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