Hmiel Faces Another Tough Battle

Shane Hmiel has faced more than his share of battles in the last 30 years. Now, he faces his toughest challenge yet.

Hmiel was critically injured Saturday night in a savage crash during qualifying for the USAC Silver Crown “Sumar Classic” at the Terre Haute Action Track. Hmiel’s car bicycled onto its right side and slammed the concrete retaining wall cage-first, collapsing much of the roll cage and causing critical injuries to his neck and back. He was unresponsive when airlifted to Indianapolis Methodist Hospital, where he is listed in critical but stable condition in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

Hmiel's father, Steve, is Director of Competition at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, and flew directly from Auto Club Speedway to his son’s bedside in Indianapolis. His mother, Lisa, flew there from the family’s home in Pleasant Garden, NC, and has provided periodic updates from his bedside at Methodist Hospital.

He underwent surgery to repair two severe compression fractures in his neck early Sunday evening and Lisa Hmiel called the procedure “very successful.” While doctors say Hmiel suffered a spinal cord injury in the crash, he has displayed movement in his upper extremities. Monday, Lisa Hmiel wrote, “He looks better this morning, his color is better. (He) opened his eyes at Steve’s voice. No head trauma.” She cautioned that her son faces major surgery on his broken back later this afternoon, adding that he remains under heavy sedation and is resting well.

Saturday’s crash is the latest in a series of setbacks for Hmiel, who was once thought to be on the fast track to a big time NASCAR career. He raced seven times in what is now the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and made 83 career Nationwide and 29 Truck Series starts. Sadly, he also struggled mightily with addictions to marijuana and cocaine, and was suspended no less than three times for violations of NASCAR’s substance abuse policy. The third suspension led to a lifetime ban from the sport.

“I blew it,” said Hmiel of the loss of his NASCAR career. “But it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I know it sounds crazy, but being banned from NASCAR has made me a better person. No doubt it made me a better racer.”

The suspension served as a much-needed wakeup call, forcing Hmiel to face his addictions and deal with them for the first time. A stint in rehab allowed him to alter his lifestyle and shed his demons, highlighting a previously undiagnosed bipolar disorder that contributed significantly to his struggles with substance abuse. In time, he even found a way to return to the sport he loved, turning his attention to the Open Wheel ranks.

"When Shane started running Silver Crown cars and midgets I was like, 'Oh man, this could be interesting,'” said longtime friend Tony Stewart. “He had never driven those types of cars, (but) he was never scared of it. He never backed down and said, 'I have to learn this.' He's given 110-percent ever since Day One, and he's really turned into a great open-wheel driver."

Hmiel won six races in USAC’s three national series this season, including four in the headline Sprint Car ranks. In August, he signed a deal to race part-time in the Firestone Indy Lights Series, and while physical problems prevented him from making his planned debut at Chicagoland Speedway later that month, Hmiel finally appeared to be pointed in the right direction once again.

“There was a time when I never thought I would be able to race again, much less (be) on TV,” said Hmiel recently. “Right now, I really am living a dream. I’m hardly making any money, driving everywhere I go and sleeping on couches. But I’m loving every minute of it.”

That all changed Saturday night, in the aftermath of a crash that leaves his career – if not his survival – in doubt.

“(That kind of accident) doesn't happen a lot in open-wheel racing,” said Stewart, who mentioned Hmiel in Victory Lane at Auto Club Speedway Sunday. “It was just a freak accident that happened; the way that he crashed, the way he hit the concrete wall. Not too many guys hit like that. But it was a devastating hit, and obviously his injuries reflect that.

"But to hear how well he made it through the night, and to hear the optimistic thoughts from the doctors made us all, I think, breathe a sigh of relief today. Knowing that he made it through that first night, that's a big step.”

Late Sunday, Steve Hmiel thanked the many fans and friends who have offered their prayers in the last 36 hours, saying his son has a "long road to recovery.'' More prayers will surely be needed for a young man who now faces the toughest battle of his life.

League Approves Sale Of Gillett's Liverpool FC Club

MLB.com is reporting today that that the English Premier Soccer League has approved a $476 million bid by New England Sports Ventures --- owners of the Boston Red Sox – to purchase the Liverpool franchise from Richard Petty Motorsports majority owner George Gillett, Jr., and his partner, Tom Hicks.

The deal is expected to face a court challenge from Gillett and Hicks, who stand to lose approximately $223 million on the deal and say the club is worth approximately twice what NESV has offered.

Gillett and Hicks must repay their major creditor -- Royal Bank of Scotland -- $445.5 million by October 15; roughly $382 million in loans and another $63.6 million in fees. If they succeed in blocking the sale in British High Court next week, they will be forced to either repay the bank or refinance their debt to avoid penalties from the league.

New England Sports Ventures -- headed by Roush Fenway Racing co-owner John Henry -- issued a statement Tuesday saying, "NESV wants to create a long-term financially solid foundation for Liverpool FC and is dedicated to ensuring that the club has the resources to build for the future, including the removal of all acquisition debt. Our objective is to stabilize the club and ... return Liverpool FC to its rightful place in English and European football, successfully competing for and winning trophies.”

Rockingham Speedway Deserves Your Support This Saturday

Rockingham Speedway opens its gates Saturday for a doubleheader program featuring the season-ending ARCA “American 200” and the traveling UARA Late Model Series.

Hopefully, history will not repeat itself.

"The Rock" was crossed off NASCAR’s Sprint Cup schedule in 2004 when fans abandoned its legendary high-banks in favor of more modern venues. I was there for the track’s final race in late 2004, and everyone knew Rockingham was on shaky ground. Fans had a chance to send a message that day and avoid having one of the country’s most storied stock car venues excised from NASCAR’s Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck schedules.

Instead, they responded with a collective yawn, filling about half of the available seats for the “Subway 400.”

Rockingham appeared to have reached the end of the line. Where the thunder of stock cars once filled the Sunday afternoon air, there was nothing but silence and the memory of what once had been. The track sat idle for three long years, collapsing upon itself as many of the fans who refused to support it loudly bemoaned its demise.

Then, against all sane advice, former ARCA and Nationwide Series racer Andy Hillenburg purchased the historic, D-shaped oval. “Indiana Andy” brought the speedway back from the brink, reopening “The Rock” amid great fanfare in 2008. He drew a solid crowd for his first event; an ARCA race that featured a stirring battle between NASCAR veteran Kenny Schrader and teen sensation Joey Logano. Since then, however, fan support has dwindled again, despite Hillenburg’s best promotional efforts and bargain-basement admission prices.

Hillenburg has plans for the track that go well beyond regional Late Model racing. Rumors have circulated recently about a possible return of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to Rockingham, but in order to do that, the track will have to install hundreds of feet of SAFER barriers at a cost of nearly a million dollars. Hillenburg says he can get the money, but only if area race fans do their part by supporting the speedway.

"A lot of people have their eye on Rockingham this weekend," said Hillenburg this week. "For a lot of reasons."

There will be a number of familiar names in Saturday’s ARCA field, including former Rockingham Sprint Cup Series winner Steve Park, who returns to the site of his emotional 2001 victory in a car painted identically to his former Dale Earnhardt, Inc./Pennzoil Chevrolet. Camping World Truck Series favorite Ricky Carmichael is in tomorrow afternoon’s field, as is Ty Dillon, grandson of Richard Childress and younger brother of Truck Series star Austin Dillon. Notable in the UARA field is recently crowned 2010 Rookie of the Year Robert Johnson, whose NASCAR Hall of Fame father, Junior Johnson, will be in attendance to guide his son’s effort.

