SouthernUtahBlog.com

Edwards feels the hammer

2008-03-05T22:30:24Z

He got lucky once, dodging a penalty for a runaway tire on pit road late in the UAW-Dodge 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday.
When it came time for NASCAR to look at Carl Edwards' car, his luck came up craps.
And when NASCAR gets involved, there isn't a second chance to make things right, especially when it comes to post-race inspection.

]]> Edwards was the latest to be nailed for running afoul of NASCAR's rules on the new car. He received a 100-point penalty, as did his owner, Jack Roush, and (here's the sad part) should Edwards make the Chase, the win he earned at Las Vegas will NOT be counted with 10 bonus points.
And to top it all off, Bob Osborne, Edwards' crew chief, will be sent home for the next six races and he can't return until Apr. 30.
In a word - or three - Ouch, ouch, and whoa!
You have to scratch your head a little bit at this one, but NASCAR is doing what it promised. Cheating isn't going to be looked at with a wink and blind eye anymore.
In the grand scheme, Edwards' time in the points lead lasted all of 48 hours. He went from 21 points up on Kyle Busch to 79 behind, all because an essential part wasn't bolted on the car properly.
Drivers can cry all they want, but these teams, for all the money they spend, have some darn smart people working on the cars. It seems awfully hard to believe that the misaligned part in Edwards' car happened by accident.
Next time, try a system of checks and balances. That way, if someone misses something, the next person down the line can make it right.
With the expense involved in this sport, the stakes are simply too high to let what happened to Edwards make it into the media spotlight.
When mistakes happen and NASCAR's iron fist comes down, woe be unto those standing below.

California crazy

2008-02-25T07:14:08Z

And they say that it never rains in Southern California, huh?
Don't tell that to the Sprint Cup drivers who got in and out of their cars for about 12 hours on Sunday. It was good to finally see everyone come to their senses around midnight and say "let's call the whole thing off."
Not before everyone was just a little bit angry.

]]> First, the essential information: The Auto Club 500 will be run, starting on lap 88 of a scheduled 250 (it's a two-mile oval), today starting at 11 a.m.
There was no official word if Fox would be on the air (Channel 13 in Southern Utah), but it would be a safe bet you'll find the race when the time comes.
Now, the bad news: There's no way the race should have been run on Sunday.
Why, with all the problems with cracked concrete and water seepage (or "weepers," as officials coined them), did they even try to start the race? Casey Mears, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and even Denny Hamlin were up in arms about it.
They had good reason.
I'll rant more about this in my "Through The Gear Box" in Tuesday's editions of The Spectrum & Daily News. You can rest assured I won't be talking as much about who won as to why it took so long for them to do it.

Busch has character

2008-02-22T23:42:47Z

There was something in the air Thursday at the Pole Position Raceway go-karting center in Las Vegas. It wasn't as much for challenging my media brethren on the track (I couldn't because certain necessary equipment wouldn't fit), but there was the chance to talk to the man who played the unlikeliest of parts in giving Ryan Newman his Daytona 500 win last Sunday.

]]> Kurt Busch didn't have the greatest of Speedweeks at Daytona. He got into another bumping fracas with Tony Stewart — "good for the TV ratings," he said — had to start dead-last, using a past champion's provisional, and didn't look like he had much of a shot to do much of anything.
But thanks to a rare trait in drivers called patience, Busch somehow managed to get to the front.
"You had to pick your spots out there," he said. "I couldn't move too fast (through the field) without causing problems."
To say the Car of Tomorrow/Today helped is pretty accurate - maybe because the car took the proverbial licking and kept on ticking.
Now with Las Vegas less than a week away, Busch will be tested as the rest of his compadres run their first competition laps on an intermediate track.
Don't be surprised if we see more fireworks in the days ahead. With Fox's ratings up from last year's Daytona 500, the excitement for this season has just begun to build.

