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Recent News

RACEDAY TOMORROW
Jeff Burton wins Michigan Cup Pole.
Gilliland in the #38 and Elliott Sadler in the #19 at Michigan.
Robert Yates at Michigan #38 will be David Gilliland or Jeremy Mayfield
11th place Kahne is easily close to the Top 10 right now. 12th 13th and 14th are Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle, and Carl Edwards. Those 3 drivers are very close to each other, but they need guys at the back of the Top 10 to have bad races to get close to the Top 10 again.
Kurt Busch penalty may have ended all hope at making the CHASE.
Kevin Harvick wins the AMD at the Glen!!!
Bill Elliott will replace Jeremy Mayfeild at Watkins Glen. Don't expect Mayfield back in the #19 anymore. Sadler will probably be in the #19 at Michigan.
Sadler will race last race with Yates at Watkins Glen.
Kurt Busch gets pole for Watkins Glen Cup Race.
Kurt Busch wins 2nd Busch Series race at Watkins Glen.
Watkins Glen this weekend.
Jimmie Johnson wins the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard!!!
Steven Leicht will try to make the Allstate 400 for Robert Yates Racing this weekend. David Gilliland will drive the Robert Yates Busch Series car at O'Reily Raceway Park in Indianapolis.
Pray for Benny Parsons as he begins the fight against his lung cancer. He hopes to be at Indy this weekend to cover the race.
National Guard could move to the #25 Hendrick Motorsports car in 2007, leaving Greg Biffle's #16 team. If this happens, Subway would step up as Biffle's main primary sponsor. Don't know if GMAC would stay with Hendrick or not.
OFFWEEK IS OVER-ONTO INDY FOR THE ALLSTATE 400-This is where the action picks up.......this is the beginning of the RACE TO THE CHASE!
Scott Wimmer will likely be out of the Morgan McClure #4 Cup car after 2006. Looks like he will get a Busch Series team to race with in 2007.
Bill Webber will stay with TNT for 2007.
Robert Yates Racing fires both crew chiefs, #38 and #88 will be at Indy with new leadership.
Danica Patrick will not come to NASCAR, signed with a new IRL team today.
Tony Stewart apologizes on Monday after ruining the race Sunday for Boyer and Edwards. Also ended most of Edward's chase hopes.
Steven Leicht #88 or #90 Cup car in 2007, probably Citi Financial or maybe McDonalds as sponsor.
David Gillaland to Yates in 2007, probably, and maybe 2006
Denny Hamlin wins the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono!!!
Steven Leicht debuting this weekend in the #90 Citi Financial Ford for Robert Yates Racing.
Elliott Sadler told Robert Yates that he will not return with the team in 2007. He may be taken out of the ride before 2006 is over.
New sources say Elliott Sadler is going to the Evernham #19 Dodge in 2007, but not taking M&M's with him.
David Gilliland could go to the #38 RYR Ford if Elliott Sadler leaves.
Steven Leicht looks like he will drive #88 Ford for RYR, maybe CitiFinancial or maybe McDonalds.
Hendrick Motorsports has 6 wins this year in the Nextel Cup Series. That is double what Roush Racing has this year.
Kurt Busch's wreck at New Hampshire ended any hope he had to make the CHASE. I believe there are 13 guys right now that can get in.
Tony Stewart falls out of the Top 10 in points after his wreck at New Hampshire.
Kyle Busch wins the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire!!!
Jack Sprague wins truck race at Memphis. Todd Bodine maintains points lead.
Ryan Newman on Bud Pole at New Hampshire.
Montoya dropped from F1 team, will prepare for Cup series before his rookie season in 07.
Leicht to make Cup debut at Indy for RYR
Danica Patrick to NASCAR in 2007???
Jeff Gordon wins the USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicagoland!!!
