NASCAR drivers, playin' a little chicken at 190 mph

Okay, here's a chance for a little fun audience-participation. First off, check out this video from Gillette's Young Guns series. You may know a few of these guys:

Pretty cool, yes? Fake carnage always is. But here's the better part -- if you go to Gillette's site by clicking here, you can make up your own message for the drivers to burn into the track. This, friends, is your task: make up the funniest, catchiest, filthiest, most ridiculous statement you can. Then take a screenshot and send it to me at jay.busbee@yahoo.com. I'll compile the best and run 'em here soon. Hey, if we're going to watch commercials, at least we can warp 'em to our own ends.

Kansas Preview

NEWS & NOTES

AT KANSAS: In eight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has recorded one pole position and four top-10 finishes. The driver of the No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet has completed 98 percent of all the laps he’s attempted (2,038 laps of 2,079) and has led a total of 40 laps there.

KANSAS CHASSIS: This weekend, crew chief Lance McGrew and the No. 88 engineers will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-556. This is the first chassis that McGrew built from the ground up for Earnhardt and first was raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July. Most recently, Earnhardt raced this car to a third-place finish at Michigan International Speedway in August

INTERMEDIATE TRACK STATS: In 169 Cup starts on intermediate (one- to two-mile) tracks, Earnhardt has recorded six wins, five pole positions, 37 top-five finishes and 67 top-10s.

HENDRICK AT KANSAS: Hendrick Motorsports, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year has scored three wins, nine top-five finishes, 15 top-10s and led 535 laps in eight Cup events (34 starts) at Kansas Speedway. A Hendrick driver has led at least one lap in all eight Cup events that have been held at the track.

QUOTES

DALE EARNHARDT JR., DRIVER, NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD/AMP ENERGY CHEVROLET (ON KANSAS SPEEDWAY.): “Kansas is pretty fun. The track has aged enough to where we are running off of the bottom and you can move around and find a little speed. The corners are real different. Turns 1 and 2 are a lot flatter than 3 and 4. Trying to get the car to work at both ends can be a challenge, but I enjoy running there. It’s a pretty simple racetrack, and it’s a lot of fun.”

LANCE McGREW, INTERIM CREW CHIEF, NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD/AMP ENERGY CHEVROLET (ON KANSAS SPEEDWAY.): “I’ve always run good at Kansas and have had some good success there. I feel like we’ve run way better at the intermediate tracks. I feel like our program has come around at tracks like Atlanta and Michiganâ€"the intermediate tracks. We’re trying to bring better cars to the racetrack, and we’ve really responded to that by running in the top-10 all day.”

McGREW (ON WHAT TRACKS HE PULLS INFORMATION FROM WHEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A SETUP FOR KANSAS.): “Places like Charlotte (N.C.), Texas, Chicago. I think each one of those offers something you can take to Kansas. The good thing about Kansas, as well as Chicago over the years, is it went from being really a one-groove racetrack to one that has widened out to where you can get two- or three-wide. As a driver, it allows you to hunt around and find a place on the racetrack where your car works. We’ll probably look at Chicago first and go from something like that.”

McGREW (ON KANSAS CITY’S BARBECUE.): “I like Kansas City barbecue because it’s more of a saucy barbecue. It’s not like a dry rub barbecue, and I like barbecue sauce. So, yeah, Kansas City-type barbecue is my favorite.”

Credit: Hendrick Motorsports PR

Richard Petty offers up some answers to The Marbles' questions

A few weeks ago, we invited you to submit your best questions for The King, Richard Petty. And guess what -- he talked to us! Here's what he had to say to your inquiries:

Do you think you and your teams would have seen the same kind of success in this era of drivers? The sport has changed since I raced, but I'm sure we would have been competitive and winning.

Of all your 200 wins, which one stands out the most to you today? I think the race that stands out the most was in 1984 - my 200th win in Daytona, which you can see in the Crowning Achievement video series.

Which driver currently in a NASCAR division do you think has the brightest future? I think AJ Allmendinger has the brightest future, because he is a young upcoming driver that has a lot of potential.

Man of few words, that King! Okay, let's be honest -- those weren't richly detailed answers, true. But hey -- we got the King to talk to you guys! We appreciate him and STP taking the time to chat with us. More of these coming soon!

Oh, and those of you who submitted questions that got selected, drop me a line -- we've got some goodies for your winning entries. Congrats!

From the Couch: Almost there after a 28-year Martinizing

What was it Mark Martin said about Jimmie Johnson, "I'm pretty sure that dude is Superman?"

Mark, you've gone first-second in the first two races of the Chase. You sit first in points. And Cup or not, you are AARP's leading (okay, only) counterargument for geriatric license restrictions.

But before we go there, Superman? Of all the superheroes, you go with Superman? If that were true, hypothetically speaking of course, why would he drive a car to beat you? Superman once flew into the sun, so a stock car seems a little superfluous.

Super strength? He couldn't even hold onto a golf cart, for crying out loud. X-ray, infra-red, laser-secreting vision? Highly doubtful. Just mention "2005 Talladega " to Dale Jr. A red Speedo banana hammock as outerwear? God I hope not.

No, JJ is not Superman. He is not even superhuman. He is just flat out bad ass at driving a car. Plus, everyone knows that Shaq is Superman.

(But Chad Knaus as Lois Lane ? Hhhmmn.)

It's no secret that I've long been on Mark's other side. I think I've made that clear. He is just so vanilla, in style, conversation and even complexion (musical tastes, maybe not). For what seems like my entire life I've been a critic of his mild-mannered driving style and his subsequent catatonic interviews (Clark Kent?). Yet, the guy has been wheeling a car in NASCAR's premier series since 1981, and despite all efforts, I've finally been reduced to mocking his analogies.

I can't believe I'm writing this, but Mark Martin is starting to win me over.

The year Mark Martin first raced a Winston Cup event, Buick was the car to beat, Neil Bonnet turned a wheel, and they still raced at the Texas World Speedway (where a 400-mile Cup race was conducted without a single yellow. That's right, no phantom debris cautions. Now that is history). In 1981, Jay Hart was eight. In 1981, Jay loved Pacman and thought The Cannonball Run was a cinematic masterpiece. In 1981, MTV was launched (with videos!), Ronald Regan was shot (as POTUS, and not an actor), and the Oakland Raiders - the current poster child for sports futility - were a winning football team. If that sounds like a long time ago, that's because it was.

Let's put it this way, Mark Martin has raced at an elite level for a decade longer than Joe Logano (the Y has officially gotten knocked out of him) has been alive. And arguably, at least I'm arguing it, this is his finest year. Yes, he has Super JJ to worry about, but he has never been in better equipment and has never been ranked so high so late in the game. Simply, Mark is taking advantage of his swan song. He came back to win, and he's doing it.

I suppose that alone should endear me to him. I do admire his persistence, endurance and obvious love for the sport. But golly gee, I'm not quite there yet. When he finally puts the chrome horn to JPM, when he finally drops a casual f-bomb in conversation, or when he finally admits that he's atop the points and the man to beat, I may just ante up for a fan club membership.

Four Wide: Is NASCAR headed for the Middle East?

Bringing you the best in NASCAR news and opinion. Get your day started right ... or left, whichever.