Racing hits the radio

2008-02-16T22:51:54Z

If there was ever a happier development on the Southern Utah sports radio scene, I know it hasn't happened in a long, long time.
Starting tomorrow, NASCAR fans won't have to buy a satellite radio to hear the races.
That's reason to celebrate the new season.

]]> With the Daytona 500 less than 24 hours away, Sports Radio 1210 will broadcast all of the races broadcast by Motor Racing Network (MRN). Pre-race coverage of the 500 starts Sunday at 1:15 p.m.
One detail still in the works involves races at tracks owned by Speedway Motorsports. Beginning with the UAW-Dodge 400 in three weeks, the Performance Racing Network (PRN) will have all races at SMI tracks.
Stay tuned. 28 of 36 weeks will be aired so far. Here's to having all of them on the radio soon.

Johnson is the man

2007-11-12T14:58:33Z

Okay, so he's not Jeff Gordon.
That may be true, but there's one thing we're going to be able to call Jimmie Johnson come Sunday night - a repeat champion in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series.
And the way he's done it - winning four straight races, just like Gordon did when he repeated as champ in 1998 - is certainly Gordonesque.
Read on for the latest power rankings after the Checker Auto Parts 500 from Phoenix International Raceway.

]]> 1. Jimmie Johnson: Let's say it together - We're not worthy! And remember to bow down at the altar of greatness.
2. Jeff Gordon: Normally, finishes of third, seventh, seventh and 10th wouldn't cause depression. Not so for the 24 camp, which has gone from 68 points ahead at the start of the Johnson blitz to 86 behind, a 154-point swing.
3. Clint Bowyer: From starting the Chase in 12th, it's been a great ride for the 07. He'll be locked in here in the final standings.
4. Kyle Busch: Almost pulled off the winning trifecta at Phoenix, but had to come from too far back in Sunday's Cup race.
5. Tony Stewart: Can't win a title when your average finish has been 18th of late.
6. Matt Kenseth: Has had great runs in the last four races, but the previous four were killers for any title hopes.
7. Kurt Busch: The Blue Deuce was 12th at Phoenix.
8. Martin Truex Jr.: Just missed back-to-back poles, still finished seventh Sunday.
9. Carl Edwards: From the pole at PIR to 42nd? Ouch, babe!
10. Denny Hamlin: With the COT coming in full-time in '08, watch out for the 11.
11. Jeff Burton: Was ninth Sunday. His Chase was hurt by early finishes of 18th (New Hampshire), 36th (Kansas) and 43rd (Talladega).
12. Kevin Harvick: He should be thanking his lucky stars they took 12 for this year's Chase.

Homestead track fact: Johnson has never won at Homestead-Miami Speedway. We said the same thing before races at Texas and Phoenix, but we all know what happened.

A busy weekend

2007-11-06T22:16:16Z

Race car drivers are usually a busy lot, but if you look at what Kyle Busch is up to this weekend, you have to wonder if there are a few timing belts loose in his drive train.
Check out what's up with this guy's schedule.

]]> For starters, the younger Busch brother is running in all three NASCAR series this weekend at Phoenix - the Casino Arizona 150 trucks race on Friday, the Arizona.Travel 200 Busch race on Saturday and the Checker Auto Parts 500 on Sunday. But after the Busch race, Busch will immediately board a plane and take the short flight to Las Vegas to run the Bullring's season finale in his Super Late Model car, a 140-lap main event.
That's nuts, if you ask me, but I don't drive for a living.
Busch was at LVMS on Tuesday to practice. Big brother Kurt was also there for a charity event, but the surprise guest was Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell. Harwell will also be competing at the Bullring with Kyle Busch and the rest of the field, which makes getting tickets a priority for music fans, race fans, or whoever else wants to spend a good Saturday night to fill a need for speed.