Despite a dirt-cheap $20 advance ticket and bargain-basement family packages, Hillenburg said sales through the track’s website -- www.rockinghamracewaypark.com -- have been steady, at best.

Hopefully, a picture-perfect weather forecast will draw fans out in droves to support Rockingham Speedway on this “make or break” weekend. Hopefully, local fans have learned from their past mistakes and realize the importance of putting their money where their mouth is Saturday, proving to Hillenburg, NASCAR and anyone else that cares to listen that racing is once again a going concern at “The Rock.”

The first green flag of the day flies at 11:00 AM Saturday morning, with the headline ARCA event set to roll at 1:30.

Wingo Set To Join Wood Brothers Racing

Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that veteran Donnie Wingo is the leading candidate to fill the vacant crewchief position with Wood Brothers Racing. Wingo will replace David Hyder, who left the team earlier this week after overseeing the operation for the past two seasons.

Wingo most recently served as crewchief for David Ragan’s UPS Ford at Roush Fenway Racing, before being replaced earlier this month by Drew Blickensderfer. With Bill Elliott at the wheel, Wood Brothers Racing has managed two Top-20 finishes in 10 Sprint Cup Series starts this season, with a best finish of 16th at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March. A spokesperson for Wood Brothers Racing declined to comment on the story earlier today.

RPM's Gillett Moves To Prevent Sale Of Liverpool Soccer Club

Richard Petty Motorsports majority owner George Gillett has fired the Board of Directors of his Liverpool soccer club in an attempt to derail a takeover of the club by New England Sports Ventures, owners of the Boston Red Sox.

The board was scheduled to meet yesterday to consider bids from two potential buyers, but Gillett and co-owner Tom Hicks filed an injunction claiming the board was not acting in their best interest by entertaining those offers. The injunction sought to replace board chairman Martin Broughton and directors Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre with Hicks’ son, Mack Hicks, and Lori Kay McCutcheon, giving Gillett and Tom Hicks majority control of the club.

Broughton was hired by Gillett and Hicks after their lein holder, Royal Bank of Scotland, demanded that they expedite the sale of the team. Broughton and his fellow directors are contesting the injunction.

New England Sports Ventures is controlled by John W. Henry and a group of partners that includes the New York Times Company and television producer Tom Werner. They purchased the Red Sox in 2002 and a subsidiary of NESV – Fenway Sports Group -- purchased a 50% ownership stake in what is now Roush Fenway Racing in February of 2007.

NESV is offering approximately £300 million for the club; enough to cover the £280 million in loans and fees owed to Royal Bank of Scotland by Gillett and Hicks. That loan became due in October of last year, but RBS has been reticent to take over active management of the team.

Gillett and Hicks are determined to profit from any sale of the team, and insist that it is worth significantly more than the £300 million offered. RBS is currently considering whether to refinance Gillett and Hicks or force them out.

BREAKING NEWS: Bowyer's Point Penalty Upheld

National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer John Middlebrook has upheld the penalty for the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, with two revisions. Crewchief Shane Wilson’s fine was reduced from $150,000 to $100,000, and Wilson and car chief Chad Haney’s suspensions were lowered from six races to four. Both remain suspended from NASCAR until Nov. 3 and are on probation until Dec. 31.

The loss of 150 championship owner and driver points was left intact.

Middlebrook said, “After reviewing all the data, presentation and factors involved, I am ruling NASCAR was correct in its decision to levy penalties. I believe that the revisions that have been made to the penalties are consistent and fair to both parties involved.”

Sinkhold Develops At Charlotte Motor Speedway

Sirius Speedway has learned that a large sinkhole has appeared in the infield at Charlotte Motor Speedway, not far from the 1.5-mile track’s back straightaway. The sinkhole may have been caused by heavy rain in the region in recent days, and crews using excavators and heavy equipment have already begun filling the hole. It is not expected to impact next weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 events.

NASCAR Disputes Claims By RCR Expert

NASCAR is disputing allegations by Richard Childress Racing’s top witness that the team was prevented from examining Clint Bowyer’s Chevrolet in the days following his disputed win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Dr. Charles Manning owns Accident Reconstruction Analysis in Raleigh, N.C., and was hired by RCR to testify on the team’s behalf before the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Board last Wednesday. Manning testified that the rear of Bowyer's car was knocked out of tolerance when pushed by a wrecker after running out of fuel; a theory that was ultimately rejected by the panel.

In an exclusive interview on Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody following the ruling, Dr. Manning claimed RCR was prevented from examining the car after the race. “We never saw the car, we never saw any data, we never saw any pictures,” said Manning. “We were not allowed to see the car. RCR has never seen the car from the time it was in the Winner’s Circle. NASCAR simply said `It was out of specification.’”

NASCAR’s Managing Director of Corporate Communications Ramsey Poston bristled at those accusations Saturday at Kansas Speedway, calling them “patently untrue.” After consulting with Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton and Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby, Poston said, “Dr. Manning never asked to see the car at any time.” Poston also revealed that Richard Childress Racing was free to examine the car “anytime they want” and was well aware of that open-door policy.

Busch, Reutimann Illustrate The Harsh Truth Behind "Boys Have At It"

Kyle Busch dropped from third to seventh in the Sprint Cup championship chase Sunday at Kansas Speedway, and he has David Reutimann (and himself) to blame.

Busch triggered the latest installment in NASCAR’s new “Boys Have At It” era Sunday, bumping Reutimann’s Toyota early in the Price Chopper 400 and spinning Reutimann into the Turn Two wall, trunk first. "It was my fault,” admitted Busch after the race. “The guy was loose off the bottom and I got into him.”

In-car video showed Reutimann was only 12-14 inches from the bottom of the racing groove, however, causing the Zephyrhills, Fla., driver to insist that he was the latest victim of Busch’s much-discussed aggressiveness. "I don't care whether you're in the Chase or not," he said. "You better think about who you're running into before you run into them. You won't get respect as a Chaser if you don't respect everyone else."

Reutimann responded in kind with 112 laps remaining, forcing Busch – then running seventh – into the backstretch wall and spinning himself out in the process. Busch pitted under the ensuing caution with damage to both the front and rear of his M&Ms Toyota, and battled those problems for the remainder of the day before finishing 21st.

Asked if their second clash had been intentional, Reutimann deadpanned, “What do you think? Maybe I just got tight."

“It's unfortunate he elected to do what he did (to) a guy in the Chase,” complained Busch after the race. “He could have wrecked me next year in any of the first 26 races." Reutimann remained unapologetic, saying, “You can say all you want about Kyle being an aggressive driver. You guys (in the media) can sugarcoat it. He just rolled over me. I'm at the bottom of the track and he had the whole top of the track to go to, but I got wrecked."

There will be no shortage of debate in the coming days about the appropriateness (or lack thereof) of Reutimann’s actions. Some will argue that Chase drivers deserve special treatment due to their championship status, while others believe it is the Chasers’ job to ensure that none of their peers feel compelled to send a little “frontier justice” their way.

The bottom line for Busch is the 80-point deficit he must overcome in his quest to claim the 2010 Sprint Cup championship. Reutimann faces nothing more than a few days of unwanted scrutiny as NASCAR’s newest poster boy for “Payback’s A Bitch.”

Bayne Lands With Roush Fenway For Remainder of 2010

Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Trevor Bayne will drive a Roush-Fenway Racing #17 Ford in Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas Speedway.