• Petty of Arabia? Gillett, majority owner of Richard Petty Motorsports, has entered into a commercial services agreement with a Saudi Arabia-based sports marketing firm that could -- could -- bring a version of NASCAR to the Middle East. Start your jokes now. [NASCAR.com via Yahoo! Sports]

• Fun article on practical jokes in NASCAR. You'll never forget what Dale Earnhardt once did to Darrell Waltrip. Boogity boogity, indeed. [Augusta Chronicle]

• Denny Hamlin heard there was something called a "FedEx Cup," and so carved up an entire golf course trying to win it. (Hint: satire.) [The Onion]

• Tim Richmond jazzercises, and more stuff you can't unsee in the new Rick Hendrick documentary. [Hampton Roads Online]

• Was Joey Logano's wreck caused by the Car of Tomorrow? The appropriately-named Stock Car Spin considers the possibility. [Stock Car Spin]

• Bidding farewell to Jim Beam with this gem of a video. Don't play this one at work, or with kids around, or your mother, or really anyone. Seriously. This might knock birds out of the trees. [All Left Turns]

Got a link/tip? Hit us up at jay.busbee@yahoo.com and follow us on Twitter.

Wreck of the week: Kyle Busch throttles it back for 2009

Okay, look, we all know what the real wreck of the week was -- Joey Logano's multi-flip fiesta. (Was it seven flips? 10? A thousand? Better get it right, or a horde of angry nitpickers will be all over you!) Anyway, there were other bumps and thumps throughout the weekend, but here's one that, to me, is rather unfortunate -- Kyle Busch losing control and hitting the wall twice. Kyle missed the Chase by the smallest margin ever, but that's looking like a canyon right about now:

Kyle isn't quite mailing it in yet, but 2009's already a lost season for him. Best thing that could happen? All kinds of mishaps like this to get him used to adversity. Shoot, the 18 crew ought to throw an angry badger into the car on a random pit stop just to liven things up.

Carl Edwards, but not Danica, shows some skin for ESPN

Carl Edwards is one of NASCAR's hottest drivers on the track, and now he brings that Missouri heat to ESPN The Magazine!

Ugh. Sorry. Boy, that crappy TMZ-style fluff journalism is an easy style to slip into, huh? Anyway, Carl's ditching his clothes for the fabled ESPN nekkid issue, which they've tastefully named "The Body Issue."

Anyway, Carl misplaced his shirt for one pose and his pants for another -- don't say I never did anything for ya, ladies -- and joins athletes from all the major sports who will be appearing sans uniforms. ESPN calls it a "celebration and exploration" of the human athletic body, a phrase which pretty much can be used to justify anything from art appreciation to late-night Cinemax viewing.

Here's Edwards' take on the issue, with predictably semi-cheesy NASCAR reference: "I hope it turns out well," he said. "It's kind of like going into a corner at Dover. You go in as fast as you can -- and hope it turns out all right." Ever mindful of his sponsors, Edwards made sure to check with Aflac and Ford before, you know, unleashing the guns.

One athlete who apparently won't be flashing any skin is Danica Patrick, despite previous reports to the contrary. She will indeed be appearing in the issue, but only in an interview and not as a participant. Too bad.

The issue hits newsstands October 9. Start making plans now, ladies.

First look: In ESPN's magazine, showing skin is no issue [USA Today]

Create-a-caption: This is the worst valet service ever!

Martin Truex Jr. tries to figure out what happened with that crazy kid who hit him. What's the conversation at work here? Best caption wins ... well, nothing, but you can have fun trying, yes?

After the jump, Kyle Busch is missing. Whodunit?

Rick C:
Take one, and ONLY one!!!!! You know what too much sugar does to you guys!

JJ:
Joe Gibbs: "Bring it in gang. Listen, we got the sponsorship freebies a little mixed up this week. Instead of the usual M&M snack provided to Kyle during pit stops, all we have is this Pedigree stuff. No one says a word to Kyle about this. Understood? That means you Dona!"

boogie:
JG: OK Guys.. Since you're on the bottom of the ladder, and it all rolls down hill, you should've expected that, since Kyle didn't make the chase, we would start picking you off one by one until he wins again.. Since this is NASCAR, instead of drawing short straws, we're going with "odd man out" in reference to firesuits.. Martin - you're it. The rest of you, the goal is to finish the season with more than four of you... Alright everybody, "still have a job" on 3.. 1-2-3!!

JonathanD:
Joe Gibbs: "Come on, guys, hurry it up. Kyle's gonna be here in a second... remember, after you reach in the bag and draw the name for this year's Christmas gift exchange, keep it quiet and we'll meet again secretly to exchange gifts December 22."
Tire Changer: "Good idea, coach. Nobody ever knows what to get that guy."

They make it 'cause we buy it: Kasey Kahne grilling equipment

No sport offers up a more bewildering array of souvenir crap memorabilia than NASCAR, and They Make It digs deep into the corners of the Internet to bring all that strangeness to light. Today: fine instruments for all your meat-searing needs.

The item: The Kasey Kahne four-piece barbecue set, an undisclosed price from Dollar Days.

The deal: NASCAR and barbecue go together like football and violence, baseball and bad sportswriting or hockey and feelings of self-loathing. So it's only approprate that somebody has come out with a complete set of NASCAR-branded grilling hardware. And oh, does that look like a finely-crafted set of stuff! Poke, flip and press your meat with this high-test set, and just for good measure, brand your burgers with a No. 9 to show 'em who's boss!

Of course, you need to make sure you grill carefully, because you never know when disaster might --

Whoa! Easy, Kasey! Wait until after the race to get your grill on!

The hat tip: Reader Gator, who's all over this strangeness. If you've got some NASCAR souvenir memorabilia of your own, hit us up at jay.busbee@yahoo.com. It's okay, we won't judge.

Taillights fade: Bidding farewell to the two-race drivers of 2009

We're getting within sight of the end of the season, and so it's time to begin our look back. In a feature shamelessly ripped from Puck Daddy's Death Watch and Big League Stew's Walk Toward The Light, we'll be counting down each and every car that fell short of the Sprint Cup this year. And yes, I know there aren't taillights on Sprint cars. It's a metaphor. Roll with it.

Name(s): Of the 65 drivers who ran at Sprint Cup level this year, five ran in two races: Ron Fellows, Boris Said, Erik Darnell, Mike Wallace, P.J. Jones. I would have given you five American dollars if you could have named this list without looking. But you've already read it, so no deal.

Records: Um ... not so great. No top 10s, no poles, nothing. Though, to be fair, many of these guys are road-race specialists brought in to run at Infineon and Watkins Glen.

Where it went wrong: Hmmm ... can it go wrong if it never really went right? Though for a brief instant, Fellows was running No. 1 at Watkins Glen, so that's got to count for something.

Prospects for 2010: Most of these cats will get trotted back out when the road races come 'round again. Darnell has several more 2009 races in his future, running in the 96 in place of Bobby Labonte. He may have the brightest future of this crowd, but it's still a few years away.

Next up: Some more familiar names, including a former champion.

Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski do a little chrome dancing

Could we have a little bubbling rivalry here in the Nationwide series? For the second time in two seasons, Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin tangled following an on-track collision. Whether it was just good hard racing or whether somebody ran out of talent going into the turn probably depends on your perspective. Both drivers give their point of view below; Keselowski offers a bland, vaguely conciliatory take on the situation. But make sure you hang in there to the 2:45 mark for Denny's brilliant rebuttal:

Perhaps we've been looking in the wrong directions for rivalries. Keselowski seems like he's not taking any garbage from anybody, and for whatever reason he's really gotten under Hamlin's skin. This'll be fun to see how this plays out in 2010 and beyond.

