Greg Biffle had another dominant car for the second week in a row.  He lied back all day but took care of business when it was time.  For a while, he hung out around fifth place when he thought he had a flat tire.  Biffle has just suddenly come alive since the Chase has started.  It is almost as if a switch was suddenly flipped in his whole racing season.  Now, he is up there fighting for that Championship after having a mediocre regular season.  Greg gets to go to Kansas next week where he won last year.  "The Bif" is in great shape and is in a great position to possibly take home the Cup at Homestead.

Even though Greg Biffle won, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards had great days as well.  Kenseth led the most laps but just couldn't defend the top position in the final 10 laps.  He got the boost he needed  and is back in the hunt.  Look for him to possibly go to victory lane in the next few weeks.  Carl Edwards had a great car and led up to the end where he was passed by Kenseth.  Matt sure was on his bumper and finally overtook him.  It was really tough to pass on the bottom at the end of the race like it has been at many other tracks.  That relates to this new car and how it runs.  The Camping World RV 400 provided some of the best racing all season.  It is rare when guys are battling for the win three-wide on a short track and racing so hard.  I was surprised how exciting a Dover race was.

Mark Martin had a great weekend with qualifying second and finishing fifth.  He is proving that he isn't too old to run with the young guns.  We just never know though whether he is going to have a great run or just a run-of-the-mill finish.

Kyle Busch's Downfall at Dover

After the regular season, Kyle Busch had 8 wins and was in great shape to run away with the Title.  Last week at New Hampshire, he had car trouble all day and ended up with a 34th place finish.  Today at the Monster Mile, Kyle had an even worse day and finished 43rd.  "Rowdy" had engine trouble and thought it had to do with a particular part.  Joe Gibbs Racing has tried some different setups and other thing during these two Chase races, and that is not a good idea.  If you have something that works, keep with it.  I think they just felt the heat from the other racing teams to keep in first place.  Kyle Busch is pretty much out of contention for the Cup after having a regular season to remember.  I have known all along that he wouldn't win the Championship.  You here me, DW?  I think Kyle Busch and Tony Romo are a lot alike.  They are both young hotheads, and they both have phenomenal regular seasons with the best records of anybody but cannot  prevail when it counts.  It takes a more experienced driver to get the job done under pressure.  "Wild Thing" is eventually going to succeed in the end, but it is almost impossible for it to happen this year.

                    

I think Greg Biffle and Kyle Busch have traded places in Cup contention.  Biffle is in a position to win the Championship, and Busch is in the position that Biffle was in earlier during the year.  It is amazing to me how a guy can have 8 wins before the Chase and fall so deep during the first two races of the Chase.  This shows that NASCAR has got to give more points for wins during the first 26 races.  Maybe 50 points would get the job done.

More On the Chasers

Jimmie Johnson had another consistent day by racking up a fourth place finish.  He is showing that he can run well on any type of track, and that is what a Champion is made of.  Carl Edwards managed to walk out of Dover with the points lead, but J.J. will take it back as he gets to go to many of his favorite tracks.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. undid the good done last week by having a terrible day in Delaware ending with a 24th place finish.  He just spun around on the frontstretch when his tire blew and had trouble the rest of the race.  A lot of people thought he would be a guy that would still be in it at Homestead, but I don't think it will happen.  The good news is Dale will get to go to tracks like Talladega and Martinsville that he has run well at, but other guys will have to have trouble for Junior to get back in it.  The way guys like Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson are running, it will be tough for other drivers to catch back up.

Denny Hamlin also had a rough day at the Monster Mile, finishing 38th.  First, he got caught with a speeding penalty.  Then, Denny had to go to the garage for a little while.  The Joe Gibbs drivers are gradually slipping out of the contention; they had their glory in the earlier part of the year.  The only Joe Gibbs driver that still has hope is Tony Stewart.  He is the one who is still a legitimate Title contender and is hungry for a win.  Tony hasn't has any glory yet this year, and it will come somewhere in the next couple of races.  Maybe Kansas?

