| Upcoming Events in the World of NASCAR | | | | his average with a 13th place finish. |
| If you're looking for a fan of races at | | | | The only driver to finish in the top 10 |
| Martinsville, don't look at me. I have | | | | was Jamie McMurray (9th) who currently |
| never felt that any track with a | | | | sits in 17th place in the Nextel Cup |
| qualifying speed less than 100 mph | | | | Points standings. The remaining Roush |
| should be a part of NASCAR's top | | | | drivers finished as follows: |
| circuit. However, yesterday's DirecTV | | | | Kenseth - 24th |
| 500 was exhilarating. Watching NASCAR's | | | | Biffle - 31st |
| top drivers, Jeff Gordon and Dale | | | | Edwards - 16th |
| Earnhardt Jr come from the back multiple | | | | Kenseth was poised to take an 8th place |
| times to finish in the top 5 proves that | | | | finish, but that opportunity was dashed |
| there is action to be seen at | | | | when he lost his brakes with 8 laps to |
| Martinsville. | | | | go. |
| Next week's Samsung/RadioShack 500 at | | | | However, Roush fans do not be dismayed. |
| Texas Motor Speedway will be anything | | | | The Roush Racing organization has |
| but slow! Just ask Bill Elliot who holds | | | | committed themselves to the most popular |
| the fastest qualifying time at Texas | | | | type of track on the Nextel Cup circuit, |
| with a speed of 194.2236 mph. Of the | | | | the 1 1/2 mile to 2-mile tracks. |
| current Nextel Cup drivers, Jimmie | | | | Fast forwarding to next week, NASCAR |
| Johnson has held the key to Texas. In 5 | | | | heads to Texas Motor Speedway (1 1/2 |
| starts, Johnson has 5 top 10's with an | | | | mile track). Of the current drivers, the |
| average finish of 6th. | | | | Roush drivers rank as follows: |
| However, Johnson will have his work cut | | | | Jamie McMurray - 3rd |
| out for him next week. There are a | | | | Carl Edwards - 5th |
| number of drivers, both the young and | | | | Matt Kenseth - 10th |
| the seasoned, who have had success at | | | | Mark Martin - 11th |
| Texas. | | | | Greg Biffle - 22nd |
| Other drivers to note: | | | | Last Week's Headlines |
| Jamie McMurray | | | | Recap of the 2006 DirecTV 500 at |
| Kurt Busch | | | | Martinsville Speedway: |
| Carl Edwards | | | | I don't like to repeat myself, but here |
| Casey Mears | | | | I go. Reference the "Upcoming Events in |
| All of the above drivers average a top | | | | the World of NASCAR" section above: |
| 10 finish. | | | | "If you're looking for a fan of races at |
| Next Week's Schedule: | | | | Martinsville, don't look at me. I have |
| (all times CST) | | | | never felt that any track with a |
| Nextel Cup | | | | qualifying speed less than 100 mph |
| 4/07/06 - 12:05pm Samsung/RadioShack 500 | | | | should be a part of NASCAR's top |
| Practice | | | | circuit. However, yesterday's DirecTV |
| 4/07/06 - 3:40pm Samsung/RadioShack 500 | | | | 500 was exhilarating. Watching NASCAR's |
| Qualifying | | | | top drivers, Jeff Gordon and Dale |
| 4/08/06 - 12:05pm Happy Hour Practice | | | | Earnhardt Jr come from the back multiple |
| 4/09/06 - 1:00pm Samsung/RadioShack 500 | | | | times to finish in the top 5 proves that |
| Busch Series | | | | there is action to be seen at |
| 4/06/06 - 1:00pm O'Reilly 300 Practice | | | | Martinsville." |
| 4/06/06 - 6:05pm O'Reilly 300 Qualifying | | | | There was almost as much paint and |
| 4/08/06 - 2:00pm O'Reilly 300 | | | | rubber swapping at Martinsville as last |
| Craftsman Truck Series | | | | week in Bristol. Even after 500 laps of |
| Off till April 29th when they head to | | | | beating and banging in the Food City |
| Gateway International Raceway. | | | | 500, no car finished the race looking as |
| Who's Hot? | | | | cool as Dale Earnhardt Jr's! Who new |
| With disappointing finishes last week | | | | that losing a right front fender can |
| from their top drivers, Jimmie Johnson | | | | actually be beneficial? It turns out the |
| and Jeff Gordon, the Hendrick | | | | lack of sheet metal on the right front |
| Motorsports organization redeemed itself | | | | helped improve airflow over the right |
| in an action packed DirecTV at | | | | front brakes. With the extremely low |
| Martinsville Speedway. | | | | banks at Martinsville (only 12 degrees |
| Three Hendrick drivers finished in the | | | | compared to 36 degrees at Bristol), |
| top 5 (Jeff Gordon-2nd, Jimmie | | | | keeping the brakes cool is crucial. |
| Johnson-3rd, and Kyle Busch-5th). Jeff | | | | On a side note, I'm not sure why NASCAR |
| Gordon has the most eventful day where | | | | believes it has to punish aggressive |
| he came from dead last after he cut a | | | | behavior. I'm referring to the $10,000 |
| tire on lap 89 to challenge Tony Stewart | | | | fine and probationary period slapped on |
| for the win. | | | | Jeff Gordon after shoving Matt Kenseth |
| Leaving Martinsville, the Hendrick | | | | after last week's Food City in Bristol. |
| drivers rank as follows in the race for | | | | Avid sports fans love to know they're |
| the Nextel Cup Championship: | | | | cheering for passionate competitors. We |
| Jimmie Johnson-1st | | | | all love a good fight and trash talk in |
| Kyle Busch-5th | | | | football, and nothing beats a good 'ole |
| Jeff Gordon-7th | | | | fashioned shirt pulled over your head |
| Brian Vickers-15th | | | | hockey fight. So why not show the few |
| Who's Not? | | | | altercations that do occur at a NASCAR |
| Martinsville is no friend of Jack Roush. | | | | race after the race? In my opinion, |
| The only driver in the Roush stable who | | | | NASCAR should only concern itself with |
| has had any measure of success at | | | | policing aggressive behavior on the |
| Martinsville is Mark Martin. In 40 | | | | track. Whatever happens off the track is |
| starts, Mark has only 2 wins with an | | | | for the fans' enjoyment. |
| average finish of 13th. | | | | A recap of EverythingStockCar. |
| Yesterday, in the DirecTV 500, Mark met | | | | |