| Upcoming Events in the World of NASCAR | | | | after running over a piece of debris. |
| Need a breather? NASCAR does. Next week, | | | | Or, just ask Jeff Gordon with his |
| the Nextel Cup teams will take a rest, | | | | experience in Martinsville a few years |
| and return to action on April 22nd at | | | | ago, a piece of racetrack could break up |
| Phoenix International Raceway in the | | | | and damage part of your car. |
| Subway Fresh 500. The Busch teams, | | | | Such has been the experience of Carl |
| however, don't get it quite so easy. | | | | Edwards this year. The witchdoctors have |
| They travel to Nashville for the Pepsi | | | | apparently singled him out and cast |
| 300 at the Nashville Superspeedway. The | | | | several spells on the 99 team. After |
| Craftsman Truck teams are off until | | | | having strong cars and racing strong for |
| April 29. | | | | much of the season, something always |
| Expect the Hendrick drivers to return to | | | | seems to go wrong towards the end of the |
| dominance in the Subway Fresh 500. Of | | | | race. |
| all current drivers, Kyle Busch, Jeff | | | | Carl arguably had one of the strongest |
| Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson have the best | | | | cars in the field in yesterday's Samsung |
| records at Phoenix. Of course, you can | | | | Radioshack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. |
| never forget Tony Stewart and Mark | | | | However, with only 77 laps to go, Carl |
| Martin. Both are blistering the 2006 | | | | entered turn 2 too fast while racing for |
| schedule! | | | | the 2nd position. Carl currently sits |
| Next Week's Schedule: | | | | 22nd in points. He has his work cut out |
| (all times CST) | | | | for him if he plans to make the Chase, |
| Nextel Cup | | | | and duplicate his success from the 2005 |
| Off until 4/22/06 | | | | season. |
| Busch Series | | | | Last Week's Headlines Recap of the 2006 |
| 4/15/06 - 10:05am Pepsi 300 Qualifying | | | | Samsung/Radioshack 500 at Texas Motor |
| 4/15/06 - 3:03pm Pepsi 300 | | | | Speedway: |
| Craftsman Truck Series | | | | Texas is fast, there's no doubt about |
| Off till April 29th when they head to | | | | it! It was so fast, I almost can't |
| Gateway International Raceway. | | | | remember anything about it. There was |
| Who's Hot? Is Kasey Kahne pouring it on | | | | your normal race action, Kurt Busch |
| now or what? After a dismal 2005 season, | | | | spins yet another driver, etc... But |
| he is finally answering all skeptics out | | | | the two things that stand out from |
| there. Yes, folks the boy is not only | | | | yesterday's Samsung/Radioshack 500 are |
| the subject of every female NASCAR fan's | | | | Kasey Kahne's 3rd career win and Tony |
| desire, he can also compete at NASCAR's | | | | Stewart's near domination. |
| top level. Through 9 races of the 2006 | | | | Some of the best action of the day came |
| season, Kasey has finished with 5 top | | | | in the closing laps where Tony Stewart |
| 5's placing him tied for 3rd in the | | | | tried to hold of a charging Kasey Kahne. |
| championship standings. | | | | Kasey and his car were too good for even |
| The next stop on the Nextel Cup schedule | | | | the former two-time Nextel Cup champion. |
| is Phoenix. Expect Kasey to finish well | | | | In the end, Kasey pulled away from Tony |
| there. In 3 starts, his average finish | | | | and the rest of the field to win his 3rd |
| is 16th. | | | | career Nextel Cup race, and his 2nd of |
| An important fact about all 3 of Kasey's | | | | the 2006 season. |
| career Nextel Cup victories is that he | | | | One thing I find utterly amazing is that |
| was the pole sitter for each race. | | | | Tony Stewart has led every race this |
| Who's Not? A big part of competing in | | | | year. Currently, Tony sits in 5th place, |
| NASCAR is luck. There are so many | | | | and has had success at the upcoming |
| variables that can work against a driver | | | | tracks on the schedule. I expect Tony to |
| that are out of his control. At any | | | | make up ground and position himself to |
| moment, a car could wreck and take out | | | | be in the top 3 heading towards the |
| several others. A tire could go flat | | | | middle part of the season. |