NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fests Scheduled For Jan. 16-17

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Race fans will receive a sneak peek of DIRECTV Speedweeks 2009 as well as the new NASCAR racing season on Friday, Jan. 16 and Saturday, Jan. 17 with the annual NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fests at historic Daytona International Speedway.

Fans can get their "racing fix" prior to DIRECTV Speedweeks 2009 and the 51st annual Daytona 500 with numerous activities with their favorite drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series in the Sprint FANZONE located in the heart of "The World Center of Racing."

Among the activities planned for both days include:

• Interactive fan forums
• Autograph sessions
• Show cars, displays, music
• Online auction
• Blood drive

In addition, Richard Petty Driving Experience will be on track with ride and driving packages available. The ride-only packages can be purchased on-site while the driving packages must be purchased in advance at 1-800-BE-PETTY.

Tickets, which go on sale Saturday, Dec. 20 at 9 a.m., are $15 with autograph session availability limited to only 100 people per driver in advance. To purchase tickets and request access to the special autograph sessions, call 1-800-PITSHOP.

Drivers scheduled to make appearances on Friday, Jan. 16 beginning at 6 p.m. include 50th running of the Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman, two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, Jeff Burton, Kyle Busch, Reed Sorenson, Aric Almirola, Casey Mears, Greg Biffle, Travis Kvapil, David Gilliland, former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Mike Skinner and Jon Wes Townley.

Scheduled to appear on Saturday, Jan. 17 during the noon - 4 p.m. session include three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, former NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Matt Kenseth, 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup runner-up Carl Edwards, Mark Martin, Denny Hamlin, David Ragan, Colin Braun, Erik Darnell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Paul Menard and Alex Garcia.

In the 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. session on Saturday, Jan. 17, drivers scheduled to appear include former Daytona 500 winners Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Waltrip and Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and three-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr.

Additional drivers and more details about the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fests will be released in the coming weeks

"We're excited to be able to announce the dates to the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fests," Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. "These two days are going to be a great opportunity for the fans to interact with the drivers and get pumped up about the upcoming DIRECTV Speedweeks and the new NASCAR season."

DIRECTV Speedweeks 2009 is highlighted by the season-opening 51st annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15. Other events include the Camping World 300 Nationwide Series race on Saturday, Feb. 14, the Daytona 250 Camping World Truck Series race on Friday, Feb. 13, the Gatorade Duel At Daytona qualifying races on Thursday, Feb. 12, Daytona 500 Qualifying Presented by Kroger on Sunday, Feb. 8 and the Budweiser Shootout and ARCA 200 on Saturday, Feb. 7.

2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champions Week Preview

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will be the centerpiece of next week's annual Champions Week celebration in New York City — a busy and joyful five days that marks the traditional end of each season.

Johnson, who captured his third consecutive title two weeks ago in the series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, is the first driver in 30 years to win three consecutive series titles. He joins NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough as the only two drivers to accomplish that feat. Yarborough won his titles in 1976-78.

Next week's festivities mark the 28th consecutive year that NASCAR has crowned its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion in New York. The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel has served as the sport's host for each of those years, with its historic Grand Ballroom the site of the Dec. 5 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony.

Johnson, however, will have much to do before Champions Week culminates on that Friday night.

Monday — Johnson and wife Chandra arrive in New York. That evening, he and Chandra will participate in the annual Champion's Welcome Dinner in the Waldorf-Astoria Executive Kitchen, a gathering attended by NASCAR and champion team representatives and overseen by Executive Chef John Doherty.

Tuesday — Johnson will participate in another Champions Week tradition — photo shoots at New York landmarks. Later that evening, he'll be a guest on Motor Racing Network's NASCAR Live.

Wednesday — Johnson begins his day by ringing the New York Stock Exchange's Opening Bell. He'll also attend the Tissot Countdown Clock event at the Marquee of the Hard Rock Café, a March of Dimes luncheon, a media luncheon at Foley's and the Sprint Media Celebration at the Sports Museum of America.

Thursday — Johnson's major event this day is the annual NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Media Luncheon at Cipriani. He'll be joined by the rest of the top 12 drivers in the 2008 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, plus Raybestos Rookie of the Year Regan Smith and other annual award winners. Following the awards luncheon, Johnson will participate in the traditional Times Square photo shoot outside the Hard Rock Café, then attend the annual Stewies Awards, orchestrated by fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, at Sirius/XM Satellite Radio studios.

Friday — The Big Day. Johnson, his family and his Hendrick Motorsports team will participate in traditional photos during the afternoon, before attending the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony that evening in the Waldorf-Astoria's Grand Ballroom.

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2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Champion: Jimmie Johnson

2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Owner Champion: Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports

Final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12: 1. Jimmie Johnson, 6,684; 2. Carl Edwards, 6,615; 3. Greg Biffle, 6,467; 4. Kevin Harvick, 6,408; 5. Clint Bowyer, 6,381; 6. Jeff Burton, 6,335; 7. Jeff Gordon, 6,316; 8. Denny Hamlin, 6,214; 9. Tony Stewart, 6,202; 10. Kyle Busch, 6,186; 11. Matt Kenseth, 6,184 and Dale Earnhardt Jr., 6,127.

Raybestos Rookie of the Year: Regan Smith

— Source: NASCAR

NASCAR Newscast: 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Awards Banquet

Fantasy Report: Ford 400

We're down to the last race of the 2008 season and I speak for both Fantasy bloggers when I say "thank goodness!" After falling back to 11th in our league, and Erik in 22nd, it's a relief that this is the end. My only hope is that I can climb into the top 10 but it gets harder to post a lot of points at the end of the season when your top drivers are used up. I guess I'll just make do with who I have and wish for the best.

My picks for this week:

• Jeff Gordon✔ and Kurt Busch

• David Ragan✔, Juan Pablo Montoya✔, Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne

• David Reutimann✔ and AJ Allmendinger

Different motives: There's a lot of things happening this weekend. Jimmy Johnson can take home his third consecutive championship by finishing 36th or better, 37th and leading one lap or 39th and leading the most laps. Jeff Gordon is trying one last time to post his first win of the season or other Chase drivers trying to finish higher in the standings. Also, you have teams looking to stay in the top 35 in owner points which might be the recipe for a big wreck before the checkered flag is dropped. It's hard to say whether or not Johnson will lay back and try to post a top 20 or so finish or put it out front like he did last weekend. I would imagine he might not finish extremely high in the running order so he might not be a good pick this weekend. I'm going with Gordon for my A driver and although he finished badly last weekend he'll be going all out in Miami.

Decisions, decisions: If you're within striking distance of the top spot in your league you can either play it safe and hope for the best or gamble for that extra surge in points. I decided to do a little of both. All the drivers on my roster have had some amount of success at Homestead or just throughout the season. However, drivers like Kasey Kahne and AJ Allmendinger who have had up-and-down years could really shine this weekend. The only driver I'm confident I'll leave in is Ragan, who's had a phenominal year for such a green driver.

Parting shot: I hope that if you've read this blog throughout the 2008 season that you've been able to take away the better advice we've given you. Stats and trends can only tell you so much and it can be painfully obvious sometimes that the nature of racing is unpredictable. It has been a fun year, I was up to second at one point and Erik was in first and it looked like we were both going to finish very well and then once you have a few bad weeks there's no way to recover. I would say my biggest accomplishment this year was picking so many race winners. I went on 7-week streak at one point and that's the stuff that makes Fantasy fun even if you don't come in first at the end. Good luck in the final race and stay out of the wall!

Fantasy Report: Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500

There are only two races left in The Chase for the Cup and Jimmie Johnson has a commanding lead over Carl Edwards. Edwards will try to gain some ground this week at Phoenix but there's a good chance Johnson will clinch The Cup.

Our picks ...

Erik's picks:
Jeff Burton✔, Carl Edwards, Mark Martin✔, Martin Truex Jr.✔, David Ragan, Juan Pablo Montoya, Paul Menard✔ and David Reutimann.

Brandon's picks:
Jeff Gordon✔, Kevin Harvick, Mark Martin✔, Martin Truex Jr.✔, David Ragan, Jamie McMurray, David Reutimann✔ and Michael Waltrip.

If you are looking for a possible sleeper this week consider putting Jeff Burton on your roster. In 15 races at this track Burton has stared at an average position of 23 but his strong runs here have left him with an average finish of 7th.

If you are looking for a few extra pole points Jeff Burton and Ryan Newman could be a good pick to have on your roster. They are the only two drivers to have won consecutive poles at Phoenix.

If you have a driver on your roster that is starting towards the back it might not be a bad move to start them. Only eleven drivers out of 24 races have won from a top ten starting position.

One last thing: if you have Jimmie Johnson use him. I mean it seems like the guy is having really good luck right now.

Well this will be my last fantasy blog for the season. For those of you who have kept up with this and actually used any of my advise my hat is off to you. More importantly I hope you had a fantastic fantasy racing season. Good luck and see you next year!

Three-race showdown set for manufacturer championship

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — 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 have 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."