Bayne was released by Diamond-Waltrip Racing earlier this week after the team was unable to fulfill a contractual obligation by guaranteeing him a full-time seat for the 2011 season. Chad Norris will serve as crewchief for the effort. Bayne will reportedly drive the remainder of the season for Roush Fenway, and a team spokesperson said talks are currently underway concerning the 2011 season.

“We are pleased to be able to sign a driver of both Trevor’s caliber and character,” said Jack Roush today. “Trevor has exhibited a distinctive ability to run fast, up front and compete side by side with veteran drivers in a relatively short amount of time. We feel that he possesses all of the tools necessary to grow into a top-level driver and we look forward to working with him to hone his skills as we move forward down the road.”

Scott To Drive For RAB Racing In Kansas

Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Brian Scott will be back in action this weekend in the NASCAR Nationwide Series “Kansas Lottery 300” at Kansas Speedway, driving the #09 Ford for RAB Racing.

Scott was released by Braun Racing earlier this week after the team’s sale to Turner Motorsports, but the Raybestos Rookie leader said he was confident that he would be able to find another ride for the remainder of the season.

Scott was unavailable for comment earlier today, but RAB Racing owner Robby Benton confirmed that Scott will drive the #09 car this weekend, with sponsorship from Shore Lodge. "It all came together very fast," said Benton. "The guys in the shop pulled an all-nighter last night to get a car ready to take to Kansas, and we are hoping to have a good race with Brian. We've seen what he can do over the last couple of years, and we're happy to be able to help in in his pursuit of the Raybestos Rookie crown. That would be a nice bullet-point on our resume, as well."

DWR Owner Bechtel Explains Bayne's Ouster

Diamond-Waltrip Racing has announced that Ryan Truex and older brother Martin Truex Jr. will share the No. 99 Toyota for the remainder of the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series season, replacing Trevor Bayne. The team will field two cars this weekend at Kansas Speedway; both with sponsorship from OUT! Pet Care. Ryan Truex will then run the Charlotte, St. Louis, Phoenix and Homestead-Miami races, with Martin Jr. racing at California and Texas.

“I am very proud of the Diamond-Waltrip race team and the progress our team has made this year,” said majority owner Gary Bechtel. “On the track, this has been a sensational season and I feel as if we can win a race before the end of the season.”

He also commented publically for the first time on the departure of Bayne, who placed the #99 Toyota solidly in the Top-10 in Nationwide points before being released this week. Bechtel said the issue was not sponsorship for this season, but a provision in Bayne’s contract requiring DWR to guarantee him a spot in their 2011 lineup. Bechtel called the issue “simply economics,” adding, “DWR held an option on Trevor’s contract, but without appropriate funding, we could not match the provisions of that contract extension by guaranteeing him a full-time ride in the No. 99 car next year. We could not commit to the demands of the agreement.

“We all wanted to work towards a positive solution,” said Bechtel, “but time was not on our side. We had to make a business decision and Trevor had to make a business decision. We owe it to our race team, sponsors and everyone personally invested in this organization to move forward with those who will be with us in 2011 and beyond.”

Bechtel said his Nationwide Series team is finalizing a program he expects to announce soon. “We have a very good plan in place, but we just haven’t reached a point where we can publicly discuss it at this time.”

Scott Confirms Split From Braun/Turner

Brian Scott has confirmed to Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that he will not longer drive for Braun Racing, in the aftermath of the team’s recent sale to Turner Motorsports.

“We parted ways,” said Scott. “It’s a deal gone sideways during a change of ownership. It all came to a head through a series of lawyers and litigation. I think we all agreed that separating in 2011 was going to be what was best, and somehow it ended up happening as soon as the Dover race was over.”

Asked if reports that he has spoken with Joe Gibbs Racing about 2011 had played a role in the split, Scott said, “The NASCAR community is a very close community, and everyone has a feel for what is going on. There was some uncertainty about the ownership situation (at Braun Racing), and we were uncertain about what it meant for the end of this year and next year. So we went through the garage and asked some people what was going on, what could happen. We were planning for a worst-case scenario in case someone came in and shut down the team I was racing for.

"Somehow, through the rumor mill, it turned into a number of different teams that I was supposedly going to be racing for, and even a story that I was going to Dover with another team. Some feelings got hurt, things got turned sideways, and contracts ended up not getting turned over and signed (by Turner Motorsports). One thing led to another, and here we are.”

Scott said he is hurrying to put together a new deal to maintain his spot at the top of the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings. “I’m very fortunate to have the people I have around me; from a family, management and manufacturer standpoint. The Raybestos Rookie deal is important to me and a lot of other people, including teams who know it would be a feather in their hat to have me finish the season in their cars. The phone’s been ringing a lot.

“I am absolutely not looking to miss any races,” he said. “My top priority right now is to finish the year and finish it strong. I’m not 100% (certain to race in Kansas), but I feel like we’re going to be able to get something done within the next day or two.”

While he would prefer to finish the season in a Toyota, Scott said the manufacturer understands that he may not be able to do so. “The best-case scenario would be to stay with them and finish the season,” he said. “But Toyota understands the urgency of the situation and that we may not be able to make that happen in the immediate future. It doesn’t sound like they’re totally opposed (to me driving for another manufacturer), knowing that we want to make it happen in 2011.

"They know it’s important to say that the Rookie of the Year title was captured primarily in a Toyota.”

Bayne Out At Diamond-Waltrip Racing

Trevor Bayne is out of the Diamond-Waltrip Racing #99 NASCAR Nationwide Series Toyota, creating an opportunity for Martin Truex, Jr. and younger brother Ryan to race against each other for the first time in Saturday's "Kansas Lottery 300 " at Kansas Speedway. Martin Truex, Jr., confirmed the change today, telling Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody, "Trevor Bayne and Diamond-Waltrip Racing have parted company, and that opened up a seat in that car. Ryan and I will get to run against each other for the first time, and I'm looking forward to it."

COMMENTARY: Bowyer's Penalty Highlights Room For Improvement

Sunday night at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Clint Bowyer’s #33 Chevrolet was given a clean bill of health by NASCAR, as officials gave members of the media the traditional “all clear” pronouncement signifying that all competitors had passed their post-race technical examinations.

Yesterday afternoon at NASCAR’s Research and Development Center, everything changed, and a lot of people don’t understand how, or why.

A certain portion of NASCAR’s fan base has always believed the worst about the sanctioning body’s motives and morals. They point to Richard Petty’s fairytale 200th victory at Daytona as a prime example of NASCAR’s willingness to “fix” races. They point disdainfully at late-race “phantom cautions” designed to manipulate the outcome of events, and bemoan the mistreatment of “little guys” like Carl Long, who find themselves slapped with potentially career-ending fines while established stars like Jimmie Johnson get off with a comparative slap on the wrist.

In their minds, the umpire is not simply incompetent, he is corrupt. Yesterday’s events only solidify that belief.

Bowyer is a well-liked, plain spoken underdog in a sea of manicured corporate correctness. His “aw shucks” approach to the sport has made him a favorite with fans and media members alike, and many are now questioning NASCAR’s decision to dash his championship hopes for a violation that took 72 hours to uncover. As one e-mailer wrote today, “NASCAR looked at Bowyer's car until they found something. If they don’t want you to win, you’re not going to win.”

Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby did his best to explain the difference between at-track technical inspections and the more exhaustive examinations done at NASCAR’s North Carolina R&D Center. He explained that cars must be largely disassembled in order to obtain the measurements needed to determine the legality of Bowyer’s car; something that obviously cannot be done at the racetrack. He also revealed that Bowyer’s violation was similar to the one that brought the #33 team “hold-your-breath close” to sanctions the previous week at Richmond. That explanation did little to sway the tide of public opinion. People had already picked sides, many of them siding with Bowyer and his Richard Childress Racing team.

“It doesn't make any sense at all that we would send a car to New Hampshire that wasn't within NASCAR's tolerances,” said Childress Wednesday. “I am confident we fixed the area of concern and the New Hampshire car left the race shop well within the tolerances required by NASCAR.” He also raised the spectre of reasonable doubt, saying the rear bumper of Bowyer’s Chevrolet was hit by other drivers as they congratulated him on his cool down lap, and that the car was pushed from behind by a wrecker on its way to the Winner's Circle. Both instances, he claimed, could explain the .060 of an inch discrepancy allegedly found by NASCAR. In fact, he said, it was “the only logical way” for the left-rear corner of the car to be too high.

There is nothing reasonable, nor logical about racers who step outside the rules. If reason and logic were a part of the equation, no-one would risk scuttling their championship hopes for a small boost in on-track performance. And yet, racers have always cheated. The winner of NASCAR’s first Strictly Stock race was stripped of his trophy for running illegally altered “moonshine springs,” setting a standard that continues to this day. Smokey Yunick, Junior Johnson, even the revered “King Richard” himself were all caught with their hand in the proverbial cookie jar at some point in their career. And when caught, each of them pleaded “not guilty.”

Finding a race winner with an illegal car is increasingly rare in the modern era of NASCAR. During the Chase for the Sprint Cup, it’s downright unprecedented. An escalating series of monetary and point penalties has made the risk no longer worth the reward, or so we thought.

Bowyer’s penalty changed all that.

"It's not any easier on our part than it is on the competitor,” said NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton yesterday. And on that count, he is correct. Yesterday’s news hurt everyone; Bowyer, his race team, NASCAR and its fans.

It's a bad deal for everyone, and in an effort to prevent it from happening again, perhaps it’s time for NASCAR to change its post-race inspection policy. If there are truly questions that cannot be answered without a complete, fine-tooth-comb teardown, maybe it’s time for NASCAR to stop declaring race winners “all clear” until Tuesday or Wednesday, after a thorough post-race inspection has been done, and done correctly.

The days are gone when a competitive NASCAR racecar could be constructed in the back bay of Joe’s Garage. Gone too is the day when they could be properly inspected under a corrugated steel roof in the waning light of day.

NASCAR and its fans deserve better.

Ray Evernham Explains The Bowyer Penalty

Click HERE to watch ESPN's Ray Evernham give his take on the Clint Bowyer penalty, complete with an explanation of how the violation may have affected Bowyer's #33 Chevrolet.

BREAKING NEWS: NASCAR Hammers Bowyer For NHMS Body Infraction

NASCAR has issued penalties, suspensions and fines to Clint Bowyer’s Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team as a result of rules infractions discovered during post-race inspection at the NASCAR Research and Development Center following Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The sanctioning body ruled that the car’s body location specifications in reference to the certified chassis did not meet NASCAR-approved specifications as outlined in the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book. Crewchief Shane Wilson has been fined $150,000, suspended from the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup events, suspended from NASCAR until Nov. 3 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Car chief Chad Haney has also been suspended from the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup events, suspended from NASCAR until Nov. 3 and placed on probation until Dec. 31.

Bowyer and owner Richard Childress have been penalized with the loss of 150 driver and owner points, respectively. The penalty drops Bowyer from second in points to 12th at 5040 points, 190 behind leader Denny Hamlin.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby declined to discuss the specifics of Bowyer's violation, citing a possible appeal by the team. However, he told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that the violation was virtually identical to the one discovered a week earlier at Richmond International Raceway.

“The #33 car was brought back to the R&D Center after the Richmond race, and we looked it over with the team present," said Darby. "They saw that the measurements were hold-your-breath close. We tried to make it clear to them that the risk was not worth the reward. After that inspection, we had two more meetings with the principals of RCR to take one last, detailed look at the report and tell them, `this is not good, and you need to be careful.'"

Scott Confirms Sale of Braun Racing

Braun Racing Nationwide Series driver Brian Scott confirmed to Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody today that Turner Motorsports owner Steve Turner now owns the team formerly known as Braun Racing.

“I’ll be going to Dover this weekend to race for a new owner,” said Scott. “Steve Turner is the new owner of the team. I spoke to him last week and he talked about how much he wanted me to win the Nationwide Rookie of the Year title. He seems like a really honest, down-to-earth, no-nonsense kind of guy, and I’m looking forward to racing for him.”

Scott said he has had no conversations about plans for next season, but that he hopes to sit down with Turner again this weekend. Sources say an official announcement of Braun Racing’s sale to Turner Motorsports is expected later this week.

Loudon Provided A Tasty Chase Appetizer

In an era of 42-14 Super Bowls, it’s a rare sporting event that actually lives up to its pre-event hype. Once every 80 years or so, the Boston Red Sox erase a 3-0 deficit to the hated New York Yankees to win the American League pennant, then go on to sweep the World Series. Every few decades, Doug Flutie uncorks an 85-yard touchdown bomb with no time on the clock, or Boise State pulls off the old fumblerooski in overtime to win a major Bowl Game.

But most of the time, our biggest sporting events are more “talk” than “walk.”

The 2010 Sylvania 300 was the exception to that rule. The Opening Round of this year’s Chase For The Sprint Cup outstripped even its lofty pre-race hype, delivering a race filled with drama, controversy, upheaval and surprises.

Denny Hamlin finished second Sunday to keep his championship hopes alive, but not without dodging a major bullet in the person of Carl Edwards. Edwards chased his car up the banking and into Hamlin’s Toyota on lap 214, sending the Joe Gibbs Racing driver for a spin that dropped him from third to 23rd in the running order. "Can't hold his line, can he," deadpanned Hamlin on his in-car radio, exhibiting a level of confidence that foretold his eventual recovery to the runner-up spot. He heads to Dover this weekend with a 35-point margin over Clint Bowyer.

Bowyer established himself as this year’s potential “Cinderella Story,” running up front for much of the day, then taking advantage when Tony Stewart’s dominant Chevy sputtered dry with just two laps remaining. You remember Bowyer, the guy who limped through the back door as the 12th and final Chase qualifier? He’s now a two-time winner in the opening round of the Chase, and three years ago, he rode the momentum of a win at Loudon all the way to third place in the championship standings. His Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet is a title contender once again.

For Stewart, it was a day filled with thoughts of what might have been. His failed fuel mileage gamble left him 24th at the finish and 11th in points. He shares the “No More Mistakes Allowed” column with Jimmie Johnson, who drove like a man possessed to overcome a horrendous, 25th-place qualifying effort with several spectacular, three-wide moves on the tight Loudon oval. It was all for naught, however, as his Lowes Chevrolet fell victim to loose lug nuts in the late going that left him 25th in the final rundown. After the race, Johnson deadpanned, "It got a lot more exciting than what I had anticipated." Like Stewart, he has no remaining margin for error in his pursuit of a record fifth consecutive championship. But hey, he’s Jimmie Johnson. He’s not out of the hunt just yet.

