Category: Featured Stories

Jimmie Johnson surprised the fans and other drivers alike when he turned a fast lap of 15.540-seconds for 123.475 mph to claim the pole for the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Ryan Newman had set the mark when he went out tenth and held the provisional pole until being set back by his teammate Tony Stewart. Stewart place atop the board was short lived as Joey Logano was next out (17th) and bested Stewart’s time by .023-seconds. It appeared Logano would start up front until Carl Edwards went out 33rd and sent Logano back beating his time by .022-seconds, but Edwards would have to settle for the front row besides Johnson who turned a lap more than a half second faster.

Jeff Gordon, who earlier in the day told the media that he seemed to have lost his ‘edge’ at Bristol when the track was resurfaced a few years ago, went out fifth and slid the car out of turn four onto the front stretch before taking the green flag. NASCAR officials allowed Gordon’s crew to put scuff tires on since the tires were flat spotted and he had not taken the green. Gordon went on the 5 minute clock and would go out later, turning a lap of 15.803-seconds, good for a disappointing 26th place start.

David Reutimann, who had missed the practice sessions and was expected to miss qualifying due to stomach issues, surprised folks by climbing in the car and qualifying fifth. Jeff Green, who has been absent from the Cup series for a while, qualified the No. 26 car 31st — good enough to put the car in the field. Kevin Conway, who was recently released from the No. 34 car, was behind the wheel of Robby Gordon’s No. 7 car and made the race by way of owner points, starting 40th. Casey Mears, driving the No. 13 Geico Toyota for Germain Racing filled the final spot starting 43rd.

Missing Saturday Night’s race, the 100th NASCAR Sprint Cup Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, were Dave Blaney (No. 36), Joe Nemechek (No. 87), Kevin Lepage (No. 4), J.J. Yeley (No. 46), Brian Keselowski (No. 92) and Mike Bliss (No. 32).

Greg and Nicole Biffle have more than racing in common as a NASCAR couple. They are also passionate about pets, especially pets in crisis or those in danger of being euthanized because of abuse or neglect.

“I don’t think the general public really understands what a crisis our country is in with animal overpopulation and euthanization,” Nicole Biffle said. “When you give people the numbers they look at you like you’re crazy because they don’t get how bad it really is.”

Because of their passion to save pets, particularly those that are no longer wanted, the Biffles are raising funds to assist these animals in need, as well as those humans who are helping them. This race weekend at Bristol, both Greg and Nicole Biffle will be releasing their 2011 NASCAR Pets Calendar, with all of the proceeds going to the Greg Biffle Foundation to improve the well-being of animals.

“We’ve done the calendar since 2005,” Nicole Biffle said. “It was kind of an idea I had just watching the news and seeing how many things were going on with pets in this area. “

Biffle pitched the calendar idea to her husband, with her initial vision being to have rough copies to sell amongst their fellow racing families to hang in their haulers or motor homes.

“We got lucky enough with the NASCAR Foundation,” Biffle said. “They hooked us up and we started producing these calendars.”

The Pets Calendar traditionally focuses on NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers and their families, including their animals.

“We tried to do it in casual settings, like at their houses or in their motor homes, like a family portrait,” Biffle said. “The fans can see what their life is like outside the race track with their kids and their pets.”

For the upcoming year, the 2011 NASCAR Pets Calendar will feature 11 Sprint Cup drivers with their pets, as well as featuring the three Miss Sprint Cups and their favorite animals.

“A couple years ago, we added media,” Biffle said. “This year we did the three Sprint Cup ladies and their pets. I’m hoping that will boost sales. You know, I think all the guys think those Sprint Cup ladies are pretty cute. If it sells well, maybe we’ll have to do a Sprint Cup girls and pets calendar all on their own.”

Biffle also credits 3M, her husband’s primary sponsor, for helping to take the calendar to the next level.

“Last year was the first year that 3M helped us do the whole thing,” Biffle said. “We’re really lucky to have a sponsor that cares about what we’re doing. It means a lot to us.”

Biffle is also very proud that over 97% of the calendar proceeds go to the Foundation and right out to the community. The Biffles have just one employee at the Foundation, paying her out of their own pocket so that the money can be used for pets in need.