Source: NASCAR

Fantasy Report: Dickies 500

There's only three races left in the 2008 season and Carl Edwards isn't going out without a fight. While Johnson still has the edge, Edwards has to really capitalize in the last few races to have a shot at the championship — and hope that Johnson finishes terribly. We'll all know soon enough. Onto the picks:

Brandon's picks:

Jeff Burton✔, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr.✔, Mark Martin✔, David Ragan, Ryan Newman, Travis Kvapil✔ and AJ Allmendinger.

Erik's picks:

Jeff Burton✔, Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman✔, Jamie McMurray✔, David Ragan, Bobby Labonte, Paul Menard✔ and David Reutimann.

Use 'em, if you got 'em: If you still have Johnson and Edwards available put at least one of them in this weekend. Johnson has the best average here but only has one win to Carl Edwards' two. I would still think that Johnson is the favorite but if Edwards' ride is anything like it was this past weekend then he'll be hard to beat. Of course, I give this advice and I can't use either driver — I'm putting in Jeff Burton.

Honorable mentions: Burton has 2 wins and 7 top tens at Texas and could be an excellent pick this weekend. Matt Kenseth has also done very well here in the past with a win and 5 top five finishes and after looking strong in Atlanta he might have a shot at the checkered flag this weekend. Don't ever count Mark Martin out either. Even though he's heading to Hendrick Motorsports in 2009 the veteran is still looking to post his first win of 2008.

The unpredictable: What can you say? This stuff is hard. We've said time and time again that what might seem like a lock can quickly deteriorate into a 40th or worse finish. I had a pretty bad week in Atlanta and dropped to 6th spot. I'm hoping to have a solid finish this weekend even though I'm going to have to pick my drivers well before any practice or qualifying since your humble narrator will be spending the weekend in New Orleans.

Good luck race fans!

Fantasy Report: Pep Boys Auto 500

The action is heating up as 'The Chase for the Cup' draws closer to an end. In race seven of the Chase drivers will handle the high speeds of Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Pep Boys Auto 500.

Here are the picks ...

Erik's picks:

Jeff Burton✔, Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman✔, Jamie McMurray✔, David Ragan, Bobby Labonte, Paul Menard✔ and David Reutimann.

Brandon's picks:

Tony Stewart✔, Carl Edwards, Juan Pablo Montoya✔, Mark Martin✔, Kasey Kahne, Elliot Sadler, Paul Menard✔ and Michael Waltrip.

Jimmie Johnson all the way: I think its safe to say Johnson might have the Cup locked up — unless he gets lost on the way to every track for the rest of the season. Even then I think he might find a way to win. If you have him left on your fantasy roster this is a great time to use him. There have been seven season sweeps at Atlanta and one of those by Johnson in 2007. He also has an average finish of 9th at Atlanta. If weather becomes a factor at Atlanta this could play in Johnson's favor once again. If qualifying gets rained out he would sit the pole and 55 races have been won from the first five starting positions.

Long shot: This week my long shot is Bobby Labonte. He leads the active list of drivers with six career victories at Atlanta. He also holds the track record. If he qualifies well then I will put him in. Being out of contention for a top five finish in the fantasy standings I don’t think it will really hurt me that much.

Good luck this week!

Rocket Racing League to take off

FAA Approves Rocket Races

SPACE.com — Rocket-powered racers received the go-ahead this week from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to soar at over 20 venues across the United States.

This certification marks the first time ever that the FAA has approved a production-scale rocket-powered aircraft for exhibition flights, the Rocket Racing League announced on Tuesday.

The league formed in 2005 to promote aerial NASCAR-style racing, and currently has a roster of six teams under title sponsor DKNY, a New York City-based men's sportswear line that is also backing the Bridenstine Rocket Racing Team headed by former U.S. Navy jet pilot Jim Bridenstine.

An earlier debut of the rocket-powered racers used a liquid oxygen and kerosene engine designed by XCOR Aerospace. However, the DKNY Bridenstine Rocket Racer that received recent FAA approval for public demonstrations is equipped with liquid oxygen and alcohol engines produced by Armadillo Aerospace.

"I would like to personally thank the FAA for their assistance through this process," said Granger Whitelaw, Rocket Racing League co-founder and CEO. "This historic moment was built upon the unprecedented cooperation between our company, Armadillo Aerospace, and the FAA."

He added that the League plans to confirm its venues for the 2009 exhibition season, before kicking off an official race season with 10 rocket racers in 2010.

Read more >>

Video of the RRL inaugural flight

Rocket Racing League's Web site

Fantasy Report: Tums QuikPak 500

With my hopes for at least a second place finish in our Fantasy league quashed by last weekend's dismal showing from my drivers I have no choice but to keep on truckin' and see how well I can finish. It's pretty funny to think that I was really trying last week and ended up getting fewer points than Erik who was trying to pick losers. Just goes to show how much of a roll of the dice this thing truly is. Well, we're in Martinsville this week ... onto the picks:

Brandon's picks:

Jeff Gordon✔, Denny Hamlin, David Ragan✔, Kasey Kahne✔, Ryan Newman, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Reutimann✔ and Aric Almirola.

Erik's picks:

Jeff Gordon✔, Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman✔, Jamie McMurray✔, David Ragan, Juan Pablo Montoya, Paul Menard✔ and David Reutimann.

Better than most: Look to Hendrick Motorsports for this week's locks. With 8 poles and 7 wins at Martinsville, Jeff Gordon will likely have a strong showing. His teammate Jimmie Johnson has one pole and 4 wins here. While Gordon's team has been getting better recently, if I had to bet I would say that Johnson might have the better shot at winning this weekend. Mark Martin has also been a top finisher and winner here but he won't be racing this weekend — Aric Almirola will be in the driver's seat.

High expectations: I have high hopes that my B drivers can do well this weekend. They were really my only sources of points last week. I think that David Ragan will continue his hot streak and Kasey Kahne will be able to capitalize on his second-place finish at Lowe's coming into this weekend. I'll likely start which ever one of my C drivers does better overall during practice and qualifying, which is usually the case.

Good luck!

Fantasy Report: Bank of America 500

Lowe's Motor Speedway is where NASCAR heads this week as The Chase for the Cup draws closer to the end. After my horrendous fantasy showing at Talladega this past weekend I am going to try something a little different. I figure I am already out of winning so why not have some fun.

During the Kansas race Brandon and I were talking about how much fun reversing the rules of fantasy racing would be. To pick the drivers who are going to finish closest to the back. It would give racing fans a chance to cheer on some of the other guys who don’t always make it to victory lane. In honor of my total debacle that is fantasy racing 2008 I am going to pay homage to the racers I believe will finish in the rear of the pack this week at Lowe's. It is going to be fun to root for the underdog. Who knows — they might even win!

Onto our picks …

Erik's picks:

Kurt Busch✔, Clint Bowyer, Dave Blaney✔, Robby Gordon✔, David Gilliland, Reed Sorenson, Michael Waltrip✔ and Paul Menard.

Brandon's picks:

Carl Edwards✔, Jeff Gordon, David Ragan✔, Kasey Kahne✔, Mark Martin, Elliot Sadler, Travis Kvapil✔ and David Reuitmann.

SMART MOVES: If you are looking to get points this week Kasey Kahne is a great move. He has won three of the last five races at Lowe's. If you still have him left on your roster, Jimmie Johnson is a powerhouse as this track. Since 2003, he has had five wins at Charlotte. I think Brandon has selected great drivers for this week and has a great opportunity to move into the second place spot in our fantasy league. Good luck to you B! Watch out for my underdogs though.

Rule clarification regarding passing at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — At yesterday's Drivers Meeting, NASCAR reiterated the rule about passing under the yellow line and provided the same information to all drivers and crew chiefs in a hand out, as we've done in past Daytona and Talladega races. The verbatim language is:

"This is your warning: race above the yellow line. If, in NASCAR'S judgment, you go below the yellow line to improve your position, you will be black-flagged. If in NASCAR's judgment you force someone below the yellow line (in an effort to stop him from passing you), you may be black-flagged."

"During the last lap of yesterday's race at Talladega Superspeedway the driver of the No. 01 violated NASCAR policy by driving under the yellow line to improve his position," said NASCAR President Mike Helton. "In NASCAR's opinion he was not forced below the yellow line. NASCAR correctly took immediate action to enforce the policy by penalizing the No. 01 and scoring the No. 20 as the race winner."

Helton continued, "Since the end of the race there has been some confusion as to what is allowable during the last lap at Daytona and Talladega. To be clear, as we go forward, there will be no passing under the yellow line at any time during NASCAR races at Daytona or Talladega, period. This includes any passing below the yellow line near the start/finish line on the final lap," said Helton.

Video: Amp Energy 500 race recap

30 laps to go

We're sitting with 30 laps to go. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is leading.

Things have pretty much calmed down. Three-wide racing is off for now.

Be back later.

Halfway point

We're at the halfway point in the race and we've already seen the Big One. We've also seen what could be called a tire problem.

And we've witnessed a ton of lead changes, being on pace for the most ever.

During a recent caution Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of the day's many leaders, said anybody could basically go to the lead whenever you wanted to.