Woodbrothers will stay in Cup in 2007...maybe 2 teams?
Mayfield is frustrated with team and Ray Everham
Juan Pablo Montoya moving to NASCAR in 2007 to driver #42 Texaco Ganassi Dodge!
Ward Burton Michael Waltrip Racing?
Ward Burton to Yates, Leicht to Yates, 3 car team? Tide as sponsor?
UPS will go with Dale Jarrett to Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota in 2007. Only thing unknown is the #
Kevin Harvick and Burney Lamar's Busch teams fined and docked 50 points for Daytona violations. Crew chiefs suspended for 6 weeks each.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Jeff Gordon announced Friday that he will join the No. 10 SunTrust Pontiac Riley team for the 45th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, to be held January 27-28, 2007.
Tony Stewart wins the Pepsi 400 at Daytona!!!
COT-Car of Tomorrow has foam in the front corner bumpers. Fuel cell is smaller than this years. Wing on back can be adjusted by teams. Drivers seat is farther right inside the car. Many safety features. All makes will have the same grill, same front part. Barely any differences in the car manufactures. Mainly just the sticker and a little right below the hood.
Bank of America Cup has been denied, Nextel says they are staying with the sport. Could become the Sprint/Nextel Cup in 07
Dale Jarrett has a broken hand after last weeks wreck at Infineon, will be fine to race Daytona.
Busch Series at Daytona-Dale Earnhardt Jr wins----Harvick maintains points lead.
Reed Sorenson will run the mainly red Target scheme for the rest of the 2006 Season.
HALF WAY POINT OF SEASON THIS WEEKEND AT DAYTONA
Jeff Gordon wins the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon!!!
Boris Said best road racer 9th place
Tony Stewart drives wreckless in the Infineon race.
Jeff Gordon will run Superman Pepsi paint scheme in 2006. Daytona, July 1st
Jeff Gordon will race Foose paint scheme again at Indy in August.
Qualifying-Friday-7PM est SPEED
Scott Riggs hurt while on vacation. Was putting his jetski into ocean at Myrtle Beach and stepped in and oyster bed and cut his feet. Had to get stiches. He hopes to race all weekend but Bill Elliott will be there in case he needs a relief driver.
Scott Pruett will replace David Stremme in the #40 car at Infineon, being a road racer and David Stremme not having much experience there, and the team needs a good run to get solidly in the Top 35 in owner points.
Boris Said will race a #60 No Fear Racing car this week at Infineon.
Toyota car was tested at Atlanta yesterday for the first time.
UPS to #16 Greg Biffle is untrue, Roush Racing denied UPS going to any of their teams. UPS will make announcement Friday, probably going to the #9 of Kasey Kahne or a Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota in 2007.
Kasey Kahne wins the 3M Performance 400 at Michigan!!!
Congrats to David Gilliland, winner of the Busch Series race at Kentucky.
Congrats to Johnny Benson, winner of the Craftsman Truck Series race at Michigan on Saturday.
Kasey Kahne wins the Bud Pole for Michigan in the movie Click car starring Adam Sandler. Adam Sandler is also at the track this weekend and will be involved in pre-race activities.
DID YOU KNOW-Jeff Gordon's wreck at Pocono was the 3rd hardest recorded hit in NASCAR history. The black box in the car gives this data. Im not sure what 2 wrecks were the hardest, if anyone can find that info, email me at jmc@triad.rr.com thanks
Tony Stewart testing at Virginia road coarse to see how his arm is.
Ward Burton going to return? Toyota? Under Armor?
Casey Mears signed with Hendrick Motorsports, will race #25 Chevy in 2007.
Denny Hamlin wins the Pocono 500 at Pocono!!!
Casey Mears out of Ganassi after 2006, headed to Hendrick #25?
