Happy Monday all.  Hope you are enjoying the day off. 

Today In Nascar History

September 1, 1969: LeeRoy Yarbrough wins the Southern 500 to sweep both Cup races at Darlington in 1969. Yarbrough beats David Pearson to the line by one car length in a race cut short because of rain and darkness to 230 of the scheduled 367 laps.

Number of the Day

1,393: Laps led by Kyle Busch in the Nationwide Series this season. It is 19 laps more than the combined laps led by the six drivers ahead of him in the Nationwide standings, all of whom have run in all 27 races so far this season. Busch has run in 23. One through six in the standings are Clint Bowyer (463 laps), Brad Keselowski (293), Carl Edwards (371), David Reutimann (182), Mike Bliss (27) and David Ragan (38).

Most Popular Driver…

Vote here!

http://www.scenedaily.com/mostpopulardriver/  or

http://www.votemostpopulardriver.com/

Nationwide Most Popular Driver Poll

Craftsman Truck Most Popular Driver Poll

Quote of the Year

"NASCAR ain't doing nothing I like right now." "I don't like the rules they are doing...you can bump somebody and they want to fine you for it." Pearson saw the look on Carl Edwards face and made sure to say he knew that Edwards could not speak-up or he would get fined.

--David Pearson

In one weekend, Kyle supplanted Ulysses S. Grant as "the most-hated person in the history of Richmond."

--Mark Aumann In his Power Rankings comments

Quote of the Day

As soon as we leave Richmond, you're going to be smiling that the first 26 are over and you're locked in and everything is great, and then you'll wake up Monday morning and go, 'Oh my God, the Chase is here. Here we go.'

--Jimmie Johnson

Comments from the Peanut Gallery

From Smilin Jack

I've read many times about off-the-track ventures by Dale and Jeff but never knew what they entailed.  Anybody know?

I'm wondering how many people would mortgage their homes to see Carl and Kyle on the front row for tonight's race.
Smilin' Jack

I have heard that Dale and Jeff started one of the businesses that sold souvenirs.  I’m not sure which one it was though.  I also believe they went into the real estate business together.  Anyone out there know more?

From Lou

Are NASCAR's rules taking the fun out of things? Knaus says so

Hi Momma,

Welcome back. Hope you get all adjusted to your new job. Sure missed your newsletter this past week.

I have a comment to make about NASCAR's rules. Yes, I do feel that they are taking the fun out of racing, but that seems to be the way of the world today. There are no longer incentives to be better at something because when you do become better, you get knocked down by a new rule.

This started years ago, on a smaller basis and grew larger over the years.

Some of you may remember the turbine engine introduced by Andy Granatelli in the 60's. Parnelli Jones drove it and it was by far the fastest car ever saw on the Indy car circuit. A $6 part failed and it was unable to finish the race. What I'm getting to here is that a lot of drivers and owners complained about it, so U.S.A.C. changed the rules and limited the turbine's power so much that it couldn't compete. 

This is my first recollection of over-regulating by a sanctioning body.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that all these innovations are available to everyone. They just have to think of them. Why punish someone because they try to better themselves. We need a sanctioning body, not a dictatorship in auto racing and to my knowledge that is what NASCAR has become.

The Old Man of NASCAR,

Lou Elliott 

From Eddie

Momma, I got a rant I wonder if you might share with your readers.... I wanna ask Y'all's Opinion on something.  When we're watching the races, what in the name of Dale Sr. makes these so-called Race announcers think for even a moment, we're even vaguely interested in who's racing with whoever, back in 34th position???

I don’t give a flying Lug-Nut how hard they’re battling for that spot, the race I'm interested in is going on up in the front of the pack.

DUHHH Get a clue Goomer, anything past that front five cars, keep your comments to yourself cause I really don’t care!!!

Show me who is running in those first 5 positions, I'll watch it...

And that stupid scrolling leader bar that scrolls endlessly across the top of my screen, JEEEEZUSS!!!! Shorten it....Don’t show positions past the top 10, Who wants to sit and wait till it goes all the way to 43rd place ... CRY-MINNY!!!

