Legends throughout NASCAR’s 60-year history will help crown the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion during Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

A group of past champions will be guests of honor during the Championship Contenders’ Press Conference at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables on Nov. 13. They will be introduced during the luncheon and be available for media interviews and photos following the formal part of the program.  On Nov. 16, the past champions will also be honored at Homestead-Miami Speedway as part of Ford Championship Weekend pre-race ceremonies prior to the season-finale Ford 400.

Below is a list of the past champions scheduled to appear at the Nov. 13 Contenders’ Press Conference. Other past champions, including those competing in the Ford 400, will also be honored during the pre-race ceremony.

Bobby Allison – A hometown hero returns to Miami. Though part of the famous Alabama Gang, Allison grew up in nearby Hialeah, Fla. His NASCAR career was one of the most prolific in history, winning 84 races and a NASCAR Sprint Cup title in 1983.

Kurt Busch – In 2004, Busch became the first driver to win the championship under the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup format. His title was the closest in NASCAR Sprint Cup history – only eight points separated Busch and runner-up Jimmie Johnson. Busch has won 18 races in his nine-year career, which is ninth among active drivers.

Ned Jarrett – A two-time champion, Jarrett is one of 15 drivers to win multiple NASCAR Sprint Cup titles. Jarrett’s came in 1961 and 1965. In 1965, he won 13 races and had 45 top-10 finishes in 54 events. That year, he set a record in dominance – and one that will likely never be broken. At the Southern 500 at Darlington, he won by 14 laps (17.5 miles), the widest margin of victory in NASCAR history.

Bobby Labonte – Labonte won the 2000 championship, notching four wins, 19 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes in the 34-race season. His 21 career wins ranks sixth among active drivers.

Richard Petty – Known forever as “The King,” Petty re-wrote the NASCAR record book during his 35-year career. He holds the NASCAR record for wins (200), poles (123) and starts (1,185). Petty’s seven NASCAR Sprint Cup championships is tied with Dale Earnhardt for most ever. Petty won his championships in 1964, ‘67,’71, ‘72, ‘74, ‘75 and ‘79.

Rusty Wallace – Now an analyst for ESPN and a NASCAR Nationwide Series owner, Wallace was known as one of the most colorful members of the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage during his 25-year career. Wallace won 55 races (eighth all-time) and the championship in 1989.

Darrell Waltrip – A NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion in 1981, ’82 and ’85, Waltrip is one of seven drivers to win three or more titles. Waltrip, now an analyst on Fox’s NASCAR broadcasts, won 84 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, which is tied for third-most all-time.

Rex White – The 1960 champion, White won six races and had an amazing 35 top-10 finishes in the 40 races he ran. A rarity, White is one of only six driver/owners to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.

Driver after driver spoke up today at Texas Motor Speedway in support of the current Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup format despite the possibility of Jimmie Johnson becoming a three-time champion.

Speaking Friday from Texas Motor Speedway, Jeff Burton, Greg Biffle, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Johnson said the Chase format – now in its fifth season – correctly rewards the top team with the season title.

“It rewards winning,” Burton said of media questions about whether the current Chase format should be changed. “It rewards running up front, it rewards leading laps, it does everything that you guys (the media) all thought was really cool. When somebody does it better than everybody else, don’t talk about how the point system is messed up, talk about how good they’re doing. That’s what the focus ought to be.”

Heading into Sunday’s Dickies 500, Johnson, the two-time and defending series champion, leads the current standings by 183 points over second-place Carl Edwards. He leads the third-place Biffle by 185 points and the fourth-place Burton by 218 points.

“We’ve worked very hard,” Johnson said, “and I know everybody has listened to me over the last 34 weekends talking about how hard we’ve worked this year. At the end of the day, we all know we didn’t get off to a good start. And we had to work very hard to be in this position. We’re here and we’re proud of it.”

“You can’t make a rule to keep one guy from winning the championship,” said Biffle in response to a media query about whether Chase teams should be able to discard their worst finish. “That’s never worked in our sport and this is an equal opportunity right here. No matter what you do, you cannot change. In this country, one guy is gonna have more money than the other guy, and one guy is gonna win more races than the other guy, and one guy is gonna win more championships.”

“In my opinion, the Chase does what it’s supposed to do,” said Earnhardt Jr., Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate and currently the 10th place driver in the Chase. “There’s no real true formula that anybody in this room could come up with to make the perfect Chase every time. I think that you’ve just got to give Jimmie and those guys credit for whatever they’ve been able to accomplish up to this point. They’re a dominant team in this sport at this time. You can’t handicap an individual for being great.”

“I don’t know why they would want to change it,” said Stewart, the 2002 and 2005 series champion who’s currently eighth in the Chase standings. “It’s pretty good the way it is I think. I like it the way it is. Everybody’s reset with 10 weeks to go and the best team that performs over the 10-week stretch is the team that wins. I don’t know how much more simple we could make that.”

