WIth just three more races before the Chase begins, time is running out for drivers to make their way into the field of 12, and the key to making it may be this weekend at Bristol, where anyone is a possible victim to an accident that could take them out of Chase contention.


1. Kyle Busch

Busch almost shockingly didn't win at Michigan, but he did finish a strong second, improving greatly on his performance there earlier this year. Busch should be a threat to win this weekend at Bristol, where he's earned a top-10 in four of the past five races, with a 17th earlier this year. However that 17th came after a wreck on the backstretch while leading when he experienced power steering failure.

2. Carl Edwards

Edwards earned a dominating win at Michigan, holding off Busch on the final two restarts to earn his fifth win of the season. Edwards is also the defending winner of this weekend's race, as he won last year after leading 182 laps. Edwards is gaining momentum at the right time, and will be a threat to win this weekend.

3. Matt Kenseth

Kenseth helped his Chase chances with a strong top-5 finish at Michigan, and he could do the same at Bristol, where he has won two of the past three night races, and ten top-10's in 17 career starts.

4. Tony Stewart

Stewart ran in the just outside the top-10 for most of the day at Michigan and finished 12th, but that was enough to bump him up to 6th in points, 162 above 13th in points. Stewart has also been strong at Brisol since the track reconfiguration, finishing 4th last year and running 2nd in the final laps this spring before being spun. Expect him to be a threat to win.

5. Kevin Harvick

Harvick has been on a roll the past five races, with the exception of his early wreck at Indianapolis, with four finishes of 8th or better. He should also finish up front at Bristol, where he's earned ten top-10's in 15 career starts.

6. Jimmie Johnson

Johnson spent the last half of the race trying to recover from a cut tire on lap 87, and was only able to muster a 17th place finish. Since the COT has been used Johnson has struggled at Bristol, with a best finish of 16th in three races.

7. Greg Biffle

Biffle had a strong car all day long at Michigan, and he capped the day with a 4th place finish, gaining him three spots in the points standings. He should also perform well at Bristol, where he has earned seven top-10's in eleven career starts.

8. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt Jr. was going for a top-10 finish when he hit the wall coming off turn 2, leaving him with a 23rd place finish. Earnhardt has been strong in the past eight races at Bristol, with seven top-10's, with the other race resulting in an 11th place finish.

9. Jeff Burton

Burton had another solid day at Michigan, as he finished 11th. Burton should be a threat to earn his second win of the season at Bristol, where he won earlier this spring. Should he win and lead the most laps, he'll be locked into the Chase.

10. David Ragan

Ragan has been impressive all season long, and he rebounded from his poor finish at Watkins Glen to earn his best career finish at Michigan, as he finished 3rd. Bristol is crutial to Ragan's chances of making the Chase, he'll have to do better than his career best finish of 21st there if he wants to be among the top-12 after Richmond.



Other Notables:

11. Denny Hamlin- Hamlin needs to get things turned around after his blown engine at Michigan. He should be a threat to win at Bristol, where he was leading on the final restart this spring before a fuel pick-up issue left him with a sixth place finish.

12. Brian Vickers- Vickers earned a good finish at Michigan after earned Red Bull Racing's first pole, as he finished 7th. Vickers has never finished in the top-10 at Bristol, however, but with the way this team has turned things around don't be surprised if he does.

13. Jeff Gordon- He need to get things turned around as well after his 42nd place finish at Michigan. He's struggled at Bristol since it's reconfiguration, with a best finish of 11th.

14. Aric Almirola- He earned a top-10 finish at Bristol earlier this year, he'll be starting in the 8 car again this weekend, maybe he can do it again.

15. Kurt Busch- Busch has had a rough season, but he's long due for a victory at Bristol, where he's won five times in fifteen career starts.

Carl Edwards started the 3M Performance 400 back in 27th, but it only took him 74 laps to get to the front of the pack, where he would stay for 84 laps before earning his 5th win of the season at Michigan.

"The key was my crew today. My guys did an unbelievable job getting me off pit road. This is unbelievable. We're winning races. We're gearing up for the Chase," Edwards said in victory lane. "I'm feeling stronger than ever. We're here to win championships. That's what we're shooting for."

Edwards had to survive two late restarts to hold off Kyle Busch, who led 34 laps, to earn the win as he pulled away on the last restart. Behind Edwards and Busch was David Ragan, who accidentally stayed on the track during the last round of pit stops but was able to hold on for a solid 3rd place finish, which allowed him to pull within 26 points of the top-12.