Johnson's run as big as Texas

2007-11-05T18:34:31Z

In case you missed it, Jimmie Johnson made a loud, boisterous statement when he won the Dickies 500 Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway.
He's the defending champion and everyone else has to go through the No. 48 to get to the ultimate prize.
Will he reclaim the primo, numero-uno, top-dog spot in our power rankings? Read on to find out.
Here are the latest power rankings after the Dickies 500 from Texas Motor Speedway.

]]> 1. Jimmie Johnson: His performance on Sunday, surviving the duel with Matt Kenseth in the closing laps, gives him the gold key to the championship suite.
2. Jeff Gordon: Unless he can find a way to sweep the wins at Phoenix, the drive for five will have to wait another year.
3. Clint Bowyer: He started this Chase at the bottom rung of the totem pole. Nice work to get to this point.
4. Tony Stewart: Latest of the two-time champs (2002, 2005). Bad breaks in the regular season hurt.
5. Kurt Busch: From brat who ruffled feathers, he's become a smart, mature race car driver.
6. Carl Edwards: Busch Series crown a fine consolation prize to a disappointing Chase.
7. Kyle Busch: Doing his best to leave Hendrick Motorsports on winning terms.
8. Matt Kenseth: Has a win on the season (California in February), but poor finishes in the Chase damaged title hopes early.
9. Jeff Burton: RCR leader will be strong again in '08
10. Kevin Harvick: Daytona 500 champ should kiss NASCAR's feet for adding two drivers to Chase.
11. Denny Hamlin: Sophomore slump came at the worst possible time.
12. Martin Truex Jr.: He was strong at Texas on Sunday, but came up short to the 48.

Phoenix track fact: When Gordon won at the 1-mile oval in April, he became the first driver in 21 tries to win from the pole at PIR. Johnson hasn't won at PIR or at Homestead, where the championship will be decided in two weeks.

Second Cup date for Vegas?

2007-11-01T22:16:27Z

As excited as I know a lot of people get around here for anything that goes insanely fast on four wheels (NASCAR, NHRA, open-wheel, etc.), here's something that may get everyone seriously fired up.
Relax. It's only talk at this point, but a certain track owner has made the first big step.

]]> Bruton Smith, the owner of Speedway Motorsports, which includes Las Vegas Motor Speedway, has a "major announcement" in the works set for Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. XM Radio's Claire B. Lang reported on her "Dialed In" talk show earlier Thursday that the announcement will likely say that a deal has been made for Smith to purchase New Hampshire International Speedway, giving him ownership of seven tracks of the 23 NASCAR runs on every year.
Las Vegas should start getting excited because New Hampshire runs on two dates every season - one in July and the other as the first race for the Chase in September. Las Vegas only has one and Smith has made no secret of the fact he wants to get a second date there desperately. LVMS debuted a complete remodeling of the pit road and garage areas that debuted for the race weekend in March.
Heck, even I had a gut feeling something was brewing at that point.
Smith had a similar history of this when he purchased the track in Rockingham, N.C. That facility ran its last Cup race in 2004 and Texas got a second race as a result the following year.
I can't see New Hampshire closing its doors - the Cup weekends there pack the fans in at 90,000 strong - but Las Vegas holds around 160,000 people. The economic impact would be impressive in Vegas (as if it needed any more help), especially if a second Cup date there comes in around the Chase.
And Smith loves Las Vegas. Good for him. Good for race fans, too.
Viva Las Bruton. Here's to the possibilities.