Chase Watch 2009: Jimmie's knock-knock-knockin' again

We're in the heart of the Chase now, and it's time to start making some projections on who's up, who's down, who's charging and who's fading. Stop us if you've heard this before.

Standings (movement): Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya (+1), Kurt Busch (+1), Tony Stewart (+1), Denny Hamlin (-3), Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon (+2), Greg Biffle, Brian Vickers (-2), Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne.

Movin' on up: Jimmie Johnson closed the gap between second and first to 10 points, and there's nobody now who thinks that Johnson isn't one of the favorites to win this whole shebang. Also, when's it going to be time to start taking JPM and Kurt Busch seriously? Both are staying in the hunt and don't look to be fading just yet.

Bottoming out: Denny Hamlin fell three spots, a not-unexpected drop considering how much he hates Dover. Of more concern is Brian Vickers, who may have hit his peak just getting into the Chase, and Carl Edwards and Kasey Kahne, who don't seem to be clicking at all.

Outlook: It's not yet closing time, of course, but if anybody south of Hamlin is going to catch Jimmie and Mark, it'd be time to start now. Tony Stewart is sweating a lot more than he has all season, and Jeff Gordon is in constant catch-up mode now. The 48 is clicking, and that should be of concern to everybody else.

All right, your turn. What's your take on how the Chase is progressing? Go!

Victory video: Ho-hum, Johnson dominant once again

Another Chase, another Jimmie Johnson domination. If you're a fan of the 48, you've got to be delirious right now. If you enjoy seeing NASCAR history in the making, you've got to be impressed -- you're watching one of the best drivers in the history of the sport, and I defy you to mount a reasonable argument. But if you like good, hard racing, well, you're not exactly loving life at the moment. Here, check out the "thrilling" final laps from the AAA 400 at Dover:

Good for Jimmie, not so great for folks looking for a great Chase. It's not over yet, of course, but there's no indication that Jimmie's going anywhere this Chase.

Joey Logano goes for the multi-flip special, walks away

Exceedingly scary moment at Sunday's AAA 400 at Dover, as rookie Joey Logano dipped into the grass, then got t-boned and flipped more than half a dozen times before coming to a hard stop. Hearts were in mouths as everyone watching feared the worst, but fortunately, Logano popped out none the worse for the wear:

And, as always, it bears repeating: for all the grief that NASCAR receives for its clunky Car of Tomorrow, wrecks like this make it all worthwhile. If NASCAR had still been running older models, Logano, Michael McDowell, Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon -- all of whom have suffered brutal wrecks in the last couple of years -- might not still be with us.

"It just really scared the heck out of me," Logano said afterward. "The biggest thing was, I was fine the whole time, [but] I'm not really sure what happened ... I haven't seen a replay, and I'm not sure I want to see the replay. It started rolling, and I was in there, thinking, 'Man, just make this thing stop.' It wouldn't. It just kept going and going. It goes to show how safe these cars are. I was fine."

Logano walks away from scary crash shaken but OK [NASCAR via Yahoo! Sports]

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Joey Logano goes for the ten-flip special, walks away

Exceedingly scary moment at Sunday's AAA 400 at Dover, as rookie Joey Logano dipped into the grass, then got t-boned and flipped almost a dozen times before coming to a hard stop. Hearts were in mouths as everyone watching feared the worst, but fortunately, Logano popped out none the worse for the wear:

And, as always, it bears repeating: for all the grief that NASCAR receives for its clunky Car of Tomorrow, wrecks like this make it all worthwhile. If NASCAR had still been running older models, Logano, Michael McDowell, Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon -- all of whom have suffered brutal wrecks in the last couple of years -- might not still be with us.

"It just really scared the heck out of me," Logano said afterward. "The biggest thing was, I was fine the whole time, [but] I'm not really sure what happened ... I haven't seen a replay, and I'm not sure I want to see the replay. It started rolling, and I was in there, thinking, 'Man, just make this thing stop.' It wouldn't. It just kept going and going. It goes to show how safe these cars are. I was fine."

Logano walks away from scary crash shaken but OK [NASCAR via Yahoo! Sports]

Running wide open: The AAA 400/Monster Mile talkback thread

Time for Race #2 of the Chase, this time at Dover's Monster Mile. Will Mark Martin post his second straight win? Will Jimmie Johnson step up and take over the Chase? Will Joey Logano run in fright from Miles the Monster above? All this and more, to be decided this afternoon!

Million Dollar Bill Elliott still harbors Chase hopes

[Editor's note: Reader Carol F contributes this piece on an up-and-comer with a rather famous name. Enjoy. --JB]

Bill Elliott has an impressive record at the Cup level, let alone other series; a record four consecutive wins at Michigan, two Daytona 500 wins, 44 total wins, one 1988 Winston Cup Championship. He also won the Nascar's Most Popular Driver award a record 16 times before he abashedly removed his name from the hat in 2003.

Bill retired from racing full-time after the 2003 season, about the same time his son Chase began driving at various Georgia dirt tracks. Yeah, yeah; I know what you're all thinking, but young Chase was born in 1995, and the Chase format started in 2004. It's a coincidence, okay? Must be...

Chase's accomplishments are too many to be listed here; poles, wins, championships! He's munching his way through the minor leagues at a high rate of speed. This summer he's racing in a Pro Late Model in the Georgia Asphalt Series (GAS) where he's still hanging around the top of the standings after a second-place run over the Labor-Day weekend.

Chase will turn 18 in 2013. How many of you want to bet we'll be seeing him in the big leagues the second he becomes eligible?

Chase Elliott [Official Site]

Midnight Marbles, where Denny Hamlin can't find the camera

Hey everyone, welcome back to Midnight Marbles, where our guest is Denny Hamlin! You know Denny as -- uh, Denny? Camera's over here, Hamster! Hold still!

Anyway, this is your place to hang and chat about whatever crosses your mind this fine Friday. Suggested topic for discussion: rank your drivers in order of who'll be eliminated from Chase consideration. Proofread your work, and erase all stray marks. Keep your eyes on your own paper. And enjoy the weekend, everybody!

C-a-C: 'It's agreed. Nobody says a word about Kyle's disappearance.'

Coach Joe Gibbs holds a meeting with the #18 team. The subject? Well, that's for you to decide. Fire away, friends.

After the jump, an elderly man gets accosted by rascally red ne'er-do-wells.

SportsFan:
Crewmember: Gimme a coat hanger, I think I can reach the lock.

razz:
After doing the "tighten up" for 300 laps MM grabs a handful of prunes to kickstart his cool down process.

The "he's finally on board with the idea; the humor will come in time" award goes to pumped_cobra:
I left Roush because if you'un aint cheatin you'un aint winnin. Now I drive for a convicted felon who ASSCAR is beholding to and now I may get me a championship because I drive for a cheater now.

And a few steps behind ... the "it's a joke, friend" award goes to shirley d:
"if martin wins the championship as far as im concerned he will not be a true champion. 500 and some points back with ten to go and they put him in the lead what a farc. id like to see a new champ but let him earn it like they use to do. a complete season no wonder nascar is going to hell and you can thank the moron that runs it. "

The Chrome Horn, episode 25: Tony Stewart

So have you ever been so excited to have something on your computer -- the best photo, a completed term paper, whatever -- and then your computer swallows it up and laughs at you? Yeah, I thought we had that too with a recent interview with Tony Stewart, when lo and behold I was able to salvage the audio! Hallelujah!