Why can’t some of the so called racing analysts figure out, that people just don’t care who the losers are?

And all these poor ol washed out, used up Drivers, & Crew Chiefs they hire straight out of Joe & Mabel's 12th St. Bar & Grill,

They hired you Goobers to sit on yer Catch-cans and call the race for us, not to sit & relive all your good ol days, or to demonstrate that even in a karaoke bar, your singing would smell it up.

Tell us what’s happening right now, and out front in the top 5, and save all your old "Good Ol Days"

stories for your Grandkids...

Sorry for my ranting here group, just lettin off a little**SMOKE**

(sorry tony)

Bits and Pieces

NASCAR's most popular driver isn't on board with changes

JIM UTTER/The Charlotte Observer

"They don't get it, you know what I mean? They've messed up the sll-star race and they're messing up the Shootout," Earnhardt Jr. said at Auto Club Speedway. "They ought to line us up and make us run 10 laps. … That'[s what the fans want. That's what the drivers want. That last segment being 50 laps, I mean, we're all just going to sit there for 30 (laps).

"I just don't get it. They don't get it. I don't know what the focus group is they're talking with to. It's frustrating because I want to like those races. I don't want to dread them and right now I'm dreading running them because the formats aren't fun."

UPS will go with Roush Fenway Fords, David Ragan

JIM UTTER/The Charlotte Observer

A formal announcement of the move is expected within the next two weeks, sources said Sunday.

UPS also considered sponsoring a car with Stewart-Hass Racing and briefly considered sponsoring NASCAR's Truck series, NASCAR officials had previously acknowledged.

Ragan, 22, is in his second full season of Cup and Nationwide competition with Roush and entered Sunday's race still in the hunt for a spot in this year's Chase.

UPS currently sponsors Michael Waltrip Racing's No. 44 Toyota driven by David Reutimann. The company sponsored veteran Dale Jarrett for several years prior to this season.

Announcement of drug policy imminent
By Reid Spencer, Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

FONTANA, CALIF. -- NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said Sunday that the sanctioning body would announce an expansion to its drug-testing policy "shortly -- in a couple weeks."

NASCAR currently tests drivers for "reasonable suspicion" and imposes some of the harshest penalties for failed drug tests in professional sports. France said the expansion of the policy will deal with the testing end of the equation but stopped short of saying NASCAR would incorporate random testing.

"We won't be lessening any punishments. We will be looking at broadening up the testing, even though we have a lot of latitude today," France said. "I'll let the policy, when it comes out, speak for itself. The only thing I would say is that it's going to be more comprehensive, there'll be more testing and it's going to make a good policy, I think, even better."

Petty Enterprises still working on 2009 driver lineup: Robbie Loomis, vice president for racing operations at Petty Enterprises: "As far as driver lineup for next year, we are very aggressive on moving forward…but we are facing the fact that, based on where our cars are running right now, we won't be able to get that A-level driver as a teammate with #43-Bobby Labonte. So we have to create that player: like Brett Favre at Green Bay. We're still working on those plans. Kyle [Petty] will run some races next year. And Bobby will have a teammate that we hope can grow into that B-level or A-level player."(Winston Salem Journal)

Coleman Expects to drive #96 again this year: Brad Coleman was hoping to be racing at Auto Club Speedway this weekend. Now he's unsure of exactly when he will get back in the seat of a race car. But he expects it will be before the end of the year. The 20-year-old driver started the season as a development driver for Hall of Fame Racing and is under contract with the team for 2009. Coleman drove the #96 Hall of Fame Racing Sprint Cup car at Michigan, but has not raced the car since then. "I've learned how to deal with adversity in this business," Coleman said. "You can have something bad happen at any time. You can be having the best year of your career and then before the year is over, it will turn into your worst pretty quickly. You've always just got to remember to keep your head up and never give up. … I have no idea [about my 2009 schedule]. I want to get as much seat time as I can." Coleman tested the Cup car this past week at Kansas Speedway in a Goodyear tire test and the team has indicated that it is still committed to his development.(SceneDaily.com)

