FanHouse LifeLock 400

Somewhat coherent Notes & Quotes to wrap up NASCAR's first trip to Michigan in 2009:

What will NASCAR learn from Pardo's brutal crash and tragic death?

The death of NASCAR Mexico driver and champion Carlos Pardo in a horrific crash during the final laps of a race on Sunday is certainly tragic. However, the fact that his car was able to make such violent contact with the end of a temporary wall is just as shocking.

Let's hope NASCAR makes sure such an angle of impact can never happen again.

The wide racing surface with multiple grooves at Michigan International Speedway often leads to a clean, green race and Sunday's LifeLock 400 was no different with fuel mileage spelling the final name of the game.

Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson both eliminated themselves by driving too hard and burning too much fuel in the final laps, and Mark Martin wisely conserved just enough fuel to dramatically win the race after running out of gas himself in the final corner.

And despite the back-to-back fuel mileage finishes in the Sprint Cup Series, the finish of Sunday's race certainly added a little bit of spice to an otherwise vanilla day.

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It's been a good week to be Brian Vickers.

First, he completed what was likely the first-ever live-action pit stop in New York City's Times Square (gotta love the Red Bull marketing ideas; video here) and then ESPN reported that he had signed a multi-year contract extension with Red Bull Racing.

Friday, he won the pole for the LifeLock 400 and figures to be a huge favorite come Sunday's race.

A year removed from Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s last victory and a week removed from Kyle Busch's controversial guitar smash, the latter couldn't help but sway the conversation back to the driver who has become his primary off-track target.

And this time, Busch not only went after the commander of the No. 88 ship, but Earnhardt Jr.'s army of fans, too.

"I got no issues with Junior; it's his fans that are crazy," said Busch.

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NASCAR was flat out wrong Sunday night at Kansas Speedway. Watch the video, and then I'll tell you why.



They were wrong to award Greg Biffle his first win of the season because the "field was frozen at the point of yellow".

They were wrong to make such a blatant call without first reviewing any evidence. And most importantly, they were wrong in trying to cover up the move so quickly with answers that sounded more like excuses.

I've tossed and turned over this issue since the drop of the checkered flag and my NASCAR.com leaderboard service showed Clint Bowyer as the winner. Somehow, though, the images filtering through the screen and the words flying into my ears didn't render the same thing.

The fact is, though, Clint Bowyer won the LifeLock 400 and Greg Biffle finished fourth. The case is open and shut -- Greg Biffle did not remain at "cautious pace" during the final yellow and therefore should not be credited with doing so.

He did not maintain pace with the pace car as the rule states and everyone from Kansas to the Emerald City knows his reason for pulling low -- to maintain gas for burnouts -- was complete and utter bull.

As much as ESPN has managed to annoy the fans since taking over the Nextel Cup broadcasts in the last couple of weeks, they got a head start on annoying Tony Stewart.

It's been at least two months since Stewart tired of the questions from ESPN, a.k.a., the Especially Stupid in the Pits Network. Unfortunately, Stewart's displeasure with the network and its reporters has not discouraged their pursuit of the driver's every thought.

Smoke has had enough, but yesterday he let ESPN get the best of him.

It wasn't a bright and shiny day after all for Hendrick Motorsports Saturday at Kansas.

Kyle Busch won Saturday's Busch race at Kansas Speedway over Matt Kenseth by about a car length in his No. 5 Chevrolet. While the victory was nice, it could turn out to haunt Busch for the rest of 2007 season in both the Busch and Nextel Cup series.

Busch's car failed post-race inspection in a major sort of way Saturday evening. And by major sort of way, I mean like Michael Waltrip-type way, not the Carl Edwards-type way.

The intake manifold on the No. 5's engine -- a piece long thought as one of the steepest of infractions when out of bounds -- was deemed illegal in the eyes of NASCAR. The sanctioning body has since taken the part into their possession.

This certainly isn't good news for anyone involved with Busch's Busch or Nextel Cup series efforts. Without a doubt, the penalty will be steep (as Busch Series penalties go) for Busch and Co. The significant "and Co." part of that equation includes the man who crew chiefs for Busch in both divisions, Alan Gustafson.