“If they go on to win this thing, then they’ve done it better than everybody else,” Burton said of Johnson and his team. “That’s the end of the story. That’s what the story ought to be.”

“Me being a competitor and a fan for that matter, I want to see the driver-team, the whole combination that’s done the best job, win the championship,” said Kenseth, the 2003 series champion who’s currently ninth in the Chase standings. “That’s what I want to see. I don’t want to see somebody win the championship under an artificial system or something like one race.”

Two Chase races remain after the Dickies 500 – next Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway, followed by the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 16.

Johnson has led the standings for five consecutive weeks. He has two wins (at Martinsville Speedway and Dover International Speedway) and a runner-up finish (last week at Atlanta Motor Speedway) during that span. Johnson has a total of five top-five finishes and two top-10 finishes since the Chase began Sept. 14 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The Chase format debuted in 2004. It is this: The top 12 drivers following race No. 26 at Richmond International Raceway are eligible to compete for the series title during the season’s final 10 races. Drivers begin the Chase seeded according to their number of wins in the first 26 races. They receive 10 points for each victory.

Back to back 1.5 mile tracks creates a dearth of storylines. The top cars last week will be the top cars this week. The tires are likely similar, although Texas offers more grip than Atlanta. Jimmie Johnson will enter Phoenix with the points lead, so nothing to see there. There weren’t any feud-starting wrecks at Atlanta to boil over this weekend. I’m not trying to be negative, but what separates Texas from Atlanta? Hopefully next year when Atlanta is swapped for California, they will split the intermediate tracks apart more.

Is there any reason to believe Carl Edwards won’t pull off another intermediate track win? There have been 12 1.5 or 2 mile races this year. Edwards has won 5, and finished 2nd once. He also had two other races where he had serious chances to win, only to blow an engine (Atlanta) and break his splitter (Chicago). While Roush-Fenway has restored their downforce dominance, you have to say it’s mostly Edwards. The only other Roush driver to win a race is Greg Biffle, and neither of his two wins came on a track longer than 1 mile. Edwards and crew chief Bob Osborne have clearly figured out something that works for Edwards’ driving style. And let’s be clear, it has little to do with a “crabbed out” car or a mysterious oil pan lid.

There is a 10% chance of rain in Texas on Friday. That’s more than enough reason for fans to fear another rainout of qualifying.

What Happened Last Year

Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch took turns dominating the race. Denny Hamlin wrecked late while racing Kenseth for the lead. Kenseth looked set to win until Jimmie Johnson popped up with six laps left to overtake Kenseth for his third straight win and the overall Chase lead. Thanks to Jeff Gordon’s sudden inability to finish well, the title became academic for the final two weeks.

Who Will Get the Coveted Awkward Firesuit/Six Shooters/Cowboy Hat Photo Op?

Two words: Cowboy Carl. Four more words: Jimmie Johnson takes second. Seven more words: Dale Earnhardt Jr starts strong, fades late. Twenty more words…nevermind.

There are few sponsors as visible as NAPA in the Cup garage. Between a fulltime sponsor of the #55 car and a comprehensive ad campaign, the auto parts company is spending big bucks on NASCAR. Since 2001, they have backed, some might say blindly, Michael Waltrip. Despite only four wins–none since 2003–and a litany of troubles, NAPA is still on the hood of the Waltrip car. Here’s five possible reasons why the marriage has lasted this long.

1. If you can’t sponsor the car in Victory Lane, at least back one that drops out of races early to ensure camera time.

2. Waltrip promised NAPA execs he could land Dale J. They thought Dale Junior, he gave them Dale Jarrett.

3. NAPA wants to penetrate the key, “guy with too many things on his plate and can’t finish any of them” demographic.

4. NAPA doesn’t sell jet fuel, so why should that be a problem?

5. With all of the replacement parts orders from MWR, NAPA actually comes out ahead each season.

Note: I usually write top ten lists, but seriously, there aren’t even ten fictitious reasons why NAPA is still with MWR.

“

The strong 2008 seasons by Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch (from Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota, respectively) has made this year’s Manufacturers’ Championship one of the most heated – and coveted – in history.

With three races remaining in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, only five points separate the top three in the Manufacturers’ Championship standings.

Chevrolet took the lead for the first time in 22 races after Jimmie Johnson’s second-place finish at Atlanta. Chevrolet, with 198 points, now leads Toyota by one point and Ford by five. Dodge, with 138 points, is 60 points out.

“Several teams have made it a point to say that they’ll do everything they can to ‘get the next spot’ if it means moving Chevy further ahead in the manufacturers’ points race,” said Pat Suhy, GM Racing NASCAR Group Manager. “I know they’d go for it anyway, but it feels good to know that they’re thinking of us at the same time as they are themselves.”

Kyle Busch, in winning eight races during the 26-race regular season, put Toyota in prime position to win the Manufacturers’ Championship in only its second season.