I really thought this week was meant to be for Jeff Gordon after he was fastest in practice and qualified on the pole.  Dover has always been a good track for him, and he still got a good finish.  But, I expected a little more.  I wonder if he will ever get hot during the Chase and win a race.  This year just wasn't meant for him, and I am starting to realize that he may end up winless in 2008. 

That's all for now.

                                            

The first race of the 2008 Chase is complete.  Greg Biffle won the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire.  He had a great car all day and was there at the end.  Biffle conserved fuel and took it easy for most of the race but unleashed his power on lap 289.  It looked as if he just flew by Jimmie Johnson when he felt like he was good to go on fuel.  Greg has had a mediocre year with tough times, but he started his hot streak when it counted.  The Bif has shown that he will be around at Homestead and will compete for the Championship.  It was nice to see someone new win; not many drivers have shared the glory.

Jimmie Johnson had the car to beat for most of the day, but he wasn't strong enough when it counted.  Each race that passes, I am more and more confident that he will win this Championship.  He knows how to race in the Chase and posts consistent finishes.  Beware of Carl Edwards, though.  Edwards had a good day at Loudon and led near the start.  Carl is proving that he is able to do well on about any kind of race track.  A champion is well-rounded and can handle any situation.

"Wild Thing" Had a Wild Day

Kyle Busch just had a terrible day.  He started on the pole and got his five bonus points, but then, he dropped back through the pack with car trouble.  Kyle spun a couple of times on his own and had a horrible race setup.  Surprisingly, the other Gibbs drivers got good finishes.  Usually, when one driver has trouble all day, the teammates do as well.  This was his mulligan during this Chase.  Now, in order for him to win the title, he has to post solid top fives and top tens every week.  Kyle has just struggled this past year at NHMS.  "Shrub" just hasn't figured out this track with the new car as well as the other flat tracks.  He struggled at Phoenix, Indianapolis, and Pocono this season.  Busch is gradually mastering the different track types, but it just takes time.  I haven't though he will win the Cup all year, and now, I am even more positive with my prediction.  Jeff Gordon dominated last year and did not close the deal, and Kyle Busch won't this year.

More Trouble with the Chasers

I feel sorry for Matt Kenseth.  He got caught up in other guys' problems.  This is why the guys not in the Chase wish that there would be two separate races the last ten weeks: one for Chasers and one for the rest of the field.  The downside of the way it is now is most of the other drivers are too scared to get aggressive with the top dogs.  Matt barely got in the Chase, and he just doesn't measure up to the other guys in the battle.  Kenseth will have a shot to rebound at Dover next week, a track that he has always run well at.

Tony Stewart was one of the guys that everyone thought would win this race.  He had a strong car but got caught on pit road.  The pits are a place that can make or break a guy's day.  One wrong move and he's out.  "Smoke" would have been up there battling for the win if it weren't for the trouble.  Tony sure made a good comeback, though.  I really feel that he will be another driver who wins his first race this season during the Chase.

Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer were two guys who had odd days.  They fell back and had trouble for most of the race but both managed to salvage decent finishes.  A champion also needs to make the best out of a bad situation.  I have seen many instances where a driver who wrecked early on in the race managed to get a top five or top ten finish.

That's all for now.


                                                

The stage is set: 12 in and 31 out.  Some of the top 12 drivers have a great season, and some have had a mediocre, not-so-great year.  They all have one thing in common: the quest for the Championship.  The points race has been exciting so far, and I am sure it will heat up even more over the next 10 races.  Who wants the trophy more, and who is willing to do whatever it takes to have it in his hands at Homestead?  Who will suddenly get hot and visit victory lane for the first time this season?  Here is the breakdown of the Top 12 drivers:


                                                   
 

Driver: Kyle Busch
Points Position: Leader
Wins: 8

Kyle Busch has had a year that will never be forgotten, and it's not over.  So far, he has tallied up 8 wins in 26 races.  During the Chase, Kyle will get to go back to many of the tracks he has won at; that's an advantage.  "Shrub" has managed to start a few rivalries this season with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Carl Edwards.  Look for Busch to not back down in the Chase and be the most competitive all season.  Back at Bristol, he even said that he will race dirty with Carl in the Chase.  He'll be around at Homestead.  History has shown that the driver leading the points after the recede at Richmond has ALWAYS won the Cup.