Atlanta Power Rankings 2

2007-10-30T03:35:08Z

And now, the Chase for the Nextel Cup is really on. We're going to have some drama after all.
The current champ - the one trying to repeat - is trying to get past his teammate, who's looking for his fifth title in a 15-year career.
With three races left to run in the 2007 Nextel Cup season, the margin for error has officially become razor-thin.
Check out the latest power rankings after the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway:

]]> 1. Jeff Gordon - It's his title to lose, but he's starting to feel the heat.
2. Jimmie Johnson - Defending champ got the right breaks at the right times to sweep the season set at Atlanta.
3. Clint Bowyer - Making up only four points out of a deficit of 115 isn't title worthy. He's still alive in the championship hunt, but not for much longer.
4. Tony Stewart - Oh, what might have been.
5. Carl Edwards - Second-place run at Atlanta has soothed hard feelings after the Kenseth tussle.
6. Matt Kenseth - Former champ will be better in 2008.
7. Kurt Busch - Led a bunch of laps on Sunday; trying to get to top-5 finish.
8. Kyle Busch - Won the Trucks race on Saturday; gaining some respect knowing his time at Hendrick is coming to close.
9. Martin Truex, Jr. - Bad break when he ran into an out-of-gas Hamlin.
10. Denny Hamlin - What in the world was he thinking?
11. Jeff Burton - Needs some of Bowyer's magic to rub off.
12. Kevin Harvick - We've said it before, but having 12 in the Chase in '07 saved his season.

Texas track fact: Burton became the first driver to repeat at the 1 1/2-mile oval when he won the Samsung 500 in April. On the other hand, Texas is the only track where Jeff Gordon hasn't seen Victory Lane yet.

NHRA is in the house

2007-10-26T06:46:22Z

If you're a fan of the folks who run straight down the quarter-mile in addition to those who turn left for a living, the NHRA has one sweet competition you can check out this weekend.
Not only that, a championship battle is seriously taking shape.
The NHRA ACDelco Nationals start today with the first qualifying runs at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

]]> Now if you're going for the first time, the most essential device needed for a drag-racing event is ear plugs. The cars go off in four classes - Top Fuel dragsters, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle - and they are very, very loud.
The Countdown to 1 is also in progress. To generate fan interest, the NHRA decided to implement a point system similar to NASCAR's Chase for the Nextel Cup.
So far, it's worked.
Currently, here are the four to watch in the championship battles in each class:
Top Fuel - Larry Dixon, Rod Fuller, Tony Schumacher and Brandon Bernstein are in the title fight.
Fuller is probably the one who doesn't like the new Countdown system the most. The Las Vegas native led the points throughout the first 17 weeks of the season and started the Countdown as the No. 1 seed, but has since slipped to second behind Dixon. Not only that, Schumacher is lurking and he's only the three-time defending champion.
Bernstein was a winner when the series convened at Las Vegas in April, beating Bob Vandergriff in the final. He's the son of legendary racer Kenny Bernstein, who will race in a Funny Car sponsored by Monster Energy drink.
Funny Car - Tony Pedregon, Gary Scelzi, Robert Hight and Ron Capps are in the hunt.
John Force is easily the most recognized racer in this class (and he's the defending champ), but he won't be in Las Vegas because he's still recovering from injuries suffered in a horrific wreck in Dallas last month. He's expecting a full recovery in time to start the 2008 season.
Scelzi is the 2005 Funny Car champ, having beaten Capps in a memorable duel that year. Pedregon won the title in 2003. Hight is Force's son-in-law and just as capable of following in dad-in-law's 15-time title-winning footsteps.
Pro Stock - Dave Connolly, Jeg Coughlin, Greg Anderson and Allen Johnson are going after the crown. Connolly and Coughlin are teammates and it should be interesting to see if team orders exist. With two events left before the champ is crowned, I highly doubt it.
Anderson won the SummitRacing.com Nationals at Vegas in April and his teammate, Jason Line, won the title at last year's ACDelco event.
Pro Stock Motorcycle - Like Schumacher in Top Fuel, Andrew Hines is the three-time defending champ in this division, which doesn't race the full 23 events.
Hines is joined by Matt Smith, Chip Ellis and Peggy Llewellyn in this race for the title.
Qualifying runs start at 1 p.m. Pacific time on Friday and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday and the final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. Sunday.
ESPN2 airs the eliminations on a tape-delayed basis Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m., Utah time.
With two races left and champions to be crowned, the intrigue of this weekend will be as hot as a nitro burnout at the starting line.
Call 1-800-644-8444 or log on to www.lvms.com to get tickets. Ticket prices run as low as $11 for children each day, a bargain by today's price standards.

