"Smoked" 'em!!

Tony Stewart wins his third Cup Championship

Disclaimer: The Gov "outsourced" this season wrap up to the Commish so, you know it's going to be long but, you're just goofing off at work anyway so, let's get going.

The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season is one we will remember for a long time, thanks to you, Tony "Smoke" Stewart.

Going into the Chase, Tony had not won a single race and was seeded ninth in the field of twelve. Even Tony admitted that, while he was grateful to just make it into the post season, his chances of winning the championship were pretty slim. But then Smoke won four of the first nine races and closed to just three-points behind Cup-leader Carl Edwards. For the final race, Carl took the pole while Tony qualified at fifteenth. But with "winner take all" solidly on the line, everyone seemed to know it wouldn't be over until the final lap of the final race.

Getting to that final lap, though, proved to be a bit of challenge for Tony. Debris ripped a hole in his front grill and he dropped to 40th. He charged back and eventually took the lead but, nearly ran out of fuel coming down pit road on his last stop. That could have been it for Stewart but, this wasn't a race for the meek. No riding around. No protecting position. Soon enough, it was Tony and Carl, all alone in front.

The final dozen laps were nail biters, even though Smoke was in clean air all the way. Less than a second-and-a-half behind was Carl. One wobble, one bump, one rub and Carl would blow by. But that's not what happened. Strong to the finish, Tony took the checkers. Both he and Carl finished with identical point totals for the season. But with now five wins in the last ten races, is there really need to discuss tiebreakers? "No" is the answer you're looking for.

Congratulations to Tony Stewart -- the 2011 Sprint Cup Champion!

2011 RacingUnlimited Champion: Who's Ya Daddy

Mammoth Car -- 2nd Daisy's Duds -- 3rd

Well, let's just agree our championship finish wasn't nearly as exciting as Tony's. No offense, Daddy.

For the vast majority of the final two months, Who's Ya Daddy was holding onto a very comfortable point margin. Among all 32 teams from the Allison and Yarborough Divisions (which were combined to contend for League Championship honors), none seemed to put it together like Who's Ya Daddy. Almost like "Consistent Carl" (Edwards) but, with a trophy, that is. In any event, Daddy's final margin of victory was 132 points which is almost like saying he earned enough for a 37-race season. Click Here for Championship Standings.

Coming in at bridesmaid was Mammoth Car. Mr. Mam did a good job of occupying a piece of Daddy's rearview and, at the same time, keeping the rest of the wolves in his. The one spot that was in contention until the very end, though, was "Show" (think win, place, show) which was claimed by Daisy's Duds when she surged up two spots in the final race.

For their troubles (and ours), Who's Ya Daddy earns $140, Mammoth Car $90, and Daisy's Duds $50. Oh, and one more thing: All three of these teams came from the Yarborough Division. Better luck next year, you Allisons.

Chase Tournament Winner: Daisy's Duds

It was a bit convoluted with weekly eliminations but, this year's end-o-season Chase Tournament proved to be a worthy diversion after all. We started with, um, a bunch of teams (can't remember how many -- weekend was too long -- records were lost -- mistakes were made -- you get the picture). Anyway, we whittled that down to just four going into the final race. Thank you Blazing Saddles -- your hopes were "Busch-wacked" (Kurt) shortly after the race started. Thank you Team Gordon -- when did you start picking Roush drivers (Greg Biffle)? And thank you Racer X -- yeah, you had Tony, Carl, and Jimmie but, just about everyone else did too, and Brad K ain't no Kasey K.

Those thank you's would be coming from none other than Daisy's Duds who garnered 183 points with her five drivers to win the Chase Tournament contest. This win nets the Duds a FREE RIDE in 2012 -- not that she wouldn't come back, even if she had to pay like the rest of us. Click Here for the Chase Tournament finish.

Last Race Recap

Before we get to the next two segments, let's discuss those results from the final race. You'll soon find out that it was pretty important for one Racer and doubly-important for another.

We'll start with Team Chim Chim in Yarborough. She won Race 36 with 206 points. It was her third for the season. Over in the Unlimited Division, the winner there was Shark Body and, in the Allison Division, also with 206 points, it was Ruhound's Racers taking the checkers. A little later, we'll discuss how many season wins it was for these two.

Division Winners: Ruhound's Racers, Who's Ya Daddy, and Taz Car

We set aside some of that end-o-season cash for those Racers who won their Divisions over the course of the full 36-race season. Each of these winners will pocket $30 and that's on top of any other awards previously earned. To see final division standings, Click Here for the Official Results summary and go to Race 36.

Since you already know that Who's Ya Daddy was the League Champ, it should be no surprise to learn that he also won his division (Yarborough). In the Unlimited Division, which we hosted on Yahoo this year (still deciding where/how/if we'll do it next year), it was Taz Car who took that. Keep in mind that there was no cost to enter a team in the Unlimited Division (as long as you paid for a regular division team) so, all cash awarded there was "pure profit."

Lastly, in the Allison Division, Ruhound's Racers was queen on the scene. We saved R. Racers for last to serve as a segue to the next segment (Segue: To move smoothly from one element to another -- what we're friggin' going to do now).

Most Wins: Blazing Saddles, Ruhound's Racers, Chewbacca Road, Shark Body

Even after paying out those impressive League and Division Champion prizes, it turns out the Commish still had a little cash stashed. And now we're going to chew through that like a brother-in-law on a Thanksgiving turkey. Only we'll keep our mouth closed.

Four racers tied with Most Wins for the season. Five was the magic number this year and we saw happen it in two divisions: Allison and Yarborough, two Racers from each. Remember that, during the season, each race winner in all divisions, Unlimited included, were awarded five bucks for their wins. This Most Wins cash, then, is a extra little bonus. Emphasis on the "little," by the way, since we're only talking $10 apiece.

Blazing Saddles in Allison had a good first half (three consecutive wins in Races 1-18) and a decent second half (two wins races 19-36). Same for Chewbacca Road in the Unlimited where he got a pair in each half. But then there's Ruhound's Racers and Shark Body who each had a very timely win which, by tying Blazing and Chewbacca, got them a share of this bonus.

In the Last Race Recap section you read that Ruhound's Racers and Shark Body won the final race. Those wins took both of them from four to five. For Shark Body, it simply made for a little extra folding money. For Ruhound's Racers, though, that final win not only gave her five total for the season but, it also helped her jump six spots in the final standings for Allison where, as you already know, allowed her to lay claim to Division Champ honors. Not a bad day's work, eh Ruhound?

AllTachedUp gets twenty from the Commish

Most of you were unaware that the Commish set up one other "experimental" fantasy racing league on the NASCAR.com website. He did this to try out their set-up for potential future use. Like our experience with the Yahoo set-up used for the Unlimited division, the results were mixed. But that's why we call it an experiment. Anyway, to keep folks interested, the Commish put up $20 of his own cash which would go to the winner of that league. And now you should know that it was AllTachedUp who bested the other nine teams there. So, A.T.U., when you get that check, give the Commish a call and he'll let you know where you're taking him to lunch.

Thanks and we'll see you in 2012

Okay, that's it for RacingUnlimited 2011. We surely had an incredible ending to an impressive season. Twists and turns, bumps and runs -- not much was missing. The Gov and Commish extend a hearty "Thank You" to everyone who participated this year. Be sure to check this website as things warm up for the 2012 season which, as you know, is only a couple months away. And until February when we need to report to Daytona, be sure to Feel The Thunder!