NASCAR Cup Series

Garage chatter: What everybody's talking about going into Bristol

Published Aug. 16, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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August 20 news and notes

Several drivers try to lock into Chase — 11 a.m. ET

Several NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers are in position to lock up a spot in the championship-determining field this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Chief among them is Hendrick Motorsports’ Jeff Gordon, who currently sits second in the series standings.

Gordon heads into Saturday’s Irwin Tools Night Race with a 387-point advantage over 13th place. To secure a berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, he needs to leave the race with a 391-point advantage over that position as there will only be two races remaining before the championship segment of the season begins.

If he leaves the track with an advantage of 323 points, he needs only start the two following races to clinch his berth. Fortunately, running well at Bristol might not be all that difficult for Gordon. In 35 starts at the track, he has five wins as well as five pole positions. He has 20 top-10 finishes, 14 of them top-fives, and last won there in the 2002 night race at the track. Still, Gordon isn’t overly confident.

While he has a pair of recent top-10 finishes at Bristol, he doesn’t seem as comfortable at the track since it was reconfigured following the 2007 early race there.

“We’ve struggled here ever since they changed the track,” Gordon said in a team release. “I just feel like I had a knack for the old configuration – a groove and a feel and a setup that really worked well for us.

“Ever since the change, none of that has seemed to work. It’s about reinventing myself as a driver – trying to find a different groove that works and giving good feedback to the team to get the car to work the way we need it to.”

Perhaps his points advantage is a source of comfort this weekend. After all, Gordon certainly knows just how quickly things can take a downward turn at Bristol.

“With 15- and 16-second laps and with the banking you have at Bristol, and then with 43 big, heavy stock cars out there on a track that is a half-mile in length, you’re going to run out of real estate,” he said. “Even though they’ve made changes and made the track have wider grooves, it’s still not enough.

“You are going to run out of patience, and that causes a lot of tempers to flare.”

— Rea White

Bristol president continues treatment, will miss race — 11 a.m. ET

Bristol Motor Speedway President and general manager Jeff Byrd continues a steady recovery after being sidelined recently by illness, according to a track release. He will not be on hand for this weekend’s NASCAR events at the track.

Byrd recently “recently completed another round of treatments and is making remarkable progress, according to his doctors,” the release stated.

“Our race fans, who are the best in the sport, know how much I want to be there this weekend, especially with it being our 100th Cup race,” said Byrd, who has continued to go to his office between treatments, in the released statement. “We thought at first, the treatment calendar was going to work, but then we realized it wasn’t. Believe me, not being able to be there to see all my friends is disappointing. It’s what we work so hard for all year — and what (Speedway Motorsports Inc. Chairman) Bruton (Smith) pays us to do.”

Byrd added that he has a lot to “be thankful for right now” and that his recovery is going well.

“If all the fans could continue to keep me in their prayers I would be grateful,” he said. “I just want them to have a great weekend while they soak in the amazing Bristol experience. That’s the best medicine I could ask for.”

—Rea White
 

August 19 news and notes

Jimmie Johnson looks to return to top form - 1:45 p.m. ET

Jimmie Johnson is the most recent NASCAR Sprint Cup winner at Bristol Motor Speedway – and no doubt he’s hoping to return to top form at the track this weekend.

Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports team haven’t looked as dominant on the track in recent weeks as the four-time Cup champion did earlier this season. While speculation has centered on whether the team is testing new concepts that could boost its performance in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, the fact is that Johnson is generally a fixture among the top 10 week to week.

Recently, that just hasn’t been the case. He has just one top-10 finish in his last six races and has only two runs of 12th or better during that time. The other four finishes – all of 22nd or worse – have left outsiders wondering what is going on in that camp.

Now, Johnson prepares for a return to Bristol where he won in the spring. Does that give him more optimism concerning this weekend?

"We ran so well there in the spring, even last year, we had a great spring and fall race,” Johnson said. “That night race has always been one of my favorites. We look forward to being competitive and hopefully going back to Victory Lane there. It's a great race track; I've always loved watching races there. I'm glad to actually enjoy racing on that track now."