Let friendship be damned

2007-10-22T20:22:48Z

You often wonder about this. In a working environment, people should feel easy about getting along with others around them. In the case of Nextel Cup drivers Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, not only are they in the same working environment on the track, they're there off of it as well.
They get along well, no doubting that, but they're both going after another championship. Friendship doesn't count for much at this time of the year.
Who's the latest leader of our power rankings? Read on to find out.
Here are the latest power rankings after the Subway 500 from Martinsville.

]]> 1. Jeff Gordon: Allowed teammate and friend to get a little closer to his lead, but not too close.
2. Jimmie Johnson: What part of "I'm the defending champ" is my friend not understanding here?
3. Clint Bowyer: Lost some ground, but still not out of running for the title. If he loses more ground next week, his title chances will be just about dead.
4. Tony Stewart: Sorry, Tony. The Hendrick gang is just too darn good.
5. Carl Edwards: Great bounce-back season after missing the Chase in '06.
6. Martin Truex, Jr.: The new face of DEI still shining bright.
7. Kurt Busch: Season had promise after hot streak got him to Chase, but poor finishes hurt.
8. Kevin Harvick: The Daytona 500 champ is proving he belongs here.
9. Denny Hamlin: Sophomore slump hit at the wrong time.
10. Kyle Busch: He'll look good in M&Ms gear in 2008.
11. Matt Kenseth: Class act all around. Finishes haven't been typical.
12. Jeff Burton: Probably rooting his teammate on to the title these days.

Atlanta track fact: Jimmie Johnson nudged Tony Stewart out of the way late and went on to win the March race.

Tribute: Longtime motor sports journalist Shav Glick passed away on Saturday in Pasadena, Calif., at age 86 after a bout with cancer. I never had the privilege of meeting the man who wrote on motor sports for the Los Angeles Times from 1969 to 2006, but I pray I have a career as long and as successful as his was.
When you can do something you love up until a year before your maker calls you home, it's a blessing unmatched. Shav Glick had that kind of opportunity, and that's something all of us can take as an example to be proud of.

Lowe's power rankings

2007-10-15T04:48:23Z

Well now...Jimmie Johnson didn't rule the roost at "his house," aka Lowe's Motor Speedway.
For the first time since his debut season of 2001, he (gasp) actually finished outside the top 10.
Jeff Gordon, meanwhile, is starting to show some serious championship mettle.
Do the power rankings reflect this? We'll see in a few moments, after this brief message from Lowe's...let's build a championship season together.
Here are the latest power rankings after the Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

]]> 1. Jeff Gordon: Second straight win makes his fifth Nextel/Winston Cup championship a very real possibility.
2. Jimmie Johnson: Defending champ can't lose any more ground.
3. Clint Bowyer: His average finish is fifth in the first half of the Chase, and that's what's keeping him in the mix.
4. Tony Stewart: Tops among the rest of the Chase field.
5. Carl Edwards: At least he'll have the Busch Series title to fall back on.
6. Kyle Busch: He's leaving Hendrick Motorsports on an up note for 2008.
7. Martin Truex, Jr.: DEI is in good hands with his impressive season.
8. Kurt Busch: Ran into too much Gordon and Johnson when the Chase started.
9. Denny Hamlin: Should be part of an interesting mix with Stewart and Kyle Busch in 2008.
10. Kevin Harvick: From Daytona 500 champ to second-tier Chaser.
11. Matt Kenseth: Mr. Consistency couldn't catch any breaks.
12. Jeff Burton: He'll be back in the mix in 2008.

Martinsville track fact: The Paper Clip oval made Jimmie Johnson its champ in April and Jeff Gordon is the defending champ from last fall's race.

