Weekend Preview: Kansas could present a new Cup Series leader (NASCAR.com)

September 30, 2010

Here’s a look at the top five drivers in the Cup Series standings and five drivers to watch in Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway. All statistical references are for Cup races at Kansas unless otherwise indicated. Driver Rating is based on the past five races at the track.

1. Denny Hamlin, 80.9 Driver Rating—This could be a swing race for Hamlin. He has one top-10 in five starts with an average finish of 19.0. His record on 1.5-mile tracks this year is a mixed bag: 19th, 21st, first (Texas), 18th, eighth and 43rd (Atlanta). He came through last week at Dover, which also is one of his weaker tracks. Expect him to shine again Sunday.

2. Jimmie Johnson, 122.6—Johnson won last week and heads to a track at which he has one win and six top-10s in eight starts. But a bigger number is Johnson’s three poles. He has started six races inside the top five, and he is qualifying very well this year. Johnson won from the pole last week, and you know Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus want the first pit selection. We could have a new leader Sunday afternoon.

3. Kyle Busch, 74.4—This is not one of Busch’s better tracks. He has one top-10 in six starts, and his 24.3 average finish is his second worst in the Cup Series. Overall, Busch is working on the longest active top-10 streak at five races. If crew chief Dave Rogers can get the No. 18 dialed in, Busch should do just fine Sunday.

4. Kurt Busch, 82.0—Kurt hasn’t performed much better than his brother at Kansas: two top-10s in nine starts. On the other hand, Busch has a season-best two wins on 1.5-mile tracks (Atlanta, Charlotte). In fact, Busch’s past four Cup wins have been on 1.5-mile tracks. Busch is highly capable of cutting into his 59-point deficit to Hamlin.

5. Kevin Harvick, 81.2—Harvick has three top-10s—all sixth-place finishes—in nine starts. Since winning at Michigan in August, Harvick has two top-10s in five races, hum-drum stats for the regular-season points leader. More ominous, though, is that Harvick hasn’t led a lap since his win. He finished 15th last week.

Five to watch

6. Carl Edwards, 94.2—Edwards continued his brilliant late-season surge last week with his sixth top-five in the past 11 races. His worst finish in that span is 12th, one of his two finishes outside the top 10. Edwards still hasn’t won since the last race of 2008, but he’s getting closer. He has four top-10s in six starts at Kansas, and a win Sunday isn’t out of the question.

7. Jeff Burton, 73.0—Burton has two top-10s in nine starts with a mediocre 18.6 average finish. He must do better Sunday to stay within striking distance of the lead (he’s 80 behind Hamlin). Burton finished second last week, but he hasn’t shown the ability to close the deal this year. His winless drought is five races longer than Edwards’.

Top five

8. Jeff Gordon, 104.7—Gordon has an excellent record at Kansas—two wins, six top-fives—and if ever he needed to tap into that, it’s Sunday. He finished second last year, and his only finish worse than 13th was a 39th in 2006 when his fuel pump broke. He trails Hamlin by 83 points.

9. Greg Biffle, 119.6—The big drop-off among Chase drivers begins with Biffle, who is 140 points back. But there is hope. Since crashing in his first start at Kansas in 2002, Biffle has one win among his five top-fives and he finished 12th in his other two starts. On the other hand … Biffle has started the Chase with finishes of 17th and 19th, which followed finishes of 36th and 32nd to close the regular season.

10. Tony Stewart, 99.0—Stewart won last year’s race, and he also won in 2006 when he took advantage of being outside the Chase and was free to gamble on fuel mileage (he coasted to the victory). Two weeks ago in the Chase opener, Stewart gambled on fuel mileage and lost (coasted home 24th). He finished 21st last week and finds himself 162 points off the lead. So what can we expect to see Sunday? Stewart has nothing to lose and everything to gain, so if he thinks he can steal a win on fuel mileage, he’ll go for it again.

Who’s Hot / Who’s NotHot• Kevin Harvick has finished 15th or better in 24 of the 28 Cup races this season.• Kyle Busch has posted five consecutive top-10s, the longest current streak in the series.• All three Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have finished in the top 10 at Dover: Joey Logano (third), Kyle Busch (sixth) and Denny Hamlin (ninth).• Richard Petty Motorsports had two of its drivers post top-10s at Dover: Paul Menard (seventh) and A.J. Allmendinger (10th).• Joe Gibbs Racing has won nine of the 28 races this season (32 percent), the most by any team.Not• Kurt Busch has finished 11th or worse in his past five Kansas starts.• Kyle Busch has just one top-10 in his past six Kansas races.• Denny Hamlin has just one top-10 in his past five Kansas starts.• Ryan Newman has finished 16th or worse in the past six Kansas races.• Mark Martin finished 12th at Dover, keeping him at just seven top-10s this season. Last year, Martin had 16 top-10s after 28 races.

Written by chris · Filed Under NASCAR | Comments Off

Track Smack: A possible Busch brothers battle for title? (NASCAR.com)

September 30, 2010

1. Kyle Busch is third in the Chase standings, while Kurt Busch is fourth. How realistic is the prospect of a brother-against-brother face-off for the Cup Series crown?David Caraviello: Not trying to dodge the question, but we’ll know more about whether that’s a real possibility after this weekend. Kurt’s trump card heading into this Chase was his team’s early-season strength on intermediate tracks, and if he can replicate that beginning this weekend at Kansas, he’ll have a real shot at staying in it until the end. Barring any breakdowns, Kyle should be there regardless. If Kurt and Steve Addington can hit it at Kansas, they may very well be, too.Dave Rodman: I’ve felt from the beginning that Kurt had the potential of being a real threat for this championship, and with a small adjustment or two could really thrive. With what happened last weekend—provided they run to potential—Kyle Busch could be JJ’s chief challenger, so a brother-y-brother finale is definitely possible. Of course, if Jimmie carries momentum from Dover over next couple weeks, could be moot for all.

David Caraviello: Nobody doubts the talent of either one of the Busch brothers. I think as Dave has pointed out in the past, don’t forget that it’s Kurt who has the Cup Series championship [right now] in the family. Clearly, he has the ability to do this, if the cars are right and if circumstances break his way. Kyle can win anywhere in anything, and his biggest problems in recent years have been mechanical. He stays away from those, watch out.

Dave Rodman: Kurt and Steve Addington have shown everyone a lot of stick-to-itiveness [if that’s a word] this season. They haven’t been able to keep their eye on the prize like Kevin Harvick and Gil Martin have, all season long, but their rebounding ability has been impressive.