Kevin Harvick was steady-as-she-goes again at Loudon, finishing fifth on a day when he often didn’t appear to have car enough to do so. NASCAR’s regular-season champion is now just 45 points behind Hamlin as the series heads for the Monster Mile this weekend, and if Hamlin slips even slightly, “Steady Eddie” Harvick will be right there to capitalize.

Like he has all season, Jeff Gordon followed closely in Harvick’s tire tracks Sunday, registering a consistent, sixth-place finish that bumped him up three spots to fifth in points. He still hasn’t shown the ability to win races – something this year’s champion will almost certainly have to do -- but he stepped forward while others stumbled, keeping himself in the title hunt for at least another week.

Edwards, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth were ordinary at best Sunday, showing little to recommend themselves as title contenders. Jeff Burton and Kyle Busch showed flashes of brilliance, but faded to 15th and ninth at the end of the day. Kurt Busch admittedly overdrove his Dodge for much of the day, hitting everything but the Tri-State Megabucks lottery en route to 13th. Like Stewart and Johnson, Edwards, Biffle, Kenseth, Burton and the Busch Brothers will need to step it up a notch at Dover to remain part of the championship discussion.

Sunday’s Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire provided a tasty appetizer for the feast to come; a tantalizing glimpse of the drama and excitement that could carry all the way to Homestead-Miami Speedway in the month of November.

Bring on Round Two!

Penske's Cindric Confirms Hornish, Algaier Free To Shop Around

Penske Racing President Tim Cindric has now confirmed what Sirius Speedway first reported earlier this week; that Sprint Cup driver Sam Hornish, Jr., and Nationwide Series star Justin Algaier have no full-time sponsors in line for next season, and are free to explore opportunities elsewhere. Hornish's Mobil One sponsorship will end at the conclusion of this season to make room for Kurt Busch's new Shell/Pennzoil deal in 2011, while Verizon is currently evaluating its Nationwide program with Algaier and is not expected to return.

Cindric told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Claire B. Lang Wednesday, “I’d hate to say (Algaier) was free to go, but there is a mutual respect there. We haven’t been able to put (anything) together yet and we want to see him land on his feet. If he has another opportunity out there, we would be more than happy to see him succeed and we would work with him on those fronts, although our first choice would be to keep him in one of our cars.”

Cindric also said Penske is still searching for a sponsor for Sam Hornish’s #77 Sprint Cup car, and that Hornish is also free to talk with other teams about next season. In his words, “I wouldn't say anything is for sure, (but) you can't race without the funding. If there are opportunities for him… we're certainly not going to stand in his way as far as furthering his career. But we'd certainly like for him to be able to continue with us."

Rusty "Tired Of Jacking Around," Interested In Fielding Third Car In 2011

Rusty Wallace told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody today that he is “tired of jacking around, running outside the Top-10," and that he had to make personnel changes to boost the performance of his two-var NASCAR Nationwide Series team.

"We’ve got the parts and pieces we need to run up front and win races, but the mix of personalities just hasn’t been right to get it done," he said. "I’m going to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

He said new General Manager Larry Carter will also serve as crewchief for Brendan Gaughan and the #62 South Point Resort and Casino Toyota for the remainder of this season, replacing Brad Parrott, who was released earlier this week. “It’s an interim deal,” said Wallace. “Larry will be on Brendan’s pit box for the final eight races of this season and we’ll hire someone full-time for next season, unless Larry decides he wants to keep doing both jobs.”

Wallace also said the team could add a third Nationwide Series entry in time for next season. “We have the people, parts, people and resources to do it,” he said. “I’d like to do it if everything comes together (in terms of sponsorship), so we’ll see. It could definitely happen.” He said both Stephen Wallace and Brendan Gaughan will return to the RWR lineup next season.

Turner Poised To Purchase Braun Racing

Turner Motorsports owner Steve Turner is set to purchase the Braun Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series team from Todd Braun, with an announcement expected early next week. Sources tell Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that negotiations have been ongoing for some time. Turner is expected to continue fielding his current two-truck team on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, with the possible addition of a third truck, if sponsorship can be found. Braun’s current fleet of NASCAR Nationwide Series Toyotas will be converted to Chevrolets during the offseason, with Turner fielding multiple cars on that circuit, as well.

Current Turner Motorsports Truck Series drivers James Buescher and Ricky Carmichael are expected to remain with the newly expanded operation, with Braun Racing drivers Reed Sorenson and Brian Scott also expected to continue with the team. Sources say an official announcement could come as soon as Monday.

A spokesperson for Turner Motorsports declined to comment on the reports today, but Steve Turner told SPEEDTV.com earlier this year, “I’ve had my hands in racing for a major part of my life and I enjoy the competition and being able to help develop young drivers who are early in their careers, like James and Ricky.”

He had negotiated to purchase or merge operations with Randy Moss Motorsports earlier this season, but those talks stalled before a deal could be finalized.

Parrott Out At Rusty Wallace Racing

Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Brad Parrott has been relieved of his duties as crewchief for Brendan Gaughan’s South Point Resort and Casino Toyota at Rusty Wallace Racing. Parrott joined RWR in February of this year and guided the #62 team to 10th place in Nationwide Series points, with three Top-5 and seven Top-10 finishes in 26 starts.

Parrott confirmed his firing today, but declined to comment further. In a telephone conversation earlier today, Rusty Wallace confirmed that veteran Larry Carter has been hired to head up the competition department and “do some hiring and firing to get this team back on track.” He said crewchief Scott McDougall will remain atop the pit box for Steve Wallace.

Verizon Out As Allgaier's Nationwide Sponsor

Sources tell Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that Verizon will not return to Penske Racing as sponsors of Justin Allgaier’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Dodges in 2011 and that Allgaier has been told he is free to seek employment with other teams next season. Allgaier is currently the top Nationwide-only driver in the standings, ranking fourth in championship points behind Brad Keselowski, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch. Verizon will reportedly remain with Penske Racing next season, increasing its level of involvement with the team’s IndyCar program.

“It’s true that they’re evaluating their NASCAR investment right now,” said Penske Racing Vice President of Marketing and Communications Jonathan Gibson, "and it's true that they may increase their involvement with our IndyCar program."

Gibson said the team is talking with other companies about potentially replacing Verizon next season, adding, “Our intent to continue with two Nationwide Series entries next season." He declined to comment on reports that Algaier has been given permission to look elsewhere, but called him, “A great young driver who we would like to keep in our organization.”

Gibson said Verizon has had "issues surrounding their ability to activate the sponsorship in light of Sprint’s involvement in the sport. Verizon has been hindered in what they can do," he said. "They can’t do much (at the tracks) and they can’t do anything with Sprint Cup Series drivers, which is difficult.

"They’ve been very creative in what they have done, and they would like to do more. It’s not the perfect world they’d like to play in, but Sprint obviously does a lot for the sport, so it is what it is."

Richmond Win Gives Hamlin His Mojo Back

In a season where no driver has been able to establish himself as a clear and lasting favorite for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, Denny Hamlin’s dominant win in Saturday night's Air Guard 400 at Richmond pushed him to the top of the favorites list for the second time this season.

This time he may be able to stay there.

In mid-June, Hamlin and his Joe Gibbs Racing/Fed Ex Toyota team looked like world beaters. Back-to-back victories at Pocono and Michigan – their fourth and fifth wins in the first 15 starts – pushed them to third in the championship standings, just 47 points behind leader Kevin Harvick. They were the hottest team in NASCAR; hitting on all cylinders and serving notice that Jimmie Johnson’s drive for a fifth consecutive title would have to come through them.