Johnson, who remains fifth in points, would like a win not only for the 10 bonus points it will award a driver once the Chase field is reset – with five wins, he’ll currently trail no one in terms of points when that happens – but he’s also looking to put together a consistent string of outings in the trio of races heading into the Chase.

"The bonus points, that's kind of the obvious one that all the drivers want and as a team, the momentum from a win would be very important and helpful,” Johnson said. “But from our standpoint, not just this year but others as well, we felt the consistency going into the Chase was really important. We've had some races in the last four or five weeks where we've been competitive and didn't finish well.

“We've had races where we weren't competitive and didn't finish well. I think we're looking more for a consistent run here leading into New Hampshire before we start the Chase. If we can get 10 points, obviously that's what we need and what we want. But I think the momentum and the confidence that comes with four or five strong races is really important."

— Rea White
 

Kyle Busch wins No. 76 — 10 a.m. ET

Kyle Busch joked that he was happy to be the first winner interviewed in the new media center at Bristol Motor Speedway Wednesday night – and that he hoped to spend more of the weekend there.

Busch is continuing his winning ways, racking up yet another career victory in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol. For Busch, that’s career win No. 76 – a tally that is impressive by any standard, but even more so considering Busch is in only his seventh full season of competition in any of NASCAR’s three major touring series.

For Busch, who was driving for his own Kyle Busch Motorsports, this one came the hard way. He qualified in the pole position for the race, but then dropped to the rear at the start after making a mechanical adjustment while the trucks were impounded. He carefully worked his way through traffic on the tight .533-mile track, though, then saved fuel as much as he could, sputtering to the line as the race ended.

Now, Busch has two more chances to add to his win total over the course of the weekend. He’s competing in both Friday night’s Nationwide Series and Saturday night’s Cup race at the track.

Can he really be the only winner at Bristol this weekend? Time will tell.

— Rea White
 

Annual NASCAR Pets Calendar on sale now — 10 a.m. ET

The 2011 NASCAR Pets Calendar goes on sale today.

The calendar features 11 Sprint Cup drivers with their pets as well as a month featuring the trio of Miss Sprint Cup representatives with their pets. The fifth edition of the popular calendar is a fund-raiser for The Greg Biffle Foundation, created by Roush Fenway Racing driver Greg Biffle and his wife, Nicole. The foundation is an advocate for the well-being of animals.

The calendar can be purchased at www.gregbifflefoundation.com or at the Food City Race Night in Bristol tonight. Biffle will be on hand to sign the calendars from 6:15 p.m. until 7:15 p.m. All proceeds from the calendar go to the foundation.

—  Rea White
 

August 18 news and notes

Edwards hoping to keep momentum going — 1:30 p.m. ET

Carl Edwards and his Roush Fenway Racing team are on a roll, continually gaining ground in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings with a strong stretch of performances.

Now, Edwards heads to Bristol Motor Speedway riding a streak of six consecutive top-10 finishes. Edwards brings renewed confidence and momentum into the race, as well as the knowledge of how to win this difficult night race. Edwards won the fall race at the track in 2007 and 2008.

Still, Edwards says one can’t just count on turning that into a good finish, especially not as contenders continue to adjust to the resurfacing done at the track a few years ago.

“Now there are three lines and you can run anywhere on the racetrack,” Edwards said. “It used to be everyone was fighting for the bottom of the racetrack and now everybody can run side by side. It makes it more competitive in that you just can’t get away from somebody. They can always hound you.”

Edwards said that it’s different, too, trying to move people out of the way. That’s a product of a combination of the resurfacing, NASCAR’s new car – and perhaps just the competitive nature of the contenders.

“It is a lot different race because of the multiple lines and the way the bumpers line up,” Edwards said. “You see a lot more aggressive racing because a little bump here or there doesn’t lift the car up in front of you off the ground. The double-file restarts and everything makes it all very wild. They drop the green on those restarts and both lines are doing the same speed, bumper to bumper, it is pretty insane.”

He said that leads to even more aggressive racing “because a little bump here or there doesn’t lift the car up in front of you off the ground.” Drivers are also more aggressive as they deal with the double-file restarts and the pressure to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

And that Chase, Edwards said, is something everyone needs to keep in mind.