Mixed Reactions to Bud Shootout Changes: How do drivers feel about the decision to change the rules governing next year's season-opening Budweiser Shootout exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway? Well, it depends whether you're in or out. Michael Waltrip, who finished 11th in the 2008 Shootout, would have needed to win a pole in the last 12 races to make the field in 2009 under the current rules. Instead, with the decision to include six teams from each of the four manufacturers, there's an excellent chance for two of Waltrip's team cars to make the field next February. Carl Edwards, who missed the 2007 edition because he failed to win a pole the previous year, thought he secured a spot with his run last week at Bristol. It turns out that he's one of five Roush Fenway Racing drivers who will represent Ford in the 2009 Shootout. Edwards is in favor of the new rule. On the other hand, 2008 pole-winners Paul Menard and Joe Nemechek find themselves on the outside looking in. For Nemechek's Furniture Row Racing team, the change was a huge blow. Nemechek said someone like Boris Said, who only runs a limited schedule, no longer gets additional benefit from winning a pole. (NASCAR.com) AND: Ryan Newman says it does seem odd that Daytona International Speedway executives don't want the defending Daytona 500 winner in their season-opening Bud Shootout next spring. Since Newman and new teammate Tony Stewart will be leaving their current teams at the end of this year and driving next year for a new team, they both will be ineligible for the Shootout. Ironic, since the Daytona 500 this year was Stewart-versus-Newman. Adding more irony: Joey Logano, who has yet even to run a Cup race, will be in the Shootout, in Stewart's Toyota. And even more irony: David Stremme, who will likely be taking Newman's ride with Roger Penske, would be in the Shootout instead of Newman. Stremme, whose only Cup run this year was at Talladega in April, where he finished 28th, has never won a Cup event. Newman has 13 career wins. "The new Shootout doesn't seem to be about drivers, but about manufacturers," Newman says. "It's a changed race all the way around. (Winston Salem Journal) AND: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he has no problem with the changes in the qualifying rules, but he has a big problem with a long final segment. "Fifty laps is forever on that track," Earnhardt said. "It would be a lot more exciting for the fans and a lot more fun for us if we only did 10 laps at the end." #11-Denny Hamlin, who won the race as a rookie in 2006, said he agrees with Earnhardt. "Only racing 10 laps at the end would be way better," Hamlin said. "The tires go away pretty fast at Daytona, but they still would have a lot of grip for just 10 or 15 laps. We could really go all out and the racing would be a lot closer."(ESPN.com)

Johnson's domination shows readiness for Chase

Fontana win proves he's in same breath as Carl, Kyle

By Josh Pate, NASCAR.COM

"My form of intimidation is to be the fastest one in practice, sit on the pole, up there leading laps and the guys saying, 'Damn 48 is up there again," Johnson said. "That's where we operate at our best."

After Sunday night, that's hard to argue.

Johnson, who started from the pole, led 228 of 250 laps in his dominating victory at Auto Club Speedway. It put an end to any chance of him sliding under the radar when the Chase begins in two weeks. Bonus points? He's got 30 now. That will start him third in the Chase as of Fontana. Busch says those points are what will be the biggest factor in winning the championship, which is to be expected -- he's the points leader and has 80 bonus points.

But Sunday night exposed Johnson. With just two victories heading into Sunday's race and positioned behind two bickering championship contenders and Dale Earnhardt Jr., Johnson was abnormally unheralded as he tries to join Cale Yarborough as the only drivers to win three consecutive Cup championships. A 17th-place finish at Michigan and a 33rd at Bristol the last two weeks -- both races that Carl Edwards won and Busch finished second -- didn't help.

Sunday, however, was Johnson at his best.

He was strong in the sun. He was strong under the lights. When he was out front, nobody could catch him. When he was in traffic, nobody could keep him in their mirror.

On Lap 162, his four-tire pit stop dropped him to sixth when Greg Biffle and others took just two tires. The race restarted on Lap 165, and three laps later Johnson was in the lead again.