The big thing will become in the last 10 laps when everybody wants to go to the lead at the same time.

On a side note, Denny Hamlin has also just blown a tire. He was leading the race and slammed hard into the wall on the 99th lap. His car came to rest on the wall, where he was removed from it, walked to the ambulance and was taken to the infield care center.

The Big One

Death, taxes and The Big One at Talladega Superspeedway --- they’re all guarantees. And on lap 68 in the Amp Energy 500, the latter came on Sunday.
It all started when Brian Vickers blew a right front tire. Vickers then collected Martin Truex Jr., sending him spinning and collecting cars all along the way.
“It’s frustration certainly, we had a great car,” Truex said. “I was having a lot of fun running up front drafting with Junior.
“The 83 car was right beside me and I heard bam, like a shotgun going off…. I’m going to have a bit of a headache tonight.”
Vickers said the situation that happened to him was much like what happened to Earnhardt in practice on Friday when he also blew a tire and wrecked.
“A bomb exploded in my right front tire,” he said. “It didn’t go down, it didn’t cut.”
All total, nine cars were involved, and the race was stopped to clean debris off the race track. Vickers, Truex, David Gilliland and Tony Raines were all treated and released from the infield car center.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was leading the race when the wreck happened.

Third caution

The third caution of the day caused a big hit in the points standings. David Reutimann blew a tire and when he did, he collected Jeff Gordon.

Reutimann was above Gordon when the tire went down, then losing control and shooting in front of Gordon. After narrowly missing Reutimann, Gordon could keep control of the car and nose-planted the wall.

"We got shuffled to the back, I was all the way in the back," Gordon siad. "I tried to avoid him, and when I did car turned to the right and I lost control."

It was evident what happened to Reutimann's car with only looking at the car of Gordon's teammate, Jimmie Johnson. He was riding around the track with the ruber from the tire hung on the nose of his car.

Gordon's car went behind the wall, while Johnson's team elected to repair the damage to his Lowe's 48 on pit road.

"I'm sure we'll get the DuPont Chevrolet back out there," Gordon added.

The caution came out on Lap 55, nearly one-third of the way into the race.

Junior leading

Everybody knew it would happen at some point, and 26 laps into Sunday's race it happened.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. changed engines and moved to the back of the pack to start Sunday's race. He found drafting partners and quickly moved to the front.

Earnhardt didn't stay there long, relenting to David Ragan, who also started at the back of the pack.

On a side note, Earnhardt's teammate Jimmie Johnson lost the draft early and is a lap down. this could be huge as he is atop of the Chase for the Sprint Cup standings.

Live from Talladega

Sports Editor Bran Strickland here. I'm sitting in the infield media center at Talladega Superspeedway.

They've belted out "God Bless America" and fooled half of the media center, thinking it was the other song. You can only see some singing on the monitors, and none of us could read lips.

OK, I'm back. Right in the middle of this, they had the "National Anthem," and I didn't want to be rude. They also had the flyover. It was four jets, looked to be F-15s, which I want to address ...

We're smack dab in the middle of a fuel crisis. I don't know for sure, but I'd be willing to be that a jet -- much less four of them -- uses a ton of fuel, which could be better served in somebody's car.

And you think they do this stuff all the time, why?

I think we'd all be just as happy if we didn't have flyovers. But maybe NASCAR covers the cost of fuel. And I know that the cars on the track today use a lot of gas, too, but in my mind, it's there money. Those jets, though, might be using tax-payer gas.

OK, my rant is over. I'll check back in throughout the race and keep you up to date.

What you can bring to Talladega Superspeedway; scanner frequencies

Allowed

■ Binoculars, cameras, headsets, etc., worn separately around the neck or belt are allowed, along with seat cushions carries separately.

■ Cell phones, scanners, pagers and radios can be clipped to the belt.

■ One soft-sided bag no larger than 6x6x12 inches. Soft-sided bags include insulated coolers, scanner and camera bags, fanny packs, pursues, diaper bags, etc. They may also contain ice. All soft-sided bags are subject to search.

■ One clear plastic bag no larger than 18x18x4 inches. Clear bags may be used to carry items such as: Scanners, apparel, cameras, snacks and canned beverages. They may not contain ice. All bags are subject to search.

Not allowed

■ Items not allowed include: Hard-sided coolers, backpacks, thermos bottles and insulated cups on any size; strollers, umbrellas, etc.; any bags, or containers larger than the allowable size of 6x6x12 inches. For fans’ safety, any items left unattended in or around the gate area will be removed and disposed of. Talladega Superspeedway assumes no responsibility.

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Scanner frequencies for the Amp Energy 500

NASCAR newscast: Chase race 4 preview

Fantasy Report: Amp Energy 500

Residents of Calhoun and Talladega counties may notice an influx of people into the area this weekend as 200,000 fans descend upon the Talladega Superspeedway for the Amp Energy 500, the Mountain Dew 250 and the ARCA RE/MAX Series 250. The Chase is on with 3 top contenders eyeing the trophy and Talladega could be the determining factor in who stays in it or takes themselves out of the running. Onto this week's picks:

Brandon's picks:

Jimmie Johnson✔, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr.✔, David Ragan✔, Juan Pablo Montoya, Elliott Sadler, Travis Kvapil✔ and David Reutimann.

Erik's picks:

Jeff Gordon✔, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr.✔, Jamie McMurray✔, Ryan Newman, Elliott Sadler, Travis Kvapil✔ and Scott Riggs.

Frontrunners: There's no doubt that since this is an impound race that there will be some lesser teams running toward the front of the pack to start this race but they probably won't stay there for long. Case in point: Joe Nemechek sat on the pole in the spring and finished a not-so-bad 25th, whereas Montoya started 26th and finished 2nd. However, this isn't an exact science since Kyle Busch started 5th and won earlier this year at 'Dega. It couldn't hurt to put in some drivers you think doesn't have a shot at winning but might qualify well if you've already decided on who you're putting in this weekend ... for me that's Elliott Sadler (can't ever tell with him though.)

Eye on the prize: There's little question about Talladega's importance in terms of Chase points and it could be an excellent opportunity to really rake in some Fantasy points as well. You can be sure that the top guys in the point standings will be factors this weekend but I think that when the checkered flag is dropped the #48 of Johnson will be out front. Call it a hunch from the perspective of his 13th place finish in the spring, but he's had a win here and 4 top-5 finishes. After his victory last weekend in Kansas and the revival of his teams performance he's got my pick. Other notables to watch out for would be J. Gordon, Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart.

Trouble in turn 4: Kyle Busch ... oh, how unpredictable you have become. I would like to say that he's a lock this weekend given the fact that he dominated the season but with dismal performances in the Chase and his innate ability to get into trouble at 'Dega he might not be a good choice. Despite the fact that I haven't been able to use Kyle for quite some time and his winning the last 2 restrictor plate races this year, I'm not sure he'll do that well on Sunday. Remember: he doesn't have anything to lose and for "crazy" drivers like Kyle that could end well for him or very badly. Although not his fault, this comes to mind: The Big One from the 2007 UAW-Ford 500.

They can't all win: When playing Fantasy one must not always try to knock it out of the park week-in, week-out. So, when picking your drivers this week, especially for B and C, try to pick someone that is a solid finisher and has the experience to stay out of big wrecks. Earnhardt Jr. is the guy I've been holding for this very race. Not only is he the fan favorite but he could also turn a few heads with a great finish, if not a win, this weekend if he can stay out of trouble. Remember in 2006, Junior almost won before getting spun out on the last lap. Another driver that could have a decent week is Montoya. He's coming off a pole at Kansas that was taken away by technicality and a near win the the spring at Talladega.

Good luck and enjoy the race!

All bets are off as Chase makes annual stop at Talladega

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — In days gone by, Talladega Superspeedway's second race each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season was held in late July, with impressive competition meeting oppressive heat. Seeking to enhance the first but lose the second, NASCAR moved the event to October.

Then, starting in 2004, things got hotter than ever.

Credit the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR's playoff-style championship-deciding format that encompasses the last 10 races of the season. When the format was instituted in '04 it placed tempestuous Talladega in the middle of the mix.

Sunday's AMP Energy 500 is Race 4 in the 2008 "Chase." As always, the only thing predictable about Talladega is the track's unpredictability.

Credit the banking of 33 degrees in the turns.

Or maybe the overall track length of 2.66 miles, conducive to serious speed.

And don't forget the close-quarters racing resulting from carburetor restrictor plates that reduce horsepower and put a premium on handling, drafting — and teamwork. Or in lieu of teamwork, cooperation between non-teammates.

Talladega's tough — particularly on drivers who roll into town leading the Chase standings. In the four years of the Chase thus far, only once has the leader coming into Talladega been the leader leaving town — Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet) in 2006. And that was a close call; Burton's lead was sliced to six points after a 27th-place race finish. He ended up a disappointing seventh in the final point standings.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet) has five Talladega wins to his credit. Earnhardt, eighth in points and in need of a late-season rally, isn't convinced a big points shake-up is inevitable this week.

But that's not to say he would be surprised.

"[This race] has the potential to do that," Earnhardt said.