The Foundation makes grants on an annual basis, supporting nonprofits such as no kill shelters or spay and neuter clinics. They have granted help throughout the country, from Washington State to New York City. The Biffles also sit on the national advisory board of the North Shore Animal League, as well as organizing puppy roundups to send to the League for adoption.

“Primarily we stick with dogs and cats just because there is such an overwhelming need in our country,” Biffle said. “We go through the applications and see who is in greatest need.”

Biffle’s passion for animals in need stems from her own personal experience, having adopted a dog, Foster, now a nine year old boxer. The Biffles also have two other dogs, Gracie who is another boxer and Savannah who is a mix of “what, we don’t know.”

“We just fell in love,” Biffle said. “Our dogs are our kids. They mean everything to us.”

“That’s why we decided to go the pet avenue,” Biffle said. “It just breaks your heart. I get requests every day about animals that are going to be put to sleep. It’s just kind of makes you sick and breaks our hearts.”

While the Biffles work to help animals, they also focus on spending as much time with their own pets as possible, including taking them to as many races as possible. In fact, the dogs were all at Pocono where Greg Biffle won, so the driver of the No. 16 3M Roush Fenway Racing Ford has decided that they are perhaps his newest good luck charms.

In addition to the pet calendar fundraising, the Biffles are adding another new twist, a raffle for Greg Biffle’s custom golf cart. This will be unveiled at Bristol this weekend and will be part of the Food City Race Night festivities.

“A friend of Greg’s owns a hot rod shop in Tucson and he sent Greg this incredible golf cart, custom painted with flames,” Biffle said. “I’m thinking that should be pretty good because it’s a really neat golf cart to toot around in. It’s pretty cool.”

The calendar, priced at $13.99 can be purchased at www.gregbifflefoundation.com or at the Bristol race, where Biffle will be autographing copies. The calendars are also available in some Pet Co stores, particularly in the southeast. Raffle tickets for Biffle’s golf cart can be purchased at www.winbifflesgolfcart.com.

For the Biffles, all of this is simply about the animals. And it truly is a labor of love.

“We’re thankful that we are able to do something to help,” Nicole Biffle said.

David Ragan, driver of the No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing, has just one word for racing under the lights at Bristol. To Ragan, it is just “thrilling”.

“Bristol is a thrilling place,” Ragan said. “It keeps the drivers on the edge and the fans on the edge of their seats.”

While his thoughts are on Bristol this weekend, Ragan is also still riding the wave of this past weekend’s successful race in the Irish hills of Michigan. Ragan finished 11th, earning him a phone call from team owner Jack Roush, just back at the track and still recovering from his wicked plane crash.

“Michigan is a good track for our team,” Ragan said. “We’ve had some top-5 and top-10 finishes there the last few years. So, we’re always going to Michigan with high expectations.”

“You know, to finish 11th is certainly not what we go there to do,” Ragan continued. “But to lead a few laps and be in contention for a top-10 finish at the end of the race was all we can ask.”

“Our car was a little too loose toward the end of the race,” Ragan said. “We just didn’t make quite the right adjustments to get a top-5 out of it.”

Ragan admitted that both he and crew chief Donnie Wingo are continuing to work on their communication, chemistry, and relationship. This is the first year of the partnership together on the UPS Ford race team.

“We’re still spending time together and learning each other more and more throughout the season,” Ragan said. “The more time we can spend time at the race track and away from the race track, the more we trust each other and feel comfortable with each other.”

While most drivers focus on their relationships with their crew chiefs, Ragan advises that there is a third element to success, a good relationship and communication with the engineer.

“The third part of that triangle is our team engineer,” Ragan said. “I think that’s important too. You need the crew chief, driver and engineer to gel and that’s what’s going to get us to that next level.”

Ragan also admitted that it was great to have team owner Jack Roush back at the track for the Michigan race. All four of the Roush Fenway race teams performed well in honor of their team owner’s return, with Ragan in 11th and teammates Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth coming in third, fourth and fifth respectively.

“It was good to have Jack around the race track this weekend,” Ragan said. “Jack’s a tough old guy but it just shows you what kind of determination he has to be back at the race track. Everyone’s encouraged when they see their boss man walking around.”