On Lap 182, Johnson lost three positions on pit road when his jack man got his leg caught in the air hose. On the Lap 186 restart, Johnson was sixth. A lap later he was third. On Lap 189, he was the leader.

And finally, on Lap 219, Biffle again nosed Johnson off pit road for the lead with Johnson second. The race restarted on Lap 222. By the time they came back around, Johnson was leading.

His car was so dominant, Biffle's crew chief, Greg Erwin, went to the No. 48 pit box to ask Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, if his driver would drop back to help Biffle remove a piece of debris from the nose of his Ford.

Knaus' answer: No. "Why the hell would I do that?" Knaus said.

Johnson's dominance wasn't about his car being so much better than others at one particular race. Rather, it was a reminder that the team that thrives on winning when it counts could be perfecting its strut just in time for the big stage once again.

Of Johnson's 10 victories last year, four of them came in the 10-race Chase. He won just one race during his 2006 Chase, but that came in a five-race stretch when Johnson finished second the other four times. Both seasons ended in championships. Since the Chase was instituted in 2004, Johnson has won 11 of the 40 Chase races.

So while Busch and Edwards grab headlines for both on- and off-track items, including their combined 14 race wins, Johnson idles along.

"Looking forward to this Chase and where those guys are at, they've been out there winning races. They deserve all the props," Johnson said of Busch and Edwards. "We've got three now, so we're halfway to Carl. They've set the world on fire -- they've dominated between the two of them. I recognize that. I want to be like that myself."

Sunday was a big step. Five of the 10 Chase races are at intermediate tracks, places where Johnson admitted he has struggled this season. He reiterated that after the race. Of course, then he spoke of how this was the most dominant car he's ever had.

"You try to find lessons in any situation," Johnson said. "We went out there with a lot to lose and put our guys under a different form of pressure than what they've felt in a while. I think [Sunday] was good for our guys to feel that pressure. It's been a while since I've been in a situation to blow it and thrown it away."

Even so, he's still not facing those circumstances in the championship picture; he moved up one spot to third behind Busch and Edwards. And that may play into his advantage as he tries for his third consecutive title.

"It's a huge motivating factor for me, and I know for the team as well," he said. "I haven't thought about it much because I've been so focused on getting prepared for the Chase, and once we get into the Chase we have what we have. As soon as we leave Richmond, you're going to be smiling that the first 26 are over and you're locked in and everything is great, and then you'll wake up Monday morning and go, 'Oh my God, the Chase is here. Here we go.' That pressure, you're not going to be able to hide from it."

It doesn't appear that the No. 48 team plans to hide.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.

Ten Points to Ponder

After California

Tommy Thompson · Frontstretch.com

1. Thanks For The Memories – Felix Sabates, co-owner of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, never one to mince words, took a pot-shot at sponsor of the No. 42 Texaco Dodge driven by Juan Pablo Montoya. Texaco after 20-years of sponsoring a NASCAR Cup team has announced that they have made a business decision to allocate their advertising dollars elsewhere and will no longer sponsor a Sprint Cup team. “They (Texaco) have focused on other things. We really didn’t get that much support from them. The money wasn’t all that great, for us, it was a blessing that we can go out and find somebody who can pay us some real money,” said Sabates.

Oh Felix…Texaco say’s thank you, too.

2. The Driver Or The Equipment? – Gillett Evernham Motorsports announced that Reed Sorenson, the 22-year old Peachtree, GA. native presently driving the No. 41 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge would move to GEM, a Toyota team in 2009. Sorenson’s three-year contract with Ganassi expires at years end. Felix Sabates, proving that he is not limited to only slamming major oil companies, said of the young driver, “I think Reed is today as good as he’s ever going to be. If someone else wants to put him in a car, fine with us…”

And how about those three (oh no wait…two…The No. 40 Franchitti team shut down) Chip Ganassi Racing teams with Felix Sabates…Felix? Are they ever going to get better…or is that the best they’re ever going to be?