"It's going to be tough to gain on everyone in this race. It will be tough for it to really jumble up the points. I think you just have to try to win the race.

'the only way to really gain points on anybody right now, for anybody who's outside of the top five in points, is to be first when the checkered flag falls."

Earnhardt's five Talladega wins happened between 2001-04, part of an overwhelming Chevrolet dominance at the track this decade. Since the start of the 2000 season Chevrolet drivers have won 15 of 17 races there. The two exceptions: Dale Jarrett's victory in a Ford, in the 2005 fall race and Kyle Busch's win in the No. 18 Pedigree Toyota this past April.

Current series points leader Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's/KOBALT Chevrolet) has one of those Chevrolet victories since 2000 — in the spring 2006 race.

The two drivers immediately behind him in the points — second-place Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford) and Greg Biffle (No. 16 DISH Network Ford) — have average Talladega finishes of 24th and 25th, respectively.

— Source: NASCAR

Dale Earnhardt Jr. talks about the legacy of racing at Talladega Superspeedway

Click to launch video player

— Source: NASCAR

Jeff Gordon talks about running in a pack at Talladega

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— Source: NASCAR

Watch the newscast from Kansas

Q&A with Kyle Busch's crew chief Steve Addington

The Q&A was done by Associated Press Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer

Q: What has it been like to work with Kyle this year?
SA: Coming into it, I heard all the stuff about him. But he’s a competitor. When he sits down and is with the guys, having a good time, it’s been awesome. When he’s pushing you at the race track to make his car better, that’s something a guy dreams of — to have a driver who wants to be better. People go `But he beats you up on the radio!’ Well, I want to win this thing, too. So if you take that personally, you are in the wrong business. I love the kid and all my guys love him.

Q: So he’s not the nightmare everyone thinks he is?
SA: I don’t think so. He’s been a breath of fresh air for this race team.

Q: What’s Kyle like on a good day?
SA: Oh, laughing, cutting up, saying off the wall stuff on the radio, talking to (spotter, Jeff) Dickerson on the radio about getting In-N-Out burgers after the race. When he’s in a good mood and having a good time, it don’t get any better.

Q: What’s he like on a bad day?
SA: You leave him alone, let him be by himself and try to work through it. You can try to pick him up a little bit, but he’s one of those guys who, he has his personality and you have to take it with a grain of salt. He don’t say much to people when he’s not in a good mood. But he comes around.

Q: What’s been the highlight of this season?
SA: There’s been a lot. Winning the (July) Daytona race was cool. And the Chicago race, because he had given up and was on the radio saying `How many races does Jimmie Johnson give away? None. How many races does Kyle Busch give away? A lot.’ And then he just got up on the steering wheel and wanted it, so from what Dickerson said on the radio to him and Kyle coming back to win that race, that was pretty awesome. But Daytona, speedway races, you put a car out there and it’s driver and watching him work is just amazing. Plus, it was my birthday, so that was a cool race, too.

Q: The lowlight of the season?
SA: Loudon. That’s a place that we’ve struggled and we made some changes and I think we went in the right direction and never got a chance to see, and it was the start of the Chase. We had talked about having a good race to start it, so to have that happen 15 laps into the race, that was devastating.

Q: Kyle said a driver and crew chief are like a husband and wife. So, is Kyle like a spouse to you?
SA: I guess in the sense that he tells you what he wants, and then he’s gone and you don’t hear from him for a long time, that’s pretty good. And then when you want to talk to him about something, he’s busy. We text at night before the race a lot, because he won’t talk on the phone, but he’ll text you all night. You’ve got to have a good relationship, and I think we show each other a lot of respect.

Q: The 18 team struggled for several years before this season. What’s it been like to watch your guys experience success?
SA: We knew we’ve got good equipment, we knew we we’re putting a good product out there, and we knew we were missing one piece of the puzzle. But there were guys questioning it when he came in, wondering if our stuff was good enough because he’d been driving really good (Hendrick Motorsports) cars. Some guys were worried and really nervous about it. I told them `Don’t worry about it, if they aren’t good enough, we’ll go to work.’ The Atlanta test (last October) was the best thing that ever happened to this race team because he ran eight laps and said `Load it,’ and that right there, it was like a ton of bricks off everyone’s shoulders.

Q: Is this team ready to win a championship?
SA: I’ve asked myself that a lot, because they’ve never been in this position. So you ask yourself if you are really prepared for it. I think with what they proved they can do all year long, I think they are as ready as anybody. They never showed me anything any different. I don’t know if there’s pressure in the back of their minds, because they’ve never showed it. They are as ready as anybody.

Fantasy Report: Camping World RV 400

NASCAR makes its third stop of the Chase for the Cup this week at Kansas Speedway. This week could define Kyle Busch's chances for a rebound to the top or if he'll be 'dust in the wind.' I could also be in the dust if I continue to have bad runs week after week. Lets hope this time around I will rebound on my fantasy position. Lets take a look at our picks for the week.

Erik's picks:

Jeff Gordon✔, Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman✔, Jamie McMurray✔, Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr., Travis Kvapil✔ and Scott Riggs.

Brandon's picks:

Carl Edwards✔, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle✔, Mark Martin✔, Martin Truex Jr., David Ragan, David Reutimann✔ and Joey Logano.

HENDRICK TRACK: If you still have them as active drivers Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson might not be a bad move. Johnson has held the pole position twice at Kansas. Gordon has two wins in his career at this young track. The first Sprint Cup race was ran here in 2001.

BOWYER: Clint Bowyer is on my roster this week for one reason: his stats at Kansas Speedway. Although, he only has two starts at the track he has an average start of 8th and an average finish of 5th. That seems like pretty good odds and I need a gamble to try to move myself up in the fantasy standings.

NOT IN THE CHASE: If history repeats itself, look to move some drivers on your roster that are not in the Chase this year. Since NASCAR has started running Chase races at Kansas (four of them to be exact) three of the winners were not competing for the Cup.

That's it for this week … Good luck!

Fantasy Report: Camping World RV 400 presented by AAA

This week NASCAR rolls into Dover for the second race of the Chase. The Monster Mile is a tricky track for most but some drivers are historically good and bad here and that's advantageous to Fantasy team owners. Our picks for this week:

Brandon’s picks:
Carl Edwards✔, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin✔, Greg Biffle✔, David Ragan, Martin Truex Jr., Travis Kvapil✔ and David Reutimann.

Erik’s picks:
Jimmie Johnson✔, Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman✔, Jamie McMurray✔, Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr., David Reutimann✔ and Travis Kvapil.

Safe bets: Two names come to mind this week: Concrete Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch. After a dismal finish at Louden you can bet that Busch will be coming to Dover with something to prove. Busch won the Dover race earlier this year. Also, Edwards didn't get the nickname Concrete Carl from being bad on concrete tracks. I think he'll cruise into victory lane this weekend if he can stay out of trouble.

Worth a shot: Truex is also very good at Dover. He has an avg. finish of 9.6 for the last 5 years there and this weekend should be no different. Kvapil finished 11th there earlier this year and he's about as good of a C pick as you can get this weekend. Also, Martin steps back into the #8 this weekend and has been strong here in the past with 4 wins.

Battle of the bloggers: Things are heating up in the battle between your two humble narrators. After a great weekend at Louden I've pulled ahead of Team Clorox Disinfecting Wipes by 6 points. Since the first place team in our league is 355 points ahead of me, and we've all but come to the conclusion that he can't lose, it's turned into more of a fight between everyone else in the top 10. I'm currently in 4th and Erik is in 5th. One thing's for sure: regardless of the fact that neither Erik or I most likely won't win the league there are still bragging rights up for grabs as to who finishes best. Break a leg Erik!

Same blog, different name

The Anniston Star racing blog is now known as "Star Racing." Be sure to update your bookmarks! The correct URL is now http://starracing.blogspot.com.

Fantasy Report: Sylvania 300

It is finally here. The Chase for the Cup starts this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to crown the next NASCAR champion. Anything is possible but I don’t see the trophy going to anyone other than Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards or Jimmie Johnson. With Busch being strong at almost every track it is going to be hard to take the top spot away from him. Enough with speculation let's look at our picks.

Erik's picks:

Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr., David Reutimann and Scott Riggs.

Brandon's picks:

Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, David Ragan, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Joey Logano and David Reutimann

Every point counts: It is late in the fantasy season and every point counts. Even a few points from qualifying can move closer to the competitor ahead of you. If you want some possible qualifying points consider putting Ryan Newman on your roster. He has a total of four poles and holds the qualifying record at New Hampshire.

Where they start: I try to stick with the drivers I believe are strongest at a particular track regardless of there starting position. I might look at that differently this week. Fourteen of the last twenty-seven victories have been won from a top ten starting position. If you have a driver that qualifies high it might be wise to stick with them even if they might not be high in the standings.

Tonight's Top 12 list

To kick off this year's chase, just like last year, the 12 drivers involved in the playoff went to New York City. One of their stops included The Late Show with David Letterman.

This isn't the first year they've done this. See below for past year's lists.

Here is the Top 12 list ... Top 12 perks of being a NASCAR driver



From 2006 (when it was just 10 drivers.)