David Caraviello: Just as nobody beats the Wiz, nobody dismisses Jimmie Johnson. But something tells me Smacking about “how long until Jimmie clinches the championship?” for 10 consecutive weeks would get a little redundant. There are very capable drivers out there, and at some point JJ’s reign is going to end. If it’s this year … heck, who’d be shocked if the Busch brothers were there to step into the gap.

Bill Kimm: If it wasn’t for the comeback of RCR this season, I think Kurt and the addition of Steve Addington would be the turn-around story of the year. I was shocked at how quickly Addington was shown the door at Joe Gibbs Racing, and he has proven just how valuable he is this season with the older brother.

Bill Kimm: Well, unless we find out in the next few weeks that Jimmie Johnson is actually related to Kyle and Kurt, then I don’t see a brother vs. brother battle for the championship. Kyle and Kurt have the potential to be there, but whoever is there will be battling the No. 48—related or not. But I do like both Kurt and Kyle’s potential to challenge for the title. After two events, both seem like they are in it for the long haul.

David Caraviello: And for fourth in points, Kurt still remains [I think] a little under the radar, likely because he doesn’t have the number of race wins as some of the other Chase contenders. But the next three weeks are their Chase, plain and simple. Three intermediate tracks—Kansas, Fontana, Charlotte—right in their wheelhouse. They make a statement there, they’re in it until the end.Dave Rodman: I think the biggest thing the No. 48 team has going for it is its mental toughness—knowing what it takes to win these Chase championships and having an awesome pedigree of getting it done. Everyone else has to figure it out sooner or later and I really think Kyle’s ready. And it would be a great story if Kurt and Addington achieved it in their first season—and how cool would twin NASCAR titles for “the Captain” be?

David Caraviello: Dave, I’ll agree—the No. 48 team makes mental toughness look like a science. The way they handle this time of year … they put it in print when Chad and Jimmie retire, every competitor in the garage would buy a copy. And the awe factor is always there, lurking. No top driver is easily intimidated, but JJ reels a few off here, and people are going to be doubled over gasping. As much as we talk about Kurt’s opportunity in this upcoming stretch, if Johnson makes strides at Fontana and Charlotte … watch out.

Bill Kimm: If I had to pick between the two—I think Kyle is a little ahead of Kurt. It’s weird, but Kyle came into the Chase a little under the radar, at least compared to his past. I think that was the best thing to happen to that No. 18 team.

David Caraviello: I will say that Kurt didn’t seem overly enthusiastic about Kansas when talking about it earlier this week. Everybody compares it to Chicago, and a lot of very good teams—the No. 2 bunch included—completely whiffed on the setup in Joliet. I think that may have been in the back of Kurt’s mind at the time.

Bill Kimm: That’s the great thing about Kansas that unfortunately will disappear next season. Aside from Homestead, it’s the only track these guys haven’t raced at this season—so it’s adds some mystery. That is gone in 2011. Of course, I guess Chicago now takes that role, doesn’t it?

David Caraviello: Bill, Chicago indeed becomes kind of the setup wild card in the Chase beginning next year. By adding a second race, some of the mystery will be taken from Kansas. But something tells me the competitors won’t mind that. And historically, it seems Chicago has been the tougher track for crew chiefs to get a handle on.

Dave Rodman: David, it’ll be fascinating because any hopefuls will have to keep pace—and watching that effort will be fascinating. Personally, I would just love to see Carl Edwards make that Turn 3 slide job on Jimmie stick this Sunday.

2.Two weeks into the Chase, who’s in desperation mode?

Bill Kimm: I will put it like this—Biffle, Smoke, Kenseth, and Bowyer, thanks for playing in this year’s Chase. But it’s over for you, hope to see you again in 2011. Those four are 140 or more points out and the way the guys up top are driving, I just don’t see them making up that ground.

David Caraviello: It’s got to be Tony Stewart, right? Add a less-than-stellar Dover weekend on top of his lost fuel gamble at New Hampshire, and guy’s in a serious hole. A deficit of 162 points isn’t insurmountable, not this early, but Tony’s in the position where he clearly has to make something happen or he’s out of it. Remember, he’s very good at Kansas, with a couple of wins there, so perhaps it’s an apt place for Smoke to try to mount a last stand.

Dave Rodman: Desperation is a strong word to use with eight races to go, but when you look at how consistent the others have been—83 points covers the top eight—Stewart, Biffle and Kenseth have to make a top-five turnaround this weekend or kiss their 2010 title hopes goodbye.

Bill Kimm: Wow, we are all in agreement—this could be a boring Smack.David Caraviello: It’s kind of difficult, not to mention risky, to come up with an arbitrary cutoff number at this stage, an amount that determines who’s in it and who’s out of it. A deficit of triple digits is unquestionably daunting, but a driver can gain a maximum of 195 points in any race, and can gain what, 161 on any other competitor. Jimmie came from way, way back, like 150-plus back, in 2006. So it’s very difficult to just start dismissing people out of hand at this stage.Dave Rodman: Bill, your point of having to leapfrog that many individuals, at least eight of whom appear to be right on top of their game, is a good one. And David, Jimmie overcoming that deficit is a fact, but I think they’ve proven, over time, they might be about the only team in this bunch that’s capable of doing it.

David Caraviello: To me the question becomes—who’s capable of making a run from the back of the pack? Given that he hasn’t won yet this season, I don’t know that Kenseth is. But Stewart absolutely is. No question Tony could rip off a few wins and at least make an attempt at becoming a factor again by the final couple of events. Of course, he needs a lot of help from others to do that, like Jimmie got in 2006, and he has a lot of people to climb over. But I’m not closing the door on him, not just yet.

Bill Kimm: David, I understand what you are saying, but let me put it like this: If Biffle, Smoke, Kenseth or Bowyer win the championship—I will do a lap around the CNN Center naked. That’s how sure I am they aren’t coming back. You say Stewart can “rip off a few wins,” he hasn’t done that all season, why would it happen now?

David Caraviello: Again, it goes back to potential. For all his churlishness, Stewart can wheel anything, and let’s not forget that he nearly won at New Hampshire. Among that group at the bottom, he’s easily the most decorated and accomplished driver. He has some good tracks coming up at Kansas, Talladega, and Phoenix. I’m looking for somebody who can stay in it by making a run from deep in the pack. Among that group, he’s the only one who stands out right now.

Dave Rodman: I’ll also say, it’s been somewhat shocking to me how, through the first two races, Carl Edwards’ two Roush Fenway teammates haven’t been able to keep pace with him. One more like that and they are burnt toast.

David Caraviello: Dave, on the subject of Roush Fenway, are you surprised? Let’s face it, Roush has only recently crawled back among the living. Biffle and Kenseth have been in the top 12 all year—an obvious testament to their teams and their ability—but it was only Edwards who showed anything approaching championship-level strength toward the end of the regular season. Kenseth’s been the victim of some bad luck, but I think a lot of people would have been surprised to see the No. 16 or No. 17 teams near the top right now.