Ragan expects that Roush will continue to be back at the track with his teams, including the race this weekend at Bristol. Ragan is looking forward to the short track racing under the lights, going into the event with a top ten finish there under his belt, as well as a Nationwide win at Bristol in 2009.

“Bristol has been a good track for us,” Ragan said. “But Bristol is also a crazy track. Anything can happen there.”

Crew chief Donnie Wingo agrees with his driver’s analysis of the Bristol Motor Speedway.

“Track position is so important at a place like Bristol,” Wingo said. “With so many cars on a half-mile surface it can be all too easy to go a lap down or get caught up in a wreck. We’ve got a fast UPS Ford and we should be good this weekend.”

“We’ll just have to have a little bit of luck on our side,” Ragan said. He is also aware that the racing will be intense at the short track, especially after watching the Truck Series race on Wednesday evening.

“I watched bits and pieces of it,” Ragan said about the Truck race. “It looked pretty rough.”

The good news for Ragan coming into the Bristol race weekend is that he does not have axes to grind with other drivers. On the flip side, Ragan also feels that there is no one seeking revenge for any of his past wrongdoings either.

“I don’t really have a hit list this weekend,” Ragan said with a chuckle. “And I’m not on anyone’s hit list. But that may change very quickly once we get there and get going.”

One thing that Ragan is certain of is that there will be lots of action at this upcoming race weekend in Thunder Valley.

“Everything happens very fast there,” Ragan continued. “I think it’s one of the great places to go and watch a NASCAR race.”

Ragan and his fellow drivers will take to the short track of Bristol Motor Speedway for the Irwin Tools Night Race on Saturday, August 21st. The race will be broadcast at 7:30 PM ET on ABC.

Four-time NASCAR Champion and driver of the No. 24 Dupont Chevrolet for Hendrick Motor Sports has one mission in mind at this weekend’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway: He must win in order to lock himself into this year’s championship Chase.

Gordon currently sits second in the Chase point standings and has a 387 point advantage over the 13th position in the standings so would need a win to absolutely lock himself into championship contention. A win at Thunder Valley would not only lock Gordon into the Chase, but it would be the first victory of this season. Gordon has not won since last year when he went to Victory Lane in the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

If ever there was a track for Gordon to experience a win, Bristol would be up at the top of the list. Gordon has five wins, five poles, 14 top-five and 20 top-ten finishes at the 0.533 mile race track. Gordon has also utilized Bristol in the past to put an end to a winless streak. In 2002, Gordon snapped a 31-race winless streak, heading to victory lane under the lights at Thunder Valley. Yet Gordon has seemed to struggle at Bristol recently, especially since the track has been resurfaced. In the last four Bristol races, Gordon has only managed two top-five finishes.

“We’ve struggled here ever since they changed the track,” Gordon said. “I just feel like I had a knack for the old configuration – a groove and a feel and a set up that really worked well for us. Ever since the change, none of that has seemed to work. It’s about reinventing myself as a driver – trying to find a different groove that works and giving good feedback to the team to get the car to work the way we need it to.”

Not only will Gordon have to concentrate on dialing his car in, he will also have to watch out for some of the typical Bristol temper tantrums that occur at the track known for payback opportunities.

One driver that Gordon will undoubtedly have to keep his eye on will be Martin Truex Jr. Gordon and Truex had a major disagreement at the road course race in Infineon and Truex has vowed revenge ever since.

“He just turned me around,” Truex said after the Infineon race. “It’s all right. We’ll get him.”

Truex had vowed to seek revenge at the following race at Loudon, New Hampshire. Although there were some opportunities and some close racing moments, Truex’s payback did not occur, leading to the speculation that this feud may just resurface again this weekend at Bristol.

While Gordon may have his own paybacks to contend with, he will also have to be careful not to be a victim of someone else’s disagreements and revenge intentions. For example, the most recent feud between veteran Ryan Newman and upstart Joey Logano may just have spill over Bristol repercussions.

Gordon acknowledges that when you get 43 Cup cars on the short track at Bristol, there will no doubt be some beating and banging, even with the wider racing surface after the repaving.

