Joshua and Cheryl have been offering up their own personal sets of HeartRacers~HeartBreakers for each race. The moments that stirred them for whatever reason will fall in the HeartRacers category, and anything that makes them wince, cry, or throw stuff will be HeartBreakers. All cawsnjaws readers are invited to add on their own to share with everyone.

The biggest question coming into this race was whether or not Jimmie Johnson could avoid calamities or catastrophes that would relegate him to a finish in the back, allowing Matt Kenseth to overtake him for the championship. The sun was shining, the temperatures were warm, and the nerves of NASCAR fans everywhere were standing on end.

HeartRacers:

• Did Wally Dallenbach enjoy the company? He accompanied himself on Sunday’s ‘Wally’s World’. While it was humorous, it inspires us to say that if Wally needs passengers for this segment, Joshua and I would be more willing than willing to ride along. Just give us a call, Wally!

• How about a HeartRacers cheer for a long run of green flag racing? From lap 50 to 115 there was nary a caution, even a debris caution, which was quite refreshing.

• Scott Wimmer, driving the No. 33 Chevy for a one-race deal, started 24th and finished 12th. That’s a good way to impress the management.

• David Stremme (No. 40 Dodge) eluded bad luck, finishing 11th after starting 23rd. We also throw some HeartBreaker ‘Heys!’ out to Tony Raines (No. 96 Chevy) who started 40th and finished 20th; and to Bill Elliott (No. 00 Chevy), who started 43rd and finished 25th.

• Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Chevy) had to start in the back of the field, but by races end he found himself starting in the spot he qualified in (tenth). Good job for a driver who has found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time several times this year.

• Petty Enterprises has reason to feel good about this season, showing some bright sparks that may turn into fireworks in 2007. On Sunday, with his 28th place finish, this assured Kyle Petty’s (No. 45 Dodge) place in the top 35 in points.

• Tony Stewart (No. 20 Chevy) held on to get an 11th place finish. Stewart fans can rejoice that their favorite driver will be going to NYC this year.

• We send out a HeartRacer’s cheer to Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Chevy) and his team. Not only did he finish third in the race, but he proved he is a driver to watch out for next season.

• If Greg Biffle (No. 16 Ford) is throwing any hoagies, it’s out of joy after this Sunday’s performance. He started 22nd, and found himself in Victory Lane at race’s end. That had to feel terrific after a difficult season.

• Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Chevy), his team, and fans! Despite reports of a hole in the radiator on lap 16, Johnson raced a good race, and finished ninth, assuring him the Championship.

HeartBreakers:

• During Saturday’s Busch race, Bobby Labonte (in the No. 77 Chevy) had a wreck early on, taking him out of contention. Unfortunately, the same thing happened to Labonte (No. 43 Dodge) in the Cup race. Contact with Kurt Busch (No. 2 Dodge) on lap seven relegated Labonte to a 41st place finish.

• The Busch brothers, Kurt and Kyle (No. 5 Chevy), must be glad the race and the season are over. Kurt started in 36th, finished 43rd; and Kyle started third and finished 38th.

• Sterling Marlin (No. 14 Chevy) needed to finish well to surpass Kyle Petty in points, to be within the top 35. Unfortunately it didn’t work out that way. He started 18th and finished 37th.

• We are betting that Ryan Newman (No. 12 Dodge) and Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 30 Dodge) won’t be wishing each other a ‘Happy Thanksgiving’, or inviting each other over for some pumpkin pie. On lap 246, some contact was made and Newman went spinning into the grass. Shortly after the race returned to green (lap 251) Newman retaliated with contact with Montoya, which sent him into a fiery wreck. It all resulted in both drivers being called to the Big White Trailer, and we’re anticipating hearing about some penalties.

• The biggest HeartBreaker of all is the reality of it being the end of the NASCAR season. Besides the awards banquets, there is nothing racing-related to look forward to, and our racing blood must turn to cold sludge till the engines fire again for testing in January.