Dave Rodman: But for the balance of the year, the Greg and Greg tandem were the best Roush Fenway team—for sure right through Pocono in mid-summer and they didn’t fade much right up to the cutoff. But all of a sudden, for two consecutive races I’ve watched the No. 16 and No. 17 lounge around the back of the Chase field on the monitors. How fitting they’re highlighted in red, because that’s a real red flag.

Bill Kimm: For me, the guy who is feeling the pressure is Jeff Gordon. At 83 out, he is still a contender, but he hasn’t had a top-five since July. He better do something at Kansas or he will watch the field drive right on by.

David Caraviello: People have been saying that about Jeff Gordon all year, and the guy hasn’t gone away. Heck, he was second in points at the end of the regular season, wasn’t he? And at this point, I don’t know if he has to win. He has to hang in there. If that means eight consecutive top-five finishes, does anyone doubt that the No. 24 team can do that?

Dave Rodman: Disagree, Bill. As long as they can at least maintain that kind of gap—plus having the potential to pop off a couple top-fives—they are nowhere near out of it, even if they stay in eighth. As many of these guys have said, there’s nothing that says this won’t be the most competitive Chase in history.

Bill Kimm: I like your optimistic attitude DC, but I’m a stats kinda guy. You bring up Stewart and multiple wins, well he has one in 28 starts this season. Where do you see him all of a sudden dominating? And Gordon had a fantastic regular season and yes, he was second in points. But how do you figure he can just start piling up top-fives when he hasn’t done it all season? And let’s remember, Gordon was second in points, but more than 300 behind Harvick. No Chase, this is Harvick’s championship without question.

David Caraviello: Well, I don’t necessarily buy the “most competitive Chase in history” line. We kinda hear that every year. And Gordon is indeed a tough one to figure out, given that he’s been good enough to stay in the hunt, but not quite able to win. Right now, you don’t necessarily have to win. You have to avoid disaster and outrun 11 other people. Eighty-three back? If we’re talking about who’s in desperation mode, the No. 24 team does not fit the bill.

David Caraviello: I don’t think it’s so ridiculous a notion to almost dismiss out of hand, like Smacketeer Bill Kimm is doing. Johnson isn’t quite as bulletproof as he’s been in some recent years, although if he takes the lead this weekend—as he’s done two of the past four years at Kansas—it could send a collective shiver down the backs of everyone in the garage area. But looking at it right now, you’d have to think it’s definitely possible, given what the No. 18 team is capable of, and the potential of the No. 2 bunch.Dave Rodman: Ain’t no desperation in these waters—at least not yet. And while Kansas might just be one race, after that, you’ll have a few desperate people if not even a few ready to do worse.Bill Kimm: If you’re 83 back—you have to win, and soon. Avoiding disaster keeps you in the discussion, but it will not help you hoist the trophy in Miami.

David Caraviello: Bill, again, it’s all relative. Nobody said Stewart was going to start “dominating.” I said you look at his history, he’s the only one in the back capable of making any kind of run. As for Gordon, his 10 top-fives and 14 top-10s have been good enough to keep him in it all year, and I don’t think anything is going to change in the short term. As for Harvick’s 300-point lead … history, baby. The only one desperate is going to be Bill Kimm, when he has to run some au naturel laps around CNN Center after Smoke gets back into this thing.

Bill Kimm: I’ll keep it simple. I like Smoke, but he won’t be winning the championship this season. As for Gordon, he doesn’t post a top-five at Kansas—his hopes are done as well.

David Caraviello: Really? What if Jimmie wrecks? What if Hamlin’s team missed the setup and finishes 25th? Again, it’s all relative to 11 other guys. Start limbering up, Bill Kimm. You’re gonna have some running to do!

Bill Kimm: I just hope Atlanta has some unusually warm weather in November!

3. Austin Dillon won his second Camping World Truck Series event last weekend in Las Vegas. Is he—and the No. 3—ready for the move up to the Nationwide tour next year?

Bill Kimm: In a word—no! Great rookie season for Dillon, without question. But let’s spend a couple years in the Truck Series before going up to the Nationwide tour. He can dabble next year, but he’s not ready for full-time.

Dave Rodman: Depends what your philosophy is. From a budget standpoint—and accruing great experience—for my money Austin ought to stay in Trucks next season and win the championship. The experience he gains there will be priceless in his development.

David Caraviello: Given what he’s accomplished on the Truck tour this year, you’d have to say so, but as with anything, it’s all going to come down to a seat and to sponsorship. Even if you want to put Dillon in a Nationwide car next year, does Bass Pro Shops follow him? And am I right that RCR has only one Nationwide car these days? So despite what he may have earned, some pieces have to come together to make it happen.

Bill Kimm: I’m not dismissing it David, I’m simply saying to look past Jimmie Johnson is ludicrous. This is his championship to win or lose, and after what I saw at Dover—I’d say it’s his to win.

Bill Kimm: I’m sure Richard Childress would find a way to get him in the Nationwide Series if a potential sponsor was there, but we have seen many drivers jump to the Nationwide tour only to end up over their heads and out of work. I would hate to see that happen to Dillon, who is loaded with talent. I agree with Rodman—stay in Trucks.David Caraviello: There goes Bill, drinking before noon again. Why does Austin need to spend another year in Trucks? Two wins, four poles, an average finish of 10th—he seems to have it down. The question right now is about potential ride availability, not seasoning. The kid seems more than ready to move up. Now, if he doesn’t want to—he is a college student still—that’s another thing. But looking at pure results, and what Austin seems capable of? No need to keep him in Trucks if something else presents itself.

Dave Rodman: RCR doesn’t really even have a full-fledged Nationwide program any more—though with the depth of their personnel and some of the good people, like Gere Kennon, they’ve brought on, reviving it wouldn’t be an issue—but like Bill says, let him dabble there. Racing at the front of the Truck Series, full-time and with the competition he’d face there, would do him a lot more good.

David Caraviello: I mean who knows, maybe Austin and Bass Pro Shops want to make a run at the Truck championship next year. If that’s the case, and it’s what he wants to do, by all means go for it. But if he and father Mike Dillon feel Austin is ready to take the next step, why stop them?

Bill Kimm: What’s the rush? He’s 20 years old—he has plenty of time to move up. The fear is doing it too soon. You and I could rattle off names of guys who were in over their heads and it hurt them. Stay in Trucks, run a part-time Nationwide schedule to see how you do, and then in 2012, address it. I just don’t see what the big hurry is. And pure results? His two wins have come at standalone events where there wasn’t a Cup or Nationwide driver in sight. Yes, he’s having a great season, but one year doesn’t make a career. He moves up too early, it could be disastrous.