“Even though they’ve made the track have wider grooves, it’s still not enough,” Gordon said. “You are going to run out of patience and that causes tempers to flare.”

While Gordon will have his hands full on the track at Bristol, he also is busy off the track, especially tending to his ever expanding family. Gordon, wife Ingrid Vandebosch, and daughter Ella recently welcomed son Leo Benjamin, born August 9th, into their brood.

Gordon also continues his charity work, from the Sounds of Pertussis awareness campaign to fundraising for his own Foundation. Gordon is especially looking forward to a new initiative, running a paint scheme designed by his three-year old daughter Ella and famed NASCAR artist Sam Bass.

Gordon will run the new car, dubbed ‘My Papa’s car’ designed by daughter Ella at the upcoming race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 5th. The die cast of the car will be sold with proceeds benefitting the newly renamed Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation.

“I can’t wait to run Ella and Sam’s design and I can’t think of a better way to showcase the new Foundation logo and name on that car,” Gordon said. “Dupont has graciously allowed us to run this scheme during one of their races and I really appreciate their support.”

For this race weekend, however, Gordon will return his focus to that short track at Bristol. While he is most likely salivating over the possibility of a win and a guaranteed spot in the Chase, Gordon can also take solace in the fact that he only needs to manage a margin of 323 points over the 13th place point position and start the next two events to guarantee himself the opportunity to compete for that fifth championship.

Gordon and the rest of his Cup competitors will compete on the short track of Bristol Motor Speedway for the Irwin Tools Night Race on Saturday, August 21st. The race will be broadcast at 7:30 PM ET on ABC.

Mark my words; it has all of the makings of a Saturday night showdown when 43 teams from NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series takes the green flag for the Irwin Tools 500. Anytime you place that many cars on a half mile track there is bound to be some sort of driver road rage that frequently becomes motorized mayhem. It’s not a question of will it happen, its more a question of when will it happen and how many times will we see it. The Irwin Tools 500 is going to be more than worth staying home on a Saturday night to watch.

THE STORY BREAKDOWN

We all know what the major story line is. It is, of course, the 12 man line up for NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Chase for the Championship. Series points leader Kevin Harvick has already clinched his spot in the Chase based on last Sunday’s win at Michigan. It’s expected that the top nine will follow suit over the next two races.

With only three races left before the 12 man Chase line up is locked in, the drama is located at the very bottom of the list. Clint Bowyer, and his #33 Richard Childress Racing team, sits in the coveted 12th position. But he’s now where near being safe regarding his Chase status. Mark Martin is only 35 points away in 13th and plans on becoming the third team to make the Chase from Hendrick Motorsports.

Behind Martin are four drivers whose Chase hopes are treading water. A win, combined with some strong finishes, within the next three races will greatly help their cause. However, they are still going to have to depend on a low finish from Bowyer and Martin to make the top 12.

Leading that group is Ryan Newman who is 14th in the standings and 103 points away from the top 12. Newman took the green flag at Michigan last Sunday a workable 83 points out. But an early race altercation with Joey Logano cost an angry Newman an additional 20 points and led to the situation he’s in right now.

Jamie McMurray holds down the 15th spot in the standings and is 105 points from 12th. He’s followed by Kasey Kahne at -126 and Dale Earnhardt Jr. at -129. Mathematically speaking these four drivers have not been officially eliminated from making this year’s Chase. But in reality they’re going to need something extremely dramatic at this point in time.

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On the topic of Ryan Newman and Joey Logano’s Michigan altercation, expect to see video replays of their moment both on and off the track. You will likely hear the suggestion that Bristol is a perfect place to extract retaliation and that’s basically true. But don’t expect it. Newman clearly has some digging to do and his focus is going to be on that 12th spot in the Chase line up.

But that doesn’t mean that he’s no longer angry at Logano who criticized him for racing too hard too early in the race. In an interview comment this week Newman was quoted to say that he didn’t know if there was such a thing as racing too hard and further stated “four races to go for the Chase and we are trying to get ourselves in that top 12. He’s not smart enough to understand this position, but he needs to take the time and realize that it’s not all about him.”

