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Jimmie Johnson wrecks on lap two after Sam Hornish gets into him after being tapped by David Reutimann.

And NASCAR officials collectively breathe a HUGE sigh of relief.

For a few reasons:

1. Before the race, the sanctioning body issued a decree to the drivers that there was to be no bump-drafting in the corners, and that a violation of the rule would lead to immediate penalization. (NASCAR 101 moment: Talladega is one of two tracks where the cars run a restrictor plate that restricts air intake to the carburetor, which slows the cars down and limits acceleration. Because the cars are unable to break away from each other–and the banking at Talladega is such that they can run flat out around the track–the cars run in packs, and bumping the car in front of you has become the preferred way of making a pass on a car in a different line without breaking your own momentum) Well, this isn’t a new rule, as it has been understood that there should be no bump-drafting in the corners in the past, but this was the first time that NASCAR was actually going to enforce the rule.

And, to make matters even more complicated, NASCAR announced that the driver getting bumped would also be penalized. Yes, you read that correctly. Now I assume that was to make sure that the driver in front didn’t drag the brake to force the driver behind to run into him (and draw a penalty) but given the inability of the car in front to pull away, there’s nothing much a driver can do if he’s getting pushed by the car behind him.

So as the drivers were left to ponder the sudden hard-line statement from NASCAR just two hours before the race, their response was obvious: they weren’t going to push the limit. Heck, they weren’t going to come close to pushing the limit.

What resulted was one of the most boring races in Talladega memory. Long segments of the race turned into single-file conga lines, with 35+ cars spaced evenly apart, all with no intentions of passing. When they did form multiple racing lines, the action wasn’t as intense as usual, and drivers were asking their crews–only half-kidding–to help keep them awake.

2. While the racing did pick up a bit in the final laps, the no bump-draft in the corners rule might have caused the first big wreck of the day. With five laps to go, Tony Stewart was forced to check up entering turn 3, a check up that was possibly magnified because of the new situation. Ryan Newman, his teammate, was behind him, and he swerved hard left in an attempt to avoid Stewart. The hard turn sent Newman into a slide, and he was turned backwards by Kevin Harvick. Once the car was backwards, it took off. Literally. That’s the second time a car has gone airborne at Talladega this year, and I’m beginning to wonder if there’s a serious design flaw–whether it’s the rear wing or the roof flaps–that is allowing these cars to take off so easily. Newman was very direct towards NASCAR and their attempts (or lack thereof) to fix the racing at Talladega after walking out of the infield care center. (Not to mention the fact that after Newman landed upside down, it took 12 minutes to get him out)

3. The Chase is now really over. Jimmie Johnson ran around the back of the pack all day in an attempt to avoid the big crash and ended up avoiding two of them and finished sixth. Mark Martin, who is still in second place, was caught up in the final wreck, a big melee one lap from the finish, and ended up flipping two times before his car settled right side up, unlike Newman’s. Martin is now 184 points behind Johnson, which is more than a whole race’s worth. Johnson’s day was made better by some bizarre fuel strategy by drivers that were in front of him. Newman’s crash caused a lengthy delay, and because of that delay many drivers ran out of fuel instead of playing it safe and getting some fuel after the crash like Johnson did. Even Johnson’s teammate, Jeff Gordon, ran out of fuel before the final restart and had to be pushed to pit road.

4. Oh, Jamie McMurray won the race.

Denny Hamlin won yesterday at Martinsville.

Buuuuuut Jimmie Johnson finished second, while Mark Martin finished eighth.

That means that Johnson’s points lead extended from 90 to 118, taking even more drama out of the Chase barring a a big calamity including Johnson next week at Talladega.

The old system–the one where the points went over the whole season, like in soccer–would actually be closer than the Chase is now.

Tony Stewart would be leading, with Johnson 80 behind in second and Jeff Gordon 117 behind in third.

Yes, under the yawn inducing old system, the third place driver would be closer to first than Martin is now.

I’m sure NASCAR is loving that.

– Greg Biffle is one of the nicest guys in NASCAR, and is one of the best quotes too. Biffle was candid in admitting that his decision to take four tires late in Sunday’s race cost him the race, but later added that he was having the time of his life. Biffle may be on the borderline for contention for the Sprint Cup, but given the way he ran at Kansas, he isn’t out of the hunt.

– A local television reporter asked Tony Stewart why he liked the track. “It’s round,” Stewart said. Deep.

– Another local television reporter told a certain driver that he was like “a fine wine.” Said certain driver is a recovering alcoholic. Uncomfortable grimaces and silence in the media center ensued.