Anyway, Tony and Office Depot are working together all season for a variety of charitable causes, including the donation of backpacks to underprivileged kids. He also took time to talk to The Marbles about running his own team, running on dirt, the maturity of Kyle Busch and the role he'd like to play in a Hollywood blockbuster. As this was a charitable event, I couldn't take the conversation in a direction I wanted -- you know, asking him about that infamous Rolling Stone article, things like that -- but we're building bridges here, friends. Check it out; I think you'll dig it.

Feel free to give comments and suggestions at jay.busbee@yahoo.com. Play, download or subscribe to us through our new iTunes site; we'll love you no matter what you do.

Click here to play or download.

Junior, Gordon, Rick Hendrick place wreath at Arlington Cemetery

Fine story out of D.C. Thursday, as Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Rick Hendrick stopped en route to Dover to lay a ceremonial wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

NASCAR Scene's Jeff Gluck was at the event, and posted the picture at right on his Twitter feed. Arlington is sacred ground, with more than 330,000 miliary members who made the ultimate sacrifice buried there. And the drivers were clearly humbled by the magnitude of the event and the location.

Both drivers have run under the National Guard sponsor banner this season, and for Junior, that carries a different burden than pumping an energy drink. "I tell people all the time it's so much different than trying to sell a product off the shelf," Junior told Scene Daily afterward. "The military is a career choice, it's a commitment, and you're trying to convince someone to look into it. When you go to appearances with the Guard like we're doing today, you definitely see that firsthand. It's more tangible." The cemetery is still active, hosting up to 30 burials every day.

NASCAR's connection with the military runs deeper than any other sport, and it's good to see its biggest stars placing themselves in proper perspective here. For more on the visit and the cemetery, check out the article linked below. And keep an eye on Junior and Jeff during the National Anthem this weekend; they might just have a little more to think about this weekend than most.

Wreath-laying at Arlington humbles Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon [Scene Daily]

Four Wide: Ricky Carmichael's transition to four wheels going well

Bringing you the best in NASCAR news and opinion. Get your day rolling right ... or left, whichever.

• Ricky Carmichael's jump from motocross and Supercross to the Truck Series under the tutelage of Kevin Harvick (right) has gone pretty darn well, thanks for asking. [NASCAR.com via Yahoo! Sports]

• We've got a new phrase for the Chase: "show caution," as in a caution for show -- that phantom debris that always seems to show up at the end of races but never before. [Inside Racing News]

• The pros and cons of listening to team orders vs. winning a race, exemplified this past weekend when Ron Hornaday Jr. didn't let his boss Kevin Harvick (him again!) pass him in the closing laps of the Truck Series race. [Racin' Today]

• It's going to be a big weekend for the Truex family in Dover, as Martin runs in Nationwide and little bro Ryan can clinch the Camping World East title. [NASCAR.com]

• Penalties during the Chase need to be more severe than those in the regular season. Makes sense. [Pocky's Paddock]

• Finally: what's your NASCAR nickname? Find out with this handy flowchart! [All Left Turns]

Got a link/tip? Hit us up at jay.busbee@yahoo.com and follow us on Twitter.

The Pace Lap: The AAA 400 @ Dover International Speedway

 

Welcome to The Pace Lap, your catchall preview post! Let's get you started on race weekend with a metric truckload of stats, facts, opinion and innuendo.

The race: AAA 400 at the Dover International Speedway, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2:15 p.m. Eastern

The specs: 400 laps on a one-mile track

The broadcasts: ABC, plus the live chat right here on Yahoo! Sports. 

Defending champ: Greg Biffle, who posted what's been the last highlight in his career to date.

The standings leaders: Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson (-35), Denny Hamlin (-35)

The history: The concrete "Monster Mile" falls right into the gap between short track and superspeedway, so some people dig it and others loathe it. Races used to be 500 miles here before NASCAR altered the rules to permit 500-mile races only at tracks longer than one mile in length. And "Miles the Monster" is hands-down the coolest character in NASCAR. Can't we have him deal with Digger?

The appropriate video: From 2004: Dave Blaney causes a 19-car pileup. After this race, he learned that "start-and-park" means "park your car in the garage, not on the track."

Guy with the most to gain: Denny Hamlin. We knew Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson were going to be running at the top of the standings, but with Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon struggling, Hamlin has the opportunity to graft himself to the Hendrick frontrunners. Not literally, of course..

Guys with the most to lose: Jeff Gordon. Kasey Kahne is already out of the Chase, effectively speaking, and Gordon could be next to join him. On the radio last Sunday, Gordon was throwing around more profanity than a middle-schooler who just learned some brand-new words. Another rough finish would bring to an early end a promising season.

Our pick to win: Biffle. Yes, I know I'm insane, but hear me out. The guy hasn't finished outside the top 10 at Dover since 2005, back when Joey Logano was still in diapers, and he's got absolutely nothing to lose this weekend. So I'm throwing the Hail Mary here and backing him to win.

All right, you're up. Who's your pick for this weekend? Go!

It's official: Danica is returning to IndyCar for the 2010 season

At least part of the ongoing Danica Patrick saga has come to a definitive close. Patrick has reportedly signed a three-year deal to remain a part of Andretti Green Racing. As before, she will drive the No. 7 sponsored by Motorola. It brings to an end months of speculation on the Indy side of things, but plenty of elements of her 2010 and beyond remain very much up in the air.

Patrick's future has been the subject of debate for years now; while she's not the most talented driver on the Indy circuit, she's unquestionably the best-known and most marketable to a broad audience. And that's exactly why every racing circuit from Indy to NASCAR to soapbox derby racing has coveted her.

Now, still unresolved is whether Patrick will run in NASCAR, as ESPN reported three weeks ago. Since that report, which got far less press than expected, there's been little news on the Danica-in-NASCAR front. Tony Stewart, who was mentioned as a mentor of Patrick, has said Patrick has not signed any kind of NASCAR agreement. (Yet, we could add.)

Regardless of what Patrick decides about NASCAR, the three-year agreement with Andretti Green seems to indicate that she's not going to completely jump ship from Indy. It's a wise move, considering how many open-wheel drivers have challenged NASCAR and fallen short. But then, when it's about Danica, it's not really about wins, is it?

Danica Patrick staying in IndyCar series [Indianapolis Star]

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Related posts:
Will Earnhardt bring the No. 8 back to NASCAR?
NASCAR waited too long to throw the last of its many cautions
NASCAR's going green! Can you feel the hippie goodness?

It's official: Danica is returning to Indy Car for the 2010 season

At least part of the ongoing Danica Patrick saga has come to a definitive close. Patrick has signed a three-year deal to remain a part of Andretti Green Racing. As before, she will drive the No. 7 sponsored by Motorola. It brings to an end months of speculation on the Indy side of things, but plenty of elements of her 2010 and beyond remain very much up in the air.

Patrick's future has been the subject of debate for years now; while she's not the most talented driver on the Indy circuit, she's unquestionably the best-known and most marketable to a broad audience. And that's exactly why every racing circuit from Indy to NASCAR to soapbox derby racing has coveted her.

Now, still unresolved is whether Patrick will run in NASCAR, as ESPN reported three weeks ago. Since that report, which got far less press than expected, there's been little news on the Danica-in-NASCAR front. Tony Stewart, who was mentioned as a mentor of Patrick, has said Patrick has not signed any kind of NASCAR agreement. (Yet, we could add.)