3. Theology – The September 4 issue of the magazine Rolling Stone contains an article featuring Tony Stewart titled, “Where There’s Smoke..NASCAR superstar Tony Stewart brawls, cusses, eats way too many doughnuts and (ususally) drives a race car better than anyone on earth. How did a potbellied prima donna become the soul of auto racing?” The profanity laced article quotes the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, with the use of crude language describing his primary interests, “(crude expletive for women), money and race cars. That’s pretty much all I care about.” Stewart also divulges that his parents are concerned about him contracting a sexually transmitted disease. “…Rolling Stone is an edgy magazine, and it was an edgy article. Nobody forces that in front of anybody, so if you don’t like what you’re reading, don’t read it,” said Stewart when asked if he was concerned that some might find the article offensive.

Apparently Stewart’s hasn’t let his ten-year relationship with born-again Christian and team owner Joe Gibbs influence his personal life.

4. Very Best Friends For… – To mark Jeff Burton’s 500th NASCAR Cup Series start at Sunday nights Auto Club Speedway a “roast” was held at the track in his honor. ESPN’s Allen Bestwick served as Master of Ceremonies with driver’s Dale Jarrett, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer participating as “roasters” along with Burton’s team owner Richard Childress and team sponsor AT & T’s executive Tim McGhee helping out as well. Noticeably absent from the event were any of the veterans former teammates from his more than 10-years at Roush Racing (Roush Fenway); including Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, longtime friend and mentor Mark Martin, or Roush.

No word as to whether any of Burton’s former colleagues bothered to send a card.

5. Get This…NASCAR – NASCAR’s announced change in the format for the Budweiser Shootout exhibition race at Daytona in February has the sports most popular personality questioning the sanctioning bodies decision. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. said of NASCAR, “They just don’t get it…” in response to the announced plan to run a 25-laps, and then after a break, a 50-lap final segment. “They want us to run around for 25-laps first, like a 25-lap segment, that would be cool. But then with 10 laps to go, all or nothing. That’s what the fans want. That’s what the drivers want.”

Maybe NASCAR ought to consider his opinion. Certainly admonishing him and giving him one of their “you need NASCAR more than NASCAR needs you” speeches would not be advisable. And besides…Why not a 10-lap shootout?

7. Yesterday’s News? – Jeff Gordon, a four-time Cup Champion and winner of 81 races in his career has still not won in 25 attempts this season. Gordon finished 15th in the Pepsi 500 Sunday night at the Auto Club Speedway and slipped one position to 10th in points, behind teammates Dale Earnhardt, Jr.(1 win, 4th in points) and Jimmie Johnson (3 wins, 3rd in points). Gordon now finds himself in a position of possible elimination from the Chase to the Sprint Cup Championship field to be set after should he finish poorly at Richmond International Racewaty next Saturday night in the last race before the Chase field is set.

Remember when Rick Hendrick was accused of providing Gordon with better equipment than that his teammates were receiving?

8. Whoops…There Goes Another Rubber Tree Plant – The No. 08 EM Motorsports Dodge driven by Johnny Sauter qualified 43rd and last for the Pepsi 500 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. The single-car team is based out of Toccoa, Georgia and had attempted ten times previously to qualify into a NASCAR Sprint Cup event this season without success. According to Sauter, the small operation owned by John Carter cannot afford to participate in test sessions and essentially uses practice and qualifying dates at the tracks as test sessions. “He was pumped up,” Sauter said of Carter’s reaction to learning that the No. 08 had made the field. “He puts everything he can into this program. To me, it’s rewarding to see it pay off for him. He’s invested a lot of time and money into this, and obviously he doesn’t have the money that a lot of other teams do. He just keeps coming back, he keeps persevering.

Johnny Sauter, in the No. 08 FUBAR All Natural Drink Dodge finished 42nd – completing 161 of the 500-lap Pepsi 500. Sometimes small victories are the best kind.