Dave Rodman: The four aces Austin has up his sleeve are his family ties to RCR. He will have a ride wherever his dad and grandfather feel will be best. But when you look at everything: budget, competition, being a championship contender and, the great point David brings up, he really needs to pay attention to his college requirements, staying in Trucks while everything shakes out with this Nationwide new car and he makes about five-to-seven starts there, is the way to go.

David Caraviello: There goes Bill Kimm again, confusing the Truck and Nationwide tour. On a companion weekend, how many Cup guys cross over to the Truck ranks? Two? Three? This “standalone” business is nonsense. How about a fifth at Loudon? Or a fifth at Michigan, all on Cup weekends? That’s a non-issue. This is a developmental series, remember? Austin has clearly developed, into a guy who can contend for Truck wins on almost any given week. Guys with many fewer accomplishments to their name have made the jump up.

Bill Kimm: And where are they now?

David Caraviello: Yeah, it just didn’t work out that well for guys like Mike Skinner and Kurt Busch, did it? Shoot, they jumped right from Trucks to Cup, if memory serves me correctly. Granted, they had a few more wins than Austin does right now, but we’re not talking about going directly to the big leagues. We’re talking about Nationwide. And if that’s what Austin and RCR want to do—well, then, he’s shown what he’s capable of on the Truck tour, and it’s time to move on.

Dave Rodman: I agree with Bill on one hand—though again, the unfair advantage both Austin and his little brother Ty have is they have almost a triple-green-light to do whatever they want—no strings attached. But having said that—make no mistake—these kids have oodles of talent. So I think the issue becomes properly developing it and not rushing. The Truck Series is plenty competitive enough that racing full-time there and making some Nationwide efforts won’t hurt Austin one bit—will help him way more, in fact.

David Caraviello: Again, if the Dillons want to stay in Trucks, of course they should. Nobody is trying to force their hands. And to Dave’s point, Austin has backed up every chance he’s gotten because of his family connection. It would be different if he were struggling, or if there were questions about whether he can drive. There aren’t. He wants to move up, let him move up. And let him take the No. 3 with him.

Dave Rodman: Bottom line, and with where RCR’s Cup program has gone and with what it takes to maintain it, I think budget is going to dictate where Austin races next season. If they have a budget to do a proper Nationwide program, he could handle it. I’d more expect him and Ty to race in Trucks, though.

David Caraviello: Dave, I can see that. Maybe Austin runs Trucks full-time and becomes one of the guys who shares the Nationwide car. And maybe we should paint a big No. 3 on Bill Kimm when he streaks around CNN Center!

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writers.

Written by chris · Filed Under NASCAR | Comments Off

Appeal process leaves empty feeling (Yahoo! Sports)

September 30, 2010

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With his feet up on one of NASCAR’s large conference tables, Richard Childress seemed totally at ease while awaiting a decision on his appeal of Clint Bowyer’s championship-ending penalty.

He’d just presented a lengthy defense of Bowyer’s race-winning car, using a team of RCR employees and an expert in accident reconstruction to show the three-member National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel that his team did not intentionally bring an illegal car to the Sept. 19 race at New Hampshire. Childress maintained that when Bowyer ran out of fuel on the cooldown lap, a tow truck had to push him to victory lane and that contact caused the damage that led to a failed inspection.

More From Jenna Fryer Fryers Five: Elimination format has to be right Sep 27, 2010 Four Wide: Equal scrutiny would settle murkiness Sep 24, 2010 Richard Childress will take his case to NASCAR's next level of appeals, chief appellate officer John Middlebrook.Getty

In the conference room, Childress presented an image of a man who felt very certain he was headed to victory. Then in one moment, it all changed.

After nearly five hours of presentation, first by the RCR side and then NASCAR, Childress and his crew were abruptly summoned to another room. Minutes later, he emerged through the glass front doors of NASCAR’s Research and Development center in a clearly different mood.

The panel had denied his appeal, and Childress didn’t even bother to hide his disgust. Neither did Dr. Charles Manning, an expert witness Childress brought in to recreate the damage that could potentially be caused by a tow truck.

The two could not believe the panel dismissed the theory that a tow truck pushed the rear end of Bowyer’s car 1/16-inch beyond NASCAR’s tolerance, and Manning’s claim that “they paid no attention to anything I said” painted a picture of a kangaroo court that had its mind made up long before RCR even showed up.

As he walked away from the long, disappointing day, Childress was overheard saying he agreed with everything rival team owner Jack Roush said in a recent blog post by Landmark Newspapers’ Dustin Long.

“I think that it should be a jury of our peers that would have a stake in the thing,” Roush told Long. “In my situation, I think that on several occasions I’ve not been treated fairly by the process, and I don’t have confidence that it would reach the best decision in my case or any other case.”

RCR’s jury was made up of Lyn St. James, a former Indy car and road racer; Johnny Capels, former head of CART and USAC; and Waddell Wilson, a former NASCAR crew chief and engine builder. None are NASCAR employees, and only Wilson has any ties to NASCAR. The trio unanimously voted to uphold the punishment, which included a crippling 150-point penalty to Bowyer, a $150,000 fine and six-week suspensions for crew chief Shane Wilson and car chief Chad Haney.

The penalty has destroyed Bowyer’s title hopes. He qualified for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship as the 12th and final seed, but his New Hampshire win pushed him all the way to second in the standings.

“Why not us?” Wilson wondered about his team’s chances to dethrone four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson after the win.

Two weeks ago, we all asked the same question and wondered if Bowyer could be the feel-good story of the 10-race Chase. Now we know why not them.

Here are four issues in the RCR vs. NASCAR case:

1. Did NASCAR lose by winning?

It feels that way in the wake of the decision by the appeals panel, mainly because fans are expressing a real sense of outrage and belief that Childress and Bowyer have been dealt a horrible injustice.

Nothing has sat well with the public since the issue came to light, first through word that Bowyer’s car from the Sept. 11 race at Richmond came dangerously close to failing inspection. It passed, people argued, so what’s the big deal?

John Darby, Sprint Cup Series director, made the presentation for NASCAR.Getty

The big deal was that, after the Richmond car struggled to get through the detailed inspection at NASCAR’s R&D Center, the team was warned the New Hampshire car would be given the same scrutiny. And when that car failed three days after Bowyer’s win, something smelled rotten.

Fans still don’t understand how a car can pass an inspection at the track after the race, then fail an inspection three days later when NASCAR has possession of the car. The reason is because the tools, lasers and computer simulators used at the R&D Center are far more high-tech than what NASCAR is capable of bringing to the track.