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THE VEGAS BREAKDOWN

Despite a field loaded with multiple Bristol winners, the Las Vegas based World Sports Exchange, (WSE), believes that Jimmie Johnson is going to win his second Irwin Tools 500 and has placed him on top of their list at 5 to 1 odds.

Right behind Johnson are the Busch brothers. Kyle Busch is a three time Bristol winner in the Cup ranks, has a win there in the Nationwide Series and won last Wednesday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol for the third year in a row. The WSE has him ranked at 6 to 1 to win Saturday night. Older brother Kurt Busch is a five time Bristol winner, with some impressive stats at this track, yet amazingly is ranked at 7 to 1. The driver of the Miller Lite Dodge would make a very solid wager.

At 10 to 1 is the duo of Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart. Edwards is a two time Cup winner at Bristol and a single winner there in the Nationwide Series. Stewart has a single Cup win there. Both are seeking their first win of the season and each will be looking to solidify their presence in the Chase line up.

The 12 to 1 grouping is led by someone who also must be considered to be a solid wager. Five time Bristol winner Jeff Gordon leads this group. He’s second in the standings, guaranteed to make the Chase and that means he can be expected to race a little harder to collect those ten bonus points that comes with winning to get a better position when the Chase starts next month. The law of averages says that this team is bound to close the deal sooner or later this year and Bristol is a very good opportunity for them. Kevin Harvick is also in this group. Harvick has already clinched his Chase berth and can also afford to race a little harder to collect those bonus points. He’s a former Cup winner at Bristol and has won five Nationwide events there. Greg Biffle completes the 12 to 1 category and has been having some strong runs lately especially after his recent return to victory lane at Pocono.

Looking at the mid pack from the WSE’s rankings this week Denny Hamlin and former Bristol winner Jeff Burton are rated at 15 to 1. Two time race winner Matt Kenseth and Clint Bowyer are 20 to 1 while the duo of Juan Pablo Montoya and Kasey Kahne are ranked at 25 to 1.

At the lower end of the rankings you will find Bristol winner Dale Earnhardt Jr and Joey Logano at 30 to1. Also in this group is Mark Martin who is a two time winner and leads the Sprint Cup top five and top ten finish stats at Bristol. Martin is 12th in the standings and it’s possible that he may consider a points racing posture to insure a Chase berth in three weeks.

Jamie McMurray has a solo ranking of 35 to 1 this week while the trio of Ryan Newman, Martin Truex Jr and David Reutimann closes the WSE list at 40 to 1.

Now for the disclaimer: NASCAR wants to remind you that these posted numbers are for information and entertainment purposes and they do not encourage or condone the placing of wagers on their races. If you follow that philosophy then you’re a fantasy gambler. A fantasy bet doesn’t cost you anything, they make great water cooler conversations at work and they won’t get you in any trouble at home. But if you prefer reality over fantasy, a good choice might turn out to be placing a Benjamin on Jeff Gordon at 12 to 1 and then place a back up Benjamin on Kurt Busch at 7 to 1.

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THE RACE BREAKDOWN

The Irwin Tools 500 is 500 laps/266.5 miles around the Bristol Motor Speedway’s .533 mile concrete oval.

The track features challenging progressive banking, 24 to 30 degrees in the turns and 4 to 9 degrees on the straight-aways. The turns are connected by short straight-aways measuring 650 feet long by 43 feet wide.

Entering and exiting pit road is also very challenging at Bristol because the speedway has two of them divided into 22 stalls on the front stretch and 21 stalls on the back stretch. Under green flag conditions the drivers will have to enter the pits off of turn two and then drive all the way around to return to the track off of turn one. The pit stalls are also going to be a challenge for the Sprint Cup teams. They only measure 25.5 feet long by 15.5 feet wide. The pit road speed is a strictly enforced 30 MPH.

The grandstands are also highly unique at the Bristol Motor Speedway. They literally stretch all the way around the race track and can accommodate 160,000 fans.

The Irwin Tools 500 is a landmark event because it will be the 100th NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the speedway.

The race has 49 entries vying for the 43 starting positions. 15 of those entries are on the go or go home list meaning they are not automatically guaranteed a starting berth because they are currently outside of the top 35 in NASCAR owner’s points. These teams will have to rely on qualifying speed to make the race.