From 2007 (the list starts around 2:29)



And this has nothing to do with the Chase, but it's Dale Earnhardt doing the Top 10 list after his first Daytona 500 win.

Fantasy Report: Chevy Rock & Roll 400

Saturday night will determine those who make the Chase. You can bet that those right outside the top 12 will be on a mission. Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Burton have already clinched a spot in the Chase. It will be interesting to see how far some, specifically Clint Bowyer, David Ragan and Kasey Kahne, will be willing to push it to get a shot at a championship. Our picks:

Brandon’s picks:
Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards✔, David Ragan✔, Greg Biffle✔, Mark Martin, Ryan Newman, AJ Allmendinger✔ and Joey Logano.

Erik’s picks:
Jimmie Johnson✔, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle✔, Jamie McMurray✔, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Travis Kvapil✔ and Scott Riggs.

Good finishers: Busch has the best overall finish of any driver at Richmond — you can bet that he'll be one to watch Saturday even though he's never been to victory lane here. Johnson, who swept both races last year, and Denny Hamlin, who led most of the laps this spring and has 2 wins here, could really give Kyle a run for his money. Don't forget how well Carl Edwards has done this year. Jeff Gordon has 3 wins here but I'm reluctant to put him in these days. He's had 5 poles and 2 wins here in the past but has been awfully unpredictable this year. Don't forget that you can put Martin in this weekend. He's had lots of success at Richmond.

Play it safe: Don't forget that we're getting closer and closer to the end of the season. Don't take any wild chances at this point unless you're like the first place guy in our league and have a commanding lead. The only chance I'm taking is possibly putting Ragan in. He's a young relative-newcomer and trying desperately to get into the Chase. However, he seems seasoned beyond his years and I think that he can handle the pressure ... assuming he doesn't start racing with Bowyer, who won in the spring.

Of note: The Chevy Rock & Roll 400 will mark Joey Logano's first Cup race — assuming he qualifies. I didn't notice him when first picking my drivers because he was at the very bottom of the C list. I decided to replace Reutimann with him. There's no telling how he'll do but if he qualifies well I'm going to give him a shot. This goes against my idea of 'playing it safe' but this kid has proven himself in other series. Keep an eye out for Joey in the #02 Home Depot car to shake things up.

Good luck and stay out of the wall!

Fantasy Report: Pepsi 500

In week two of the 2008 season Carl Edwards found victory lane at Auto Club Speedway. He did it again last week with an exciting bump and run finish at Bristol. With Edwards in the spotlight there are a few questions that will soon be answered. Can Edwards keep building on his solid late season run with a third straight win? What of the newly formed Busch/Edwards rivalry? Only time will tell but it makes NASCAR even more compelling at this point of the season.

Erik’s picks:
Jimmie Johnson✔, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle ✔, Jamie McMurray ✔, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Travis Kvapil✔ and Scott Riggs.

Brandon’s picks:
Carl Edwards✔, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan✔, Martin Truex Jr.✔, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, AJ Allmendinger✔ and Aric Almirola.

IN THE CHASE?: After last week's disappointing finish at Bristol Dale Earnhardt Jr. seems even more motivated to make a statement this week at Fontana. With a strong finish Jr. will be able to lock up his spot in The Chase. Look for a strong run from the 88 team in order to secure that spot and tie up some loose ends in order to make a run for his first championship.

ROUSH AND HENDRICK: Consider putting in any of the Roush or Hendrick teams. Both of these teams have each won six races at Fontana. That is more than any of the other organizations in NASCAR. Also keep an eye on Jeff Burton. He has some experience being one of the few drivers to drive in all of the sixteen races at Auto Club Speedway.

NASCAR puts Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards on probation

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – NASCAR placed Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards on probation Wednesday for the next six Sprint Cup Series races, the result of their on-track incident last weekend at the end of the race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

During the cooldown lap after Edwards' Ford took the checkered flag for Roush Fenway Racing, Busch drove alongside Edwards and bumped his car. Edwards responded by driving the nose of his car into the right side of Busch's Toyota, spinning him out.

The postrace incident was apparently a reaction to Edwards nudging Busch aside with 30 laps to go Saturday night. Busch had led the previous 415 laps.

Read more >>

Watch the incident:

2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona to have new format

DAYTONA BEACH — The 2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona will have a new format that puts more emphasis on the series' four manufacturers — and the same star-power appeal that has become a season-opening tradition for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and its fans.

The 31st annual season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway will be held on Saturday night, Feb. 7, with a field of 24 cars representing the top teams from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota that will showcase the close competition in NASCAR's premier series. That lineup will consist of the top six teams from each manufacturer, based on the final 2008 car owner points.

The race distance will be increased from 70 laps to 75 (187.5 miles) on the 2.5-mile tri-oval. The race will have two segments, of 25 and 50 laps. Both green- and yellow-flag laps will count.

Between segments, there will be a 10-minute pit stop at which time teams will pit and may elect to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments. Crews will be permitted to work on cars and will be allowed to perform functions they would do on a normal pit stop in a regular NASCAR Sprint Cup event. All work must be performed on pit road or in the garage. Changing of springs, shock absorbers or rear-ends will not be permitted.

Starting positions will again be determined by a blind draw, at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party on Thursday night, Feb. 5, on the SPEED stage in the Midway, outside Turn 4.

The Budweiser Shootout – a "non-points" event for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitors – was first held in 1979, and originally known as the Busch Clash. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won this year's shootout.

— Source: NASCAR

Clinch scenarios at California

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Burton control their own Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup destiny this weekend. With certain Auto Club Speedway finishes – outlined below – they will join Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards, who have already secured spots in the 2008 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

To clinch a Chase spot, a driver needs to leave Auto Club Speedway with a 196-point lead over 13th place.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt is currently 350 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, Earnhardt will clinch if he finishes:
40th or better
41st or 42nd and leads at least one lap

Jimmie Johnson
Johnson is currently 348 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, Johnson will clinch if he finishes:
40th or better
41st and leads at least one lap

Jeff Burton
Burton is 274 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, Burton will clinch if he finishes:
15th or better
16th or 17th and leads at least one lap
20th and leads the most laps

Six other drivers can clinch this weekend as well, but do not control their own destiny. Unlike Johnson, Earnhardt and Burton, all six must increase their current points lead over 13th place in Sunday’s race.

Below are those drivers who can mathematically reach the 196-point margin over 13th position this weekend:

• Tony Stewart: Is 170 points ahead of 13th place and needs to pad his lead by 26 points.

• Greg Biffle: Is 141 points ahead of 13th place and needs to pad his lead by 55 points.

• Kevin Harvick: Is 129 points ahead of 13th place and needs to pad his lead by 67 points.

• Jeff Gordon: Is 108 points ahead of 13th place and needs to pad his lead by 88 points.

• Matt Kenseth: Is 78 points ahead of 13th place and needs to pad his lead by 118 points.

• Denny Hamlin: Is 57 points ahead of 13th place and needs to pad his lead by 139 points.

• Clint Bowyer, currently 12th in the series standings, cannot clinch a Chase position at Auto Club Speedway under any scenario, assuming David Ragan starts Sunday’s race.

— Source: NASCAR

Fantasy Report: Sharpie 500

Are you looking forward to watching Bristol under the lights Saturday night? It's one of my favorites ... at least the restarts. This race gets strung out pretty fast which can be a little boring at times but there's also a lot of beatin' and bangin' so it doesn't stay green for long. If you're like me and you're getting down to the last few starts for particular drivers this race could hurt your points standings if you take too many risks. More on that in a moment ... onto the picks:

Brandon’s picks:
Carl Edwards✔, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle✔, David Ragan, Kasey Kahne✔, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Aric Almirola and David Reutimann✔.

Erik’s picks:
Jimmie Johnson✔, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch✔, Kasey Kahne✔, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Travis Kvapil✔ and Scott Riggs.

Anybody's guess: Let's be honest — any Cup Series race is up for grabs by almost any driver and Bristol is one of best examples for races that can go in any direction. This is problematic for Fantasy players. Consider this: 78 of 95 races at Bristol have been won from a top-10 starting position but the deepest in the field that a Bristol race winner has started was 38th, by Elliott Sadler in 2001. Richard Childress and Jack Roush have more wins here than any other owners with 9 apiece so you can't go wrong with any of their teams. With that being said, I'm going to have a hard time not putting Edwards and Biffle in for sure this weekend.

Play it safe: As I alluded to earlier, you might want to sit on some of your drivers you've used a lot this year. I still have Junior on my roster just in case but since I can only use him one more time I hope to save him for Talladega. I'll only put him in if he's on the front row. Otherwise, I'll have to decide between Ragan, who has done great for me this year, or Kahne, who I've just been nominal with two times I've used him. I put Busch on my roster because he's won 5 races at Bristol in the past 10 years and this could be the weekend he lets loose.

Good luck!

Press Release: 2009 NASCAR schedules, changes announced

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR announced today its national series schedules for the 2009 season, which features realigned dates for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Truck Series.