So if every car could potentially pass an at-track inspection but then fail at R&D, why isn’t NASCAR taking every car for the second inspection? Or at least all 12 Chase cars? That’s a question fans don’t feel they’ve had properly answered.

Toss in the track record of the appeals panel: Of the 133 appeals heard over the past decade, including RCR’s, only 10 were overturned. That’s right, the appeals committee has sided against NASCAR just 10 times over the past 10 years. (Disclosure: The panel did reduce 28 penalties.)

With that kind of track record, the public has little faith that the appeals committee is nothing more than an extension of NASCAR which stays in step with the sanctioning body.

Nobody, save for maybe Childress and his expert witness, thought RCR would win that appeal. And with that kind of perception, NASCAR’s entire system is viewed with a wary eye.

The panel found that NASCAR was right and Bowyer’s car was intentionally illegal. It’s little exoneration for an already under-fire NASCAR. When skeptics doubt the honesty of the process from the very beginning, NASCAR has no way of winning this issue anywhere outside of the boardroom.

2. Why did the panel rule against Childress?

According to the statement by the appeals panel, they did indeed listen to Manning’s report on how a tow truck could cause damage to the back of a Sprint Cup car. Only they didn’t find his argument – that the left rear frame was bent upward as a result of the car being pushed by the tow truck – probable based on the actual condition of Bowyer’s car.

“Claims that the wrecker caused the infraction were negated by the telemetry from the car which did not show a sharp impact spike; by the fact that the rear template still fit snugly across the entire rear of the car; by a visual inspection of the rear of the car which showed nothing of note in the way of damage; and a visual review of the videotape of post race assistance tendered by the wrecker which appeared as relatively gentle pushing,” the report reads.

More damning, though, was what the panel called “additional facts which came to light during the hearing.” Among them: Both the left and right sides of the rear were high, and the rear of the body was offset on the frame.

Why was this an issue? Because, according to the panel, Childress’ expert witness testified that the way the tow truck hit Bowyer’s car “would strictly affect the left rear.

“He went on to say that the corresponding right-rear measurements should not be affected, in his view, nor the frame member deformed as a team representative had alleged,” the report reads.

It turns out that the right side was affected and the rear of the body was deformed.

Manning claims the panel didn’t listen to a thing he had to say. According to the panelists’ report, though, they listened to everything he said, and when his testimony contradicted what NASCAR found on the car, the only ruling option was to uphold the penalties.

3. Does NASCAR have any influence over the panel?

Based on how often the appeals committee rules in favor of NASCAR, it certainly seems that the participants are very much an extension of the sanctioning body. Toss in the griping of car owners who have never fared well in front of the committee, and few believe that offenders actually get a fair hearing.

But those who have served on the panel say it’s not true, insisting they are an independent board allowed to make independent decisions without any influence from NASCAR. Each appeals panel is chosen from a pool of more than 30 participants. Three members vote, and administrator George Silbermann – a NASCAR employee – moderates the hearing but does not vote.

The pool of potential panelists includes everyone from former drivers Buddy Baker and Harry Gant, to former car owners Robert Yates and Bud Moore. There are also track officials such as Denis McGlynn, president & CEO of Dover, and Cathy Rice, general manager of South Boston Speedway.

All of the panelists have ties to auto racing, but few are direct NASCAR employees. Several of the track officials in the pool of panelists do work for International Speedway Corp., the sister company to NASCAR, but none served during Childress’ appeal.

Wilson was an appropriate pick for the RCR appeal because, as a former crew chief, he had knowledge of the technical issues being scrutinized. Some people will argue that James and Capels should not have heard the appeal because their background was not primarily in NASCAR.

It doesn’t matter, though. The three people who heard Childress’ appeal went into the process with nothing to gain by ruling in favor of NASCAR. They were independent jurors, and according to Sprint Cup Series director John Darby – who argued NASCAR’s case – the panel was thorough in its investigation.

“They’re very informed people,” Darby said. “And they were definitely on track to collect all the information they could before they rendered a decision. I think [the appeals] are all fair. They’re very tense. You get nervous when you go to one of these deals. It’s not just a mocked-up party; it’s serious.

“You have to be very exact, you have to be very precise, you have to be very direct, you have to be very honest.”

4. What’s next for Childress?

The car owner wrote a check on the spot to cover the fee charged to appeal to the next level, chief appellate officer John Middlebrook.

The former General Motors executive is considered the Supreme Court justice for NASCAR, and he’ll likely hear the appeal next week.

According to Darby, the process differs from the first appeal. On Wednesday, Childress and the witnesses he brought with him could talk as long as they wanted to the panel, and NASCAR was not in the room. After RCR was done, the group left the room and Darby then gave NASCAR’s presentation. The panel was free to call RCR back for follow-up questions, though it’s not clear if that happened.

According to Darby, Middlebrook will run the next hearing however he chooses and will be given a transcript of Wednesday’s proceedings.

“It’s a different format, completely, from the first level of appeals are,” Darby said. “Mr. Middlebrook will decide who he wants to talk to and what he wants to talk about and when and where he wants to talk about it. Then he makes the ultimate decision.”

In the meantime, RCR can ask Middlebrook to allow Wilson and Haney to work this weekend at Kansas – permission that will likely be granted. Suspended crew members are typically allowed to work until their appeals have been exhausted.

Jenna Fryer covers NASCAR for The Associated Press and is a regular contributor to Yahoo! Sports. Follow her on Twitter. Send Jenna a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.

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Appeal process leaves unsatisfactory feeling (Yahoo! Sports)

September 30, 2010

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With his feet up on one of NASCAR’s large conference tables, Richard Childress seemed totally at ease while awaiting a decision on his appeal of Clint Bowyer’s championship-ending penalty.

In the conference room, Childress presented an image of a man who felt very certain he was headed to victory. Then in one moment, it all changed.

“Why not us?” Wilson wondered about his team’s chances to dethrone four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson after the win.

Two weeks ago, we all asked the same question and wondered if Bowyer could be the feel-good story of the 10-race Chase. Now we know why not them.

Here are four issues in the RCR vs. NASCAR case:

1. Did NASCAR lose by winning?

John Darby, Sprint Cup Series director, made the presentation for NASCAR.Getty

With that kind of track record, the public has little faith that the appeals committee is nothing more than an extension of NASCAR which stays in step with the sanctioning body.

Nobody, save for maybe Childress and his expert witness, thought RCR would win that appeal. And with that kind of perception, NASCAR’s entire system is viewed with a wary eye.

2. Why did the panel rule against Childress?

Why was this an issue? Because, according to the panel, Childress’ expert witness testified that the way the tow truck hit Bowyer’s car “would strictly affect the left rear.