Then the wheels fell off.

A 34th place finish on the road course at Infineon, followed by a lackluster 14th at New Hampshire and a 24th at Daytona effectively killed Hamlin’s momentum, and the #11 team spent the next two months trying to get their groove back. There was a brief mojo spotting last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Hamlin started on the pole and led seven times for 74 laps in the early going. But a blown engine on lap 143 – an engine JGR insiders now admit they may have “leaned on” a bit too hard in an effort to learn something for the Chase – relegated them to a crushing 43rd place finish.

As NASCAR rolled into Richmond last week for the final race of the 2010 regular season, Hamlin and crewchief Mike Ford desperately needed something positive to hang their hats on.

Richmond delivered.

Hamlin was a contender from start to finish and a dominator down the stretch, shrugging off a late race challenge from teammate Kyle Busch to claim his sixth victory of the year; breaking a tie with Johnson for most wins and boosting himself into sole possession of the points lead heading into this weekend's Chase opener in New Hampshire. It’s the first time he has ever held the top spot in the points parade, and in Victory Lane Saturday, Hamlin expressed no desire to give it up, ever again.

"We're tough right now,'' he said. “We've got the most wins and… at this point, I'd say we could win at all of (the Chase tracks).'

"Never through the course of my career have I felt that anywhere I show up, I can win,'' said Hamlin. "Other than a road course -- and I feel I could run top five there -- I've never felt like I can win anywhere I went, until this year. At this point, the confidence level is pretty high.''

Hamlin’s swagger has not gone unnoticed by the competition.

"They have found something lately,” admitted Jeff Gordon, who will begin his 2010 Chase
sixth in points. “I don't know what it is, but they have found something. If they can keep that going into the Chase, they are going to be very, very tough.”

Johnson said he also sees Hamlin as a primary roadblock to his fifth consecutive title. "I look more to how he ran in the Chase last year,'' said the Lowes Chevrolet driver. "He was very, very strong through all of those races, but had a problem at California that took him out. (It’s) always been a reality to me that he's going to be one of the guys to race for it.''

Hamlin enters the Chase with six wins and 10 top-five finishes; both career highs at this point of the season. And if past history is any indicator, the best is yet to come. He has shown a knack for peaking come playoff time, with a career average finish of 9.6 in the final five races of the season.

"I wanted to get aggressive and come out swinging,'' said crewchief Mike Ford in Victory Lane. Tonight we gained some momentum, (but) we're still going to race like we're 40th (in points). We're going to stay aggressive.''

"We spent the last two weeks trying to gauge where we are going to be (in the Chase),” said Hamlin. "We said we were going to try to start our Chase early. That way, when we got to Loudon, we would be in the swing of our momentum, not trying to falsely start it.

“I feel like we have done that."

If Hamlin and company have learned anything this season, it’s that momentum comes and goes. But their win at Richmond serves notice to all who care to listen that they will be a force to reckon with for the 2010 championship.

This time, they’re in it to win it.

This One Almost Defies Description

Sirius Speedway fave Mike Calinoff apparently spent a significant portion of the 1980s auditioning to be porn star Ron Jeremy's stunt double! Sadly, the similarity ended there. (Rich Oakley Photo)

Help Jeff Striegle's RacingAwareness.com Help Children In Need

Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson has chosen MRN Radio announcer Jeff Striegle’s “RacingAwareness.com” as the special recipient in his "Helmet of Hope" program, presenting a $10,000 cash donation to Racing Awareness’ official charity, the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Currently in its third year, Johnson’s "Helmet of Hope" program presented by Samsung selects and partners with charities focused on kids. In addition to the $10,000 cash award, the Racing Awareness logo will appear on Johnson's helmet at Auto Club Speedway in California on October 10. The program is also making an additional $20,000 available to one of its 2010 grant recipients, with the winning charity selected in an on-line voting process.

One vote per person may be cast each day at www.helmetofhope.org, with voting beginning today at 3 PM Eastern Time and continuing through Wednesday September 29, at 5:00 PT ET. The winning charity will be announced Friday October 1, 2010.

The Racing Awareness team was formed earlier this year to build a modified race car to compete at the Berlin (MI) Raceway, with all winnings donated to charity. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger believed in the effort so strongly that he drove the car to Victory Lane on June 15 in front of a huge crowd. Former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Mike Skinner did the same on August 28.

“Your vote could be worth $20,000,” said Striegle. “Please vote for RacingAwareness.com and help the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital to receive an additional $20,000 from the Samsung Helmet of Hope program.”

Racing Awareness’ goal for the year is to raise $25,000 for donation to HDVCHF in December. With the "Helmet of Hope" gift of $10,000, the team has already raised more than $21,000. In addition to its on-track efforts, Racing Awareness also will also host a charity golf tournament on Monday, September 20 at Thousand Oaks Golf Club in Grand Rapids, MI.

NASCAR Suspends Smith After Felony Arrest

Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Jack Smith has been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR after being arrested and charged with three felony counts of fraudulently attempting to obtain a controlled substance in Wentzville, Missouri last month.

NASCAR was reportedly informed by Wentzville Police on July 23 that Smith had been arrested the previous day after allegedly attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraudulent means on July 11, July 14 and July 22, 2010.

He was suspended for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2010 NASCAR rule book, and is scheduled to appear at a Bond Appearance Hearing on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 before Judge William T. Lohmar in St. Charles (WI) Circuit Court

Kyle's "Kitty Car" Is Ready For Richmond

Kyle Busch's #18 Joe Gibbs Racing "Toyota Sponsifier" car is prepped and ready to load into the transporter for Friday night's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway.


You've got to love the puppies, kitties and ponies! And just wait until you see Kyle's pink firesuit!

COMMENTARY: Smith Steps Over The Line With "North Cuba" Remark

Speedway Motorsports Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith took another verbal shot at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend, saying the South Florida oval is "not the proper place for the Sprint Cup Series to end the Chase for the Championship” and referring to the track as "North Cuba."

Smith told reporters at Kentucky Speedway Saturday that his Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the proper place for NASCAR to end its season, and he subsequently refused to retract a “North Cuba” characterization that many in the South Florida community find patently offensive. “I was just speaking the truth,” said Smith yesterday. “I was actually complimenting them. It was based on location, so I was just… being kind to the location. That’s what it was.”

Now a disclaimer, in the interest of full disclosure. Sirius Speedway is produced by MRN Radio, which is a division of International Speedway Corporation. ISC is Smith’s major competitor among speedway operators and owns Homestead-Miami Speedway. ISC also pays my paycheck, meaning that – ostensibly at least -- I could be viewed as having a dog in this fight. If you choose to disregard my views on this subject as being biased, you are certainly entitled to do so.

I have the utmost respect for Bruton Smith. His years at the helm of SMI have produced a string of showplace speedways from coast to coast, and his efforts have played a major role in making NASCAR what it is today. Unfortunately, his propensity to shoot from the lip with no regard for the consequences has also damaged the sport from time to time.

Smith has a right to his opinion, and he is free to express it. However, I cannot recall another track operator criticizing the competition the way Smith consistently trash-talks Homestead-Miami Speedway. His recent comments go beyond mere professional rivalry. They are personal and hateful in nature, damaging Homestead-Miami Speedway, its community and the sport as a whole, for no apparent reason.