In the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series there will be a three-way date swap between Atlanta Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway (formerly California Speedway) and Talladega Superspeedway.

Atlanta's second 2009 race will be held on Sunday, Sept. 6, taking the Labor Day weekend slot now held by Auto Club Speedway.

Auto Club Speedway's second race will be Sunday, Oct. 11 – the fourth week of the "Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup," a slot formerly held by Talladega.

Talladega's second event will move to Sunday, Nov. 1, making it the seventh Chase event – the slot formerly held by Atlanta.

"The 2009 schedule reflects realigned dates that are good opportunities for everyone involved in our sport – fans, sponsors, tracks and teams," said NASCAR President Mike Helton.

The season begins with a tripleheader weekend at Daytona International Speedway capped by the running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15.

In addition to that season-opening event for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the NASCAR Truck Series starts its season on Friday night, Feb. 13, followed the next afternoon by the NASCAR Nationwide Series opener.

For all three series, the season will conclude with another tripleheader weekend, at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 20-22.

Other key NASCAR Sprint Cup dates in 2009:

The 31st annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona – a non-points event – will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7.

On the evening of Saturday, Sept. 12, Richmond International Raceway will again host the "Chase cut-off" race, affording the last opportunity for drivers to qualify for NASCAR's championship playoffs.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway will host the first races in both the "Race to the Chase" (Sunday, June 28) and the Chase (Sunday, Sept. 20).

There also will be an additional off-week for NASCAR's premier series in 2009, prior to the Labor Day weekend event, giving teams a final break before a 12-week stretch that will end the season. Because of the way the calendar falls, NASCAR Sprint Cup teams will have a total of four off-weeks during the 2009 season.

— Source: NASCAR

Fantasy Report: 3M Performance 400

After my ghastly fantasy performance last week I look to be on the rebound this week at Michigan International Speedway. It is getting close to the end so now is time for desperate measures. Lets take a look at our picks …

Erik’s picks:

Jimmie Johnson✔, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch✔, Dale Earnhardt Jr.✔, Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne, Marcos Ambrose✔ and Travis Kvapil.

Brandon’s picks:

Tony Stewart✔, Carl Edwards, Mark Martin✔, Kasey Kahne✔, Dale Earnhardt Jr., David Ragan, Paul Menard✔, and AJ Allmendinger.

Hint: If your team is low in the standings or has taken a hard hit like I did last week now is the time to make a move. I only have one more start with Kyle Busch and Dale Jr. but now is the best time to use them. Do what it takes to give yourself some space between your competitors. If you wait to long to use them it could already be to late to make that end of the season push.

Kahne you believe it?: Kasey has had several top fives at Michigan over the years. I am keeping him on the list in case he looks strong this week in practice. If not based on his past performance I might take a gamble on him. Don’t rule out Jimmie Johnson either. He is looking for another championship and with the Chase close you can bet he will be on his A game.

Current Cup stats

Statistical Advance: Race to the Chase Week 7

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The final four events in the Race to the Chase are packed with subplots.

• There's Kyle Busch's attempt at 13 wins in a season. Since the schedule was reduced in size in 1972, 13 wins in a season has been the standard. Richard Petty won 13 in 1975 and Jeff Gordon did it in 1998. Busch has a solid shot a matching — and surpassing — that number. Busch nabbed victory No. 8 last weekend at Watkins Glen, becoming the 18th driver with eight wins in the first 22 races — 13 of the previous 17 went on to win the series championship.

• There's Matt Kenseth�s goal of making the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for the fifth time. In and out of the top 12 over the past seven weeks, Kenseth looks to stay in over the next four races. The statistics suggest he will. He has a series-best Driver Rating of 103.5 at the four remaining tracks before the Chase, as well as a win at all four.

• There's the Chase bonus point hunt for Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson. Busch — assuming he makes the Chase — has already locked up the top seed with 80 bonus points. But both Edwards and Johnson have an excellent shot at closing the gap. Last season, Edwards won at Michigan and Bristol, while Johnson conquered Auto Club Speedway and Richmond.

• And there's the snowballing winless drought of Tony Stewart. Stewart's drought is at 36. He has come close to ending the slide though, earning runner-up finishes in each of the last two races. He also has the second-best Driver Rating at the next four tracks (100.6).

Read more (.pdf) >>

Fantasy Report: Centurion Boats at the Glen

NASCAR goes north to Watkins Glen, N.Y., this weekend for the second and last road course race of 2008. This 90-mile race is just about anybody's to win but some are much better than others — however, anything can happen. Remember what happened to two of the better road course drivers last year? Maybe this will jog your memory.

Our picks:

Brandon’s picks:
Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon✔, Ryan Newman, Robby Gordon✔, Jamie McMurray, Juan Pablo Montoya✔, Patrick Carpentier and Ron Fellows✔.

Erik’s picks:
Jeff Gordon✔, Jimmie Johnson, Jamie McMurray✔, Elliott Sadler✔, Juan Pablo Montoya, Greg Biffle, Travis Kvapil✔ and Scott Riggs.

Hints: This is a good week to put in road course ringers. As you can see I have Carpentier and Fellows. It will be hard to choose which driver to put in of the two but I'm leaning toward Fellows who proved his prowess in Montreal last weekend. Another noteworthy ringer is Boris Said. Don't put Mark Martin in because he's not racing this week. Oh and Jeff Gordon and Stewart are the safest bets for A drivers ... put in at least one of the two.

Race facts: Here are a couple of nuggets on info about the Glen that could benefit you this weekend. There have been 14 pole winners out of 25 races at the 2.45-mile track and Jeff Gordon is the only repeat pole sitter in the last ten years with 2. Also, 18 of 25 races at Watkins Glen have been won from a top-10 starting position.

I'll admit: I'm a bigger fan of the road course races than circular tracks. I don't know why but there's just something intriguing about seeing stock cars made for ovals put on a road course and maneuvering through chicanes and up and down hills. With that being said, you bet I'll be parked in front of the TV Sunday sipping on Milwaukee's finest suds hoping I can gain a couple spots through wise Fantasy picks (and secretly wishing ill on my opponents).

Fantasy Report: Pennsylvania 500

Pocono Raceway is a relatively flat, 2.5-mile triangular track in the scenic Pocono Mountains region of Pennsylvania. This is the second race there this year. The spring race saw Kasey Kahne cruise into Victory Lane. Does he have what it takes to make it 2 wins this year? This blogger says no, but it's often brutally obvious that the unexpected can be expected.

Our picks:

Brandon’s picks:
Jimmie Johnson✔, Denny Hamlin, Mark Martin✔, Kasey Kahne✔, Martin Truex Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr., AJ Allmendinger✔ and David Reutimann.

Erik’s picks:
Denny Hamlin✔, Carl Edwards, Mark Martin✔, Dale Earnhardt Jr.✔, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Scott Riggs✔ and Brian Vickers.

Hints: There have been 21 pole winners in the last 25 races here so look for drivers up front to have a good run. Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne (two each) are the only repeat pole winners there since 1995 and you can bet that these three will be the ones to watch. I would also add that Jimmie Johnson's team is really strong right now and I'm going to put him in unless Hamlin looks better in practice and qualifying. For some reason I'm reluctant to put Gordon in this week — just call it a gut feeling. Also, don't ever count Rousch Fenway out ... they're typically top teams at any track with Pocono being no different.

Be smart: Since the season is more than halfway over it's a good time to put some real thought into your picks. Since I'm almost 200 points out of first place I can't afford to gamble like I have the past few weeks. My angle, at least for the next handful of races, is to put in drivers that have proven themselves to be great at a certain track as well as ones that are having positive seasons. My reluctance to put Gordon in is a gamble of sorts since he's the highest-rated driver for this track, but then again he finished 14th at Pocono earlier this year. Johnson has a pretty good history at Pocono, as does Hamlin. Hamlin is more consistant at finishing well than Johnson here, but the #48 is really starting to get hot.

Fantasy Report: Allstate 400 at The Brickyard

The Brickyard is home to victories from Indy drivers such as Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr. and Emerson Fittipaldi. A storied history of open wheels that always makes any racing on this track exciting to watch. This week the track will take a different look as it hosts its annual NASCAR race. Look for some intense racing as the "Chase for the Cup" draws nearer.

Erik’s picks:
Jeff Gordon✔, Tony Stewart, Mark Martin✔, Juan Pablo Montoya✔, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Scott Riggs✔ and Brian Vickers.

Brandon’s picks:
Kevin Harvick✔, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin✔, Juan Pablo Montoya✔, Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers✔ and Paul Menard.

Fantasy hint: When you think of Indy from a NASCAR point of view two drivers seem to come to mind: Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. They have six combined wins since 1994. Don’t look at current standings because these two always seem to make their way to the front at Indy.

Tony Stewart says there are "a lot of drivers" in the running to join Stewart-Haas Racing

NASCAR Statement Regarding the Passing of Steve Peterson

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR Technical Director Steve Peterson, 58, was found deceased today at his home from what appears to be natural causes. Steve began his NASCAR career in January, 1995 and led many of NASCAR's safety initiatives including development and installation of SAFER Barriers, management and approval of head and neck restraints and improved seat belts, and coordination of the safety features in NASCAR's new car.

