Southside Baptist Church, Athens, AL

When I first started this blog I promised an occasional post about NASCAR.  Now that we're three weeks into the season, I just have to say, "What an unexpected start!"

Three weeks ago no one would have predicted that at this point the top 12 would have included two teams from Michael Waltrip Racing, one from Hall of Fame Racing and one from the newly formed Stewart-Haas Racing.  Even less predictable is the fact that only one Hendrick team is in the top 12, albeit the top spot, but let's be honest; if anyone had predicted that Hendrick would have the top spot three weeks into the season, they probably wouldn't have been thinking of Jeff Gordon. 

At the other end of the spectrum we have unexpected happenings as well.  Imagine this: just two more bad weeks for either Dale Earnhardt Jr, Ryan Newman or Mark Martin and any one of them could be among the go-or-go-homers when they get to Martinsville!  Add to this that Joe Gibbs' Home Depot #20 (made famous by Tony Stewart, but now driven by rookie Joey Logano) is also at risk of dropping outside the top 35, and that the famous numbers 28 and 8 are already outside the top 35 and will have to have two great weeks to secure a spot at Martinsville.

It really has been an unexpected start to the 2009 NASCAR season!  And I, for one, am loving it!