| Next stop on the Nextel Cup Schedule is New | | | | are placed over the body of the car at key locations. |
| Hampshire International Raceway | | | | To pass the body inspection, the car has to match |
| Next week, the NASCAR Nextel Cup teams head to | | | | the template. With the old body style, prior to the |
| the largest sporting venue in the Northeast, New | | | | COT, teams were allowed to manipulate the fenders |
| Hampshire International Speedway, NIS. NHIS is a | | | | between the template locations, and this is what the |
| challenging, flat 1.058 mile oval track that annually | | | | crew chiefs of both the 24 & 48 cars claimed |
| packs 100,000 fans in the seats. The friendly | | | | they did. |
| residents of New Hampshire, who live by the state | | | | With the Car of Tomorrow, NASCAR has decided to |
| creed of "Live Free or Die" are huge NASCAR fans | | | | clamp down on fender manipulation. But as usual with |
| and turn out in droves to watch their favorite drivers | | | | NASCAR, they prefer to ad as much ambiguity into |
| cheat death. | | | | the mix as possible. As opposed to coming out and |
| The mile long oval with its low-banked turns can be | | | | saying very clearly that the fenders cannot be |
| considered a close relative to Martinsville Speedway. | | | | manipulated between the template points, they |
| Just like at Martinsville, the racing at NIS offers | | | | would prefer to make an example out of team |
| hard-braking & nail-biting passing in the turns but | | | | fighting for every competitive advantage that they |
| with the added benefit of a second grove. Drivers | | | | can get. |
| push their cars and each other to the limits as they | | | | For the sake of all Cup teams, NASCAR needs to |
| jockey for position and sometimes "lean" on each | | | | write a clearly defined set of rules for the new Cars |
| other for support. | | | | of Tomorrow. After all, it took seven years for |
| Of all current drivers with 2 or more career starts at | | | | NASCAR to develop the COT; one would think they |
| New Hampshire, Denny Hamlin sports an average | | | | would already have an idea as to what should be |
| finish of 5th, leads the pack. | | | | legal versus illegal by now. |
| Other drivers to note: | | | | Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway |
| Jeff Burton - Average finish of 10th | | | | For much of the race on Sunday, you would have |
| Jeff Gordon - Average finish of 11th | | | | been a fool to pick some one other than Robby |
| Matt Kenseth - Average finish of 11th | | | | Gordon to win the race. For practically the entire |
| Ryan Newman - Average finish of 12th | | | | race, Robby had the best car in the field. Robby's |
| Juan Pablo Montoya Captures 1st Nextel Cup Victory | | | | top-notch road racing skills coupled with superior |
| As many predicted, Juan Pablo Montoya's first victory | | | | equipment is almost comparable to watching Michael |
| in Nextel Cup came on the road-course in Sonoma. | | | | Jordon in his NBA prime playing against an average |
| And unlike in Montoya's first NASCAR win, which | | | | college basketball squad. |
| came at the Busch race in Mexico, he escaped | | | | However, the only thing Robby didn't have nailed |
| without making new enemies. | | | | down Sunday was his fuel strategy. Having to pit late |
| Though un-challenged at the end, Juan's win did not | | | | in the race, Gordon was shuffled back deep in the |
| come easy. Starting 32nd, Juan had to overtake | | | | field and unable to recover. This left drivers Juan |
| road-course aces Boris Said, Ron Fellows, and Robby | | | | Pablo Montoya's, Jamie McMurray & Kevin |
| Gordon amongst other top-level drivers to claim the | | | | Harvick to duke it out for the win. |
| lead. And like most road-course races, it all came | | | | In the closing laps, of the three drivers, Harvick was |
| down to fuel strategy. After being advised in the | | | | the only driver confident he could make it to the end |
| closing laps by his team that the car would be 2 laps | | | | on fuel. Both McMurray and Montoya were told they |
| shy on fuel, Juan nursed it along by late shifting and | | | | would be a few laps short. Deciding not to force the |
| coasting as much as possible. When the checkered | | | | inevitable, Harvick laid back in third waiting to see the |
| flag waved, Montoya was running on fumes lacking | | | | other two slowly run of gas. But how does the old |
| enough fuel to do the customary burn-out. | | | | saying go? Don't count your chickens before they |
| The Columbian national is the first foreigner since | | | | hatch, and don't ever assume the two lead cars will |
| 1974 and only the second non-US citizen to win in | | | | run out of gas leaving you to inherit the victory. Had |
| NASCAR's Cup series. This win is huge not only for | | | | Harvick charged, he may have had Montoya's place in |
| Montoya and Ganassi racing, but also for NASCAR as | | | | victory lane. |
| it looks to establish itself as the most popular racing | | | | Other drivers to note: |
| series in the world. | | | | Jeff Gordon started at the rear of the field after |
| Also important to note, Montoya's win is also the first | | | | failing to pass the NASCAR inspection. In order for |
| by Dodge this season and the first manufacturer | | | | the 4 time former champion to make his way to the |
| besides Chevrolet to win a Car of Tomorrow race. | | | | front, he had to use clever pit strategy. In the end, |
| What's in Store for Hendrick? | | | | Gordon finished in 7th and now sits 271 points ahead |
| The big story this week in NASCAR will be what | | | | of 2nd place driver Denny Hamlin. |
| penalties NASCAR decides to hand out to Jeff | | | | Denny Hamlin has showcased his strong road-racing |
| Gordon and Jimmie Johnson's teams. Both drivers' | | | | skills in his short tenure at NASCAR's top level. |
| cars were found to have front fenders that were | | | | Perhaps having Tony Stewart as a teammate doesn't |
| out of spec. Or were they? | | | | hurt, but this young talent is already showing that |
| That's the main point of contention the Hendrick | | | | he's one of the top drivers in NASCAR. Hamlin |
| owned teams have voiced since NASCAR first | | | | finished in 10th. |
| inspected the cars. In NASCAR inspection, templates | | | | |