“The competition between four manufacturers is one of the reasons we decided to become involved in NASCAR, and there’s undoubtedly a huge sense of pride in earning the Manufacturers’ Championship, especially with the intense level of competition in the series," said Lee White, president and general manager of TRD, U.S.A.

Ford entered the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup trailing Toyota by 18 points. But three wins in seven Chase races has cut the deficit by 13.

“It’s obviously been one of the most competitive seasons, in terms of manufacturers that NASCAR has seen in many years,” said Doug Hervey, North American Operations Manager, Ford Racing Technology. 
“Fortunately for us, we’ve got three race tracks coming up where our teams really excel, especially Homestead Miami Speedway, so we’re optimistic about our chances of coming back and winning the manufacturers’ championship.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Manufacturer Points System Breakdown

A maximum of six points can be gained in a given race. The top-finishing manufacturer gets nine (9) points, the second-best finishing manufacturer gets six (6), third-best gets four (4) and fourth-best gets three (3).

A single manufacturer cannot get points for two different positions. For instance, if Jimmie Johnson’s Chevrolet finishes first and Jeff Burton’s Chevrolet finishes third, Chevrolet does not earn 13 points. It would only earn the nine points for their first-place finish. A manufacturer earns the points in relation to how the other manufacturers finish.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Toyota and Ford are looking to end a five-year run on championships by Chevrolet. The last time a non-Chevrolet outfit won the title was 2002 (Ford). Over NASCAR’s history, Chevrolet has captured 31 of the 58 championships (53%):

Manufacturer  Titles
Chevrolet    31
Ford           15
Hudson        3
Oldsmobile   3
Dodge          2
Buick           2
Plymouth     1
Pontiac        1

Even if Chevrolet does hold on to win its sixth consecutive Manufacturers’ Championship, it would still fall short of its own record of nine consecutive titles (1983-1991). Below is a year-by-year breakdown of the Manufacturers’ Champions:

1949 None
1950 Oldsmobile
1951 Oldsmobile
1952 Hudson
1953 Hudson
1954 Hudson
1955 Oldsmobile
1956 Ford
1957 Ford
1958 Chevrolet
1959 Chevrolet
1960 Chevrolet
1961 Chevrolet
1962 Pontiac
1963 Ford
1964 Ford
1965 Ford
1966 Ford
1967 Ford
1968 Ford
1969 Ford
1970 Dodge
1971 Plymouth
1972 Chevrolet
1973 Chevrolet
1974 Chevrolet
1975 Dodge
1976 Chevrolet
1977 Chevrolet
1978 Chevrolet
1979 Chevrolet
1980 Chevrolet
1981 Buick
1982 Buick
1983 Chevrolet
1984 Chevrolet
1985 Chevrolet
1986 Chevrolet
1987 Chevrolet
1988 Chevrolet
1989 Chevrolet
1990 Chevrolet
1991 Chevrolet
1992 Ford
1993 Chevrolet
1994 Ford
1995 Chevrolet
1996 Chevrolet
1997 Ford
1998 Chevrolet
1999 Ford
2000 Ford
2001 Chevrolet
2002 Ford
2003 Chevrolet
2004 Chevrolet
2005 Chevrolet
2006 Chevrolet
2007 Chevrolet
2008 TBD

Dickies 500

There are only three races left this season and Jimmie Johnson has a commanding lead over Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle right now.

Jimmie is going to have to have a major catastrophe to lose the championship this season. NASCAR is going to have to ask themselves if they need to reformat the Chase when Johnson wins his third straight title.

My Pick To Win

This week we head to Texas and the running of the Dickies 500. Jimmie has a win and 2 runner-up finishes in his last 4 Texas starts. I look for him to get another win this weekend and put the Chase virtually out of reach during the remaining 2 races.

Texas Motor Speedway Frontrunners

Carl Edwards won here this spring and has been the most dominant driver on the one and a half mile tracks this season. Carl will do everything he can once again this weekend but Johnson can follow him across the finish line again and still hold a very comfortable lead.

Matt Kenseth had a fast car at Atlanta and has done even better at Texas over the last few years. Matt hasn’t won here since 2002 but since then he has finished 2nd three times and 3rd once. This is a team that would like to get a win this season to build a little momentum heading into next year.

Denny Hamlin had a great car last weekend also and he runs well at Texas. During his short career, Denny has only finished out of the top 10 once at Texas in 6 starts. This is another team that is looking to build momentum for next year.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. should do well once again at Texas this weekend unless he loses it towards the end of the race once again. I think what this team needs is a new crew chief. Not that Tony Eury Jr. isn’t a good crew chief it’s just that he and Junior don’t really have the chemistry together in my opinion.

Jeff Burton has run well at Texas lately, winning in the spring of 2007 and then following that up with two straight 6th place finishes. Jeff was running alright at Atlanta last weekend until a late race wreck ruined his day.