Regardless of what Patrick decides about NASCAR, the three-year agreement with Andretti Green seems to indicate that she's not going to completely jump ship from Indy. It's a wise move, considering how many open-wheel drivers have challenged NASCAR and fallen short. But then, when it's about Danica, it's not really about wins, is it?

Danica Patrick staying in IndyCar series [Indianapolis Star]

________

For more NASCAR news and info, click here to bookmark Yahoo! Sports' The Marbles, and follow us on Twitter.

Related posts:
Will Earnhardt bring the No. 8 back to NASCAR?
NASCAR waited too long to throw the last of its many cautions
NASCAR's going green! Can you feel the hippie goodness?

NASCAR's going green! Can you feel the hippie goodness?

This video's a few days old, but too good to let drift into the ether. On Jimmy Kimmel's show recently, he broke the news on an exciting new NASCAR program -- green racing!

Somehow, this is Kyle Busch's fault.

Taillights fade: Looking back at 2009's one-race drivers

We're getting within sight of the end of the season, and so it's time to begin our look back. In a feature shamelessly ripped from Puck Daddy's Death Watch and Big League Stew's Walk Toward The Light, we'll be counting down each and every car that fell short of the Sprint Cup this year. And yes, I know there aren't taillights on Sprint cars. It's a metaphor. Roll with it.

So did you know that 65 different drivers ran in Sprint Cup races this year, to this point? It's true. And it's down only slightly from 2008, when 71 drivers ran. Today, we say farewell to the one-race cameos, the guys who were only with us long enough to get their name called once. So long, gentlemen.

Name(s): Andy Lally, Scott Wimmer, Dexter Bean, Brandon Ash, Tony Ave.

Records: Not a single top-10 among the lot of 'em, though Lally, Wimmer and Dex at least finished the races in which they ran.

Where it went wrong: Hmmm. Can't ever say it went right for these guys, except in the sense that they did get to run at the highest level of motorsports.

Prospects for 2010: I can't even begin to guess. But if they even start two races, they'll be ahead of this year.

Can't say we knew any of you very well -- with the exception of the immortal Dexter Bean, whom we welcomed onto a podcast -- but congrats to each one of you. These guys all earned at least $62,000 this year, not bad for a few hours' work.

Next up: The two-timers!

Will Earnhardt bring the No. 8 back to NASCAR in 2010?

This, friends, is the very definition of a cheap bait-and-switch headline and article photo. Sorry. But as long as you're here, might as well keep reading, yes?

Here's the deal. Everybody knows that Dale Earnhardt Jr. made the No. 8 famous, and when he jumped ship from the old Dale Earnhardt Inc. to Hendrick Motorsports, he tried to take the 8 with him. No luck, and Junior had to settle for doubling down. (He got the 88, as you may have heard.)

Of course, the 8 didn't sit unused for long. Mark Martin and later Aric Almirola ran with the 8. But now comes word that Earnhardt will be running in the 8 again!

What? Oh, no, not Dale, silly. Jeffrey Earnhardt, son of Kerry and grandson of the Intimidator, will apparently begin running the 8 next year in the Nationwide series, according to a report from Dustin Long at the Virginian-Pilot.

Sponsorship is always a key concern, and officials with Earnhardt-Ganassi (you know, the team that DEI morphed into) noted that the 8 has drawn some interest just because it's, you know, the 8. Combine that with the name "Earnhardt," and presto, instant opportunity.

So, your take. Does the Earnhardt name in and of itself legitimize the 8's return, or is a number nothin' but a number?

8 car could be returning to NASCAR [Virginian-Pilot]

Four Wide: Montoya, Ganassi need to wash their mouths out

Bringing you the best in NASCAR news and info. Get your day rolling right ... or left, whichever.

• Juan Pablo Montoya and Chip Ganassi are a couple mouthy, profane guys. I want them to win more just to hear more of their postrace comments. [The NASCAR Insiders]

• When Robby Gordon bailed out of the Richmond race to run off-road, he left the door wide open for someone else to win the FLOPPER competition -- that would be "Finishes Last Overall in Points while Participating in Every Race." And guess who's running out in front ... er, back? Paul Menard, come on down! No, take your time ... [All Left Turns]

• The Sporting News has chosen its athlete of the decade for NASCAR, and big surprise, it's Jimmie Johnson. What, no love for Menard? [The Sporting News]

• Enough with the halfway approach to testing. Either ban it entirely or don't ban it at all, okay? [ESPN.com]

• Breaking down, frame by inexplicably-gridded frame, the big Daytona wreck between Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart. [Jalopnik]

• With Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brett Favre in its stable, Wrangler may have hitched its wagon to a couple nags better fit for the glue factory. This entry brought to you by Carl Edwards and John Elway. [Forbes]

Got a link/tip? Hit us up at jay.busbee@yahoo.com and follow us on Twitter.

They make it 'cause we buy it: Dale Jr. coloring/activity book

No sport offers up a more bewildering array of souvenir crap memorabilia than NASCAR, and They Make It digs deep into the corners of the Internet to bring all that strangeness to light. Today: fun 4 tha kiddies!

The item: The Dale Earnhardt Jr. Activity Book, $6.99 from NASCAR.com.

The deal: It's a combination activity book/CD-ROM! And it's all devoted to everyone's favorite marketing tool/walking heritage exhibit! (You can also find similar books for Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon.) Now, I'm sure this is full of "color the cars" activities and the like, and that's rather dull. I'm thinking we could come up with much better activities for a NASCAR activity book, such as:

• The Dale Jr. "find your pit stall" search

• The "find the debris" yellow-flag track search

• The Kurt Busch "things you shouldn't say over the radio" word hunt

• The Kyle Busch "create your own Chase-missing excuse"

• Where will Danica go? A maze with no end!

• The Jimmie Johnson "find-the-square-on-the-checkerboard" game for the exceedingly dull child

... and that would be your cue, friends. Roll with it!

The hat tip: Reader Gator, who gets credit for the first item in the list above. Got some NASCARiana of your own that you'd like featured here? Hit us up at jay.busbee@yahoo.com and we'll make ya famous.

Join us for the Marbles' Weekly Chat, today at 1:00 ET

All right! Time again for another weekly chat, talking NASCAR or whatever. But mostly NASCAR. We're really pretty much over that whole Kanye thing by now. Show starts at 1:00 p.m. Eastern; stop by and say hello!

Wreck of the week: Kurt Busch gives David Ragan a do-si-do

I don't know if this necessarily qualifies as a wreck, but it was still pretty darn cool -- at New Hampshire on Sunday, Kurt Busch walloped David Ragan on pit road, but did so in a way that neatly spun Ragan right into his pit stall. It was like ballet!

Honorable mentions: Dale Earnhardt Jr. getting tagged into the wall and ending a great run; Joey Logano touching off a multicar wreck of back-benchers.

Dover Fall Preview

PREVIEW: DALE EARNHARDT JR. (NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD/AMP ENERGY CHEVROLET)
VENUE: DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY (ONE-MILE CONCRETE OVAL)
CIRCUIT: NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES (RACE 28 OF 36)
DATE: SEPT. 27, 2009 (400 LAPS, 400 MILES)

*****

AT DOVER: In 19 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Dover (Del.) International Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has recorded one win, four top-five finishes and seven top-10s. He has completed 98.9 percent of all laps he's attempted at "The Monster Mile" (7,523 laps of 7,604). The 34-year-old driver has led a total of 366 laps there.