Brian Vickers is out of Hendrick after 2006, looking for a new job. Looks like he will go to the Toyota Red Bull team in 2007.
Tony Stewart plans to run all 500 miles Sunday at Pocono.
Brian Vickers wants out of his Hendrick contract after 2006.
Matt Kenseth wins the Neighborhood Excellence 400 at Dover!!!
Newman just hasn't had the finishes all season. Ends up losing lead early and doing decent again. Decent will not get him in the CHASE.
Newman wins first Bud Pole of season at Dover. Back on track?
Kasey Kahne wins the Coca Cola at Lowes!!!
Indy 500 or Coca Cola 600? what would most of the country watch? I know Ill be watching the 600 from the stands!
Mo-Jo-Can Jimmie Johnson win 5 straight points races at Lowes Motor Speedway this Sunday?
Humpy Wheeler wrong again. He predicted good back at the first years of the All-Star events but recently he doesn't have a good record of predicting.
Jimmie Johnson wins the Nextel All-Star Challenge 2006!!!
Congrats to Kyle "Rowdy" Busch winning his first truck race of 2006.
Bill Lester wrecks in truck qualifying, loses his consecutive races streak.
Canada Road Coarse track for Busch Series in 2007
Paul Menard to move up to cup #15 car full time in 2007 for DEI
Ward Burton #88?
Greg Biffle wins the Dodge Charger 500 at Darlington!!!
Will UPS go with Jarrett? or will he be sponsored by Burger King?
Dale Jarrett signs with Michael Waltrip racing toyotas for 07 and 08
Ward Burton to yates? Dale Jarrett leaving #88, taking Ups with him?
Dale Earnhardt Jr wins the Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond!!!
Kevin Harvick to sign with RCR through 2009..announcement Friday
Talladega being tore up.....repaving for Fall race
Jimmie Johnson wins the Aarons 499 at Talladega!!!
Talladega Cup Race-Aarons 499 postponed til Monday at 12PM EST
Tony stewart takes wild ride, lands upside down, ok
Truex-unofficial phoenix results 12th, official results 22nd, speeding exiting pits at end when he ran out of fuel. So if your favorite driver finished between 13th and 22nd, they gain one position.
Kevin Harvick wins the Subway Fresh 500 at Phoenix!!!
Dale Jr to race black car at tally! earnhardt sr being inducted into motorsports hall of fame thursday.
Chevy, Ford, or Dodge leaving NASCAR???
Kurt Busch wrecked Greg Biffle at Texas. Biffle let Kurt know how he felt this week.
ESPN in 07, later start times for races, more primetime NASCAR-earliest start times will be 2pm est
Dale Jarrett will race through 08, with Toyota
11 different winners at Texas in 11 races.
Kasey Kahne wins the Samsung/Radioshack 500 at Texas!!!
Kurt Busch wins 1st Busch Series race of his career. Now has won in all three main series. 16th driver to do this
RCR upset with Kurt Busch, Harvick mad, now Burton mad.
NASCAR in Daytona til 2054. NASCAR will race in Daytona through at least 2054. New contract has extended it with a lot of $$$ involved.
Tony Stewart wins the DirecTV 500 at Martinsville!!!
Jeff Gordon fined $10,000 for shoving Kenseth after Bristol race.
Kurt Busch wins the Food City 500 at Bristol!!!
Darrell Waltrip comes out of retirement to race Busch Series race at Martinsville.
Kasey Kahne wins the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta!!!
Bobby Hamilton diagnosed with cancer.
Jimmie Johnson wins the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400!!!
Hall Of Fame Announcement In Charlotte Today-March 6th, 2006-its now official, Hall Of Fame has a home in Charlotte, NC
FOX to broadcast Mexico Busch Race in SAP on Sunday. 1st Time Ever
Matt Kenseth wins the Auto Club 500!!!
Chad Knaus fined $25,000 and suspended until Bristol. 3 more weeks!
Jimmie Johnson wins the DAYTONA 500!!!
Dale Earnhardt Jr will go to the #3 RCR car before his career is over.