While Ragan was able to make up ground towards the Chase, several bubble drivers lost significant ground at Michigan.

Jeff Gordon made contact with teammate Jimmie Johnson on lap 91, and that contact led to a flat tire that sent Gordon into the wall six laps later. Gordon finished 42nd, falling from 6th to 9th in points, now just 79 points ahead of 13th place Clint Bowyer.

On lap 136 Kasey Kahne's engine problems put him in the garage, leaving him with a 40th place finish. Kahne fell from 8th to 11th in points, now just in the Chase field by 44 points.

After running well all day long Denny Hamlin's engine expired with just six laps to go, robbing him of a top-10 as he finished 39th, as he fell to the final Chase spot, 12th, just 23 points ahead of Bowyer.

The Roush/Fenway cars were the overwhelming favorites heading into the race, and they didn't disappoint. While Edwards earned the win and Ragan came in third, Greg Biffle finished 4th, Matt Kenseth finished 5th as Roush/Fenway Racing claimed four out of the top-5 spots.

"It doesn't get any better than this. I can't believe the fast company I keep," said Roush/Fenway Racing co-owner Jack Roush.

Earlier in the weekend Tony Stewart named the driver who would be his teammate in 2009, and that driver was Ryan Newman, who will leave Penske Racing at the end of the year. David Stremme is a driver believed to be in line to replace Newman in the 12 car.

After the Nationwide Series race at Michigan on Saturday, which Edwards also won, Nascar inspectors found magnets 1/4" thick in the number 18 and 20 cars of Gibbs Racing that prevented the accelerator from going 100 percent wide open, according to Nascar's vice president of competition Robin Pemberton. Pemberton went on to say the intention was to manipulate the numbers and data from the dyno.

After the incident J.D Gibbs, son of owner Joe Gibbs and president of the team, said, "Let me just say that, first and foremost, that that was a really poor, foolish decision on the part of our key guys there at JGR," Gibbs said. "I want to apologize to NASCAR, to our partners, to Toyota guys. A couple guys chose to make a decision there that really impacts all of us."

After the tricky road course at Watkins Glen the Sprint Cup Series heads to Michigan for the second time this season. This track has lots of room to race, capable of accommodating five-wide racing in it's corners. Like earlier this year, fuel strategy will likely play a pivotal role in deciding the winner.


1. Kyle Busch

After a two week "slump" Busch silenced critics as he dominated and won at Watkins Glen for the eighth time this year. Earlier this year at Michigan Busch was only mediocre, as he finished 13th. His career hasn't seen much success here, either, as he's only earned two top-10's in seven races, but don't by any means count him out.

2. Tony Stewart

Stewart is getting things going his way at the right time, with just a few more races until the Chase begins Stewart has helped secure his spot with back-to-back 2nd place finishes. Stewart is very consistent at Michigan as well, with 13 top-10's in 19 races, including a 5th earlier this year.

3. Matt Kenseth

Kenseth has earned two solid finishes just outside the top-10 after his blown tire at Indianapolis, working his way back into the top-12. This weekend at Michigan may be his chance to really get things on track before the Chase starts, earlier this year he finished 3rd at Michigan behind the fuel gamblers.

4. Carl Edwards

Edwards backed up his Pocono win with a solid 9th place finish at the Glen. Edwards will be one of the drivers to contend for the win this weekend at Michigan, where in eight career starts he finished outside the top-10 only once.

5. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt had a car capable of winning at the Glen, but when he fell behind because of an untimely caution, he spent the rest of the day playing catch up, and was able to muster a 21st place finish. Of course Earnhardt will be a favorite this weekend, Michigan is where he earned his only win so far this season.

6. Jimmie Johnson

Johnson has been on a role as of late, and looking like a championship contender again. He's had four straight finishes of 7th or better, including his dominating win at the Brickyard. He should have another solid run at Michigan, where he finished 6th earlier this year.

7. Kevin Harvick

Harvick has rebounded nicely from his wreck at Inianapolis, with a 4th at Pocono and a 6th at Watkins Glen, putting him back in the top-12. He'll need more consistent runs in the upcoming weeks to stay there, starting at Michigan where he finished 12th earlier this year.

8. Greg Biffle

Biffle is fighting for his Chase life after his 21st place finish at the Glen, bumping him down from 8th to 10th in points. If he wants to get things turned around at Michigan he'll have to do better than he did earlier this year, when he finished 20th.