The defending race winner from 2009 is Kyle Busch. Jimmie Johnson won the first Bristol race of 2010 last March.

Darrell Waltrip leads the all time win list at Bristol with 12. Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch lead the modern day active drivers with five wins each.

In the manufacturer’s win stats Chevrolet tops the list with 42 trips to the Bristol victory lane followed by Ford at 33, Dodge at 6 and Toyota at two.

Mark Martin owns the finish stats at Bristol with 16 top fives and 23 top tens.

Martin also has the most pole positions there with nine.

Ryan Newman owns the track qualifying record, 128.709 MPH, set in March of 2003.

The Irwin Tools 500 will be broadcast live Saturday night by ABC Sports beginning at 730 pm eastern time. Race rebroadcasts will be Monday morning, 230 am et, on ESPN2 and Wednesday afternoon, 12 pm et, on SPEED.

At least we hope the race will be broadcast Saturday evening. The weather forecast calls for cloudy skies on Saturday with a 40% chance of isolated thunder showers and daytime highs of 88 degrees. The Sunday forecast calls for a 50% chance of scattered thunder storms. If Monday becomes a necessity there is only a 10% chance of rain under cloudy skies.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kevin Harvick: Harvick won for the third time this year, conquering the Carfax 400 in Michigan while becoming the first driver to clinch a spot in the Chase For The Cup. Harvick stayed on the track during the final caution while most cars pitted for tires, and passed Denny Hamlin with 10 to go. Harvick’s closest pursuer in the points in Jeff Gordon, who is 293 out of first.

“That points lead is impressive,” Harvick said, “if I must say so myself. Now everyone wants to call me the Cup favorite. After all these points, I’ve finally made a point.”

“I can think of no better way to announce Budweiser as my 2011 sponsor than with a win. Regardless of what happens from now until Homestead in November, I’ll be wearing a ‘crown’ next year.”

2. Denny Hamlin: Despite qualifying 33rd, Hamlin finished second at Michigan, site of his June 13th win, the last of his five victories this year. Hamlin battled Kevin Harvick after both opted not to pit during a late caution, but Harvick pulled away for this win after clearing Hamlin with ten laps to go.

“I really wanted this win,” Hamlin said. “Not only for the ten bonus points, but also for the chance to see the cheesy headline ‘Mich-Again.’”

“Harvick was just too much for us. It was a mismatch on par with the Ryan Newman-Joey Logano argument after Sunday’s race. That was a Gillette Young Gun versus a Gillette Youngin.’ Newman looked downright peeved, while Logano was calm and collected, albeit with a tinge of fear that Newman was going to punch him. I imagine that’s exactly how Newman-Rusty Wallace conversations went years ago.”

3. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson qualified second at Michigan, and, after a quick start on Sunday, was plagued afterwards by a loose No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy, as well as uncharacteristic mishaps in the pits, on his way to a 12th-place finish. He is fifth in the Sprint Cup point standings, 386 behind Kevin Harvick.

“It seems I’ve been relegated to an ‘also-ran’ in the Chase For The Cup,” Johnson said. “Believe that if you like, but I think the more appropriate term would be an ‘also-run,’ because I won the Sprint Cup in 2006, also in 2007, also in 2008, and also in 2009.”

“Right now, Kevin Harvick’s got everything going his way. He just won a race, his wife satiates his kinky role-playing desires by wearing his clothes, and he’s got a huge new sponsor for next year. Budweiser sponsorship is quite a coup. You know, Bud is brewed from the finest hops and barley in the world, and its alcohol content by volume is 5%, which is exactly the chance I give Harvick of winning the Cup.”

4. Jeff Gordon: After a poor qualifying effort, Gordon started 36th at Michigan, but quickly marched to the front and had a top-10 in sight before a cut tire ruined his day. The flat tire caused right-side damage, and after repairs, Gordon restarted well back. He finished 27th, and although second in the points, he has yet to win this year.

“Winning isn’t everything,” Gordon said. “In fact, for me, winning isn’t anything. We’re just suffering through a spell where nothing is going right. It’s like the old saying: ‘If it wasn’t for bad luck, I’d never have been married to a woman named Brooke.”

