed the top ten and will not be appearing at the banquet.

I am curious to see who comes in as the rookie of the year for 2008. I just hope the banquet is on a night I don’t have to work, as I’d like to be able to watch and won’t be able to tape it.

Today’s race is the last. Not just of the 2008 Sprint Cup season, but the last day for Tony Stewart. This is his last day in the #20 Home Depot Car. His last day with crew chief of 10 years Greg Zipadelli. His last day with Joe Gibbs Racing. It’s the end of an era – I can’t say I’m not happy for Smoke, getting out there and being an owner/driver. I can’t say I’m not happy that he’s getting to do something he wants to do. But I can’t say I’m happy that he’s leaving JGR, Zippy, and the #20 either.

I know I’m being silly and sappy here, but I have a distinct feeling I might just cry when the race is over. Because once it’s over, it’s over. No more Tony in Home Depot orange & black. No more Tony and Zippy bickering at each other on the radio. No more looking for the #20 next to Stewart on the leaderboard at the top of my TV screen.

Next year it’ll be Office Depot/Old Spice red & black. Tony & Doug (I think that’s his name) bickering at each other on the radio (can the new dude handle Tony – I guess we’ll just have to see ). Looking for the #14 next to Stewart on the leaderboard at the top of my TV screen.  Looking for Ryan Newman and Tony to be working together at tracks where you need a drafting buddy.

It’s definitely the end of an era but also the beginning of a new one. While I’m sad to see this one end, I’m also a little excited for the new one to begin. There’s only one thing marring the end of this era – JGR’s choice of replacement driver. Logano hasn’t shown a whole lot of the reason they call him Sliced Bread in the Cup series and frankly, I hope he gets it together next year, because he’s got some big shoes to fill and frankly, like Karah said, I don’t think he can even fill one of Tony’s pant legs, much less his shoes when it comes to the legacy of the #20 Home Depot car.