9. Jeff Burton

Burton has somewhat struggled in the past few races, with only one top-10 in eight races. Burton may not be a contender for a top-10 this weekend at Michigan, but he should earn a solid top-15 like he did earlier this year.

10. Jeff Gordon

When a driver known for road course prowess like Gordon runs in the back of the pack all day at Watkins Glen, you know a team is struggling. Gordon will need to start getting things turned around if he wants to keep his spot in the Chase, but Michigan likely isn't the place where it will happen. Earlier this year Gordon ran mid-pack all day before finishing 18th.



Other Notables:

11. Kasey Kahne- Kahne has been fairly consistent lately, and should contend for the win at Michigan, where he finished 2nd earlier this year. He also won there in 2006.

12. Brian Vickers- Poor runs have dropped Vickers from Chase contention, but he is still a threat to win, especially at Michigan, where he finished 4th and led 44 laps earlier this year.

13. Denny Hamlin- Hamlin has an average finish just outside the top-10 at Michigan, and has earned top-10's in two of the past three races this season.

14. Kurt Busch- Busch earned his first top-10 in three races at the Glen, and may carry that over to Michigan, where he won easily last year.

15. Clint Bowyer- He fell out of the top-12 last week, but is just 22 points out. He'll need to step it up at Michigan, where he's never finished better than 16th.

For much of the Lifelock.com 400, it looked as though Kyle Busch would run off to his 7th victory of the season. Busch led a record 165 laps, and as competitors such as Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth fell from contention to win, it seemed that there was nothing in Busch's way.

Then there was Jimmie Johnson, who took the lead with 17 laps to go from Busch on a late restart. Johnson was in the lead when the caution came out with six laps to go, and led to the field to the restart with just two laps to go. And that's when Busch made his move, darting to the outside of Johnson entering turn one. The two raced door-to-door down the backstraightaway and into turn three, and coming off turn four Busch had the advantage coming to the white flag.

Busch held off Johnson's final efforts to earn his seventh victory of the season, and third in the last four races.

“I gave up on myself. I just didn’t think I could do that. I’ve watched Jimmie do that several times," Busch said in victory lane. "I don’t know how I did it... I pushed Jimmie to go. This is a dream season, man. I just cannot believe this.”

While Busch was celebrating in victory lane, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards were left wondering what could have been.

For Kenseth it started on lap 125 when he had to pit under green when he suspected a flat tire.This left Kenseth a lap down in 30th place, just minutes after he had battled for the lead with Busch. After getting the free pass Kenseth was able to recover for a 7th place finish, but didn't have enough time to get back into contention for the win.

Edwards was leading when he also suspected a flat tire with just 55 laps to go while leading the race. He made a green flag pitstop and fell a lap down, but his problem was worse than a flat tire. One of the braces to Edwards' splitter had snapped, and the splitter was now dragging on the ground, giving Edwards a huge aerodynamic disadvantage. Edwards would lose another lap and finish 32nd, a disapointing end to what started as a good race.

There was controversy before the race even started as J.J Yeley's car sat in the inspection bay just minutes before the start of the race. Nascar officials found two water bottles filled with 15 lbs of lead each, one of the oldest tricks in the book for losing weight. Yeley was given a pass-through penalty at the start of the race, and would go on to finish 23rd. For the 96 team, which is 38th in owner points, more penalties could come later in the week.

Carl Edwards led 123 laps en-route to his 10th career victory and 2nd at Texas, and series-high 3rd of the year, and first since the penalty at Las Vegas that suspended Edwards' crew chief Bob Osborne for 6 races.

In victory lane, he insisted that his Vegas win came in no part due to the oil tank lid being off.

"The reason we won at Vegas is because of all the hard work that the guys at the shop and the engine department, it's not because of that oil tank lid," Edwards said. "That's what it's about. We're driving. It's fun. It's fun when you get out of the car and your hands hurt from gripping the steering wheel. That's good."

Edwards had to hold off Jimmie Johnson on a green-white checkered finish after Martin Truex Jr.'s engine failed with 7 laps to go. Edwards was able to pull away in the two quick laps to win easily. Rounding out the top-5 were Kyle Busch, who won the Nationwide Series race the day before, Ryan Newman and Martinsville winner Denny Hamlin.