9. Don’t Bother Looking In The Mirror – Six drivers are now guaranteed berths in the 10-race Chase to the Sprint Cup Championship shootout following the Pepsi 500. Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle. Clint Bowyer, currently 12th in points leads David Ragan by 17- points and Kasey Kahne by 44-points going into Richmond. Denny Hamlin has a cushion of 93-points over Bowyer in 13th, Denny Hamlin…

Too much math…Khane, Ragan, Bowyer, Hamlin, J.Gordon and Matt Kenseth all need to put the peddle to the medal and drive them racecars like they stole them at Richmond next Saturday night or they may get a head start on preparing for next season!

10. Starting To Look Familiar – In a dominating performance pole sitter Jimmie Johnson took the checkered flag Sunday night, winning the Pepsi 500 at Fontana, CA. 2.5 seconds ahead of runner-up Greg Biffle. Johnson the defending back-to-back Sprint Cup Champion broke the previous most laps led record set by Biffle in 2006 by leading 227 of the 250 laps at the Auto Club Speedway. It was Johnson’s third win of the year.

Ummmm…is three-peat a word?

Holding A Pretty Wheel

New Bud Shootout? More Like Shooting Yourself In the Foot

Amy Henderson · Frontstretch.com

Note to self: never, ever wonder if it could get worse.

When I wrote earlier this year that the Budweiser Shootout had outlived its purpose, it was because the segment lengths made it boring — and with Budweiser giving way to Coors Light as the pole sponsor, it seemed as good a time as any to retire the race altogether. It was still popular enough even though it was getting stale… so why not go out in style? Before things got worse?

Too late.

The new race format for 2009 was announced last week, and frankly, um… how can I put this? It sucks. Since they could no longer use pole winners sponsored by a rival brewery, Budweiser and NASCAR had the chance to come up with something exciting to replace that – but instead, they came up with a format that could end up making watching cement set sound like more fun the Saturday night before the Daytona 500.

First off, driver selection is purely based on the previous year’s owner points and the manufacturer – the top six in owner points for each make get in. (Sure, let’s find another way to reward teams for something they did months ago). That means a couple of things. First, it means that if a driver works his butt off to earn points all the previous year but changes to a team not in the Top 6 in their make, he can sit on his butt while someone else races. If the field for next year’s Shootout were set today, Casey Mears would be in with the No. 07, despite not having even sat in the car yet. Clint Bowyer, on the other hand, would likely get the privilege of watching the race from on top of the No. 33 hauler. Ditto for Tony Stewart, who can watch Joey Logano pilot his old ride while he’s sitting on the sidelines.

Second of all, having two segments that are both long – 62.5 miles and 125 miles – isn’t doing much to add to the excitement, especially given that the CoT strategy on restrictor plate tracks like Daytona is basically to wait in line and go for it at the end. I can’t quite bring myself to believe that is what fans want to see.

The powers that be had the chance to turn the Bud Shootout around, make it worth the hype. They could have really made it a race worth watching. Imagine this for the Shootout: invite all the teams, regardless of their qualifying speed, and run the race like a Saturday night special at the local short track. Run heat races. If NASCAR has to suddenly be fair about something (and it would certainly be a first), run four five-lap heats, one for each manufacturer. Take the top five from each of those, then run a ten-lap hooligan race for all the others. Forget who makes the cars in that one; just take the top three finishers call it good at 23 in the feature. Then run the main event in three 20-lap segments or two 25-lappers and a ten-lap final segment for all the marbles, eliminating the last five cars in each of the first two segments. Now, that would be a race worth watching.

Instead, we get a tired format dragged out and made less exciting by the inclusion of some teams who are clearly only there because the format says they have to be invited. We get segments that are too long, and allow for far too much racing in line and playing it safe. We get everything that is wrong with the race — and maybe even with NASCAR. That’s surprising considering it’s an exhibition event – it should be the best the sport has to offer.

And now it’s not.

Thinkin’ Out Loud

Pepsi 500

Phil Allaway · Frontstretch.com

Key Moment: Pole Qualifying on Friday. Johnson’s pole winning run set the tone for the rest of the weekend.

In a Nutshell: I can describe the race in eight words or less: Johnson came, he saw, he kicked butt.