Kyle Busch needs to turn things around this weekend. He admitted to not being totally focused when he comes to the tracks now that he is out of contention for the Chase but this is the time for teams like this to start working towards next season. If you start getting lackadaisical now it will only hurt you as other teams just keep on improving.

Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray both had great runs last weekend at Atlanta and I look for both of them to try and score an upset this week at Texas. Both of them have the skill and equipment to do just that.

Yahoo! Fantasy Picks

Group A

• Jimmie Johnson (starter)
• Carl Edwards

Group B

• Jamie McMurray (starter)
• Juan Pablo Montoya (starter)
• Greg Biffle
• Kasey Kahne

Group C

• AJ Allmendinger (starter)
• Brian Vickers

Dark Horse

• Kurt Busch & Jamie McMurray

“

Few would consider the weather to be party to a Hendrick conspiracy.

Of course trailblazer Darren Fauth believes otherwise:

“I saw a headline (I think over at ESPN) a few weeks ago about Mother Nature giving the Championship to Johnson. I mildly thought it interesting when I saw it. Of course being a ‘Johnson hater’ I was disappointed with how it benefits him having so many quals rained out.

EDIT: The correct location of the headline was On Pit Row’s Steve Wronkowicz.

First off, Darren, God’s favorite driver is Morgan Shepard. Since Shephard is outside the top 35 in owners points, it wouldn’t behoove God to cancel qualifying (nevermind that Shepherd hasn’t attempted a Cup race since 2006).

Second, Darren may have actually seen the black helicopters and found the truth.

No matter what you believe about climate change and global warming, this much is true: The weather is changing and there is no better example for NASCAR fans than a quick glance at the number of rain-influenced weekends this year.

• Qualifying has been rained out ten times, including five of the last eight races.
• Races have been delayed, shortened and in the case of the Montreal Nationwide race, run in the rain.

It’s hard to tell how much of an effect weather has had on the Chase, but Jimmie Johnson has started the last three races on the pole PLUS his choice of pit selection.

Kyle Busch enjoyed the same benefit five times during the season. It doesn’t guarantee a good finish, but beginning races with 5 bonus points, track position and a choice pit stall certainly helps!

So how did this happen?

My first reaction was how could a NASCAR team possibly be powerful enough to alter the weather? As I did more research I realized that Darren was right. This thing goes deeper than anyone imagined.

Look at Last Year

• Races at Richmond, Darlington and Pocono were all postponed or shortened by weather. Who won these races? Hendrick.
• Who finished 1-2 in the championship? Hendrick.

Look at This Year

• This year’s race at Fontana was delayed thanks to rain (and one of our new favorite words: weepers). Hendrick cars finished 2-3.
• Richmond, Martinsville and Atlanta qualifying rained out: Jimmie Johnson finishes 1st, 1st, 2nd.
• Dale Earnhardt Jr was looking for a new team in 2007 and signed with Hendrick. Why? Horsepower, technology, talented personnel? Probably. A huge salary? Maybe. Or was it Rick Hendrick’s ability to make it rain literally? You decide.

“

Dickies 500

NASCAR heads to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend for the eight race of the Chase.

Here is a quick run down of trivial facts and statistics for this weekend’s Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, TX.

Texas Motor Speedway History

• Construction on Texas Motor Speedway began in 1995.
• The original configuration called for an unusual dual banking system that had 24 degrees of banking for stock cars and eight degrees for open-wheel cars.
• The first NASCAR race at Texas was a NASCAR Nationwide Series event on April 5, 1997.
• The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas was on April 6, 1997.
• In 1998, Turn 4 at Texas was reshaped to ease the transition from the turns to the front straightaway.
• A second renovation started after the 1998 race and eliminated the dual banking and gave the track its current configuration.

Track Numbers

• NASCAR Cup Series Races: 15
• Pole Winners: 10
• Race Winners: 13
• There have been 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway, one per season 1997 through 2004 and two races per year since 2005.
• Four drivers have competed in all 15 Texas races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin.
• Jeremy Mayfield won the first timed qualifying on April 4, 1998. Qualifying for the inaugural race in 1997 was canceled.
• Jeff Burton won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
• Ten drivers have scored poles at Texas, led by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bobby Labonte and Ryan Newman with two each.
• Thirteen drivers have won races, led by Jeff Burton and Carl Edwards, each with two.
• 12 of 15 races have been won from a top-10 starting position. Only one has been won from the pole.
• Matt Kenseth started 31st en route to his victory at Texas in 2002, the deepest in the field that a race winner has started.
• There have been two green-white-checkered finishes: fall 2006 (339/334) and spring 2008 (339/334).

Hot Fact

Denny Hamlin has finished in the top 10 in five of his six races at Texas. His 83% top-10 rate is the best of any driver with more than two Texas starts.

