Tony Stewart has been ranked first or second in NASCAR's marquee Sprint Cup Series championship for the last 19 weeks. He's led the standings since May 31, building a comfy 100-point margin by late June and eventually an impressive 284-point edge over second place by August.
Stewart entered last Saturday's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway with a 234-point advantage in the championship.
Join 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth on Friday at 12:15 PM ET for a live chat. Kenseth, who will drive the No. 17 R+L Carriers Ford Fushion in Saturday's Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, is ranked 12th in the championship standings. He is one of two drivers in position to have qualified for the Chase for the Championship playoff format every year since its 2004 inception.
Next Wednesday, Kenseth will join an elite lineup of the sport's best when he competes in the Gillette Young Guns Prelude to the Dream at Eldora (Ohio) Speedway -- a charity race organized by Tony Stewart and broadcast live on HBO pay-per-view. Join this year's Daytona 500 winner on the chat as he answers your questions live.
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.
What with Tony Stewart going it on his own just fine, thank you; Kyle Busch smashing trophies in victory lane; Dale Earnhardt Jr. struggling to live up to his hype; 50-year old Mark Martin winning races; and Hendrick Motorsports being, well ... Hendrick Motorsports, the once dominant Roush Fenway Ford team finds itself on NASCAR's attention periphery here at the midseason point.
Bass designed the paint job on the Gibson Les Paul guitar, only to see Busch whack it against the concrete numerous times in what amounts to a poor way to honor his team members.
Where:Lowe's Motor Speedway Time: Sunday 5:45 p.m./EDT TV/Radio: FOX Sports, PRN Radio Twitter: In-race updates at FanHouseRacing Forecast: 64 degrees, 80% chance of rain Distance: 400 laps (600 miles) Pole Winner:Ryan Newman 2008 Winner:Kasey Kahne
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Tony Stewart won his first race as a team owner Saturday night, breaking through for a $1 million payday with a victory in the annual All-Star race.
Stewart passed Matt Kenseth with two laps to go of a thrilling final 10-lap shootout to win his first All-Star event in 11 previous starts. It was the first victory since he left Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of last year, after two championships and 10 successful seasons, to become co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing.
If NASCAR's looking for a good way to spice up qualifying, they've already got the format ready to roll.
But before we tackle that issue, Jimmie Johnson will lead off Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway after he and his team dropped a fast time of 121.416 seconds in the three lap and four-tire pit stop qualifying process.
Johnson will lead Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth to the green flag for the first segment after one of the most-enjoyable ways to qualifying for a race the sport has come up with.
Where:Darlington Raceway Time: Saturday 7:20 p.m./EDT TV/Radio: FOX Sports, MRN Radio Twitter: In-race updates at FanHouseRacing Forecast: 64 degrees, 20% chance of storms Distance: 367 laps (500.1 miles) Pole Winner:Matt Kenseth 2008 Winner:Kyle Busch
The Storylines
NASCAR's gettin' used to this two day show format, it would seem. Both this weekend's action at Darlington Raceway and last weekend's run at Richmond have been run in a quick and simple two day pattern.
That was pretty much the consensus of drivers following Wednesday's Goodyear tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- the sixth test since a tire debacle at the track during last year's NASCAR race resulted in no green flag runs more than 16 laps.
"The tires still are not ideal,'' said Ryan Newman, who represented the Chevrolet contingent in the four-car test. "I know Goodyear is still working on that. It is just a tough situation, man."
Tony Stewart has been ranked first or second in NASCAR's marquee Sprint Cup Series championship for the last 19 weeks. He's led the standings since May 31, building a comfy 100-point margin by late June and eventually an impressive 284-point edge over second place by August.
Join 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth on Friday at 12:15 PM ET for a live chat. Kenseth, who will drive the No. 17 R+L Carriers Ford Fushion in Saturday's Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, is ranked 12th in the championship standings. He is one of two drivers in position to have qualified for the Chase for the Championship playoff format every year since its 2004 inception.
Consider the Pocono edition of 'Sprint Cup Notes & Quotes' to be a friend of custom-painted Gibson guitars.
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Tony Stewart won his first race as a team owner Saturday night, breaking through for a $1 million payday with a victory in the annual All-Star race.
If NASCAR's looking for a good way to spice up qualifying, they've already got the format ready to roll.
Less than impressed.
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