Driver: Carl Edwards
Points Position: 2nd
Wins: 6 (only gets credit for 5)

Carl Edwards has shown this season that he is ready to win a Championship.  He has the consistency, the motivation, and the equipment to pull it off.  He will get to go back to all of his favorite 1.5 mile tracks like Atlanta and Texas.  Carl has also shown that he is a driver not to be reckined with.  If a driver takes him out, he will take him out.  Jack Roush believes and I believe, too, that he is ready for the Cup.  Look for him to be doing back flips a lot and to be around at Homestead.

Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Points Position: 3rd
Wins: 4

Jimmie Johnson is currently on a hot streak I highly doubt will come to an end.  He has 4 wins this year, and 2 of them have been in the past 2 races.  Look at what he did last year.  Jimmie will get to visit many tracks that he has run well at.  I won't be surprised if he wins four races again during this years Chase.  He is my pick to win the Championship.  Jimmie is on a champion team with a champion organization, and we cannot ever count him out.  The history I said up there will be broken this year.  Johnson already broke history by being the first driver to win from the pole at Auto Club Speedway.  Why not break even more?

Driver: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Points Position: 4th
Wins: 1

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. probably made one of the biggest team moves in NASCAR history at the beginning of this year by leaving his father's organization.  It turned out to be a great move that allowed him to once again compete for the Championship.  Dale made opening statements back at Daytona by winning the Budweiser Shootout and Gatorade Duel One.  He has been pretty consistent all year and finally won a points race.  It may have been fuel mileage, but still, it was a POINTS race.  Junior has the motivation to be consistent throughout the Chase.  Earnhardt has fallen in points throughout the Race to the Chase with several poor finishes, but his good finish at Richmond more than likely will carry over to Loudon.  Look for him to be around at Homestead but not to take home the trophy.

Driver: Clint Bowyer
Points Position: 5th
Wins: 1

Clint Bowyer has had a year with many ups and downs.  He has had consistent finishes and has had some terrible runs.  I never knew whether he was going to finish strong or go out with trouble.  Bowyer was always a gamble for my fantasy roster.  What he pulled out of it all was a very crucial win.  If he can do what he did last year, Clint should be around for at least the majority of the ten races.

Driver: Denny Hamlin
Points Position: 6th
Wins: 1

Denny Hamlin has had a pretty good year.  His win at Martinsville was one of the most meaningful ever for him.  He dominated at Richmond and almost was able to check off both  Virginia tracks.  For part of the year, he was really in a hole.  At one point, Denny did not even think he was Chase deserving.  In the past three races, Hamlin has gotten 3 third place finishes in a row.  His momentum probably will carry him through Loudon and most of the Chase.  I think Denny Hamlin will fall out of the running though before Homestead.

Driver: Jeff Burton
Points Position: 7th
Wins: 1

Jeff Burton has had a great season.  He has proven that a veteran racer can still compete for the Championship.  Jeff was rejoiced when he got his first ever victory at Bristol and his only win this season.  When I think of consistency, I think of Jeff Burton.  He was second or third in points most of the season but dropped significantly during the Race to the Chase.  His terrible finish in the Sharpie 500 really knocked him down in points.  Look for his consistency to continue throughtout most of the Chase.  As I have said though, consistency is not enought.  To be a champion, you have to go out there and win lots and lots of races.

Driver: Tony Stewart
Points Position: 8th
Wins: 0

Now, we are down to the drivers that really aren't Chase deserving.  As I have said, DW has said, and many people have agreed on, a driver needs to win a race in order to qualify for the Chase.  Is a driver that worthy of the postseason if he is 0 for 26?  Tony Stewart has had an aggravating and frustrating year.  In the midst of it, he made the decision to depart from Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the season and start his own team.  Stewart has the momentum to do well in the Chase even though he really shouldn't be there.  Tony's second place finish at Richmond has set the guy on fire, and I really believe that he will get his win during the Chase.  He is a driver that could possibly still be around at Homestead.  But with having to compete with the guys at the top of the pecking order, one wrong move and you're out, buddy.