"Steve's accomplishments to increase driver safety will continue to be a benefit to every NASCAR driver that gets behind the wheel for generations to come," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Steve's family and friends; he will certainly be missed throughout the NASCAR community."

NASCAR President, Mike Helton said, "Steve was a tireless worker and passionate about all aspects of safety including the car, the track and the driver. Steve was our R&D effort long before there was a formal one. His accomplishments were recognized in motorsports worldwide."

Steve worked closely with many recognized national and international motorsports organizations and was the recipient of the 2006 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Motorsports Achievement Award. SAE presents this award to the individual that has shown outstanding leadership or contribution to motorsports over an extended period of time.

In 1982 Steve served as a crew chief for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Mark Martin and had experience as a race team engineer and design engineer. He was an avid go-karter and lifetime member of the World Karting Association. Steve could often be found running laps at local go-kart tracks. A graduate of Western Michigan University, Peterson had more than 25 years of experience in the automotive engineering industry. He lived in Concord, N.C.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Press Release: Grand-Am’s Top-Tier Sports Car Series Returns to Barber Motorsports Park

BIRMINGHAM — The Grand-Am Road Racing Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 returns to Barber Motorsports Park for the 6th annual Porsche 250 presented by Bradley Arant July 18-20, 2008. The weekend will feature Grand-Am’s Rolex Series and KONI Challenge Series, as well as the Ford Mustang Challenge Series and the BF Goodrich Skip Barber National Series.

Also included in the weekend’s event schedule is the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series. Making its debut at Barber Motorsports Park, this endurance motorcycle series includes three distinct motorcycle classes and will feature timed qualifying on Saturday and a 500K race on Sunday. This weekend’s competition features the fourth of seven rounds for the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series.

Movie and television actor Patrick Dempsey, star of ABC's Grey's Anatomy, will return to Barber Motorsports Park to compete against Grand-Am's best Rolex Series racers throughout the weekend. This is Dempsey’s sixth start in the No. 40 Hyper Sport Mazda RX-8 that he co-drives with Joe Foster.

“With six different series including four and two-wheel racers, this event should prove to be the most action-packed weekend in the history of Barber Motorsports Park,” said Clark Virden, Marketing Director of Zoom Motorsports. “The overall support for this event has been outstanding over the past six years. Grand-Am has continually been a great partner with the Park, and we’re thrilled to have both Porsche and Bradley Arant return as title and presenting sponsors.”

Scott Pruett and Alex Gurney will also be competing at the event. Both were involved in the closest finish in Rolex Series history when Pruett sling-shot Gurney on the final lap at Daytona to win by .08 seconds. Gurney is the defending winner of the Porsche 250 presented by Bradley Arant, returning with Jon Fogarty in the No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Pontiac Riley.

Ticket prices range from $20 to $45 and are available on www.barbermotorsports.com or by calling 1-800-240-2300. Kids ages 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. Additional attractions include the expanded Fan Zone featuring both a variety of industry vendors and a Chick-fil-A Kid Zone on Saturday, as well as the return of the Car Corral.

The Porsche 250 for the Rolex Sports Car Series race begins at 2 p.m. (CST) and will be televised live on SPEED.

UPDATE: Obama Won't Sponsor Car At NASCAR Race After All

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It was originally reported by Sports Illustrated that the Obama camp was close to finalizing the deal but obviously it fell through.

Richard Petty reflects on 50 years of NASCAR history

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Fantasy Report: LifeLock.com 400

Did you get a chance to see the Daytona race? If so you may have noticed great examples of 2008 trends: Kyle Busch dominating and coming from behind, fishtails that would have been wrecks in previous years and large packs of cars. I can't see how any of these trends would end before the next race, the LifeLock.com 400 at the 1.5-mile tri-oval that is Chicagoland Speedway. This weekend is another chance to pull out your good drivers because the better teams really shine here.

Brandon's picks:

Tony Stewart✔, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr.✔, Ryan Newman, Mark Martin✔, David Ragan, Brian Vickers✔ and Patrick Carpentier.

Erik's picks:

Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards✔, Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne✔, Kyle Busch✔, Jamie McMurray, Scott Riggs✔ and Brian Vickers.

Hints: A quick review of previous results will bring your attention to two names: Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart. While both drivers are having only decent seasons you should pick one of the two for your roster. Jeff Gordon is also another A driver with a good record here. He has a pole, a win and 4 top 5's out of 6 races in Chicago (just overlook his only DNF here).

Others to watch out for would be Dale Earnhardt Jr., who has a win at Chicago and has been up at the front all year, and Jimmie Johnson who has a pole here and 2 top 5 finishes. Keep an eye on David Ragan to continue his remarkable season but I'm reluctant to say he'll be in the top 5 this week. I'll only consider putting him in if he qualifies as well as he did at Daytona. One more thing: don't think that Carl Edwards was overly satisfied with his 2nd place finish at Daytona. Although he hasn't been terribly great at Chicagoland in the past you can bet he'll be gunning for victory lane this week.

Vote In The Hands Of The Fans For Most Popular Driver Awards

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Over the years, NASCAR fans have found numerous ways to show support for their favorite driver at every level of the sport, from their neighborhood short track to the monster superspeedways. Not the least of which is going to the track and cheering them on race day.

Now, there's another opportunity: an online ballot box.

Beginning Monday, July 7, fans can visit www.nascar.com and vote for their favorite driver for Most Popular Driver of the Year Award for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

In addition, www.nascarhometracks.com will host the balloting for each of NASCAR's regional touring series — the NASCAR Camping World Series East and West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, NASCAR Mexico Series, and NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio.

Fans may vote once per day and are encouraged to vote throughout the season. Balloting ends Sept. 27 for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series; Sept. 28 for NASCAR Camping World Series East; Oct. 4 for the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour; Oct. 18 for NASCAR Camping World Series West; Oct. 19 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour; Oct. 26 for the NASCAR Mexico Series; and Oct. 31 for both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Results of the balloting will be announced at each of the respective series banquets at the end of the season.

Fantasy Report: Coke Zero 400

It's Fourth of July weekend and that means racing at Daytona. The Sprint Cup Series returns to NASCAR's most famous track for the second time this season. February's race showcased an exciting win by Ryan Newman. This weekend's race under the lights could exhibit some exciting fireworks. Onto our picks:

Erik's picks:

Tony Stewart✔, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr.✔, Kyle Busch✔, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Brian Vickers✔ and Michael Waltrip.

Brandon's picks:

Tony Stewart✔, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr.✔, Ryan Newman✔, Kasey Kahne, David Ragan, Brian Vickers✔ and Joe Nemechek.

Fantasy Hint: Like any superspeedway one mistake and your driver could be sitting in the garage. Try to select drivers who have consistent top qualifying positions at Daytona. If there is a wreck your driver might be able to avoid getting knocked out.

Head's Up: Dario Franchitti's team has been shut down by Ganassi Racing and will not be racing, at least with that company, for the rest of the year. He will not be racing in the Coke Zero 400 even though as of Wednesday evening his name was still on the Yahoo! Fantasy NASCAR roster. The Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway will be the third impound race of 2008, there are five impound races in 2008, both Talladega and Richmond races as well as this race. Look for the go-or-go-homers to be toward the front ... but at a marked disadvantage once the race starts until pit stops.

Going For It: Let it be noted that I am currently in second place in our fantasy standings. I figure not being to far out of first this would be a good chance to go for the top spot. With that said I am going to use Dale Earnhardt Jr. (excellent on superspeedways) and Kyle Busch (hottest driver this season). Good luck!

Quick Coke Zero 400 Race Facts

Practice: Thurs. 4 p.m. — Speed TV
Final Practice: Thurs. 6:30 p.m. — Speed TV
Qualifying: Fri. 4 p.m. — Speed TV
Race: Sat. 6:30 p.m. — TNT

Active drivers with most wins: Jeff Gordon (6), Michael Waltrip (3), Tony Stewart & Dale Earnhardt Jr (2)

NASCAR Drivers Nominated In Three Categories, For ESPY Awards

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — There are five NASCAR-related nominations for this year's 16th annual ESPY Awards. Kyle Busch, this season's hottest driver, is involved in three of the five.

An interesting aside: One of those nominations resulted from Busch losing a race.

At last summer's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, Jamie McMurray edged Busch for the victory by a margin of only .005-seconds, the second-closest margin since NASCAR instituted electronic scoring in 1993. That spectacular under-the-lights ending has been nominated in the "Best Finish" category.

Busch also is nominated in the "Best Breakthrough Athlete" category and, not surprisingly, in the "Best Driver" category.

Two-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and NASCAR rookie Dario Franchitti (who was essentially dropped by Ganassi today) also are nominated for Best Driver. Franchitti's nomination was based primarily on his splendid 2007 season in open-wheel racing, when he won the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series championship.

The "2008 ESPYs co-presented by HUMMER and Under Armour" will be held July 16 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. This marks the first time for the show at the Nokia Theatre, following a six-year run at the Kodak Theatre. The show — hosted annually by ESPN — will be televised on Sunday, July 20 at 9 p.m. (ET) on ESPN and ESPN HD, hosted by Justin Timberlake.