Talladega power rankings

2007-10-08T03:24:14Z

Alright. I admit. Jeff Gordon is simply the man. Whether he dominates a race or steals it on the final lap, the No. 24 knows how to get to Victory Lane.
Talladega and the COT (a ho-hum race on Sunday, except for that final lap) have also turned the 2007 Chase into a two-man show.
Take a look at the latest power rankings for further proof:

]]> 1. Jeff Gordon: From 34th to career win No. 80. The drive for five is definitely alive.
2. Jimmie Johnson: Knowing how the first four weeks have gone, don't be surprised if the No. 48 reclaims the lead. After all, next week's race is at Lowe's Motor Speedway and you know whose house that is.
3. Clint Bowyer: Came in 11th on Sunday and lost ground like everyone else. Still has a good shot.
4. Tony Stewart: Talladega bridesmaid left at the altar again after Gordon gets in front of him on final lap.
5. Carl Edwards: Finished 14th at 'Dega.
6. Matt Kenseth: Didn't improve much from last two weeks.
7. Martin Truex, Jr.: One of three blown DEI engines on Sunday. Ouch.
8. Jeff Burton: Had blown engine No. 2
9. Kyle Busch: Yes, Kyle, we know you're out of it. You don't need to tell us that in front of a camera.
10. Kevin Harvick: Almost lost his engine, too, but still finished the race in 20th.
11. Kurt Busch: Challenged for the lead early, still finished 7th.
12. Denny Hamlin: He's up to ninth in points after fourth-place run.

Lowe's Track fact: Casey Mears won his first NASCAR Nextel Cup race there in May at the Coca-Cola 600 when he won the fuel-mileage wars late in the 400-lap race.

Race fans are special

2007-10-08T02:41:52Z

Dustin Bowden of Moab is like any other race fan. He's passionate about the action, is true to his driver, and hates that driver's competition.
But the 21-year-old has a rare disease known as Williams Syndrome, along with a heart defect that has required several surgeries. Racing like his favorite driver, Jeff Gordon, isn't an option.
Thanks to the love and support of his family, Bowden got a surprise for his 21st birthday he won't soon forget.

]]> While he hasn't gotten to meet Jeff Gordon - yet - some of his family members arranged for him to see the season finale of the Bullring on Saturday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The trip not only included race tickets, but the family received a behind-the-scenes tour and a tailgate party.
"Our daughter-in-law's sister (Tara Campbell) made contact with Jeff Gordon's managers. At the end of the day, it worked out that we got to come to the speedway for this," said Randy Bowden, Dustin's father. "We know it's not NASCAR, but he can see what it's like."
"He loves to watch racing on TV," added Dustin's mom, Kathy. "Even though it's not a Jeff Gordon thing, I know he'll love it."
But with racing comes a large amount of noise. Kathy went out and got him a gift to help.
"Dustin doesn't like the noise, so we went out and got him earmuffs," she said. "I'm thrilled this can happen for him."
As for Gordon's soon-to-be teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dustin's feelings are known loud and clear.
"If anyone mentions Dale Jr., he has a fit. He decides on one thing, he sticks with it," Kathy said.
Dustin's room is painted in a complete Jeff Gordon motif, from red to yellow - Gordon's primary car colors - to the black and white of the checkered flag. A digitized picture of Dustin sitting in a car with Gordon also hangs on the wall.
While the dream to meet Jeff Gordon is still on the horizon, the family isn't giving up.
"Whatever can be arranged, we'd love for him to meet (Gordon)," Kathy Bowden said. "He would know it if he met him."
Until then, the family got to experience the best possible alternative. With the heart defect having the potential to limit Dustin's life span not much past age 30, every day, every memory the family can make is a joy to behold.
"He's a joy to raise in personality," Randy Bowden said.
"Waking up every morning and seeing his smiling face is a blessing," Kathy Bowden added.
For Dustin Bowden, just being at the track, even if Jeff Gordon isn't there, is one more reason to celebrate the feeling of being alive.