LAST TRIP TO DOVER: The May race at Dover marked interim crew chief Lance McGrew's first time calling a race for the No. 88 team. Team manager Brian Whitesell called the shots for the practice sessions and qualifying. Earnhardt climbed from his 22nd starting position that day to crack the top 10 by Lap 140. Earnhardt ran as high as third before crossing the finish line 12th to record his best Dover outing in a Hendrick Motorsports chassis.

MONSTER MILE WIN: Earnhardt's lone Cup Series win at Dover came on Sept. 23, 2001. The victory was his second of his sophomore Cup season and the first win for the Cup Series following Sept. 11 attacks. Earnhardt displayed the American flag during his victory lap to pay tribute to the victims. In that race he started third and led 193 laps.

CHASSIS CHOICE: This weekend, McGrew and the No. 88 engineers will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-526. Earnhardt raced this chassis to a 12th-place finish at Dover in May and most recently to a ninth-place finish at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in August.

HENDRICK AT DOVER: Hendrick Motorsports, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this season, has 11 wins, 38 top-five finishes and 67 top-10s in 51 Cup events (155 starts) at Dover. Jimmie Johnson most recently visited Victory Lane there on May 31.

CHEVY SALUTES AMERICAN HEROES: Friends and family members can share why their current soldier is an inspiration and a hero to them by visiting www.youreverydayhero.com now through Sept. 28. Chevy will choose the top-five stories, and the public will vote on the site for its favorite story from Oct. 5-22. The soldier with the most votes will win a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and will be a VIP guest at the Nov. 11 CMA awards, along with their immediate family.

'TOGETHER' TO AIR OCT. 11: "TOGETHER: The Hendrick Motorsports Story," NASCAR Media Group's documentary-style film chronicling the history of the eight-time Sprint Cup championship team, will air Sunday, Oct. 11 at 1:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Narrated by three-time Academy Award nominee Tom Cruise and presented by Pepsi, "TOGETHER" employs exclusive interviews, never-before-seen archival footage, thrilling racing sequences and rare family photography to detail the personal relationships and emotional events that have shaped one of NASCAR's most decorated organizations. The official "TOGETHER" trailer is available at www.refresheverything.com/hendrick.

*****

DALE IN D.C.: Before heading to Dover, Earnhardt will make a stop in Washington D.C. At 2:15 p.m. ET on Thursday, he will participate in the public wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Earnhardt, team owner Rick Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon will participate in the honor on behalf of the National Guard. The group then will tour the Pentagon with members of the National Guard leadership.

*****

DALE EARNHARDT JR., DRIVER, NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD/AMP ENERGY CHEVROLET (ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DRIVING ON CONCRETE AND ASPHALT.): "I like asphalt. Concrete's rough. You put joints in concrete, and eventually over time it turns out like an old deck that hasn't been treated and the joints sort of bend and flex and makes it real, real bumpy and rough. So I really like the asphalt better."

EARNHARDT (ON THE KEYS TO SUCCESS AT DOVER.): "Dover has basically one groove, and it's right on the bottom. So trying to get around the bottom of the racetrack and trying to keep the nose down and keep the front of the car turning and gripping is really the most important thing. There's really not a second or third groove that works all day long. The guy that runs around the bottom and can do it the quickest is the best."

LANCE McGREW, INTERIM CREW CHIEF, NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD/AMP ENERGY CHEVROLET (ON HOW HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH DALE EARNHARDT JR. HAS GROWN SINCE THE LAST DOVER RACE.): "I think it's going good. It's definitely been challenging because of the way he describes things and the way I am used to things being described is different. So that's been an adjustment. But I think as a whole, at the racetrack we are performing better. We still aren't getting the finishes I feel like we deserve, but I'm definitely seeing progress."

McGREW (ON THE CHALLENGES OF RUNNING ON CONCRETE.): "I never look at it as being much different. If anything, the track stays a little more consistent. You don't really fight, 'OK, it's sunny now so the track is going to free up or tighten up or whatever.' It's very similar to racing a regular asphalt track. There's a little more stability in the surface, and that kind of lends your setups to be a little more stable over time."

Credit: Hendrick Motorsports PR

Create-a-caption: Be aware, as carjackers can strike anywhere

Poor Mark Martin. Wins the race, and then gets assaulted! At least the carjackers didn't get far. Feel free to caption this photo as you see fit with other ideas.

After the jump, Martin (him again!) and Jimmie Johnson go mano-a-mano.

Programming note: I'm on-site today at East Lake Country Club for that other site, so posting will be a bit intermittent until the afternoon. (Don't be upset. Really. You're still my favorite NASCAR site.) Until then, why not check out some of our pals there in the blogrolls at right? You'll be glad you did.

The winners who navigated the troublesome comment system (yes, I know it's a mess, we're working on it, trust me):

DCwhiteowl:
Do you think I would make a good Captain Morgan guy for Halloween?

JonathanD:
Jimmie: "OK, so the good witch shows up and tells you guys to come on out, don't be afraid. I remember that, I get that. But you're saying YOU were originally slated to be the mayor to welcome Dorothy to Munchkin Land?"

a_smoke_fan:
Sméagol: "We wants it, we needs it. Must have the precious. They stole it from us. Sneaky little hobbitses."

Victory video: Mark Martin thumps the field at Loudon

Sunday afternoon at Loudon, and the day was dominated by a 125-pound sprite who gave the entire field the business, as they used to say. Mark Martin held off a charging Juan Pablo Montoya, a slick-driving Denny Hamlin and an opportunistic Kurt Busch (not to mention a completely foulmouthed Jeff Gordon) for the win. Don't believe me? Here, check it out:

Martin and Montoya were hands-down the best drivers on the afternoon, a state of affairs which needs to concern the so-called "frontrunners." And while both Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart fought their way to the front for periods of time, neither one was able to hang on. And so if you can tell me who's the favorite right now, I'll give you 11 other good choices. (Well, maybe not 11, but you know what I mean.)

Four Wide: What happened to my sweet, beloved Jack Daniels?

Bringing you the best in NASCAR news and opinion. Get your day rolling right ... or left, whichever.

• Somewhere, Ronnie Van Zant is crying: Jack Daniels has formally ended its sponsorship with Richard Childress Racing, leaving the 07 and Casey Mears without a top-dog sponsor for next year. [Yahoo! Sports]

• Speedway Motorsports Inc. is pressing forward with suits against local Charlotte-area governments in connection with promised Lowe's Motor Speedway incentives. [Scene Daily]

• One blown engine, and he's damn near out of the Chase: Kasey Kahne's going to need a miracle now to win this thing. See how fast it can turn, folks? [NASCAR.com]

• There's hope for New England yet: there are some NASCAR fans amid the Red Sox Nation, thank heaven. [WBUR]

• Tony Stewart is back to buying bulletproof vests for dogs. Get on it, Smoke! [KPC News]

• One of those cute little human-interest stories about the guy who runs a parking lot at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, although this one includes helicopter flights. [Union-Leader]

Got a link/tip? Hit us up at jay.busbee@yahoo.com and follow us on Twitter.

F1 drops hammer on Renault for race-fixing charges

Say what you will about NASCAR, at least we don't have our drivers and teams fixing races. (Well, except for [names redacted to avoid lawsuits], but everybody knows that.) Matters aren't so rosy over in F1, however, where Renault has been slammed with a two-year suspended ban from the Formula One world championships following admission of race-fixing.