All awards are determined by an online fan vote (link can be found at bottom).

In the Best Finish category, the McMurray-Busch finish is up against the following competition:

* Western Kentucky's first round NCAA basketball tournament win over Drake, on a last-second 3-pointer;
* The San Antonio Spurs beating the Phoenix Suns in two overtimes, on a basket with 1.8 seconds left;
* The Pittsburgh Penquins� three-overtime NHL victory over the Detroit Red Wings.

In the Best Breakthrough Athlete category, Busch — the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point leader — is joined by:

* Minnesota Vikings' running back Adrian Peterson;
* Davidson College basketball standout Stephen Curry;
* Ana Ivanovic, currently the No.1-ranked women's tennis player in the world.

And in the Best Driver category, Busch, Johnson and Franchitti are joined by:

* Lewis Hamilton of Formula One;
* 2008 Indianapolis 500 champion Scott Dixon;
* Four-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher.

Fans can vote online for their favorites in all ESPY categories by going here.

Fantasy Report: Lenox Industrial Tools 301

After spending the week road racing in sunny California, the teams head to New England this weekend for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H. This is the first of two Sprint Cup races at the 1.058-mile oval superspeedway. If you're like me and had a terrible fantasy day at Sonoma then this could be the place to turn it around.

Brandon's picks:

Matt Kenseth✔, Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne✔, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex Jr.✔, Travis Kvapil✔ and Aric Almirola.

Erik's picks:

Jeff Gordon✔, Tony Stewart, Martin Truex Jr.✔, Casey Mears✔, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardth Jr., Paul Menard✔ and Travis Kvapil.

Fantasy Hints: I'm going to throw some love toward Rousch Fenway Racing this week. These teams have been strong all year long and the #17 of Matt Kenseth has been on fire as of late. Look for him to have a good showing this weekend. I expect Martin Truex Jr. to have an exceptional race — one that will mirror his performance at this track last year (2 top 5 finishes). I'm also going to mention Aric Almirola. He handled his ride pretty well at the beginning of the season and if he's been studying the driver he shares the car with, Mark Martin, then we could see big things out of him.

Have you, the reader, been having a good year with your fantasy team? How would you rate our picks so far this year? We would love to hear from you!

Martin Truex Jr. on hot seat at DEI

Although he is fewer than 100 points out of the final Chase spot, Truex Jr. is still on the hot seat. While indications earlier this year were that DEI would like to exercise his option for 2009, that deal hasn't been finalized.

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NASCAR Newscast: Infineon Raceway Preview

Cathy Elliott: NASCAR, At Its Core, Is Just a Game

At the age when most young people are enjoying their final completely carefree summer, preparing to go to college or enter the work force, Joey Logano is getting ready to race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. As certainly as sixth grade follows fifth, Logano will be promoted to stock car racing's highest level, probably sooner rather than later.

George Bernard Shaw once famously stated, "Youth is wasted on the young." (This, by the way, is a remark you will never hear from a young person. They may not know a good thing when they see one, but they have enough sense to understand that we geezers are touchy, and to keep their mouths shut on the subject.)

Although 18-year-old Logano is legally considered an adult, I'll bet most of us who watched his convincing first-time victory in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kentucky Speedway on June 14 didn't think of him that way. Instead, as we watched him become the youngest winner in the series' history, we thought or even said out loud, "Good job, kid."

Logano could indeed be your kid brother, or that kid you used to baby-sit, or even, painful as it is to admit, your own kid. His demeanor after the win can only be described as youthful exuberance.

It was infectious. I confess that I actually clapped my hands as Logano made his way to Victory Lane on tires shredded from an enthusiastic burnout.

I just watched him out there. He was having a blast.

I briefly considered heaving myself off the sofa to do a little victory dance in honor of his truly impressive achievement, but one, I'm saving that for Brian Vickers' next NASCAR Sprint Cup win (it'll happen), and two, it was too much trouble. My knees aren't what they used to be.

After his long-awaited and highly anticipated first win as a member of the Hendrick Motorsports team, at Michigan International Speedway on Father's Day, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. made an interesting observation. Basically, he remarked that during a winless streak which lasted longer than two years, the thrill of victory had been relegated to the ranks of distant memory for everyone concerned, his team members as well as himself. "I had forgotten that joy ... " he said.

Joy. Wow. That isn't a word you hear very often, because it is something we rarely experience as the years begin to creep up. Joy is something more than happiness or contentment. It's a feeling better than that, an emotion more pure. Adults are sometimes satisfied, but kids are often joyful.

Something about NASCAR brings out the kid in us, that no-holds-barred, anything-can-happen outlook that we lose as the inevitable realities and restrictions of adult life take their toll.

It's the feeling we had when we rode our bikes downhill as fast as we could go, with no hands and no fear. It's the curiosity that caused us to kick a ball as hard as we could just to see how far it would fly, without worrying about the associated aggravation of chasing after it. That would come later, so why worry about it now?

It's that thing we used to have all the time, and completely took for granted. If memory serves, I believe we called it "fun".

The other day the kids across the street were engaged in a heated game of "Red Rover" in their front yard. I didn't know the kids of the new millennium had even heard of Red Rover, but apparently no video game version has been released yet so they have to do it the old-fashioned way.

I just watched them out there. They were having a blast.

In Red Rover, players form two lines. They face one another with hands linked, forming a human chain. One team sizes up the other in an attempt to single out who they perceive as the weakest, then the challenge is issued: "Red Rover, Red Rover, send (the name goes here, but in my experience “Cathy” was usually the first victim) right over."

The summonee examines the opposition closely, looking for the weakest link, the most likely spot for a possible break in the action, then charges straight for it. Sometimes the competitor breaks through, and sometimes he is denied and must wait for another game and a fresh opportunity.

Doesn't that sound an awful lot like a race? Slower cars starting from the back of the field survey their situations carefully, watching for a wobble here or a waver there which will allow them to pick competitors off one-by-one en route to the front. To be ultimately successful – to win the race – requires patience and strength, strategy and skill.

When you really start to think about it, many of our childhood pursuits are applicable in NASCAR. Take "Red Light, Green Light", for example, where you race as fast as you can toward the goal until something happens to freeze the field in place.

Or how about "Simon Says"? There are currently no crew chiefs named Simon that I can think of, but you get my drift. When Simon (or Tony Eury Jr.) says conserve your fuel, you do it, or else.

Perhaps we never really abandon the games of our youth. We simply grow up to play them a little bit differently.

If you don't believe me, just watch all those drivers out there. They're having a blast.

And so are we.

— Courtesy of NASCAR

Fantasy Report: Toyota/Save Mart 350

If you avoid NASCAR because of all the left turns, this Sunday will be one of your few chances to see them drive right. The Sprint Cup Series is back on the west coast for some road course bumpin' and grindin' at the 1.99-miles Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calf.

Erik's picks:

Jeff Gordon✔, Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya✔, Jamie McMurray✔, Ryan Newman, Robby Gordon, Boris Said✔ and Michael Waltrip.

Brandon's picks:

Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon✔, Juan Pablo Montoya✔, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Robby Gordon✔, Boris Said✔ and Sam Hornish Jr.

Fantasy Hint: This week is a good chance to use drivers that will not get much action on your fantasy team on a normal basis. Certain drivers appear more comfortable to drive at tracks like Infineon. More importantly this can save your drivers in the B and C lists that don’t run well on road courses. You might want to give these drivers a try: Robby Gordon and Boris Said or Michael Waltrip.

Fantasy Report: LifeLock 400

This week teams head north for the LifeLock 400 at the Michigan International Speedway. The 2-mile speedway is a fast track with multiple racing grooves and should provide for an entertaining afternoon of racing on Father's Day. This is also one of the tracks on the circuit that can drive Fantasy players up the wall because anything can happen and anyone can win.

Here are our picks:

Brandon’s picks:

Carl Edwards✔, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Greg Biffle✔, Kyle Busch✔, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers✔ and Patrick Carpentier.

Erik’s picks:

Carl Edwards✔, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr.✔, Martin Truex Jr.✔, Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Brian Vickers✔ and Travis Kvapil.

Hints: Seeing as how this track is really hard to pick for I'm relying on past racing history at Michigan, how a driver is doing this year and a little guessing for my picks this week. Rousch Fenway Racing has had big success in the past and there's no reason for this year to be any different. Look for Carl Edwards to have a good week.

Also, the drivers that are traditionally strong on speedways will be good picks this week. Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. should both have top 10 finishes. Seeing as how Kyle Busch finished dead last at Pocono you can bet he'll be looking for the win this weekend ... which, knowing his racing style, could lead to calamity as it did last Sunday.

One other driver I'll be interested in this weekend is Patrick Carpentier. This will be his first race at Michigan in a stock car, but he's had 6 starts in an open-wheel racecar with 5 top 10's and one win. Whether or not that success will carry over into NASCAR is anyone's guess but he's been a pretty good qualifier this year so maybe he'll at least pick up some points in that capacity.

Good luck!