“He went on to say that the corresponding right-rear measurements should not be affected, in his view, nor the frame member deformed as a team representative had alleged,” the report reads.

It turns out that the right side was affected and the rear of the body was deformed.

3. Does NASCAR have any influence over the panel?

“You have to be very exact, you have to be very precise, you have to be very direct, you have to be very honest.”

4. What’s next for Childress?

The car owner wrote a check on the spot to cover the fee charged to appeal to the next level, chief appellate officer John Middlebrook.

The former General Motors executive is considered the Supreme Court justice for NASCAR, and he’ll likely hear the appeal next week.

According to Darby, Middlebrook will run the next hearing however he chooses and will be given a transcript of Wednesday’s proceedings.

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Kansas marks Chase separation time (Yahoo! Sports)

September 30, 2010

The Chase enters its most crucial three-race string, as dictated by Jimmie Johnson. This is the stretch last year when he first caught up to Mark Martin, then took the lead and from there never looked back.

Stick with Johnson through Kansas, Auto Club and Charlotte and you have a shot. Lose ground and you’re likely out of contention. Because after this stretch it’s on to Martinsville, where you’re likely going to lose ground to him; Talladega, where you can only pray to gain something; Texas, where he’s as good as anyone; Phoenix, where he’s better than everyone; and Homestead-Miami, where he typically puts it on cruise control.

It may be cliché, but it truly is now or never for Johnson’s challengers.

Each Wednesday during the Chase, Yahoo! Sports breaks down the 12-driver field. This week the Chase rolls into Kansas Speedway for Race No. 3 of the Chase.

Here is a look at how the field stacks up heading into Sunday’s Price Chopper 400:

div.driverWrapper {float:left;width:636px;margin-bottom:10px;}div.driverBar {float:left; width: 630px; background-image: url(http://l.yimg.com/a/p/sp/tools/med/2010/09/ipt/1284455103.jpg);background-repeat:no repeat; height: 20px; padding: 2px 3px 0px 3px;margin-bottom:8px;}div.driverName {float:left;font-size:15px;font-weight:bold;}div.driverPoints {float:right;font-size:15px;font-weight:bold;padding:0px;}.tinyType {font-size:8px;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;padding:0px;}.sportsTable th { vertical-align:top;text-align:center;background-color:#b5dbfb; } .sportsTable {margin:0px;} div.driverText {float:left;width:180px;border-right:1px solid black;padding:0px 10px;} .driverStatsWrapper {float:right;width:280px;margin:0px;padding:0px;} 1. Denny Hamlin5368 pts. Hamlin

It’s put up or shut up time for Hamlin. He got through his nemesis, Dover. Now the schedule gets into his comfort zone. Can he remain mistake-free? Last week’s result: 9th2010 STATSWinsTop 5sPoles 6 11 1CAREERAT KANSASAvg. finish:19.0Last time:5thREMAINING TRACKSBest: Martinsville (6.6)Worst: Talladega (19.3)Total avg.: 14.2 2. Jimmie Johnson 5333 pts. (-35) Johnson

His intermediate-track program has been questionable this season, but Johnson said a third-place run at Atlanta gave him some confidence. Is that for real or is it false?Last week’s result: 1st

2010 STATSWinsTop 5sPoles 6 11 3CAREERAT KANSASAvg. finish:10.2Last time:9thREMAINING TRACKSBest: Martinsville (4.9)Worst: Talladega (17.8)Total avg.: 9.6 3. Kyle Busch 5323 pts. (-45) Kyle

Who would have thought it possible for Kyle Busch to do anything quietly, but he has so far in the Chase. We know he’ll make some noise, but will it be from a burnout or a flame out?Last week’s result: 6th

2010 STATSWinsTop 5sPoles 3 8 2CAREERAT KANSASAvg. finish:24.3Last time:12thREMAINING TRACKSBest: Auto Club (10.8)Worst: Homestead-Miami (25.2)Total avg.: 18.5 4. Kurt Busch 5309 pts. (-59) Kurt

Self-inflicted mistakes have cost Kurt Busch about 40 to 50 points, and now he heads to Kansas where he’s never been great. Expect him to lose even more ground.Last week’s result: 4th

2010 STATSWinsTop 5sPoles 2 9 2CAREERAT KANSASAvg. finish:19.7Last time:11thREMAINING TRACKSBest: Talladega (12.8)Worst: Martinsville (21.6)Total avg.: 16.6 5. Kevin Harvick 5303 pts. (-65) Harvick

The master of head games got beaten at his own game at Dover. Harvick must regain his focus before he loses sight of Hamlin, Johnson and the Sprint Cup trophy.Last week’s result: 15th

2010 STATSWinsTop 5sPoles 3 12 2CAREERAT KANSASAvg. finish:15.9Last time:24thREMAINING TRACKSBest: Homestead-Miami (8.4)Worst: Charlotte (20.7)Total avg.: 15.5 6. Carl Edwards 5295 pts. (-73) Edwards

No one has more on the line this weekend than Edwards. This is where he either plants himself as a contender or becomes a dreaded Chase “participant.”Last week’s result: 5th

2010 STATSWinsTop 5sPoles 0 7 2CAREERAT KANSASAvg. finish:13.3Last time:10thREMAINING TRACKSBest: Homestead-Miami (6.5)Worst: Talladega (22.5)Total avg.: 13.8 7. Jeff Burton 5288 pts. (-80) Burton

Burton is the most intriguing of the 12 Chase drivers. You can’t peg him as a top contender, but you can’t count him out either. Kansas is kind of like that for him, too. Last week’s result: 2nd

2010 STATSWinsTop 5sPoles 0 6 0CAREERAT KANSASAvg. finish:18.6Last time:23rdREMAINING TRACKSBest: Phoenix (11.4)Worst: Kansas (18.6)Total avg.: 15.6 8. Jeff Gordon 5285 pts. (-83) Gordon

Gordon and Steve Letarte need to figure out how to finish races, because not being their best at the end is costing them points every single race.Last week’s result: 11th

2010 STATSWinsTop 5sPoles 0 10 0CAREERAT KANSASAvg. finish:8.9Last time:2ndREMAINING TRACKSBest: Kansas (8.9)Worst: Talladega (16.7)Total avg.: 11.8 9. Greg Biffle 5228 pts. (-140) Biffle

Expect Biffle and the 16 team to pull out all the stops. Kansas is his best Chase track, meaning if he doesn’t get it done now, it’s likely he won’t the rest of the way. Last week’s result: 19th

2010 STATSWinsTop 5sPoles 1 5 0CAREERAT KANSASAvg. finish:9.0Last time:3rdREMAINING TRACKSBest: Kansas (9.0)Worst: Martinsville (22.3)Total avg.: 17.3 10. Tony Stewart 5206 pts. (-162) Stewart