Bruton Smith knows what he wants, and he has never been one to compromise. When faced with a difference of opinion, the SMI Chairman generally reacts with all the subtlety of a bulldozer, plowing his way through the opposition using any methods at his disposal. Smith has been around long enough to understand the value of public opinion, and he knows from experience that if he says something frequently enough – and loud enough -- people will eventually begin to believe it.

That’s why he stood before a group of reporters recently and claimed, “The media wants the final race of the season in Las Vegas.” The media -– like NASCAR fans in general -- is deeply divided on the topic, and Smith knows it. He also knows that when his comments hit the newspapers, large numbers of NASCAR fans would accept them as gospel truth.

That’s also why Smith stands on the frontstretch at Las Vegas Motor Speedway each season exhorting fans to “raise up your hands and tell NASCAR you want two races here next year,” despite knowing the decision to being a second race to Vegas is wholly his, and not NASCAR’s.

Smith is not the eccentric uncle in rose-colored glasses he often portrays himself to be. He understands that Miami is not “North Cuba,” and he is able to differentiate between a thriving, energetic South Florida community and the backward, economically desolate communist state less than 250 miles to its south. In the end, the SMI Chairman is saying whatever it takes to cast Homestead-Miami Speedway and its community in a negative light, for his own personal gain.

One can only imagine the hubbub that would ensue if Smith's counterpart -- ISC's Lesa France Kennedy -- were to chastise Smith and former New Hampshire Motor Speedway owner Bob Bahre for stealing races from longtime NASCAR fans at North Wilkesboro Speedway a decade or two ago, and moving one of those races to "North Mexico:" Texas Motor Speedway. The response would be swift and indignant, as it should be. Why, then, does Smith get a free pass on his comments?

At worst, they are borderline racist in nature. At best, his comments are needlessly insulting to a speedway, a fan base and an area that have worked hard to make Ford Championship Weekend a success.

That is unfortunate, to say the least.

COMMENTARY: This Is Anyone's Championship

The last time NASCAR entered its Chase for the Sprint Cup with this many unanswered questions was… well… never. In fact, the 2010 edition of NASCAR’s playoff season appears to be the most unpredictable yet, with no less than a half-dozen legitimate title contenders.

Kevin Harvick has been like the Rock of Gibraltar this season, combining the consistency needed to stay atop the point standings with an ability to win multiple races. After nearly leaving Richard Childress Racing a year ago due to unhappiness with the team’s performance, Harvick looks like a new man in 2010. He is happy, confident in his equipment and supremely focused on the job at hand. Make no mistake about it, the road to the Sprint Cup championship will lead through RCR’s Welcome, NC, shops.

Jeff Gordon has done everything but win this season, and aside from a map to Victory Lane, he and crewchief Steve Letarte have everything they need to contend for the championship. Consistency has been their stock in trade this season, but consistency alone will not be enough to earn them the Sprint Cup. Gordon must win races to be a legitimate title contender, and there’s no reason to think that he won’t. The DuPont Chevrolet has been too close, too many times to go 36 weeks without a checkered flag.

Defending series champion Jimmie Johnson has appeared downright vulnerable in recent weeks, plummeting to the bottom half of the Top-10 and failing to crack Victory Lane since a late-June win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Has the Lowes Chevrolet team finally lost its Golden Horseshoe? Or has crewchief Chad Knaus spent the last two months experimenting with new setups for the Chase? A solid, third-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway Sunday night provided a much-needed surge in confidence, and if you think Jimmie won’t be a factor for his fifth consecutive Sprint Cup title, you haven’t been paying attention in any of the past four seasons.

Both Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin briefly wore the mantle of “Most Likely To Dethrone Jimmie” this season, but neither have shown the consistency necessary to actually get the job done. It will take more than a two or three-race hot streak to prevail in the upcoming Chase. In fact, Johnson’s past performance indicates that a Top-5 average finish may be required during the 10-race stretch, in addition to two or three wins. Can Busch and Hamlin regain their lost momentum? Right now, it appears not. But things can change, and fast.

After Race 11 of the season at Darlington, Tony Stewart looked like the walking embodiment of the Sophomore Jinx. He was 18th in points, running horribly and looking like nobody’s bet for a Chase berth. Since then, his Stewart-Haas Racing team has strung together 11 Top-10 finishes in 14 starts -- including an impressive first win at Atlanta -- and climbed from 18th to fourth in points. He’ll begin the Chase with a bit of a deficit to both Johnson and Hamlin, but if Smoke can continue his remarkable string of Top-10 finishes and win another race or two, he could be a title contender. "At this stage last year, we were pointing downhill," said a confident Stewart after his Atlanta victory. "Now we're pointing uphill."

If Stewart’s start to the 2010 season was bad, Carl Edwards’ was horrendous. As recently as New Hampshire in late June, Edwards was locked in a nip-and-tuck battle with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. just to make the Chase. But while Junior faded, Edwards surged, putting together seven Top-7 finishes in his last eight races to climb to fifth in points and clinch a spot in the playoffs. He’s still not winning races – his last victory came in the final race of 2008 – but Edwards is clearly peaking at the right time.

Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle have had similar seasons; quiet but steady. With only one win between them, they’ll have to make a little more noise in the Chase if they hope to be true title contenders. But veteran drivers generally find a way to get the job done come title time, and all three are capable of seizing the postseason momentum with a win in the early weeks of the Chase.

And finally, can Kyle Busch finally find the consistency necessary to be a title contender? NASCAR’s most controversial driver folded like a house of cards in last year’s Chase, but lessons learned in 2009 may serve him well this season. He obviously has the ability to string together multiple wins come Chase time, but his all-or-nothing style leaves him prone to occasional finishes in the back of the pack. Kyle is just one of many unanswered questions with the 2010 Chase looming less than two weeks away.

Last Sunday night's Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway provided a good look at what may lie ahead. Five different Chase drivers took a turn at the front of the field, with some falling victim to various maladies -– blown engines, cut tires, pit road miscues and the like -- while others stepped forward to contend for the win. Expect more of the same in the Chase, with multiple drivers taking their shot at the Brass Ring, but only one ultimately able to grab hold. The Las Vegas odds makers still have Johnson as the man to beat, but even the four-time defending champ admits that this is anyone’s title.

"When you look around... we're going to have a really exciting Chase," he said. "There are a lot of teams coming together right now."

Hendrick Says McGrew's Job Is Secure

Despite Dale Earnhardt, Jr., almost certainly failing to make the Chase For the NASCAR Sprint Cup for the second year in a row, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick says he has no plans to replace Lance McGrew as crewchief of Earnhardt’s #88 AMP Energy Drink/National Guard Chevrolet.

Hendrick has pulled the trigger on high-profile crewchief changes before, replacing Robbie Loomis with Steve Letarte on Jeff Gordon’s pit box in September of 2005 and installing McGrew as Tony Eury, Jr.’s replacement in May of 2009. But for now, at least, Hendrick says the problem with the #88 team is not its crewchief.

"Actually, I'm pretty happy with the chemistry (between Earnhardt and McGrew) now,” said Hendrick to reporters at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “Maybe some of you guys don't agree, but I'm around them. I'm in the shop during the week and in the Tuesday meetings. I talk to Dale and I talk to Lance. We had some good momentum going (earlier in the season), then we kind of fumbled the ball a little before the Chase. If you can't pinpoint where the problem is in the organization, then your whole organization needs to be better.”

