By Brian from Racedriven.com

Before I get to the Race for the Chase, the Sharpie 500 won by Matt Kenseth, something caught my eye during the closing laps of the race, Riggs was racing the Jeff Gordon for 4th position and Riggs asked his spotter to ask Gordons spotter to ask Gordon to move over and let him by because he was faster...when did racing become asking the person ahead to move over for position instead of racing for it...you want that position, race for it, no gifts here and certainly not in the closing laps of any race.

Following the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Sharpie 500 last night, the Race to the Chase has gotten tighter with just two races to go. On the TNT broadcast, the announcers kept saying that this race was the wild card, don't think that for a second, every race is a wild card, anything can and will most likely happen in the final two races. California Speedway is D-shaped 2 mile oval similar to last weeks Michigan race and Richmond is a 3/4 mile short track filled with action, both with unknown results and under the lights racing.

Right now as it stands, from 4th place #5 Kyle Busch to 10th place #6 Mark Martin is only 48 points difference. The only two drivers going in to California in the points standings that are (somewhat) safe, is the points leader Jimmie Johnson and second place & winner of the last two cup races Matt Kenseth who has both clinched a spot in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. But some of NASCAR's biggest names have found thereselves on the bubble including 7th place Jeff Burton, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. to 10th place Mark Martin.

The picture for these bubble contenders is not as dark as some may put it, unless Greg Biffle and/or Carl Edwards who are over 251 points out of 10th get lucky with bad luck on the other contenders part, the race is down to Kasey Kahne in 11th place vs. 3rd to 10th in the points. Kahne is 90 points out of 10th place and could make that difference up in the last two races.

Where these drivers finish in the final two races and every bonus point could be the key to being in the chase after Richmond or not.

Final Thoughts on Bristol:
As always, I look forward to the two Bristol races among others every year including racing under the lights, and the racing this time didn't disappoint with Mark Martin dominating the Wednesday Nights Truck race and Matt Kenseth sweeping both the Busch and Nextel Cup race.

Bristol needs to change the Busch race from 250 laps to 300 lap race like they did in the spring race. As for the Cup race, I believe both races should be under the lights or the race ending under the lights. Night racing seems to bring out something in drivers...action. Only a thought.

Now its on to the labor day weekend race, California Speedway for the 500.

The Car of Tomorrow:
NASCAR Performance touched on several different aspects of the COT and did a great job in the process, but the fact remains, according to NASCAR, the COT is the 2007 and beyond car for the Nextel Cup Series starting at Bristol in 07 and at select races until 2009 season. Now how do we get it to look good and create better/safer racing?

See Yeah!