“Despite my slump, I have no intentions of hanging up the driving gloves anytime soon. It may remedy a flat, but ‘re-tiring’ has no appeal to me.”

5. Tony Stewart: Stewart was leading with just over 30 laps to go in the Carfax 400 when a debris caution left him with a critical decision: pit for tires or stay out and maintain track position. Stewart chose the latter, as did Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin, and Harvick made the most of it, taking the win after outdueling Stewart and Hamlin.

“I think heeding debris cautions should be optional for drivers,” Stewart said. “I’m fairly certain not all debris cautions are necessary, particular those in which the clean-up crew uses a broom and a dust pan.”

“I was impressed with Ryan Newman’s handling of the Joey Logano situation. He handled it in exactly the opposite manner that I would have—he listened intently, then shoved Logano. With me, it’s shove first, listen later, in the NASCAR hauler. But seriously, how can you keep your hands off Logano? He’s adorable.”

6. Kurt Busch: Busch blew an engine 30 laps into Sunday’s Carfax 400 at Michigan, with a cloud of smoke and spray of oil heralding an early exit from the race. He finished 40th, only his second DNF of the year, and tumbled six places in the Sprint Cup point standings, from fourth to tenth.

“Yes, that was quite a free fall in the standings,” Busch said. “So much so that I was tempted to yell ‘Geronimo!’ Take it from someone who’s been unceremoniously ‘dropped’ on a number of occasions, it was quite a fall.

You could say I went down faster than beer out of a Miller Lite Vortex bottle.”

7. Carl Edwards: Edwards led a parade of Roush Fenway Racing cars in the top 5 at Michigan, finishing third, followed by teammates Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth in fourth and fifth, respectively. Edwards vaulted three places in the point standings to seventh, and is a comfortable 266 ahead of Mark Martin in 13th.

“Jack’s back,” Edwards said. “And so is Roush Fenway. Just a few weeks ago, this team was all but written off. But things have changed. Usually, when I speak of ‘amazing turnarounds,’ it involves me sending Brad Keselowski spinning, or sailing, backwards down the track.”

“And you’ve probably heard that I’ve said this team could still win the Cup championship. I refuse to acknowledge Kevin Harvick as the favorite to win the Sprint Cup, not because I don’t like him, but because I don’t think that team can sustain their consistency through the Chase. Take it from someone who knows—there will be another ‘choke’ in Harvick’s garage.”

8. Greg Biffle: Biffle led 66 of the first 83 laps at Michigan, dominating early in the Carfax 400 before intermittent handling issues kept him from the front thereafter. After taking four tires during the race’s final caution, the 3M Ford picked off ten cars on the way to a fourth-place finish. He maintained the 11th spot in the standings, and leads Mark Martin in 13th by 193.

“I think I speak for everyone,” Biffle said, “when I say that Saving Abel’s rendition of the national anthem was downright awful. It was so bad, it made ears bleed, which I’m sure brought back painful memories for boxing legend and race grand marshal Evander Holyfield.”

9. Kyle Busch: Busch saw a promising day at Michigan quickly disintegrate when he nailed the wall on lap 159, damaging the right side of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Camry. Busch settled for a disappointing 18th and dropped one place in the Sprint Cup point standings to eighth, 425 out of first. With only two top-10 finishes in his last nine races, Busch knows he must find some momentum before the Chase starts.

“I think that accident would be called a ‘Battery’ ram,” Busch said. “It’s a mishap that is certainly symbolic—it seems that each year, as we near the Chase, we ‘hit a wall.’

10. Jeff Burton: Burton plowed into Jeff Gordon when the No. 24 cut a tire on lap 154, damaging the front of Burton’s No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet. Burton restarted well back in the field and finished 24th, which set him back four places in the point standings to sixth, where he trails Kevin Harvick by 414.

“I think Budweiser and Kevin Harvick will form a great partnership,” Burton said. “That was evident in Tuesday’s press conference when Kevin made the first of what will surely be many ‘Bud pole’ jokes.”

“The Budweiser brand and colors will now be associated with Kevin’s smartly aggressive driving and take-no-prisoners attitude. Next year, if Kevin pisses someone off on the track, they’ll have no choice but to see ‘red.’”