– The reclusive George Gillett came in for a press conference on Saturday, and bizarre is the only way to describe the 30 minute session. Gillett was all over the map, first taking a phone call while on the podium before answering any questions. (The common conspiracy theory, given the way the press conference went, was that the phone call was staged. By the way, his ringtone is You’ll Never Walk Alone.)

The press conference was held to announce a partnership between Gillett and a Saudi prince that included plans to build NASCAR academies–no, I’m not making this up–in the Middle East in exchange for some marketing rights to Richard Petty Motorsports.

One of the sponsors for Richard Petty Motorsports is the Air Force, so Gillett was asked, rather indirectly, if the partnership with the Saudi prince would tick off the Air Force. No, I’m not making this up either.

As the press conference went on, Gillett avoided three or four questions by claiming that his hearing was bad and at one point called Kasey Kahne a “dear guy” who had no idea how to deal with the media. (Kahne is one of the most media friendly drivers around.)

– I can’t help but wonder that Joey Logano’s crash from Dover has been replayed more times than it would have been if Logano got hurt. Yes, the new car is very safe, and that wreck looked very scary. And yes, Logano admitted that he was scared during the wreck. But while the highlights make for good television, a wreck like that is safer than a sudden impact, because the energy dissipates over time, instead of an impact like Dale Earnhardt’s. If Logano wasn’t such a nice kid, he’d have told everyone to shut up about it now. Maybe he should have gotten Kyle Busch to say it for him.

And Tony Stewart was certainly being the Tony Stewart that people have come to admire or disdain after winning Sunday’s Price Chopper 400.

Don’t let the Kansas City Star story fool you. Mr. Stewart was not gleeful or giddy.

He was far from it.

“Yeah, as soon as I get done with this stimulating conversation that we’re having here, (that will) make me feel smarter when I leave here, then I’m going to get to Knoxville as quickly as I can. That’s my goal to get out of here soon. Just a hint,” Stewart said.
Moments earlier, Stewart joked about taking the chair when it was mentioned to him that Gordon had—just minutes before—sat in the same chair that Stewart was sitting in.
“That’s awesome. I never would have thought Jeff Gordon would have came in here,” Stewart sarcastically said.
And those in attendance thought it was a joke as Stewart said that he was going to take the chair and have Gordon sign it.
But no, it wasn’t a joke, as after the final question, Stewart wheeled the chair out of the media center, intent on proving the point that, yes, he was serious about taking the chair.

Saturday night’s finals of the Knoxville Dirt Late Model Nationals were rained out. Stewart and teammate Ryan Newman were scheduled to race. The finals were postponed and moved to Sunday evening.

Since Stewart won, that meant that he was going to get to Knoxville, Iowa late. And yes, he did take the chair, which was last seen somewhere in the vicinity of his hauler.

The win cut Stewart’s deficit to points leader Mark Martin by 39 to 67 points. And apparently restored Stewart’s arrogance.

When Tony’s arrogant, watch out. That usually means bad things for the competition.

A report broke late Thursday that Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson’s cars barely exceeded NASCAR’s tolerance levels on certain parts of the bodies after Sunday’s race at Dover, and that NASCAR had asked Hendrick Motorsports not to bring those cars back to the track.

Not true, said NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp.

So why the fuss?

Well, Johnson and Martin are 1-2 in the points standings. And Johnson’s crew chief, Chad Knaus–widely regarded as the best in the business–has been suspended and fined for rules infractions before.

“Obviously Chad has more fines than anyone in NASCAR history, so that’s where the rumors are going to come from. I think good for them. I wish that was us, when we go to inspection, we should have everything maxed to every limit that we possibly can without going over. That’s the job of ingenuity as a crew chief and as a team in the sport,” Brian Vickers said.

That’s precisely why Hendrick Motorsports has been the dominant team this season. They maximize every millimeter given to them by the rulebook.

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…starts Sunday at New Hampshire for Jimmie Johnson.

While some people feel that a fourth straight title for JJ would be a great thing for NASCAR, I completely disagree.

Johnson is a great driver on a great team and by every indication is a great person.

Johnson isn’t bland, but he isn’t controversial either. Maybe he’s more of a vanilla bean than straight vanilla.

But he doesn’t inspire. Sure, there are Jimmie Johnson fans, and there are probably some very passionate Jimmie Johnson fans, but mention Kyle Busch or Jeff Gordon (and Junior to a smaller extent) and people are automatically on one side or another.

If you don’t like Johnson, you’re probably ambivalent. And sick of him winning.

Four straight titles is undoubtedly a sexy storyline, as it’s never been done in the modern era in any major professional sport. But NASCAR would be best served to have someone else win the title this season.