Hendrick said the entire HMS lineup has struggled in comparison to past seasons, even though both Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon are headed for the Chase and Mark Martin is still mathematically alive heading to the final race of the regular season at Richmond International Raceway. “We're working hard, but we're not as sharp as we want to be with all four cars,” he said. “If you miss the Chase and you decide... to change something just to be changing it, I think that's a mistake. I've never tried to do that. I keep my options open, but at the same time, if the driver and the crewchief are getting along, working together and trying, that's all I can ask for.''

Hendrick said, “Right now, we've got a game plan and we're sticking to it. (The plan) today, next week, going into the Chase and during the Chase is for those two guys to be together.'' He did leave the door open for further evaluation, however, saying he makes decisions “as things develop during the season and the end of the season.”

He also said the team’s complete 2011 sponsor lineup should be announced within the next 60 days. He declined to comment on DuPont’s continuing level of involvement, after reports surfaced recently that the longtime HMS sponsor is looking to scale-back its involvement beginning in 2011. He confirmed published reports that Quaker State has signed a new, three-year contract extension to remain with the team through 2013; including four races as primary sponsor of Mark Martin’s #5 Chevrolet next season. Quaker State will also continue as an associate sponsor on all four HMS Chevys for the next three years.

The Hendrick Motorsports owner also confirmed recent reports that Wal-Mart will not serve as a major sponsor on Gordon’s #24 Chevrolet next season. “(Wal-Mart was) someone we were talking to,” he said. “We got down the road a bit, but timing is one of those things. I think we'll possibly do something down the road with them, but it won't be next year.”

Hendrick also said he sees some indicators of an economic recovery in the sport, adding, “It's good to see companies have interest. At the end of 2008 and 2009, it was pretty dismal. If someone wasn't already on the car, you didn't talk to anybody. Now, there is interest from people who haven't been in the sport before. It feels better today than it did in the first half of '09.”

He said Wal-Mart continues to talk with NASCAR about a multi-level marketing and merchandising agreement that would make the retail giant a major seller of NASCAR apparel, collectibles and other merchandise. "That's still ongoing,” he revealed. “We've had a good relationship with them, but it's a timing issue. We're still working on a lot of things.''

Sadler Still Talking About Cup Return, Should Know Plans In "2-3 Weeks"

Elliott Sadler told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Tuesday that he expects to know his future plans within the next 2-3 weeks.

Sadler is unlikely to return to Richard Petty Motorsports in 2011, after co-owner Richard Petty said the team is likely to scale back to just two cars next season with drivers AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose. Sadler's current sponsor, Stanley Tools, will back Ambrose next season.

“I have really enjoyed running up front in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series’ these last few weeks,” said Sadler, “and I’m hopeful that within the next couple of weeks, I can say, `Dave, this is what I’m going to do in 2011.’ I’m not necessarily saying I’ll be in the Nationwide or Trucks, though. I am also talking to Sprint Cup team that is looking at the possibility of expanding with an additional car next season. We’ll see what happens.”

SEE IT NOW!!

Alex Hayden -- the Mary Poppins of Motorsports -- takes cover beneath his manly parasol during Sunday's race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.

How Martin Truex, Jr., Spent His Weekend Off

FISH ON! Truex hits `em hard on the Outer Banks.


One in the boat, one on the line!


Martin and Captain Jack with Truex's Amberjack.

Even In Defeat, Max Papis Is A Winner

It takes 3/10ths of a second to blink an eye. Sunday in Montreal, Max Papis’ dream slipped from his grasp in less than half that time.

After making a name for himself in Formula One, Champ Car and Sports Car competition, Papis has devoted the last five years of his life to becoming a winner in NASCAR, overcoming numerous setbacks with a boundless, unfailing enthusiasm that has made him a favorite in the Sprint Cup Series garage. Sunday, at Montreal’s legendary Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course, Papis made his strongest bid yet for NASCAR victory in the Nationwide Series “Montreal 200.”

The race appeared to belong to Robby Gordon, but Gordon sputtered out of fuel on a green-white-checkered-flag restart, handing the lead to Boris Said. Bidding for a career-defining NASCAR win of his own, Said looked unbeatable until the race’s final turns, when Papis made a vintage, testosterone-rich move, out-braking one of the best road racers on the planet to snatch the lead away.

But Papis’ advantage would not last. A victim of its own momentum, his Kevin Harvick, Inc. Chevrolet slid up the track in the final turn, opening the door just enough for Said to counterattack. The two raced neck-and-neck down the final straightaway, as a huge and raucous Montreal crowd roared its approval. Trying to milk every ounce of horsepower out of his engine, Papis briefly hit the rev chip on his way back through the gearbox, crossing the finish line .012 seconds – about four inches – behind Said.

It was the fifth-closest finish in Nationwide Series history and the closest ever on a road course. The difference between victory and defeat was half the blink of an eye. And for Papis, it was another case of “so close, yet so far.”

“I was ahead, I was behind. I was ahead, I was behind,” said Papis of the race’s final turns. “At the end of the day, it was an amazing race. I had a blast. It came down to a green-white-checker. This is maybe the first time I’ve had the chance to sit in a car that legitimately can win, and it came down to the last corner.

“I’m really proud. I know it’s a second-place finish, but it’s equal to any of my best wins.”

After spending the last two seasons as a part-time Sprint Cup competitor in Germain Racing’s #13 GEICO Toyota, Papis will yield his seat to veteran Casey Mears beginning this week at Atlanta Motor Speedway and race full-time on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2011. Most racers would consider that move a demotion, but Papis is devoid of such ego. He says -- and genuinely seems to believe -- that the decision gives him an opportunity to race more often and more competitively in 2011.

It is a move he says he welcomes.

“I’m super excited about the opportunity to drive the GEICO Tundra in the Truck Series next year,” insists Papis. “We thought about how best to build our program, and instead of running the last four or five Cup races this season, I thought it would be better to start focusing right away on our Truck program for next year; working for the future.

“I’m excited because I have always wanted to run a full season in any NASCAR Series. That is the only way to learn and improve as a driver. Germain Racing has a lot of experience and winning equipment (in the Truck Series), and it’s an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down. This is what I came to America for; to be successful and win races in NASCAR.”

Papis said he has enjoyed his time in the Sprint Cup Series and cherishes the milestones that he and his team achieved.

“In just 30 Sprint Cup races – 18 last year and a dozen or so this year -- I was able to race my way into the Daytona 500 on the final lap of my qualifying race, drive in the Brickyard 400 and spend some time running in the Top-10,” he said. “We did a lot, and I’m proud of how far we came. But it’s tough to race for two weeks and sit out for two. It’s difficult to improve when you’re doing a `start and park,’ instead of running the entire race. Now, I’m excited to continue my adventure in the Truck Series. We’ll be running full races -- up front with a chance to win -- and I’ll have an opportunity to learn and improve at a much faster rate.

“This is a good thing for me. This is what I want.”

In February of 1996, Papis burst onto the national scene with a stunning drive in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Driving the final stint of the annual, round-the-clock affair in a battered Ferrari held together with duct tape, Papis unlapped himself by passing leader Wayne Taylor, then strung together one “fastest lap of the race” after another, before coming up just short of Taylor in the final rundown.

Massimiliano Papis – native son of Como, Italy -- became “Mad Max” that day in Daytona Beach, Florida. And in the years that followed, the son-in-law of open wheel legend Emerson Fittipaldi has proven his willingness to do whatever it takes to be a NASCAR star. He failed to grab the brass ring Sunday, falling short by the smallest of margins. But make no mistake about it, Max Papis' day will come.

He is unwilling to accept anything less.