Driver: Greg Biffle
Points Position: 9th
Wins: 0

Greg Biffle has had a run-of-the-mill season.  He has let the win slip from his hands at tracks like Darlington and Dover.  I really thought he would get to victory lane during those 26 races.  I am not sure if he will even be celebrating during the Chase with having to compete with all of the other guys.  Biffle will get some good, consistent finishes but won't be around at Homestead.

Driver: Jeff Gordon
Points Position: 10th
Wins: 0

I don't know what to say about Jeff Gordon.  All I can say is that this year hasn't been his time, and I have no clue how in the heck he managed to get into the Chase.  I guess his experience pays off to get him out of trouble.  Jeff has had some consistent finishes in the past 3 races, something he has needed for a while.  He just has had a lot of trouble adjusting to the new car.  Sometimes Gordon gets caught up in another guy's trouble, sometimes he crashes and burns, and sometimes he makes his way to the front.  We just never know; the guy could suddenly get hot during the Chase and start to be a Cup contender.  I doubt it though; don't count on him being around at Homestead.

Driver: Kevin Harvick
Points Position: 11th
Wins: 0

Kevin Harvick is everyone's darkhouse during the Chase.  He has shown the consistency and the drive to fight for this thing.  Harvick has had a pretty good Race to the Chase and has finished strong.  Last week at Richmond, Kevin practically sent all of the other drivers a "beware of me" sign.  He is excited about Loudon, and most importantly of all, he has proven that he can get himself out of the hole.  Remember that race back Pocono where he wrecked at the beginning and still managed to get a top five finish.  That was amazing!  Kevin Harvick could very well be around at Homestead.

Driver: Matt Kenseth
Points Position: 12th
Wins: 0

Matt Kenseth has had a very interesting year.  At the beginning of it, he was terrible and getting caught up in wrecks.  But over the summer, Matt has made a dramatic comeback.  It all started back at the night race at Daytona, and he has brought his momentum all the way into the Chase.  I don't expect him to win the Title, and I don't expect him to win a race.  Just making this battle is a major accomplishment for him; Kenseth is lucky to be in it.  If it weren't for the new rule implemented last year, he would be crying back at home.  Don't expect him to be around at Homestead, but do expect him to get some good finishes.

                                                          

That was my Chase preview.  I hope you enjoy the battle for the Cup, and I will write more posts throughout the next ten weeks.

Jimmie Johnson won the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond.  The race was supposed to be run last night, but it was delayed until today because of tropical storm Hanna.  Jimmie was in the right position all day and waited until the final pit stop to put all of the other drivers in checkmate.  I had a feeling that he was going to win this race just like he did last year.  Johnson is copying exactly what he did last year and has put himself in the place to win the Championship.  He doesn't have as much talk as Kyle Busch or Carl Edwards, so he can just take it easy and dominate the Chase.  Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards will be tough competition, but Jimmie Johnson has the most experience and knowledge to make the right moves.  Beware of Carl Edwards on the 1.5 mile tracks.  He has won Texas and almost won Atlanta.  Roush-Fenway Racing just destroys the field on that type of track and almost always has a driver in victory lane.  Beware of Kyle Busch because of his total domination.  Every year the Chase has existed, the driver leading the standings going into it has closed the deal out at Homestead.  That could change this year, but it could very well stay the same.  I guess we'll just have to watch and find out.