Smoke is running better than where he sits in the standings, but that’s little consolation when he’s staring at a 162-point hole.Last week’s result: 21st

2010 STATSWinsTop 5sPoles 1 7 2CAREERAT KANSASAvg. finish:13.2Last time:1stREMAINING TRACKSBest: Phoenix (11.7)Worst: Auto Club (14.9)Total avg.: 13.4 11. Matt Kenseth 5203 pts. (-165) Kenseth

There aren’t many positives to talk about with Kenseth. He’s better than a 15th-place driver, but that’s where he’s running every single week.Last week’s result: 18th

2010 STATSWinsTop 5sPoles 0 5 0CAREERAT KANSASAvg. finish:22.1Last time:39thREMAINING TRACKSBest: Auto Club (9.1)Worst: Kansas (22.1)Total avg.: 16.2 12. Clint Bowyer 5133 pts. (-235) Bowyer

It’s unofficially over for Bowyer. Yes, he’s not done with his appeal, but even if he were to win now the distraction obviously cost him major points at Dover.Last week’s result: 25th

2010 STATSWinsTop 5sPoles 1 5 0CAREERAT KANSASAvg. finish:11.0Last time:21stREMAINING TRACKSBest: Kansas (11.0)Worst: Talladega (21.4)Total avg.: 15.2

Jay Hart is the NASCAR editor for Yahoo! Sports. Send Jay a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.

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Price Chopper 400 (Yahoo! Sports)

September 30, 2010

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By the Numbers: Kansas could be the place the No. 2 makes its run (NASCAR.com)

September 30, 2010

0 — The driver in first place after Dover has never gone on to win the championship. Denny Hamlin currently leads the points by 35, the largest lead after two events in Chase history. Interestingly, in six Chase seasons, the driver leading the points after Race No. 3 has won the championship four times.

1 — Kurt Busch has dominated the past 10 races on a 1.5-mile tracks earning the most points (1,477), wins (three), top-fives (five), top-10s (seven), average finish (9.9) and laps led (529).

2 — Two drivers have multiple wins at Kansas: Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon, each with two.

3 — Jimmie Johnson is the only driver with multiple poles at Kansas with three, but he only has been able to turn that into a victory once (2008).

3 — The leader of the most laps has gone on to win three of the nine Kansas races: Jeff Gordon (2002), Mark Martin (2005) and Jimmie Johnson (2008).

3 — Kansas has hosted six Chase races and three of them have been won by non-Chase drivers: Joe Nemechek (2004), Tony Stewart (2006) and Greg Biffle (2007).

6 — Six Chase drivers have started all nine races at Kansas: Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth. Gordon and Stewart are the only ones with victories at the track.

7 — Seven drivers who won in 2009 are still looking for their first victory this season: Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Matt Kenseth.

9 — Nine Chase drivers finished in the top 10 in last season’s race at Kansas. David Reutimann’s eighth-place finish was the lone non-Chaser in the top 10.

15.9 — The average finish for Carl Edwards on the 1.5-mile tracks this season, worst among the Chase drivers. Matt Kenseth has the best average finish this season on 1.5-mile tracks at 10.2.

20 — Twenty drivers have won the 62 Chase races with Jimmie Johnson leading the way with 19. Four of the six Chase seasons have seen a non-Chase driver win at least one race. In 2006, four of the 10 Chase races were won by a non-Chase driver. In 2007 and 2008, a Chase participant won all 10 events.

48.6 — Percent of races Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin have won in the past 37 Cup events. Johnson (10) and Hamlin (8) have visited Victory Lane 18 times in the past 37 Cup events.

• Powered by Racing Recall

Chasers at KansasFour have wonRankDriverStartsWinsT-5T-10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish1.Denny Hamlin50110217.819.02.Jimmie Johnson812633045.610.23.Kyle Busch600106522.824.34.Kurt Busch900208121.719.75.Kevin Harvick900306724.315.96.Carl Edwards602404021.013.37.Jeff Burton90120527.418.68.Jeff Gordon926701759.98.99.Greg Biffle8155026318.89.010.Tony Stewart924605616.413.211.Matt Kenseth9023118414.322.112.Clint Bowyer401204312.011.0

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By the Numbers: (NASCAR.com)

September 30, 2010

Race No. 29—Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway (3 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN2). Green flag at 3:46 p.m.

1—Nationwide races out of the past nine at Kansas that ended under G-W-C conditions (Oct. 2004).

1—Joe Nemechek is the only driver to sweep both the Nationwide and Cup series races at Kansas in the same weekend (2004); it was his last win in each series.

1—Ricky Carmichael will make his series debut at Kansas. Carmichael is in his first full-time season in the Truck Series for Turner Motorsports. He’s 12th in the driver standings with two top-fives and six top-10s.

2—Joe Gibbs Racing drivers won the last two Nationwide Kansas races, the only team to win more than once at Kansas.

2—Nationwide wins by Carl Edwards in 2010. Edwards sits second in the standings, 320 points behind Brad Keselowski.

2.6—Kyle Busch’s average finish in his past 13 Nationwide starts.

4—Top-10 finishes in 19 starts for Colin Braun this season

5—Consecutive races out of the past six that Justin Allgaier finished in the top-15.

5—Top-five finishes for Kevin Harvick in five of his past six starts including a win at Richmond.

6—Races that Brad Keselowski has not scored a top-10 finish this season.

7—Consecutive races out of the past nine that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished in the top-15; he was the best finishing rookie in four of the past five races.

6—Nationwide Kansas races won from a top-10 starting position.

9—Different drivers have won the nine Nationwide Kansas races.

11—Best starting position of the season for Michael Annett, accomplished at Dover last week.

18 – Nationwide starts for James Buescher—one pole (Memphis 10/08). Buescher is making his first series start since Darlington in May.

19—Nationwide starts in 2010 by Joey Logano including five poles, one win and 18 top-.10 finishes. Kansas Speedway is one of four active tracks with a different Nationwide Series winner in each of its races, including defending winner Joey Logano. That nine-race streak is now the longest in the series after Kyle Busch, Logano’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, became the first driver to win multiple races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Prior to Busch’s June victory, there were 23 different winners at Loudon. Logano, who has six second-place finishes this year and has finished second to Busch four times in series competition—three times this season—hopes his team can find an elixir to runner-up finishes at Kansas.

28—Races this season that Justin Allgaier has been In the top-five in points.

95—Brad Keselowski has been running at the finish in the past 95 Nationwide races, the longest streak in series history.

173—Laps led in this race last season by Kyle Busch. He was passed by Joey Logano with four laps to go.