Chase living up to name

2007-10-01T04:42:47Z

The 2007 Chase for NASCAR's Nextel Cup is officially in full swing now, especially after what happened at Kansas on Sunday. Rain delays, wrecks, and angry drivers (especially the Chasers) made for a wild and wacky day.
Since there are 12 drivers truly strong enough to be power-ranking worthy for the balance of the season, we're going to tell you for the rest of the way if the favorites have a great shot, definite potential, are a long shot, or have no shot to win the 2007 Nextel Cup.
Read on for installment No. 1.

]]> We'll talk about the drivers based on their current points standing and go forward from there.

1. Jimmie Johnson: Real survivor of the carnage at Kansas Sunday. Continued the swap of the points lead for the third straight week with teammate Jeff Gordon. If he can survive Talladega and keep the lead, he's capable of closing the deal for the repeat.
Great shot
2. Jeff Gordon (-6): Still nipping at Johnson's heels with one of his better tracks in Talladega coming up. It'll be intriguing to see how he does with the Car of Tomorrow in its first race on a really big track.
Great shot
3. Clint Bowyer (-9): Even with missing out on the win for the home folks Sunday, the Kansas native's good fortune over the last three weeks has been a beautiful thing to watch. I'm honestly wondering how long he can keep it up, though. He was 35th at Talladega in April, and that can't happen now.
Long shot
4. Tony Stewart (-117): Had a truly bad weekend at Kansas after winning there a year ago as a non-Chaser. From his position on back, the stress level is beginning to mount. He won three Chase races last year, but needs another one soon.
Definite potential
5. Kevin Harvick (-126): Strong sixth-place Kansas run sent him zooming up four spots in the standings. The Daytona 500 champ has some life left in him yet.
Definite potential
6. Kyle Busch (-136): Has to quit crying about what everyone else has done to him and focus on his own skills, which he has in abundance. Only three COT races left in the final seven, so that should help his psyche somewhat.
Long shot
7. Carl Edwards (-142): Got a bad break Sunday when he was collected by Tony Stewart and finished 37th. In his first trip to five of the repeat Chase tracks - Atlanta, Martinsville, Phoenix, Lowe's and Texas - Edwards' average finish was 12th. At Talladega, he was 42nd. Get by this race, and he'll be in good shape.
Definite potential
8. Martin Truex Jr. (-158): Was one of the many Chasers victimized by wrecks Sunday. His best '07 finish at the repeat Chase tracks was a 7th at Texas. He was 10th at Talladega in April.
Long shot
9. Kurt Busch (-177): Honestly, did we really need to hear the Top Gun references on the radio? Although I thought the exchange with his car owner, Roger Penske, was funny, Busch hasn't been in the top 10 in any of the three Chase races. So far, he's shooting blanks.
Long shot
10. Jeff Burton (-186): Was 34th on Sunday and is fading fast after rallying from 36th to 7th at Dover. Did manage a win at Texas in April, but needs a lot more help than that.
Long shot
11. Matt Kenseth (-219): Mr. Consistency has been anything but, with back-to-back 35th-place runs the last two weeks. Started on the outside pole Sunday, making the finish even more tragic. His average finish from the repeat Chase tracks is 9th (including a second to Burton at Texas), and he needs finishes like those the rest of the way.
Long shot
12. Denny Hamlin (-248): Where did it all go so wrong for Hamlin all of a sudden? Wrecked Kyle Petty, got into another wreck Sunday. The season of promise is falling apart.
Long shot

Talladega track fact: Jeff Gordon won his 76th career Cup race there in April, passing Dale Earnhardt for fifth on the wins list. Impressive, but next Sunday's Talladega trip will be raced with the COT.
12. Denny Hamlin (-248):