There's no car foxes -- see the commercial -- around this Michigan edition of Sprint Cup Notes & Quotes. Brian Vickers seems to be a polar opposite of Kyle Busch in that he doesn't let things stick to him. He said as much during his post-race press conference Sunday night when asked about his run-in during Saturday's Nationwide Series race with Busch -- a former Hendrick Motorsports teammate.
"You know, there's some people that you meet in life that are just gonna do stupid things. You just learn to accept it. You just don't let it bother you. You know, you have patience," said Vickers. "You just live your life and run your race.
The tone in Brian Vickers' voice over the in-car radio was all crew chief Ryan Pemberton needed to know.
"I think he yelled at me, told me not to give him lap times any more," said Pemberton of the closing laps in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway while Vickers stalked leader Jimmie Johnson. "I knew right then he knew what he was doing, how he was doing it. He was just managing."
Where: Michigan Int'l Speedway Time: Sunday 2PM ET TV/Radio: ESPN, MRN Radio Twitter: Updates @ FanHouseRacing Forecast: Sunny, 91 degrees, 30% rain Distance: 200 laps (400 miles) Pole Winner: Brian Vickers 2008 Winner: Carl Edwards
The Storylines
'Hot! Hot! Hot!' has long been the opener to a Jimmy Buffett concert [much like the one yours truly attended this week] and theme should have major crossover appeal Sunday in Michigan. The mercury is expected to be bubbling with highs in the 90s -- a first for Sprint Cup in 2009.
It's a good question thanks to the new tune that crew chief Brian Pattie has managed to get Montoya to sing during his 2009 run to earn a spot in his first Chase for the Sprint Cup. That tune, of course, showed its face on Friday at Michigan International Speedway ahead of Sunday's 400-miler at the 2-mile venue.
"We know what average we have to run to be in the Chase. It doesn't matter who beats you that one day or another," said Montoya. "Play it smart, don't take any big risks and hopefully it pays off."
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.
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.
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.
There are just three races left on the road to the Chase for the Nextel Cup and the Chase picture is starting to come into focus--and NASCAR's most popular driver isn't in it.
Standings following the 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway:
7. -1 Jeff Burton 8. -- Kyle Busch 9. -- Clint Bowyer 10. -- Kevin Harvick 11. -- Martin Truex Jr. 12. -- Kurt Busch
Biggest Winners Race winner Kurt Busch. I'm going to hate being right about him pushing a DEI driver out. Jimmie Johnson also pulled himself back up to 6th, improving his seed position. Biggest Loser Dale Earnhardt Jr. His chase hopes started to slip away last week and this week he completely lost his footing, gaining a spot but increasing the gap.
The outlook is looking more bleak for Junior and Ryan Newman, but they're not mathematically locked out. Yet. With only two drivers are locked into the Chase at this point, anything can happen. But it won't take just anything, it's got to be something big and tragic. Something like three consecutive DNFs for one of the others in the top 12. Now, where did I put those voodoo dolls cars ... ?
There's no car foxes -- see the commercial -- around this Michigan edition of Sprint Cup Notes & Quotes.
The tone in 
Race: CARFAX 400
Tony Stewart
Somewhat coherent Notes & Quotes to wrap up NASCAR's first trip to Michigan in 2009:
The wide racing surface with multiple grooves at 
It's been a good week to be 
A year removed from 
There are just three races left on the road to the Chase for the Nextel Cup and the Chase picture is starting to come into focus--and NASCAR's most popular driver isn't in it. 