Track Records

• Track qualifying record: Brian Vickers (196.235 mph, 27.518 seconds, 11-3-06)
• Track race record: Carl Edwards (151.055 mph, 11-6-05)

Qualifying/Race Data

• 2007 pole winner: Martin Truex Jr. (193.105 mph, 27.964 secs.)
• 2007 race winner: Jimmie Johnson (131.219 mph, 11-4-07)

Texas Race Day Data

• Estimated Pit Window: Every 50-55 laps, depending on fuel mileage.
• #34 of 36 (11-2-08)
• Track Size: 1.5 miles
• Race Length: 501 miles
• Banking/corners: 24 degrees
• Banking/straights: 5 degrees
• Frontstretch: 2,250 feet
• Backstretch: 1,330 feet

Texas: Dickies 500

Courtesy of NASCAR MEDIA

• Chase Race 8: Jimmie Johnson Leads The Way To Texas
• Texas Challengers: Roush Fenway Racing and Jeff Burton
• One Crew Chief To Another: Dale Inman On Chad Knaus
• On The Line: Carl Edwards This Week’s Teleconference Guest
• Five Points Separate Top Three In Manufacturers’ Battle

Jimmie Johnson Bolsters Chase Lead, Hopes To Defend Texas Win

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 28, 2008) — Reigning and two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson’s (No. 48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet) is in familiar territory as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series prepares for Sunday’s Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

He’s out front, leading the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings by 183 points over second-place Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford) and 185 over third-place Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford). And once again, Johnson heads to a track where he won during last year’s remarkable, late Chase run.

In 2007, Johnson won four of the final five races to clinch his second series title. He didn’t win last week at Atlanta, but he rallied from early trouble to finish second behind Edwards, the winner.

Now, he approaches the fall event at Texas with similar confidence, thanks in part to excellent pre-race Loop Data statistics.

Johnson is tied with two-time series champion Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota) for the top pre-race Driver Rating (107.9). His average finish of 9.2 is second-best.

Certainly, much racing remains. Johnson must average a ninth-place finish over the final three races — at Texas, Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway — to clinch a third consecutive series title.

“I’m living inside my own head,” Johnson said. “I feel very good about where we’re at and I’m trying hard not to pay attention to outside opinions and what’s really going on out there. So, I’m just keeping my head down and staying focused on the things I can control.”

What To Expect At Texas: A Roush Fenway Charge

While Jimmie Johnson continues to pursue a championship, many factors loom at Texas Motor Speedway, where Roush Fenway Racing in general and Carl Edwards in particular have excelled.

Roush Fenway drivers have won six of the 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup events held at Texas, including the April race, which Edwards won.

Edwards has two wins, two top fives, two top 10s and one DNF (did not finish) in seven career starts at Texas. He claims the sixth-best pre-race Driver Rating (96.0) and is second in Fastest Laps Run with 177.

Biffle has one win, one top five, two top 10s and four DNFs in nine career starts there. His pre-race Driver Rating for Texas ranks 10th, at 88.8, but he’s second in Fastest Laps Run there with 178.

Former Roush Fenway driver Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet), fourth in the Chase and in his third season with Richard Childress Racing, has two wins, three top fives, seven top 10s and one DNF in 15 career starts at Texas.

He’s also the only driver with two wins there.

Edwards may be on a mini-roll. He won last Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway and also won Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Memphis. He has seven wins this season, trailing only Kyle Busch’s (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota) series high of eight.

And Edwards’ wins have come in bunches.

Twice, he’s won back-to-back races in 2008 — at Las Vegas and Atlanta in March, and at Michigan and Bristol in August.

On The Line: Carl Edwards on NASCAR Teleconference

Carl Edwards was this week’s guest on the NASCAR Teleconference, held Tuesday afternoon. Excerpts follow:

On trying to catch Chase leader Jimmie Johnson (Edwards is second in the standings): “The last couple of weeks, we have to go out and try to win all of these races, which we do normally. But at this point it’s pretty much all or nothing. We just go out to win. If we can catch Jimmie on a day where he has some trouble or something happens, we have to be there getting the most amount of points we can so that we can capitalize on that …

On trying to catch NASCAR Nationwide Series leader Clint Bowyer (Edwards is second and the defending champion): “It would just be a huge, huge accomplishment. You know, last week was a spectacular race for us. Everything went our way at Memphis in the Nationwide Series. And it’s the first time in a long time we’ve picked up a bunch of points on Clint, so that was definitely a pleasant surprise.
“We didn’t expect to go there and be able to close that many points on him. But I feel like if we do our jobs and we keep running like we’re running, you know, then we’re putting ourselves in the best position to, like I said, capitalize if Clint or Jimmie has any trouble …

On his appreciation for fan support during tough economic times: “You can’t get around the fact that right now are tough times. It just makes everybody more grateful for the fans that do decide to come spend their entertainment dollars and their shrinking discretionary income on auto racing.

