Stock Car Insider - May 15th Issue

Upcoming Events in the World of NASCARhim to the top.
May in Charlotte is a beautiful! The azaleas are inTake Greg Biffle for example, 2005 was a
bloom, the temperature is mild, and the deliverytremendous year. He finished the season 2nd in
trucks are delivering the port-o-jons by thepoints and compiled 6 wins. Roll the tape forward to
thousands. That's right, the whole town is gearing upthe 2006 season, and Biffle's name hasn't graced the
for two action packed weeks of racing with thetop 5 in any race until last week at Richmond.
NASCAR Nextel Cup All-Star race and the Coca-ColaWhat's the difference from last year and this year?
600.Luck! Biffle's still attacks every race like a rabid dog,
Thousands of people will be coming to town for thehis crew is the same, and Roush Racing still churns
next two weeks to witness the longest NASCARout some of the best equipment in NASCAR.
race, the Coca-Cola 600, making it the second largestIt seems in the past two week's, Biffle has grabbed
sporting event in America.Lucky the Leprechaun and taped him to his
This year's All-Star and 600 races will once again bedashboard. Last week, Biffle finished 4th in Richmond,
nail biting terrific. Lowe's Motor Speedway's trackand this week romanced the Lady in Black with a win.
was recently re-paved. The levigating days of lastPerhaps Biffle's string of bad luck (running out of gas
year are history, and the officials at Lowe's Motorat Phoenix, getting wrecked by Kurt Busch at Texas)
Speedway are guaranteeing this year's races will beis finally over. He currently sits 97 points away from
just as fast as last year's and safer.qualifying for the Nextel Cup Chase for the
However, despite what the track officials are saying,Championship, and excels at a number of the
folks in and around the garages as well as Goodyearupcoming tracks.
reps are saying the speeds this year will actually beWho's Not?
slower. For the 2006 races at Lowe's MotorI hate to pick on Carl Edwards, I really do! The guy is
Speedway, Goodyear is supplying a stiffer compoundsuch a winner in so many ways. Everything he does
tire which will ensure less blow outs on the track.in life, he does it to the extreme and never once
What the drivers gain in safety, they lose in speed.doubts himself.
Stiffer tires do not grip the track as well as a softerHis 2006 season to date has not gone as Carl wished.
tire. Less grip means the drivers cannot carry asHe currently sits in 17th spot, 125 points out of
much speed in the turns which will also affect the topqualifying for the Nextel Cup Championship race. It
end speeds on the straightaways.seems the luck Greg Biffle recently found has been
Some in the garages are nicknaming the stiffer tires,lost in Carl Edward's pits. However, unlike Biffle, I'm
"restrictor tires". The tires will rob the cars of speednot sure we can fault luck for Carl's lack of success
like the restrictor plates used at Daytona andin 2006.
Talladega rob the cars of horsepower. However, fansCarl's crew chief from last year and the early part of
do not be dismayed. I very seriously doubt that we2006, Bob Osborne, was shuffled over to help jump
will perceive a 2-5 mph difference in speeds. Thestart Jamie McMurray's team. Obviously, the shuffle
action, like every weekend in NASCAR, will behas not gone as planned. Both Carl Edwards and
heart-pounding dramatic!Jamie McMurray (currently 20th in the points) stand a
Expect Jimmie Johnson to have lots of fun the nextstrong chance of not qualifying for the championship
two weeks. Of the current drivers with 5 or morerace-off at the end of the season. Jack Roush and
starts at Lowe's Motor Speedway, he has thethe rest of management at Roush Racing will soon
highest average finish of 7th.have to decide whether to leave Bob with Jamie; or
Other drivers to note:re-unite him with Carl to form the successful duo
Tony Stewart - Average Finish 12ththat shocked the world of NASCAR in 2006.
Bobby Labonte - Average Finish 13thLast Week's Headlines
Jamie McMurray - Average Finish 14thRecap of the Carolina Dodge Dealers 500 at
Jeff Gordon - Average Finish 16thDarlington Raceway:
Next Week's Schedule:Once again, Darlington Raceway offered up at
(all times CST)incredible race! The oldest track in NASCAR manages
Nextel Cup: @ Lowe's Motor Speedwayto keep us young at heart with incredible racing
5/19/06 - 12:05pm NASCAR Nextel Cup All-Staraction. The gritty Darlington asphalt shreads even the
Challenge Practicestiffest tire compounds after just a few laps leaving
5/19/06 - 07:10pm NASCAR Nextel Cup All-Stardrivers no other option but to lean on each other or
Challenge Qualifyingagainst the wall.
5/20/06 - 07:30pm NASCAR Nextel Cup All-StarTwenty drivers earned their Darlington stripe
ChallengeSaturday night. There is only one driver I know of
Busch Series - off until 5/27 at Lowe's Motorwho likes to drive with a car sliding up the track, and
Speedwaythat's Greg Biffle. Biffle, who also won last year at
Craftsman Truck Series: @ Lowe's Motor SpeedwayDarlington, dominated the Carolina Dodge Dealer's 500
5/19/06 - 10:50pm Quaker Steak & Lube 200leading 170 of 367 laps.
PracticeOther drivers in the top 10 didn't fair so well. Casey
5/19/06 - 04:15pm Quaker Steak & Lube 200Mears fell from 10th to 11th in the points with a 17th
Qualifyingplace finish. Kevin Harvick feel 4 sports from 5th to
5/19/06 - 08:45pm Quaker Steak & Lube 2009th with a 37th place finish, and the pole sitter,
Who's Hot?Kasey Kahne dropped a spot moving from 7th to
With so many variables affecting NASCAR drivers8th with a 21st place finish.
each week, all one needs is a little luck to catapult