Dramatic Moments: With such a dominating performance by Johnson, the biggest excitement on the track was caused by falling caution lights. Not one, but two yellows were thrown because of them. The first resulted from an entire light assembly falling off of the catchfence and crashing to the track on Lap 20. Fortunately, it didn’t hit any cars below—that would definitely mess up a race car.

The second was caused by a small piece of the light shield detaching from the assembly on Lap 161, which fell down into traffic and bounced off a few cars. Weird stuff. In the 20 years and 671 races have been run since I discovered the now-Sprint Cup Series, I’ve never seen that before!

What They’ll Be Talking About Around the Water Cooler This Week

Is it just me, or has there been a lot more butt kicking in races this year? Johnson led all but 22 laps (or 44 miles) on Sunday. This type of domination has never been seen before at Auto Club Speedway. The last time someone even came close was in the 2006 Auto Club 500 when Greg Biffle led 168 laps, or 120 miles less than Johnson did Sunday night. These runaways have not been limited to so-called cookie cutter tracks, or to just the Nextel Cup Series.

This weekend, the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series goes back to Richmond. The last time the Sprint Cup teams were at Richmond, Denny Hamlin led 381 laps during the race. Hamlin finally lost the lead because of a flat tire, but up to that point, he had led all but one lap in the race. The race ended with a grand total of four lead changes, mainly because Kyle Busch pulled an overly aggressive move on Earnhardt Jr., which resulted in Earnhardt Jr. crashing and Busch going up the track, allowing Bowyer to skate by and claim the victory. Had Hamlin not had the flat, we could have been looking at a situation where Hamlin could have led all but one lap.

I couldn’t help but notice just how close the owners’ points are around the 35th place cutoff at the moment. A.J. Allmendinger’s 14th place finish on Sunday boosted his team five spots in the standings up to 31st, which locks the No. 84 in for Richmond. The odd man out is Sam Hornish, Jr. in the No. 77. His 31st place finish dropped the Penske Travel Centers/Mobil 1 Dodge to 36th. Robby Gordon’s No. 7 on the bubble, with an 18 point cushion over the No. 77. However, just in front of the No. 7, positions 31 through 34 are separated by five points. It’s just crazy to look at, but I can only imagine how the individual teams involved in this scrap feel.

Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth both managed Top 5 finishes despite starting in 33rd and 37th, respectively. Due to Johnson’s complete and utter dominance, their amazing advances through the field went largely unnoticed by ESPN. Each driver moved up a spot in the point standings, but neither is locked into the Chase as of yet. Both should be able to with relative ease next week at Richmond.

The Hindenburg Award For Foul Fortune

Joe Nemechek’s night ended on Lap 70 after a hard hit to the Turn 2 wall. Nemechek pancaked the right side of the No. 78 Chevy, destroying his car and all chances of completing the event.

Kurt Busch made contact with Martin Truex, Jr. early, cutting his left rear tire. NASCAR was slow to throw a yellow, and Busch lost two laps in the process.

Brian Vickers ran in the Top 5 most of the night, only to have his pit crew erase the advances made on the track. A penalty for a tire violation on Lap 182 put Vickers at the tail end of the longest line, a deficit he could never fully overcome.

The “Seven Come Fore Eleven” Award For Fine Fortune

Kyle Busch wrecked, but didn’t hit anything as he took the checkered Sunday night in his battle for 7th place with Kasey Kahne.

Overall Rating On a scale of 1-10, this race gets 4.7. There was good racing in and around the restarts, but when Johnson got away, there was no drama.

Next Up: Richmond, for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400. It’s the last race before the Chase begins, so expect constant reminders of the points leading up to and all throughout the race. The Chase takes precedence and certain notable facts can be completely overlooked. If someone out of the Chase actually ends up winning on Saturday night, they will be treated like an afterthought, with the only exception being Joey Logano. The broadcasters are bound to keep a steady watch on him all night.

Matt McLaughlin will be back next week to give you some more of his thoughts and musings about the race at Richmond, and likely some thoughts about the upcoming Chase to the Cup.