“I think as long as we keep giving them the racing that we’ve been giving them, and we keep doing all the things that we’re doing on the racetrack to make it exciting, we’ll have fans. And, hopefully, we’ll get through this time and it won’t cost the sport anything that we can’t rebound from. …

On his friendship with University of Missouri head football coach Gary Pinkel: “He’s got a pretty tough schedule, and so do I. So we end up texting each other back and forth all the time. But I’ve been following him. He’s an inspiring guy. He’s an amazing person and a really great competitor …

On his recent engagement to his girlfriend, Kate: “I can’t believe I’m getting married, but I mean just if you asked me four years ago if I’d be proposing to someone I would have said, no way, but she just got me. She’s awesome. She couldn’t be any better. So I’m really excited about it. So it’s something that no one could have described to me, and I’m really, really pumped about spending my life with her.”

Legendary Crew Chief Dale Inman On Chad Knaus’ Title Pursuit

If two-time and reigning series champion Jimmie Johnson clinches his third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup title, crew chief Chad Knaus will join him in the historical spotlight.

NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough is the only driver to win three consecutive series titles. He did it in 1976-78, but with different crew chiefs — Herb Nab in ‘76 and ‘77 and the combination of Tim Brewer and Travis Carter in ‘78.

Knaus, 37, would be the first crew chief to oversee three consecutive title runs.

“There’s so many things that you can’t control and there‘s so many things you can control,” said former Petty Enterprises crew chief Dale Inman of Knaus’ possible accomplishment. “And if you don’t make mistakes there, you’re in good shape.”

Inman, 72, knows. He’s won more NASCAR Sprint Cup titles than any other crew chief — the architect of Richard Petty’s NASCAR-record seven series titles, plus two-time series champion Terry Labonte’s 1984 title run.

Twice, “The King” and Inman won back-to-back titles, in 1971-72 and again in 1974-75.

Each time, a third one eluded them.

Inman says so many uncontrollable variables are part of what make winning three consecutive titles so difficult. He cites the 1968 season, which followed his and Petty’s 1967 title run.

“In ‘67 we couldn’t do no wrong and ’68 we couldn’t do anything but wrong,” Inman said of an eventual third-place finish in the standings. “Stuff broke that you weren’t supposed to be able to break with a hammer.”

As for Knaus, Inman marvels at the work ethic and commitment he’s observed from afar.

“Chad’s on top of his game right now,” Inman said. “To win two in a row is big. It’s just about a foregone conclusion. And they’ve worked hard for it, and he gives his all on it and I’m sure the crew chief and the driver are on the same page.”

Although a crew chief’s job has changed over the years, Inman warns that chemistry between driver and pit box can’t be overestimated.

“You’ve got to believe in each other,” he says. “There’s no question about that. And the driver’s got to explain to the crew chief what he wants and you’ve got to be able to interpret that.

“In mine and Richard’s case, we grew up working on his daddy’s (Lee Petty’s) race car, so it was a foregone conclusion for us. We just put it to good use and it worked out for us.”

Johnson and Knaus hail from different backgrounds, but their seven-year partnership has proven productive.

“Give it to Chad,” Inman said. “He’s been on top of his game all season long and it’s looks like he’s going to win it again.”

Recaptured Form: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Wrapping Up Solid Debut With Hendrick Motorsports

NASCAR’s most popular driver once again looks like one of NASCAR’s best drivers.

That’s a summation of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 2008 season, with three weeks remaining. It’s also solace for the millions of fans who support the driver of the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet.

Earnhardt has fallen out of contention for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, but from a big picture perspective, what’s important is that he was in contention to begin with. Earnhardt returned to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field this season, his first season with Hendrick Motorsports following his dramatic departure from Dale Earnhardt Inc.

Earnhardt comes into Texas 10th in the series standings He also comes in with a lasting memory: In 2000, as a rookie fresh off winning back-to-back championships in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Earnhardt got his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory at Texas.

Afterward, he was joined in Victory Lane for an emotional celebration with his father, seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt.

“I feel pretty good about how we ran this year and how we have been able to be fast pretty much every week,” Earnhardt said last week at Atlanta, where he finished 11th. “I will just try to go in, do it again, do it better next year … I’m real confident in our ability to go out next year and make a better showing.”

Double-Duty Paying Off Big For Edwards, In Quest For Two Titles

Carl Edwards nabbed victories in two different series – and two different states – this past weekend, further proving his NASCAR versatility.

His Memphis and Atlanta wins tightened a championship gap, as Edwards sits second in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series. His double duty performance this season is shaping up to be the best in NASCAR history. A driver has finished in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide standings top 10 eight times, the first being Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) in 2001. Edwards, who accomplished the feat in both 2005 and 2007, is a near-lock to do it again.

His ultimate goal, though, is not to finish in the top 10, but to win the championships.

Three races remain for Edwards to close triple-digit deficits to Jimmie Johnson in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Clint Bowyer in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Edwards’ biggest challenge is overtaking two-time defending champion Johnson, who holds a 183-point edge over Edwards.