As our across-the-pond mates at Yahoo! UK -- they're just like us, 'cept they talk funny -- inform us, an FIA World Motor Sport Council handed down the penalty after the team announced it wouldn't contest the charges against it. Said charges included the allegation that the team ordered Nelson Piquet Jr. -- that's him there at right -- to put himself into a wall at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix in order to allow Fernando Alonso to win. (For those of you wondering if Kyle Busch would take out somebody to help Denny Hamlin win the Cup, well, here's another alternative.)

"The World Motor Sport Council considers Renault F1's breach relating to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to be of unparalleled severity," the FIA said in a statement. "Renault F1's breaches not only compromised the integrity of the sport but also endangered the lives of spectators, officials, other competitors and Nelson Piquet Jr himself." Even filtering through the usual stiff-upper-lip tweediness of those Europeans, this is pretty damning stuff.

In addition to the suspended ban, former Renault chief Flavio Briatore was booted from the sport entirely, and head of engineering Pat Symonds was banned for five years from FIA events. Alonso, meanwhile, was cleared of any suspicion of wrongdoing.

I gotta tell you, friends, much as I love NASCAR, they've got much better storylines over there in F1. Crew chiefs and driver spats are nothing compared to throwing whole races. Come on, NASCAR! Step up your game!

Renault handed supsended ban [Yahoo! Sport UK]

NASCAR waited too long to throw the last of its many cautions

On race days, we hold a little chat over on the main Yahoo! Sports NASCAR page. Big hit, you need to come check it out. It's like watching the race with several thousand friends. One of many memes that's burbled up out of these chats is the "Guess the Caution" game: when a race has been running too long under green, or when we're nearing the end of the race, the guesses begin -- "debris in Turn 2," "oil in Turn 3," et cetera. And more often than not, our commenters can see the future -- speak of the debris, and the debris appears.

Several times late in the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, "debris" appeared -- although, as I recall, not on camera, strangely enough -- bringing the field back together and forcing Mark Martin to outduel Juan Pablo Montoya not once, but twice.

All well and good, but it was the final caution that caused the most controversy. On the final lap of the race, AJ Allmendinger spun in Turn 4 and sat sideways just short of the start-finish line. Normally that's cause for an instant caution, but this time, NASCAR waited ... and waited ... and waited ... and meanwhile, the field was whipping around the track, right back toward the helpless Dinger. (See the video here.)

Finally, NASCAR threw the caution and everybody slowed down, but with barely one turn to size up the track ahead, nearly everybody piled into Dinger like he was holding closed the door on the last day of school. You can see him right there in the little red circle above.

Thing is, Mark Martin had already checked out on Juan Pablo Montoya. There was no reason not to throw the caution far earlier than they did. (It appears Montoya is close to Martin in the photo above, but only because Martin had slowed up faster.)

Ironically, New Hampshire is the place where the "Lucky Dog" rule was created because Dale Jarrett was stalled facing sideways during a race in 2003. The rule was meant to prevent racing back to the start/finish line and t-boning the hapless driver sitting there. Fortunately, everybody was able to dodge Dinger, but it wasn't easy. And if Montoya had been any closer, it could have been disastrous. As it was, it was a dumb play that thankfully didn't blow up into a nightmare.

Chase Watch 2009: Martin wins, but Jimmie ain't fading away

We're in the Chase now! Over the next nine races, we'll be breaking down who's up, who's down, who's flashing and who's fading, and by the end of Homestead we'll be ready to predict a champion.

Current standings: Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson (+1), Denny Hamlin (+1), Juan Pablo Montoya (+5), Kurt Busch (+2), Tony Stewart (-4), Ryan Newman (+5), Brian Vickers, Greg Biffle (+1), Jeff Gordon (-4), Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne (-7).

Who's up: Mark Martin didn't move up, but that's only because he was already at No. 1. Big credit to Juan Pablo Montoya, who's gone and jammed himself straight into the Chase conversation with his fine run at Loudon. And how about some love for Ryan Newman, who jumped from forgotten to No. 7?

Who's down: Pity poor Tony Stewart, who went from No. 1 to No. 6 in the blink of an eye. A season's worth of fine running is now completely irrelevant, and Smoke is now down 74 points. Jeff Gordon, with a ragged-running car, also plummeted in the standings and now sits in 10th place. Oh, and Kasey Kahne's Chase hopes are almost toast before they

Outlook: Since the Chase standings are still at the point where they're literally changing every lap, it's tough to make a clear assessment on where this thing's going. But Montoya appears to be the real deal, Martin has to be one of the frontrunners, and as that photo above shows, Jimmie Johnson's going to show up and spoil everybody's parade somewhere down the line.

All right, you're up. What's your take on the Chase as it stands right now? Go!

Running wide open: The Sylvania 300 talkback thread

Time for another race chat, friends, but this one is like no other this year -- this is the first race for the Chase! And while we've got JJ, Smoke, Rainbow, Urt, Cousin Carl, Fiffle and so many others in the hunt, we've also still got to deal with Junior and The D00D on the outside looking in. It's going to be a fine afternoon of racing, so enjoy it here! This is the most important race of the season so far, so chat away and let us know what you think. Have a good one, all!

Juan Pablo Montoya walks out on TV interview

Imagine having to spend a large part of your day answering the same exact questions, over and over. It'd get pretty numbing, wouldn't it? You'd get sick of it, right? Okay, now imagine having money and fame for doing the thing you love. Now the whole answering-questions bit gets a little easier to deal with, right? You'd think, but then that's not always the case. Exhibit #500,000 in the case of Athletes vs. Common Freakin' Courtesy is Juan Pablo Montoya, who put on this wonderful little performance yesterday as he was about to do an interview with KTXL in Sacramento:

It was an idiot move by Montoya, without a doubt. (I understand the sportscaster's frustration, though I think he's overselling a bit how hard it is to access these guys.) Here's hoping someone sits JPM down and reminds him that dealing with the PR aspect of this job is, you know, kind of a necessary one. Deal with it, man, and show both your fans, your team and your sport some more respect.

(Hat tip to Jeff Gluck for the find.)

NASCAR drivers connect with the faithful in the heart of NYC

This week was Chase Week in New York City, and while our favorite drivers had to put up with indignities like goofy late-night show contests and flat-out stupid morning show hijinks, they nonetheless met up with some of their faithful deep in the heart of the Big Apple. Reader NostraChronus took the photos above as the NASCAR gang was leaving the Hard Rock Cafe, and here's his report:

"On Thursday, I went down to try and catch a glimpse of the Chase drivers. After seeing Gordon, Juan Pablo, and Kurt Busch walk in, I didn't feel like my mission was accomplished, so I leaned against a scaffolding on the corner of 43rd Street, and pledged not to leave until I met Carl Edwards. I didn't think it'd be four hours, but four hours it was, and well worth it.

"What made the experience even more rewarding was the fact that the drivers obviously didn't want to be there, and when they exited the building, they were dead focused on getting to their respective Escalades, but most took the time to appease the couple dozen fans who'd camped outside the Hard Rock along with myself."

Thanks to Nostra, and also to the drivers for continuing to hold up the image of the sport. (You don't need me to identify them, do you? Clockwise from top left: Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne.) Next up: we'll see 'em on the track, where they belong.

When will Lauren Wallace be running in Sprint Cup, already?

