FanHouse Johnny Sauter

Wisconsin is not regarded by many people as a mecca for auto racing. However, it does have a fair history in the sport. Tracks like Road America (Elkhart Lake) and Madison International Speedway have been around for over 40 years, while the Milwaukee Mile has been around for over 100 years.

The historic racetrack on the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds in West Allis is in trouble. After its most recent run of major events, the Milwaukee Mile may be about to shut its doors for good.

Tony Stewart has been pretty much MIA for any questions from the media in a few of the past Nextel Cup events in the Chase.

Currently, the Home Deport Chevrolet sits fourth in series points, 249 points back of the series leader Jeff Gordon.

Now, I fully realize that Stewart's rule about attending media sessions was clarified after Phoenix this year, and from that I know that he doesn't have to talk to anyone unless he finishes in the top-3.

Let's just say that the top-3 has been elusive for the Indiana driver during the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

Regardless, it just doesn't seem fair to Tony's fans that they have to wait for driver No. 20's comments either from the satellite radio show he hosts or from a press release from Joe Gibbs Racing as an advance press release for the coming race weekend.

As a result, I, as one of your gracious hosts of the NASCAR FanHouse, have posted some thoughts and observations from Stewart about the coming race at Atlanta and his position in points.

"Until somebody comes up and says, 'OK, mathematically you are out of it,' until then, we have a shot," said Stewart.

Hm. That was meaty. I can see why that would be tough to talk about after a race. Right.

"All we can do is just do our job," he said. "Even if we win the race for the last four weeks in a row, there is still no guarantee that we could close the gap.

Enjoy it while it lasts, I suppose.

For the guys who apply the name decals to the Haas CNC No. 66 Chevrolets and the No. 36 Bill Davis Racing Toyota, Monday brought plenty of new work.

Jeremy Mayfield will replace Jeff Green in the No. 66 immediately after departing Bill Davis' ride. He'll be there in 2008 as well.

For the guys who apply the name decals to the Haas CNC No. 66 Chevrolets and the No. 36 Bill Davis Racing Toyota, Monday brought plenty of new work.

Jeremy Mayfield will replace Jeff Green in the No. 66 immediately after departing Bill Davis' ride. With the No. 36 BDR ride available (and lacking a sponsor in '08), Davis hired a pair of Craftsman Truck Series drivers with past Cup experience to finish out the year.

Johnny Benson and Mike Skinner will split those duties. Skinner gets the gig at Atlanta this weekend and then at Texas Motor Speedway while Benson will wrap up the year at Phoenix and Homestead.

With Scott Riggs already announced as a Haas CNC driver for 2007, the driver lineup will completely change at Haas with both Jeff Green and Johnny Sauter on the way out it seems.

Two days after wrapping up the weekend on Saturday at Richmond, the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series teams headed to Talladega Superspeedway for two days of Car of Tomorrow testing.

The Cup boys will race the COT's for the first time on a superspeedway during the Chase on October 7 for the UAW-Ford 500.

Denny Hamlin led the single-car run times Monday morning with a speed of 189.560 mph. In the afternoon, Johnny Sauter hit a top one-lap drafting speed 196.165 mph to lead that session.

Jimmie Johnson seemed a little worried about racing at Talladega with the new COT and the way that bumpers line up perfectly with each car.

"The cars line up better, and you can get away with a lot more pushing and shoving," Johnson said.

"The cars have a lot of downforce and are comfortable to drive, so I think that will lead to a little bit more aggressive driving."

Hamlin, though, seemed pretty stoked about the October race.

"I think you're going to see a very similar race to what the truck races are," Hamlin said.

"Everyone would argue that the truck races are probably the best superspeedway races, simply because guys can just pull out and pass at will."

My bet? You'll see a darned exciting race in October.

I really have nothing against Dave Blaney. Really, I don't. He just happens to be that guy sitting in the hot seat right now. Nothing personal ... except that I personally have never been impressed by him.

No, I haven't followed his whole career--my only frame of reference is the Nextel Cup Series. No, I've never met him personally so I don't know what a great guy he is, or how nice his parents are ... but even if I did I might still feel the same about his driving.

Some fans are taking this personally.

The Blaniacs have taken me to task for my criticism of Blaney's inability to close and for questioning his ability to take advantage of recent situations he's found himself in.