The comeback is daunting, but not impossible. Edwards can turn to history for hope. The winner of the Atlanta race has followed up with a Texas win in each of the last three seasons. Earlier this season, Edwards made a points gain on Johnson of more than 183 points in three consecutive races. At Richmond, Darlington and Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Edwards scored a combined 454 points. During that stretch, Johnson scored 248 points – a difference of 206 points.

Carl Edwards is currently having the most successful national series double-duty season ever. Below are the top five double-duty drivers who have ranked in the top 10 in both series:

NSCSNNS
Driver Year Point Pos. Point Pos.
Carl Edwards 2008 2 2
Kevin Harvick 20064 1
Carl Edwards 20053 3
Denny Hamlin 20063 4
Clint Bowyer 2008 7 1
Kevin Harvick 2001 9 1
Carl Edwards 2007 9 1

Texas Loop Data: Stats Indicate Stewart Could Intrude On Championship Battle

Much of the Tony Stewart news throughout 2008 has centered on off-track activities – mainly about his 2009 endeavors.

Stewart, who will leave Joe Gibbs Racing to become part-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009, may again appear in the news because of his on-track prowess once the checkered flag falls at Texas Motor Speedway.

He is strong at Texas, with a win, three top fives and eight top 10s in 13 starts. He also ranks atop most of the pre-race Loop Data statistical categories at the 1.5-mile Fort Worth tracks.

Since 2005, Stewart has a 107.9 Texas Driver Rating, which ties him with Jimmie Johnson for best in the series. He also has series-best stats in Average Running Position (8.0), Fastest Laps Run (196) and Laps in the Top 15 percentage (89.8%). Over the last seven Texas races, Stewart has been passed 222 times, the fewest among drivers who have competed in all seven races.

Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)will likely be another growing storyline over the next three races. The two former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions have yet to win a race in 2008. Gordon has won at least two races in each of the last 14 years. Kenseth has won at least one race in the last six seasons.

Time is running out for both.

Statistically, Texas sets up better for Kenseth. Over the past seven Texas races, Kenseth has a Driver Rating of 104.9 (third-best), an Average Running Position of 9.6 (third), 120 Fastest Laps Run (sixth) and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 76.3% (fourth). In his 12-race Texas career, Kenseth has one win, five top fives and seven top 10s.

Gordon has had an uncharacteristically difficult time at Texas in his career. He finished 43rd there this spring, and Texas is one of only two tracks at which he has yet to win (Homestead is the other).

Since 2005, Gordon has a Driver Rating of 85.1 (12th-best), an Average Running Position of 16.0 (13th), 90 Fastest Laps Run (ninth) and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 55.2 (14th).

On The Bubble: Scott Speed And No. 84 Toyota In 35th

With three races remaining in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, those teams involved in the top-35 “bubble” battle are just as driven as their Chase peers.

Each week, the top 35 in the owner standings are guaranteed starting positions, while those outside the cutoff must qualify on speed. And there’s crucial carryover at season’s end.

The top 35 teams in the owner standings from the previous year are guaranteed starting berths through the first five races of the following season. So much is at stake.

This week, the No. 84 Team Red Bull Toyota driven by Scott Speed and owned by Dietrich Mateschitz is 35th in the owner standings, heading to Texas.

Speed, whose team had been 34th, dropped one spot in the owner standings after a 34th-place finish at Atlanta.

Meanwhile, the No. 7 Mapei/Menards Dodge owned and driven by Robby Gordon, climbed one spot to 34th in the owner standings.

The No. 7 team is 55 points out of 33rd. The No. 22 Caterpillar Toyota driven by Dave Blaney and owned by Bill Davis, holds the 33rd spot heading to Texas.

The No. 84 team trails the No. 7 — and 34th place — by 25 points.

Behind 35th, the No. 47 Little Debbie’s Toyota driven by Marcos Ambrose and owned by Rob Kauffman is 36th, 80 points out of 35th.

The No. 77 Penske Truck Rental Dodge, driven by Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Sam Hornish Jr., and owned by Roger Penske is 37th, 130 points out of 35th.

Note: Hornish leads Dale Earnhardt Inc.’s Regan Smith (No. 01 DEI/The Principal Financial Group Chevrolet) by three points in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings.

The No. 10 Country Crock Dodge, driven by AJ Allmendinger and owned by George Gillett Jr., is 37th, 101 points out of 36th and 231 points out of 35th.

NSCS Etc.

Tripleheader … Kyle Busch will have a busy weekend at Texas, competing in Friday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series events in addition to Sunday’s Dickies 500.

Germain Racing Debut … Veteran open-wheel driver Max Papis will attempt to qualify the No. 13 Geico Toyota for Germain Racing this weekend. If successful, it will be the team’s NASCAR Sprint Cup debut. Germain fields teams in NASCAR’s other two national series, and recently announced plans to run 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in 2009 with Papis.