[Editor's note: It's the weekend, and we're hanging. But reader Carol isn't; here's her take on one of the most famous drivers who never was ... ] 

"When it comes to Mike Wallace, the story ends with me putting him in the wall." -Lauren Wallace

I decided to have a look into the career of one of Geico's most memorable faces. Young Lauren Wallace, second cousin to Mike, obviously has the killer instinct and will soon be wowing us in the big leagues, right?

Not so fast, ladies and gentlemen. It turns out that the intrepid Lauren is actually just a creation of the Martin Agency for Geico, played by 14-year-old actor Eddie Heffernan. It seems that when the casting call went out, Heffernan was the only kid with the sense to play it tough and cool instead of cute.

Despite having asked his parents for a go-kart every year for Christmas until he finally got one (and drove the wheels off it!), young Eddie hadn't really been exposed to Nascar until he began doing the commercials. So, in a rather ironic turn of events, after having worked extensively with Mike Wallace on the commercials, Eddie's become a big fan of ... Mike Wallace.

Dangit. I was really looking forward to seeing this kid grow up in racing. I wanted to post a few links to the commercials to ease the pain, but it seems that with Nationwide sponsoring the, um, Nationwide series, and Geico moving sponsorship to Sprint Cup, that most of the Mike Wallace commercials are suddenly hard to find. Will he do as well with Max Papis as his foil? I leave it to you to decide.

What a character [Lynchburg News & Advance]

Midnight Marbles, where Kyle is showing whose fault it is

"It was him! And him! And especially him! All of those guys made me miss the Chase!"

Ah, captioning photos. Never gets old, does it? Well, here we are at the end of another fine week, sitting on the very cusp of the Chase! Who's going to win? Who's going to place? Who's going to show? All we know so far is that our boy Kyle and 30 other drivers won't be in the hunt, but five bucks says the broadcast will still show Kyle more than, say, Ryan Newman. That's the way it is.

Anyway, have a good weekend and chat away with whatever comes to mind here. We'll have another guest post tomorrow, and Sunday is race day! See you then!

Create-a-caption: That's quite a right hook you got there, Mark

Jimmie Johnson appears unimpressed by Mark Martin's fighting skills. (Aside: Martin revealed yesterday that he weighs 125 pounds. How does the wind not take him away?) Anyway, make your best caption below, friends!

After the jump, Jeff Gordon and Tom Cruise man up.

Mister F:
Scene from RAINBOW MAN:
It's a 2009 COT. V-8. Only a few production models. Mr. Hendrick lets me drive slow on the driveway. But not on Monday, definitely not on Monday.

Baker:
An angry, heartbroken Jeff Gordon tells Cruise to get out after learning that most scenes of Days of Thunder were fake.

Carol:
Each of them is shorter than the other.

Duck:
Oh great! My Tom Cruise wax figure is finally here...just stick it over there.

The Pace Lap: Sylvania 300 @ New Hampshire

 

Welcome to The Pace Lap, your catchall preview post! Let's get you started on race weekend with a metric truckload of stats, facts, opinion and innuendo.

The race: Sylvania 300 @ New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2:15 p.m. Eastern

The specs: 300 laps on a 1.058-mile track

The broadcasts: ABC, plus the live chat right here on Yahoo! Sports. 

Defending champ: Greg Biffle, who would win the next race and make us think he was a legit Chase contender before getting crushed beneath the blue-and-yellow boot of the 48.

The standings leaders: Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson (-10), Tony Stewart (-10).

The history: One of the newest tracks on the circuit, New Hampshire was built in 1990. A 2003 incident at the track involving Dale Jarrett led to the creation of the "lucky dog" rule, where the first car behind the lead lap would get their lap back during a caution period. Jarrett's car was stopped in the middle of the track, and NASCAR officials realized that there could have been problems as everyone raced back to the starting line before the caution.

The appropriate video: Todd Bodine and David Starr scrap after a truck series race this time last year. Sure, it's not Sprint Cup, but who doesn't love a good fight?

Guy with the most to gain: Carl Edwards. He's been all but written off this year, and with a busted foot, he probably ought to be. But if he was going to be true to his plan to run big in the Chase, now would be the time for him to step up.

Guys with the most to lose: Tony Stewart. He hasn't run so well in recent weeks, and while he's said that just making the Chase was his goal, make no mistake -- now that he's here, he wants to win this thing. But like Kyle Busch last year, if he's not careful a great regular season could go to waste with one rotten race.

Our pick to win: Jeff Gordon. He's had success at this track before, notching 16 top 10s in 29 races. And he (and the rest of the field) can't afford to let Jimmie Johnson get too far out in front this time around.

All right, you're up. Who's your pick for this weekend? Go!

From the Couch: Don't cry for Kyle Busch, Argentina

Should he be or shouldn't he be? It's not fair. It ain't right. Boo. Hoo. Hoo.

Let's just face up to the fact that Kyle Busch didn't make the Chase, shall we? I have. His smug mug will not grace the endless Chase propaganda.

(It might just be this cold medicine that's currently making my eyes wobble in their sockets, but Kyle is starting to look like Bert of Bert and Ernie fame. I know this sounds crazy, but let us probe the facts: long, oval head, beady eyes, a chirpy voice that sounds like it's coming from someone else. He's grumpy, easily frustrated and often loses his temper. He has a brother named Kurt that looks just like him, but acts a bit better behaved. Damn, Kyle may be a Muppet. Does NASCAR's R&D lab have their Muppet-human hermaphrodite test ironed out yet?)

Anyway, Kyle will not be hoisting the Sprint Cup formerly known as Winston. No haughty, season-capping curtsy for the Instigator. Nope, it ain't happening.

And I, unlike everyone else it seems, think that that is a good thing.

A whole whopping eight points (ah, Kyle and the number eight always find each other) is what separated him from being a constant topic of discussion (at least we have that going for us). Those eight points were lost at Richmond, despite what he claimed. They were also lost at every other race, save for the wins. The regular season, to make my point clear, is still the same. The points system for the first 26 races has not changed. It is the same as it ever was.

Look, Kyle won four races. He had five more top 10s. He also had two DNFs and seven races where he finished a lap or more down. So, out of 26 races, he was competitive in nine of them (admittedly not all his doing) and not competitive in nine of them (admittedly, not all his fault). His average finish was 16.2. I believe that is called the law of averages, which makes him average (okay, slightly better than average). Should average qualify you for the Chase?
Let's look at Juan Pablo Montoya, since he's taking some guff for his qualifying route to the Chase. No wins. Eight top 10s. Five races a lap or more down. Average finish of 13.8. Greg Biffle: no wins. Ten top 10s. Four races a lap or more down. Average finish of 14.5.

Kyle simply wasn't consistent enough. Twelve other guys were. And a lack of consistency, whether it's the Chase or the old format, dooms any season, in any era, under any format. That is, and always has been, NASCAR. It's about consistency, both before the Chase was put into place and now. If the old points system were employed today, he'd have no shot at the Cup.

So, I guess the argument should be, either you are for consistency as the meter for a championship, or for wins as a meter for the championship.

My father taught me NASCAR's lure as equal parts excitement, equal parts civic pride, and equal parts history. That puts me in the consistency category. And the reason I'm glad Kyle didn't make the Chase is simply because he didn't earn it. Four wins aside, under the current qualifying format he simply wasn't consistent enough to merit inclusion.

Additionally, this will be good for Kyle, if such a thing can even exist. For his maturity, there isn't a single thing more valuable than getting humbled. The kid needs his knocks. And if missing the Chase by eight measly points teaches him the value of emotional intelligence, my money says that he'll be a Chase regular for years to come.