| Upcoming Events in the World of NASCARThe | | | | the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt, there was an |
| weeks are rolling by and the race for the Chase is | | | | internal reluctance at RCR to change the way things |
| nearing its end. NASCAR has to be ecstatic with the | | | | were done in the past. It took the hiring of an |
| standings heading into Watkins Glen next week. | | | | outspoken, veteran driver like Jeff Burton to come in |
| Currently, the two biggest names in NASCAR, Jeff | | | | and shake things up. And my, what a difference that |
| Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr, sit in 8th and 10th | | | | has made!Who's Not?Kasey Kahne was riding high |
| place respectively. As you recall, both drivers missed | | | | after winning at Michigan International Speedway in |
| the 2005 inaugural Chase for the Championship.Other | | | | the 3M Performance 400 presented by Post-it Picture |
| drivers in the top 10 include previous champions Matt | | | | Paper where he captured his 4th win of the season. |
| Kenseth (2nd place), Tony Stewart (who resurged | | | | That win pushed Kasey up to 3rd in points with over |
| from a multi-week skid and sits in 9th place), and fan | | | | a 200 point cushion between him and 10th |
| favorite Mark Martin (6th). Given this star-studded | | | | place.What a difference a month and a half's worth |
| cast who has everything to lose, next week's AMD | | | | of races makes. In the 6 races following Michigan, |
| at The Glen is building up to be a can't miss race!Of all | | | | Kasey has an average finish of 26th. An average |
| current drivers with 2 or more career starts at | | | | finish that low in NASCAR's Nextel Cup Series only |
| Watkins Glen International, Mark Martin has had the | | | | guarantees one thing, that you won't be racing for |
| most success. In 18 starts at the Glen, Mark has an | | | | the championship at the end of the season.The |
| average finish of 6th.Also expect the following | | | | recent string of bad finishes has moved the driver |
| drivers to do well next week:Tony Stewart - | | | | once locked for the Chase to the dreaded 11th place |
| Average Finish 7th | | | | finisher who gets nothing more than a good |
| Kevin Harvick - Average Finish 9th | | | | spectator seat in December at the awards banquet. |
| Robby Gordon - Average Finish 10th | | | | Can Kasey rebound and overcome the 34 point |
| Jeff Gordon - Average Finish 12thNext Week's | | | | deficit between him and 10th place driver Dale |
| Schedule:Nextel Cup: @ Watkins Glen International | | | | Earnhardt Jr? Only Kasey knows the answer to that. |
| 8/11/06 - 02:40pm NASCAR Nextel Cup AMD at The | | | | But given the fact that he ranks 8th for current |
| Glen Qualifying | | | | drivers at Watkins Glen compared to 15th place |
| 8/12/06 - 10:05am NASCAR Nextel Cup AMD at The | | | | ranking for Dale Earnhardt Jr, I would say Kasey's |
| Glen Practice | | | | future is in his hands.Last Week's HeadlinesAny race |
| 8/13/06 - 01:35pm NASCAR Nextel Cup AMD at The | | | | at historical Indianapolis Motor Speedway is special, |
| GlenBusch Series: @ Watkins Glen International | | | | and yesterday's Allstate 400 was no exception. The |
| 8/11/06 - 05:30am NASCAR Busch Series Zippo 200 | | | | last 5 of 8 NASCAR winners at the "Brickyard" have |
| Practice | | | | gone on to win the Nextel Cup championship. Jimmie |
| 8/12/06 - 11:05am NASCAR Busch Series Zippo 200 | | | | Johnson can only hope that history rings true and |
| Qualifying | | | | that his win at Indy will help cap off a near perfect |
| 8/12/06 - 02:10pm NASCAR Busch Series Zippo | | | | season for the #48 Lowe's team with a |
| 200Craftsman Truck Series: @ Nashville | | | | championship.Jimmie's win yesterday wasn't easy. |
| Superspeedway | | | | Early race tire troubles moved Johnson way back in |
| 8/11/06 - 04:15pm NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | | | | the field of 43 drivers. Patiently, Johnson weaved his |
| Toyota Tundra 200 Practice | | | | way back to the front. Late in the race, Jimmie |
| 8/12/06 - 12:00pm NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | | | | claimed the lead only to relinquish it on second to last |
| Toyota Tundra 200 Qualifying | | | | caution of the day. Jimmie restarted 8th after taking |
| 8/12/06 - 04:15pm NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | | | | 4 tires in the caution and made quick work of the 7 |
| Toyota Tundra 200Who's Hot?While it would be easy | | | | cars in front of him who either took 2 tires on the |
| to name the winner of the Allstate 400 and current | | | | final stop or didn't stop at all.One of those drivers, |
| point's leader Jimmie Johnson the man (which he is), I | | | | Dale Earnhardt Jr, made the most tactical move of |
| think it's important to note the not-so obvious. | | | | the day by deciding to stay out on the second to |
| Richard Childress Racing is making a massive | | | | last caution. He restarted 2nd, and was able to hold |
| resurgence in 2006 and is giving the Hendrick | | | | on with a 6th place finish. That move put Jr in 10th |
| Motorsports and Roush Racing teams a new | | | | place in points and a potential qualifier for the Chase |
| competitor each Sunday.Not since the days of Dale | | | | for the Championship. If Earnhardt had stayed out, |
| Earnhardt has RCR had the success it's seeing in | | | | he would have finished in the high 20's and possibly |
| 2006. In yesterday's Allstate 400, both Kevin Harvick | | | | low 30's; a finish that low would have completely |
| and rookie Clint Boyer finished in the top 4. Let's not | | | | wiped out his chances of qualifying for the |
| forget Jeff Burton who led the most laps of the day | | | | Chase.Other drivers to note from yesterday's |
| but got shuffled back in pit stops late in the race to | | | | Allstate 400 were Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, and |
| finish 12th. Sunday's successes were not a one week | | | | Clint Boyer. All three Richard Childress Racing drivers |
| miracle. For much of this season, both Jeff Burton | | | | posted strong finishes and helped secure Burton (3rd) |
| and Kevin Harvick have been in the top 10 in points. | | | | and Harvick's (4th) positions in the points |
| Currently, the drivers sit 3rd and 4th in the points.Is | | | | standings.Jeff Gordon had a rough day that started |
| the resurgence of RCR one of the greatest | | | | early with mechanical problems. The 4-time Cup |
| comebacks in NASCAR's history? Not at all! Richard | | | | champion managed to battle back and finish 16th. |
| Childress Racing has always been a quality team with | | | | The 16th place finish moved Gordon up to 8th in |
| quality drivers and sponsors. It just so happens that | | | | points.This article is provided to you by Everything |
| in the ultra competitive world of NASCAR, teams | | | | Sports, Inc. is owned and operated by Everything |
| have to constantly evolve to stay on top. Following | | | | Sports, Inc. |