Sometimes You Just Have to be a Tiger

Tony Stewart had the car to win the race and even proved how powerful he was.  The first crictical mistake was caused by his pit crew.  Tony acted like a baby after the race right before he climbed out of his car.  Sometimes pit crews make mistakes; no one is perfect.  This is at least the second time this season he has acted immature after the race.
He had to get out in front of Jimmie Johnson.  That same scenario is similar to how Kyle Busch lost to Carl Edwards back at Michigan.  The final pit stop is a deciding element of a long race.  He almost had Jimmie Johnson in the closing laps but couldn't complete the pass.  The high line was the place to be today.  This race resembles the one at Bristol a few weeks ago in many ways.  The biggest way was the final battle of Jimmie Johnson vs. Tony Stewart.  Tony chose to race Jimmie 100% clean and not go all out for the win.  Stewart was in the same position that Carl Edwards was in back at Bristol.  Carl was brave up enough to do the bump-and-run in order to be celebrating at the end.  Tony was just unwilling to do the necessary means to end his rough year.  I bet if Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch switched ages for this Richmond race that Stewart would have done the bump-and-run.  Stewart is getting to be a veteran driver who doesn't want to cause a brawl.  The young guns are what makes this sport exciting.  They are willing to do whatever it takes to prevail in the end.  Tony Stewart acted like a snail today, not a tiger.

So Close, But Yet So Far

David Ragan and Kasey Kahne were at the door of the Chase for the Championship, but the door just couldn't be unlocked.  The door pretty much locked after Bristol when Kasey Kahne made probably one of the biggest mistakes in his career.  His whole regular season just came down to one bad race.  That is what happens under the new, Championship system.  David Ragan has had a great year and will continue to have a great year.  The young man has come so far in only his sophtmore season in NASCAR's top series.  He has been close to winning several time and has matured greatly as a driver.  Next year, look for Ragan to be in the Chase.

Revenge Struck Back on the "Shrub"

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was totally owned by Kyle Busch back at Richmond in May.  Junior hasn't done anything to him since but finally put the kid in his place today.  Dale decided to get aggressive as they were racing and kindof slid up into him going into Turn 1.  The fans cheered when it happened and were excited about another rivalry.  I'm not sure if Earnhardt totally meant to cause a wreck and just wanted to give "Wild Thing" a little nudge.  I have to give Kyle credit though for being mature in his post-race interview and not pitching a fit.  He and all drivrs just need to remember the Golden Rule.   Kyle Busch had formed rivalries with two different top drivers now: Carl Edwards and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.  It should be an exciting final ten races.

Other Thoughts

Congrats to David Reutimann for getting a ninth place finish for the second straight week.  He was up there racing with the big boys and is becoming a better driver.  I can see him progressing a lot this year in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series'.  One day he will win a race.  I just don't know when that day will come.

I feel sorry for Joey Logano not being able to make his debut.  You know he was really looking forward to that.  He will get in a Sprint Cup car several times in the next ten races.  This rain was a big letdown for him.

That's all for now.

                                                     

                                                                
                        Trivia

Are you up for a challenge, race fans?  Each week, I will post 2 mild, 2 medium, and 2 hot  trivia questions about the track that the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series visits.  Just post what you think the answers are, and I will reveal the answers two to three days after posting.  Enjoy!

14 contenders left- 12 spots.  This is Richmond.  One last chance to get into the Chase, and one last hope of contending for the Championship.  David Ragan and Kasey Kahne are on the outside looking in and are going to be pretty fired up on Saturday night.  Then, there is Clint Bowyer.  He has a pretty erratic season but has still managed to grab a win and currently a spot in the Top 12.  I believe that Bowyer will close the deal tomorrow night.  Ragan and Kahne will get good finishes, but they will still come up short.  To me, 26 races is the perfect number.  The Chase should start after about 18 races, and then, the season would be over when it is time for the NFL to start.  I know it won't happen, but it would be good if it did.

But now, it's trivia time!

The Mild Questions- These should be a nice, easy warm-up.

Question 1.  Who won the NSCS Richmond race in the spring of 2008?

Question 2.  Who was the last driver to win 2 consecutive NSCS Richmond races?

The Medium Questions- These should start getting more challenging.

Question 3. What county is Richmond International Raceway located?

Question 4. What year were lights added to RIR?

The Hot Questions- These should be a tough task and take your brain for a whirl.

Question 5: What date (mm/dd/yyyy) did Richard Petty win his first race at Richmond?

Question 6: How many feet is the back straightway at RIR?

Thanks for playing and enjoy the race!