The Cup Series return to the Irish hills of Michigan also marked the return of Jack Roush, injured in a plane crash, to the track as well as the resurgence of Richard Childress Racing.  Here is what is surprising and not surprising from the race at MIS this past weekend.

Surprising: Not since 1990 when the late Dale Earnhardt won had Richard Childress Racing been to victory lane at Michigan.   But all that changed when RCR driver and points leader Kevin Harvick powered his No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet to the checkered flag. This was Harvick’s first win at a two mile plus race track without a restrictor plate since Indy in 2003.

Not Surprising: With that victory and the points lead solidly in hand, Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress Racing positioned themselves perfectly to welcome the Budweiser sponsorship to their car in 2011. All of the stars seem to be aligning for Harvick with his new sponsor, a new contract, and a position in the championship Chase now officially locked in.

Surprising:  Kurt Busch in the blue deuce for Penske Racing had been riding high recently. He was unpleasantly surprised, however, when his engine failed early in the race due to a valve breakage. This was Busch’s second DNF and he was also NASCAR’s biggest loser, dropping six positions in the point standings, from fourth to tenth.

Not Surprising: Brother Kyle Busch had an eventful race as he so often does, at one point brushing the wall hard and suffering damage to his No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota. Yet he battled back for a finish matching the number of his car, taking the checkered flag in the 18^th position. Unlike his brother, Kyle Busch just lost one position in the Chase standings, dropping him to eighth.

Surprising:   With an uncertain future at Richard Petty Motorsports but with the memory of his Pocono Truck win still fresh in the back of his mind, Elliott Sadler had a great run in his No. 19 Henry Ford Museum: Racing in America Ford. Sadler came in 9^th after starting back in the field in 23^rd.

Not Surprising:   RPM teammate Kasey Kahne did not fare as well as Sadler. While he started from the pole, he brought his No. 9 Budweiser Ford to the finish line in 14^th, deeming his run “disappointing.”

Surprising: Lanky Joey Logano and ripped Ryan Newman got into a tussle on and off the track. On lap 148, the two drivers were battling for position and wrecked one another. Newman, battling for one of the final positions in the Chase, finished a miserable 23^rd, while Logano, who is out of Chase contention, salvaged a top ten finish.

Not Surprising: The two drivers continued their on track disagreement into the garage area, with Logano confronting Newman and accusing him of driving him “too hard”. Newman, showing no patience for the youngster, especially after being touched by the gesticulating young man, shared a few choice words, encouraging Logano to learn how to drive himself.

Surprising:   It was surprising how badly the Hendrick Motorsports drivers fared at Michigan. Jeff Gordon, celebrating his own birthday as well as the birth of his son Leo, started in the back but had a strong car, at one point running at the front of the field. But tire troubles plagued him throughout the latter part of the race and he finished 27^th.

Not Surprising:   Unfortunately for the Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans, the Irish hills did not smile on the driver of the No. 88 National Guard AMP Energy Chevrolet. Junior finished 19^th but can take solace that he was the second best finisher of his four HMS teammates.

Surprising: Hendrick Motorsports driver Mark Martin also struggled, getting into the wall early in the race. He finished behind Jeff Gordon in 28^th and with that finish fell out of Chase contention to the 13^th position in the point standings.

Not Surprising: With the ‘Cat in the Hat’ back on top of the pit box where he belongs, the Roushketeers had a great run in his honor and at his home track. Roush Fenway drivers Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth finished in the third, fourth and fifth positions respectively. Even young driver David Ragan ran well, finishing 11^th and earning a congratulatory phone call from Roush himself.

Surprising: Denny Hamlin re-emerged and brought his No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota home in the runner up position. Hamlin was one of the biggest point gainers, moving up to the third position in the points right behind Harvick and Gordon.

Not Surprising: In the throes of the hot and sticky summer, it is no surprise that Smoke has started to reappear. Tony Stewart, as he so often does, has started to heat up his season, finishing sixth in his No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet. With that top ten finish, Stewart also moved up four positions in the Chase standings to fourth.

The Cup Series will go short track racing under the lights at Bristol this weekend. The IRWIN Tools Night Race will run on Saturday, August 21^st at 7:30 PM on ABC.