Johnson puts other contenders on notice: He's back, maybe better than ever

By Terry Blount/ESPN.com

FONTANA, Calif. -- There is no truth to the rumor that Jimmie Johnson was driving a Ferrari and the other 42 guys in the Pepsi 500 were in go-karts.

It just looked that way.

Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet was unstoppable and uncatchable Sunday night at Auto Club Speedway, winning this event for the second consecutive year.

Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards: You've been served. Johnson intends to make a serious run at that third consecutive Sprint Cup title. He has given notice that he plans to give Busch and Edwards some major competition once the Chase begins in two weeks, where barring another win he will start 50 points behind Busch and 20 behind Edwards.

And he'll do it if his cars are anything like the one he had Sunday.

"This race car was unbelievable," Johnson said. "I'm not sure I've ever had such a dominant car."

Johnson is one of the best drivers in NASCAR, but Miss Daisy probably could have taken the wheel and won in this machine. In an era where the differences between Sprint Cup cars often are infinitesimal, this Chevy was in its own galaxy.

"This is the same car we had at Indianapolis [in July] when we won there," said crew chief Chad Knaus. "But a lot of work has gone into this at Hendrick Motorsports."

Greg Biffle finished second and Denny Hamlin was third, but this was Johnson's show from start to finish. He led 228 laps of the 250-lap event.

The only thing that kept Johnson from winning the race by more than half a lap was eight cautions that brought the field back to him several times after he built huge leads.

The race even had a caution for a caution light. The second yellow flag came when a row of caution lights broke off the catch fencing from the gusty winds. Or maybe it was the force of Johnson's car whizzing by.

Johnson built a 10.6-second lead after 145 laps. Only 18 cars were on the lead lap, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was about to go a lap down when a debris caution came out on Lap 146.

But Johnson easily built another lead on the next restart. When a caution flag flew with 89 laps to go, the other contenders decided to use some strategy to get in front of him.

Five cars took two tires while Johnson took four, dropping him to sixth with 85 laps to go. After one lap, Johnson was fourth. After two laps he was second. He zoomed by Biffle for the lead before completing a third lap.

So much for strategy. See ya, boys.

Just to show it wasn't a fluke, Johnson did the same thing again a few laps later, but this time he restarted sixth when the five cars in front of him also had four fresh tires.

Johnson's jack man, Kenneth Purcell, got his left leg caught in the air hose on the pit stop with 68 laps remaining, enabling five cars to beat Johnson off pit road.

After one lap on the restart, Johnson was third. After two laps he was second, and he passed Biffle on the inside to get back in front on the third lap.

The tires were all equal. The cars were not.

Biffle's team won the award for the best pit crew of the night, beating Johnson off pit road one final time before a restart with 28 laps remaining.

Not that it mattered. Johnson was back in front in half a lap.

"I drove as hard as I've driven in a long time," Biffle said. "But the 48 was phenomenal. We see that happen every once in a while. A guy gets it set up just right and the car gets running good."

Running good? This car was running like Usain Bolt with a 30-mph tailwind. No Hendrick Motorsports car has run this well this season.

"Very seldom do you have a car this good," said team owner Rick Hendrick. "We haven't before now. This [new car] has made a lot of people pull their hair out. It was supposed to be easier than this."

Hendrick said his organization got behind on the new car last season while concentrating on Johnson and Jeff Gordon battling for the championship.

"We have worked harder this year than last year in trying to figure this car out," Hendrick said. "It's been frustrating. This car is so temperamental. You have to figure out as a crew chief and driver what it likes. I can't remember a year where we have thrown more things at it, and sometimes the more you do the further back you get."

Whatever they did with the car Johnson drove Sunday was equivalent to winning the lottery. And Johnson hopes it sets him up to challenge Busch and Edwards for the Cup title.

"I'm happy to see people are considering us a championship contender again," Johnson said. "Kyle and Carl have dominated things and we haven't caught them yet, but we're doing the right things now."

Well, that's all for today.  Until the next time, I remain,

Your Nascar Momma

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

his list is authored by:

Sandra Monacelli
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