“Bristol is the battle, but the war is the Chase,” Edwards said. “We need to be in the Chase.”

- Rea White

August 17 news and notes

Town Hall meeting addresses  Nationwide issues — 6 a.m. ET

NASCAR President Mike Helton and Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash met with a variety of owners, general managers, crew chiefs and drivers in a town hall style meeting for the sport’s second-tier series on Monday.

Sources that attended the Nationwide meeting at the Technical Center in Concord, N.C., called the exchange of ideas between league officials and competitors productive. Although teams were offered the most recent version of the NNS schedule -- that included 34 of 35 races locked in for 2011 -- the focus appeared on cost cutting measures.

Considering the sanctioning body informed competitors the plan to decrease purses by roughly 20 percent next season due to declining attendance, discussions on ways to save money could not have come at a better time. While teams at the front of the garage -- the Penske Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Roush Fenway Racing operations -- find balance with the resources from the Sprint Cup Series, the independents are struggling to get by.

And even though Sprint Cup drivers bring sponsors and fans to the sport, independent Nationwide teams point to the advantage the Cup drivers have with the additional track time they enjoy running both practices prior to qualifying and racing. There is also the desire for NNS specific teams to have a full-time Nationwide champion to further draw attention to the sport.

Several changes to the truck series, such as limiting the number of competitors on the road, have been discussed as possibilities for the NNS. However, there appears to be split philosophies on shrinking the schedule. Certainly, some teams would rather compete in a limited number of races but there are other teams that rely on the purses for survival. Teams that can only afford payroll February (Daytona) to November (Miami-Homestead) may benefit from eliminating salaries, but also lose the consistency of building a team in the process.

-- Lee Spencer

August 16 news and notes

Petty set for big announcement Tuesday — 5 p.m. ET

Richard Childress Racing won't be the only team making news Tuesday.

Richard Petty Motorsports just announced that they will be hosting a media event on Aug. 17 at 1p.m. ET to announce a new driver and sponsor for 2011.

The organization has up to three vacancies to fill in 2010 with current drivers Kasey Kahne (Red Bull) and Paul Menard (RCR) signing deals with other teams for the future. Elliott Sadler, the team's third departing driver, does not have plans solidified as of yet.

The odds-on-favorite for an RPM ride is Marcos Ambrose, but other drivers currently out of a ride in 2011 include Aric Almirola, Scott Speed (although he insists he has a contract with Red Bull through next year) and Landon Cassill.

Who will it be? Stay logged on to FOXSports.com for updates.

— Jorge A. Mondaca

From the editors’ desks ... — 9 a.m. ET

It was a weekend of excitement, anxiety and anguish across the sport, depending on which driver and which situation one viewed.

Todd Bodine continued his run through the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, taking the win at Darlington Raceway. The veteran is building what will soon be a virtually insurmountable lead in the series standings.

In the Nationwide Series, Brad Keselowski battled – cleanly this time – with Carl Edwards and held on for the win at Michigan. While the pair enjoyed strong outings, Danica Patrick struggled in her return to the series. (Highlights)

On the Sprint Cup side, points leader Kevin Harvick made a statement with his victory at Michigan International Speedway. (Highlights) Meanwhile, young Joey Logano drew the ire of veteran Ryan Newman.

There doesn't seem to be as much news on the horizon heading through this week, not after the hustle and bustle of track/schedule and driver news of last week. Richard Childress Racing is expected to confirm that Budweiser is joining Kevin Harvick's team in 2011 and Texas Motor Speedway will unveil its 2011 schedule on Tuesday, but otherwise is could be a relatively quiet week on the news front, comparatively speaking.

That allows more time to focus on this weekend.

It’s time to turn attention to the upcoming night race at Bristol Motor Speedway. It could be a devastating race for those trying with a tenuous hold on a berth or trying to break into the Chase for the Sprint Cup field. Anything can happen at this short track. Action kicks off early with the Truck race Wednesday night, followed by the Friday-Saturday night Nationwide-Cup double header.

Stay logged on to FOXSports.com all week long – we’ve got you covered.

—Jorge A. Mondaca and Rea White

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