Manufacturers Battle On … With three events remaining in the 2008 season, three manufacturers are locked into a race of their own for the annual manufacturers’ title.

Heading into Sunday’s Dickies 500 at Texas, Chevrolet holds the top spot with 198 points and 10 wins.

Close behind is Toyota, also with 10 wins, and 197 points. Ford is third, with 193 points and nine wins.

Chevrolet, the defending champion, has won six of the last seven manufacturers’ titles, including five straight since 2003.

Up Next: Phoenix International Raceway

Race 9 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will be the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil, Sunday, Nov. 9 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Two-time and defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, also the current standings leader, is the defending race champion.

Carl Edwards was last year’s polesitter.

Three Chase participants — Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. — are tied with Davey Allison for the most wins at Phoenix, two each.

Dickies 500: Race 8 in the Chase
The Place: Texas Motor Speedway
The Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
The Time: 3:30 p.m. (ET)
The Track: 1.5-mile tri-oval
The Distance: 334 laps/501 miles
TV: ABC, 3 p.m. (ET)
Radio: PRN (Local Affiliate: KLLI-Live 105.3), SIRIUS Satellite Radio
2007 Winner: Jimmie Johnson
2007 Polesitter: Martin Truex Jr.
2008 Points
Driver Points
1 Johnson 6,248
2 Edwards 6,065
3 Biffle 6,063
4 Burton 6,030
5 Harvick 5,941
6 Gordon 5,936
7 Bowyer 5,934
8 Stewart 5,847
9 Kenseth 5,835
10 Earnhardt Jr. 5,829
11 Hamlin 5,823
12 Ky. Busch 5,783
Pre-Race Schedule: Friday—Practice, noon-1:30 p.m. Qualifying, 3:40 p.m. Saturday—Practice, 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and 12:50-1:50 p.m.

If you saw Carl Edwards’ Victory Lane interview, he looked like a bank robber that had done everything right, taken the loot planned his escape and then gets caught after he got home. “Are you kidding me? Man, you’ve rained on my parade all day. I could have done without that one. The good news is Edwards won the race. The bad news came when ESPN’s Dave Byrnes relayed the fact that Jimmie Johnson cut through the top ten in the final eight laps to finish 2nd. One step forward for Edwards suddenly becomes one step back thanks to the #48’s last ditch pit stop for tires. Speaking of Johnson’s move, it resembled how getting a star on Super Mario Brothers allowed you to plow through everything for a short period ot time.

While Edwards’ mistake at Talladega and the #99 blunder at Lowe’s eliminated any realistic chance at the championship, it’s hard to ignore his spectacular 2008. He now has seven wins, 16 top 5’s and 24 top tens. Six of his wins have come on 1.5 or 2 mile tracks. Edwards was already a star, but he has elevated himself to one of the elite Cup drivers with his monster season.

If recent history holds up, he also can look forward to win number eight next week. Since 2005 the winner of the fall Atlanta race has won at Texas every year. The reason is simple: there’s no time to discover and incorporate any new setup tricks by next week. Edwards was the best today (140.0 driver rating), and he’ll likely be the best next week too.

• Kurt Busch ran in the top five almost all day and held on for only his ninth top ten of the season. It’s hard to believe he is the same driver that last year won two races, led 885 laps and made the Chase and was a perennial contender. Actually, it’s even harder to believe Busch won a race this year (New Hampshire in June). What was that about?

• Stop me if you’ve heard this one: Juan Pablo Montoya has a great run all day, running in the top five and then finds trouble. This time he got in a pit road wreck with Clint Bowyer that sheared the front of Montoya’s car off. Then the car was finished off when Montoya was one party of a multi-car crash. It’s been a trying season for Ganassi Racing and Montoya, but I keep imagining what Montoya would do in a car that could run up front every week instead of once every four races.

• Something needs to be done about wrecked cars returning to the track. Michael Waltrip caused two cautions on Sunday because he was riding around in an already trashed car. This slows down the race and creates a hazard for other cars. Under the current rules Waltrip has to keep scrapping for every lap and position possible in order to grab needed owners points. It’s not just Waltrip, a lot of cars scramble to return to the race to pick up as many possible points as they can. How often do we see wrecked cars create more cautions from spinning out, cut tires or debris? NASCAR should do two things: Officials should hold cars in the pits or garage until sufficient repairs can be made. Two, NASCAR should award the same number of points from 33rd to 43rd. That way, cars not on the lead lap and destined to finish in the bottom ten will not go to the trouble of taping together cars in the name of three points. It’s one thing to cut the sheet metal away at Bristol or Martinsville, but a high speed track like Atlanta should be kept clear of potential road mines.

• During Sunday’s race, ESPN ran a breaking news update on their ticker about Mark Martin possibly replacing Casey Mears in the #5 car for the final race at Homestead. If I knew Javascript I would have a ticker at the bottom of this post reading, “Who…Really…Cares…?

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