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Childress says team proved case in NASCAR appeal

September 30, 2010

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)—Richard Childress reiterated his frustration in the NASCAR appeals process after an independent panel denied his bid to have Clint Bowyer’s penalty overturned.

Three members of the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel voted unanimously Wednesday to uphold the penalty levied against Bowyer after the car he drove to victory Sept. 19 at New Hampshire failed inspection. The penalty dropped him from second to last in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship standings, and effectively ended his title hopes.

“I am disappointed but not surprised by the decision knowing how the appeal system is structured,” Childress said in a statement Thursday. “We proved beyond a reasonable doubt how the car was found to be out of tolerance after the race. Knowing how the system works, I brought a check with me to cover the cost of the appeal hearing and we have already submitted our request to appeal to the chief appellate officer.”

Childress paid the fee on the spot and will now go before NASCAR’s chief appellate officer, John Middlebrook. The former General Motors executive is NASCAR’s version of the Supreme Court, and is expected to hear the appeal next week.

Childress has maintained that Bowyer’s car was damaged after the race at New Hampshire by a tow truck that pushed the Chevrolet to Victory Lane because it was out of fuel.

In a hearing that lasted nearly five hours at NASCAR’s research and development center, an accident reconstruction expert testified on behalf of the team that the tow truck indeed would have caused damage to the left side of Bowyer’s car and it would have factored into the failed inspection.

The panel, however, said the telemetry from the car refuted the claim because it “did not show a sharp impact spike.”

The panel also found that Dr. Charles Manning of Accident Reconstruction Analysis in Raleigh actually helped NASCAR’s case.

In the decision, signed by John Capels, Lyn St. James, Waddell Wilson and nonvoting member George Silbermann, the panel said Manning argued in the tow truck explanation that the contact bent the left rear frame of the car upward. The panel said Manning testified that the contact would have strictly damaged the left side only because of the matchup between the wrecker pushbar and the angle of the racecar’s rear bumper.

“He went on to say that the corresponding right rear measurements should not be affected, in his view, nor the frame member deformed,” the panel wrote of Manning’s testimony.

NASCAR, however, presented evidence that both the left and right sides of the rear of the car were high and the body was offset on the frame.

That development apparently led the panel to believe the No. 33 team intentionally altered the race car, a claim RCR has dismissed as inconceivable because they had been given advance notice that NASCAR would seize the New Hampshire car for further inspection. The team had been warned a week earlier that its car design was creeping dangerously close to failing inspection.

The panel upheld the 150-point deduction levied against Bowyer, who trails leader Denny Hamlin by 235 points with eight races remaining in the Chase. Also upheld was 150 owner points taken from Childress, a $150,000 fine and six race suspension for crew chief Shane Wilson, and a six-race suspension for car chief Chad Haney.

Wilson and Haney are expected to work this weekend’s race at Kansas because their appeals are still ongoing.

Childress vowed not to let his organization be derailed by the penalties. In addition to Bowyer, drivers Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton are also racing for the Sprint Cup title in what’s been a season of resurgence for one of NASCAR’s top teams.

“We will not let this be a distraction to the primary goal of one of our teams winning the Sprint Cup Series championship,” Childress said. “We owe it to our fans and our sponsors to stay focused and bring the championship back to RCR.”

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Busch brothers hanging tough with NASCAR hopefuls

September 30, 2010

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (AP)—The attention so far in the NASCAR title chase has been on the drivers at the top—leader Denny Hamlin and four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson—and the controversy surrounding Clint Bowyer’s illegal car in the opening race.

Somewhat unnoticed has been the work of brothers Kyle and Kurt Busch, who are quietly holding down the third and fourth spots in the Chase for the championship standings.

As NASCAR heads into Kansas Speedway for Round 3 of its title-deciding series, Kyle Busch is 45 points behind Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Hamlin in the standings. Kurt Busch, winner of the inaugural 2004 Chase, is 59 points back.

With both drivers in striking distance of the points lead, there’s certainly the potential for the championship race to turn into a battle between the Busch brothers.

“I think the chance for me and Kyle to race for the championship has its best position in years,” Kurt Busch said. “Neither one of us would shy away from that challenge.”

The brothers have both advanced through the first two Chase races with little fanfare.

Kyle Busch’s big moment came in the opener at New Hampshire, where he came close to unraveling in the car as his Toyota tailed off midway through the race. Crew chief Dave Rogers immediately barked back, warning him how bad the day would get if he lost his head.

“Cool. Well … darn,” the seemingly flabbergasted driver replied.

He wound up with a ninth-place finish that kept Hamlin in sight in the standings. Then came last Sunday at Dover, where many believed Kyle Busch would defend his May victory.

He contended briefly, leading 46 late laps, but faded to a sixth-place finish. Busch had mixed feelings about the performance.

“It was a good day for us, but man, legitimately we had a second-place car,” he said, quickly doing the math and believing he’s got to be better to overcome that ninth-place finish in the opener.

“The average is going to be a sixth (for the champion), but with our ninth, that doesn’t quite give us what we want. We were hoping for a second or third.”

Kurt Busch also had his share of tense moments through the first two races.

NASCAR penalized his Penske Racing team at New Hampshire after his crew was caught with an extra set of tires on qualifying day. It cost the team the first 15 minutes of practice the next day, and Busch struggled to a 13th-place finish while trying to milk a better finish out of just an OK car.

He was better at Dover on Sunday, but had his own near-meltdown after a pit-road speeding penalty dropped him to 19th halfway through the race.

“I was like a kid playing with matches and got burned,” he said. “We’re about 50 points behind where we should be. The driver has thrown away 50 points in two races.”

The Busch brothers will have to improve to keep pace with Hamlin and Johnson this Sunday at Kansas.

Hamlin has so far delivered, finishing second at New Hampshire and following up with a ninth at Dover, his worst track of the 10 Chase venues. He vowed this week that he’ll have a top-five car at Kansas.

Johnson, meanwhile, bounced back from an uncharacteristic 25th-place finish at New Hampshire to earn his sixth-career victory at Dover. His average finish at Kansas is 10th, and he won the Chase race there in 2008.

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Weekend Preview: Kansas could present a new Cup Series leader (NASCAR.com)

Track Smack: A possible Busch brothers battle for title? (NASCAR.com)

Appeal process leaves empty feeling (Yahoo! Sports)

Appeal process leaves unsatisfactory feeling (Yahoo! Sports)

Kansas marks Chase separation time (Yahoo! Sports)

Price Chopper 400 (Yahoo! Sports)

By the Numbers: Kansas could be the place the No. 2 makes its run (NASCAR.com)

By the Numbers: (NASCAR.com)

Childress says team proved case in NASCAR appeal

Busch brothers hanging tough with NASCAR hopefuls

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