While Edwards has three wins in seven races, Hendrick Motorsports as a whole still has none, and Texas was a struggling effort for the organization, aside from Johnson.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won the pole for the event, led early but fell off the lead lap and a disappointing 12th, while Casey Mears was two laps down in 22nd at the end of the day. However, Jeff Gordon had possibly the worst race of his 16 year career.

Gordon started the race 18th, but quickly fell out of the top-30 and fell a lap down. On lap 109 he was in danger of going a second lap down when he lost control of the car coming off turn 4 and spun into the outside wall.

"I can't remember the last time we struggled this bad. We're just going to see if we can get back out there and do some testing," Gordon said after the incident. "We've been way off, and we've got to find it because we can't go through the whole year like this."

Gordon ran a few more laps before finally calling it a day, finishing 43rd for just the second time in his career. The first came in 1999, at Texas.

Michael McDowell, a rookie driving for Michael Waltrip Racing, finished 33rd. However, the 23 year old McDowell may have been lucky to have just been alive, let alone racing on Sunday.

In qualifying on Friday, McDowell's car got loose heading into turn 1 on his second lap. As McDowell corrected it, the car snapped right and collided with the outside retaining wall head on.

The car then barrel-rolled down the speedway banking all the way to the exit of turn two where the car final came to halt. Just minutes later, McDowell emerged from the car under his own power, and waved to the crowd as he walked away from the wreckage.

"I feel great, nothing broke," McDowell said. "I didn't lose consciousness. I felt every roll down the hill."

Denny Hamlin has come so close to winning many races in the past couple of years, only to be thwarted by incidents out of control, including two weeks ago at Bristol when he was leading during a green-white-checkered restart when a fuel pick-up issue left him with a disappointing 6th place finish.

However, Hamlin found himself in a victory lane he's been seeking since he started his Cup series career, the one in Martinsville, a track located in his home state of Virginia.

"First Virginia win for me," Hamlin said. "Finally. The curse is over, I think. I hope. We've had such bad luck over these first few weeks."

Hamlin earned the victory by rebounding from an early mis-communication when he came down pit road virtually by himself and fell back in the running order. After making his way back into the top-5, he got the track position he needed by taking fuel only on his final pit stop.

That put him behind just Jeff Burton, Brian Vickers and Carl Edwards, who all had chose not to stop. Hamlin cut underneath each to catapult into the lead, and held off a final charge from Jeff Gordon, who was recovering from an early race accident, to claim his first victory of the year and fourth of his career.

"It finally feels good to come here and get a win," said Hamlin, a native of Chesterfield, Virginia. "Can't wait, man. This is a sign of things to come, I believe."

As expected, Hendrick Motorsports was the team to beat at Martinsville, as Gordon won the pole and the team led a combined 371 of the 500 laps run on the .526 mile track. However it was Hamlin who led the final 74 laps. It was still a good day for the organization that hasn't had much going for it this season, as it had all four cars in the top-10, with Gordon 2nd, Jimmie Johnson 4th, Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6th and Casey Mears 7th.



Burton followed his Bristol win with a 3rd place finish, but after the race was upset with the driving of rookie Michael McDowell, who was making his first career start.

"We had one driver that I thought was real inconsiderate," Burton said of McDowell, who Burton thought could have done a better job of getting out of the leader cars' way in the final laps. "He better learn some manners or he's going to get tossed."

Burton will leave Martinsville the point leader after Kyle Busch suffered from rear-gear troubles that put him several laps down and left him with a 38th place finish, falling to 5th in points.

Michael Waltrip finished 35th in the race that took place just a few days after Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush/Fenway Racing, accused Waltrip's team of stealing a sway bar from a Roush team at Dover last fall.

"We wound up with a swaybar there somehow," Waltrip said. "I promise you no one went to their tool box and swiped it. This is not intellectual espionage."

Roush, however, had ideas of his own.

"I found out about it and I wanted to go supersonic," Roush said. "[I said,] 'We're going up there. We're going to get a search warrant. We're going to get the bar. It's intellectual espionage that's going on here. They've stolen the part. They've got access to it. They've had an opportunity to see what it does, see what its efficiency for weight and function are, and we've been damaged. We've been harmed by this theft.'"

Many drivers, such as Jeff Gordon, merely laughed and joked about Roush's accusation, but one driver did support the owner, and it was Gordon's teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"Another team walked over to their pit box and stole something off of it?" Earnhardt Jr. said. "That really happened? Wow. If that happened, whoever did it ought not to have a hard card (to access the garage area) anymore, hands down....No second chances there."