For daring to doubt his talent, I've been issued a challenge:

"If you are so sure he has no talent, let's make a friendly wager of $100.00, if he finishes the season outside of the top 35, you get my hundred bucks, if he finishes inside the top 35, you make a check out to VJGC....and in the memo put, "KTF Blaniacs."

For the record, I never said he had no talent, I just said his talent hasn't impressed me. The passion of his fans, however, has.

Following Denny Hamlin's victory in Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 300, NASCAR found that two of his competitors were riding a little low.

The Chevrolets of Kyle Busch and Johnny Sauter both failed postrace technical inspection on the left front side, according to the Charlotte Observer.

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said both cars would be taken to NASCAR's research and development center in Concord, N.C., to confirm the measurements taken at the track.

The teams face potential penalties if the violations are confirmed, but Poston said they would not be considered along the same lines as other penalties for "tampering with the car of tomorrow."

Hendrick Motorsports could now have three crew chiefs -- yes, count 'em, three -- sidelined due to technical violations. A points penalty for Sauter would put him right on the edge of the top-35.

Johnny Sauter didn't have a lot of faith in his racecar heading into Saturday's Nextel Open--he brought it in case they wrecked 'cause he didn't want to ruin his car for the Coca-Cola 600.

His crew chief, Bootie Barker, felt differently.

Sauter:

I didn't think we could really do this. The car was very, very loose all weekend and we tested this car and it was very loose. Bootie told me it was going to be okay. Yeah, and I condemned it.

Bootie's setup--without a single adjustment--earned them a 2nd place finish and a spot in the Nextel All-Star Challenge in which he drove to a 6th place finish amongst NASCAR's elite.

I'm not a fan of Sauter. I fit into the category they mentioned during the broadcast that finds him to be too aggressive a driver--without the skills to back it up.

I am, however, a huge fan of the man in the wheelchair--so this little showing pleases me.

Eleven weeks into the season with a new crew chief, Sauter sits in the 33rd position, having recorded one top 10 and one DNQ.

Not exactly lighting up the scoring pylon ... but look for this team to do bigger things as the confidence between driver and crew chief grows.

Carl Edwards looked like a shoe-in for tonight's Nextel All-Star Challenge after leading 36 of 40 laps during the Nextel Open. Then, Martin Truex Jr. showed up. And Johnny Sauter.

Edwards finished 3rd in the race, leaving Sauter and Truex to earn automatic bids into the All-Star race.

Sauter came from nearly two seconds back with 12 laps to go to catch Truex, but Truex had other plans. Instead of getting passed by Sauter's No. 70, the No. 1 car made it around Edwards with a three-wide move after Sauter looked low.

David Ragan spun during the start of second segment and collected Reed Sorenson.

Carl Edwards won the incident-filled first segment after leading all 20 laps -- eight ran under green. Ten cars were involved in wrecks.

Juan Pablo Montoya got the first segment off to an inauspicious start after causing multi-car pileup off of turn 2. Montoya started 5th on the grid and took Dave Blaney's spot on the start on a three-wide move. Montoya had too much momentum and lost the car up the race track.

"I had a really good start under Blaney. As soon as a I went to pick up the gas, it spun out," said Montoya.

The incident took out Gilliland, Joe Nemechek, Paul Menard, Jon Wood, A.J. Allemendinger and Scott Riggs. Paul Menard didn't seem too pleased.

"Juan went three-wide right way. These tires are so hard you can't be doing that," said Menard.

Mike Bliss brought out the second caution after spinning off of turn 2 and collecting Boris Said. The 3rd caution flew when Elliott Sadler slid into the turn 3 wall and Jeff Green later cut through the infield grass after contact with Jamie McMurray.

Jeff Gordon will be out front on Sunday when the cars of tomorrow take the green flag.

All four manufacturers have at least one car starting inside the Top 10.

Toyota drivers A.J. Allmendinger (Red Bull Racing) and Jeremy Mayfield (Bill Davis Racing) both made the field for the first time in five attempts. Brian Vickers also made the field for his third race of the season.

Michael Waltrip Racing's #55 (Waltrip) and #00 (David Reutimann) both failed to qualify. Dale Jarrett qualified the #44 on time and still maintains two championship provisionals.

Top 35 bubble driver Paul Menard (DEI) failed to qualify, as did Kevin LePage (0-5). Joe Nemechek and Johnny Sauter both failed to qualify for the first time in 2007.

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