First up, last Friday night at the newly renamed O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis (I would have prefered IRP by O'Reilly), the NASCAR Craftsmen Trucks Series was in action for there 200 lap sprint race with Rick Crawford holding off Denis Setzer and the master Ron Hornaday Jr. to grab the victory. This truck race also showcased a new racing grove, the very bottom of the corners below the yellow line just about to the grass, for anyone who could get there truck to handle down there including the winner, made short order of the lap traffic.

Last night (Saturday), the Busch Series was in action with another 200 lap sprint race, were history would repeat itself for two drivers, Denny Hamlin make the call that didn't get him the track position at the end, Hamlin found himself in the back on one of the final restarts were in the closing laps, he used the outside grove next to the wall to make up over 10 positions passing cars to finish 8th instead of outside the top 20.

But the night belowed to Mr. Busch Series himself, Kevin Harvick who added to his huge points lead by grabbing another victory..Harvick made real short-order of traffic by using the lowest grove on track. Now Harvick has a 374 point lead...

This Busch race needs at least 50 more laps. How about the Kroger 250?

On to the Sunday, the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard for the Nextel Cup Series, 160 laps, Jeff Burton grabbed the pole yesterday during qualifying with his RCR teammate Clint Boywer starting 2nd. During yesterdays (and Fridays) practice sections, tire ware was a huge problem with tires only being able to go about 9 - 15 laps total per set, would that come into play Sunday?

Green Flag in the AllState 400 at the Brickyard were NASCAR had two caution flags set for just after lap 15 and around lap 40, but the first caution cameout for Elliott Sadler on lap 2 when he lost it in turn 2 putting hime into the wall and ending his day. Jimmie Johnson also blow a left front tire, but he would recover and Jeff Gordon broke a front swaybar putting him laps down to fix that and all this before lap 10.

The tire problem really didn't show up too much thought the 160 lap race. Jeff Burton showed the way early on and thoughtout, he would struggle to find the ballance on his racecar. The race played out just like your average Nextel Cup race, slow but steady with lots of pitstops to control the any tire issues.

The bold moves of this race would come on the last caution were pit stragory would come into play, Kyle Busch and Dale Eanhardt Jr. rolled the dice by staying out and Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth took on 4 tires. I don't really know where Jimmie Johnson came from, towards the end of the race, he just fought his way to lead and after getting by Busch and Dale Jr., Jimmie Johnson cruised to his first Brickyard victory. What a drive for the 48 team, coming back from a blown left front tire to win, were have I heard that before...

Note: Dale Jr finished 6th.

Final Thoughts: I always look forward to the Indianapolis trip to both the short-track at Raceway Park at Indianapolis and the Brickyard itself. all three races were good to watch, no sleepers here, just good side-by-side racing with lots of passing. Tire problems at the Brickyard really didn't play a part in the final outcome, Goodyear and NASCAR both said the tire ware would be better and it was.

I felt bad for Michael Waltrip, not qualifying for the Brickyard 400, but his MWR #00 with Bill Elliott did make the 400, I will end this column with a question:

Question: With Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) along with BDR changing over to Toyotas in 2007 and MWR currently running one Chevy Monte Carlo for the #00 already, why don't he change his NAPA Dodge over to a Chevy Monte Carlo SS?

Just a question from this NASCAR fan, Mikey needs to get ready for 2007 and getting into the top 35 in points is a must...anyway, next up, Watkins Glen for both the Busch and Nextel Cup Series.

See Yeah!