Pocono CHASERS

These are the guys to watch today during the Pocono race. These are the guys that are trying to make the 2006 CHASE.

u need to watch

#31 Jeff Burton-If he has a good day he will become the 3rd driver safe in the 2006 CHASE. If he has a bad day, his story will be different next week. If he runs average he will be in about the same situation next week as he is right now.

#5 Kyle Busch

#6 Mark Martin

#9 Kasey Kahne-They all need good runs to get a little closer to making it. None of them will be safe after Pocono but they can get closer with a good run. If one of these 3 guys has a bad day or a DNF, he might be 8th-12th going into next week. A bad race can put these three guys where they don't want to be.

#8 Dale Earnhardt Jr

#29 Kevin Harvick-a good day is a must for these 2 guys. They both only have 1 win this season and the bad luck has hit at times this year. A bad race would easily put them outside the Top 10. I think Dale Earnhardt Jr can step up this week, he wants his fans to have their driver in the Top 10 this year. Its been more of a quiet year for him, but he might just make it. A good run will help these guys, an average run will not be bad or good, and a bad run WILL put them outside looking in.

#24 Jeff Gordon

#16 Greg Biffle-they are tied for 9th and 10th. They have both had the same type of seasons, really good runs and good cars about every week but a little too much bad luck has them sitting on the EDGE. They need to have good runs for the next couple weeks. Average will just not do it. A bad run WILL easily put them outside the Top 10 and a bad run could really hurt these teams confidence. They have to stay out of trouble, but also get a good run if possible. I think they both know how to step up when the pressure is on, but there is a lot of good guys chasing them for these 2 spots.

#20 Tony Stewart

#11 Denny Hamlin-these Gibbs teammates are fighting to get back in. Bad luck has hurt the #20 team the last couple weeks and he cannot have any more. Both of these teams run good at Pocono, I can see Stewart getting his team in the Top 10, but who will he replace. With the lack of experience I can't see Denny Hamlin pulling it off and making the CHASE in 06. He has never raced at Indianpolis which comes in 2 weeks and the road coarse Watkins Glen could be the 2 races where the rookie will go downhill. One big step is tomorrow at Pocono. It could end for one of these 2 teams tomorrow.

#99 Carl Edwards-all alone in 13th, he is the last driver with a likely chance of making the 2006 CHASE. He cannot have any bad runs for the rest of the regular season. One bad race and he can forget it. I see this team rallying to fight all the way to the last lap at Richmond. Last time at Pocono, he had a good car but a pit crew members mistake with the jack cost him a good run. His season looked like it was over there but a couple recent good runs has this team barely seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. He has to run good and a win is almost a MUST. If he is average to bad tomorrow, this #99 team won't have any light left and will be done for 2006.

Pocono-NEXT STOP

July 20th, 2006-Pocono Raceway is this weekend. Only 6 weeks ago they raced here. Denny Hamlin had an amazing car. He got the pole and won. He needs success again this week to get back in the Top 10 in points. Jeff Gordon probably can't do any worse than last month. He had one of the hardest crashes of his life. I think Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart will be top contenders to win. And....don't be surprised if Carl Edwards gets his first win of 2006 this week.

New Hampshire Fallout-July 17th, 2006

After New Hampshire Kurt Busch can forget making the 2006 CHASE for the Nextel Cup. He is now over 200 points out of 10th. Following New Hampshire, Tony Stewart has dropped out of the Top 10. I think the #20 team is strong enough to make the CHASE. But...I also see 9th and 10th Gordon and Biffle staying in also. So if Stewart is gonna make it, who will fall out. I think the only 2 safe guys are still Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth. If Jeff Burton has one more good week, I will be able to say he is safe. Onto Pocono now, where Denny Hamlin had a very dominant car. Will he be dominant again and get his team back into the Top 10, or will the rookie experience bad luck. In 2-3 weeks, we will know 5-7 people who will be in the CHASE. It will be the other 6-8 guys fighting to get in at Richmond.

NEWS HEADING INTO MICHIGAN RACE

-Elliott Sadler wants out of Robert Yates Racing. Dale Jarrett has already decided to leave the #88 and if Sadler leaves, RYR would be looking for 2 new drivers.

-Brian Vickers is likely headed to Red Bull Racing Toyotas in 2007. The other possibilities would be the #42 Ganassi car or one of the Yates cars.

-Looks like UPS is heading to Kasey Kahne in 2007. Not sure if Kahne will drop Dodge as a sponsor or if UPS will be primary.

-Some Nextel Cup Drivers went into the gray area this past week and went to test at infineon. According to rules, Cup drivers cannot test Cup cars at Infineon so a few drivers tested ARCA cars and a few drivers tested Busch Series cars. NASCAR is upset about this and will probably make even stricter rules in 2007.

-Could the 2007 schedule get longer than 36 races? Hearing that 2 more events will be added. The question is will they replace 2 old events or will there be 37 or 38 races? Pocono could lose a race date.

-2007 Schedule-Already a change to the schedule, the first New Hampshire race of the season will be July 1st, 2007.

MARK TO RACE IN 07?

Not 100% rumor

Heard from Mark and others

Mark Martin could create his own cup team in 2007 or work with Robert Yates Racing to help them out

and yes he would be driving

they lost dale jarrett and they need someone to be Elliott Sadler's teammate for a year

Jack Roush has already talked to Mark about this, and Mark Martin said NEVER SAY NEVER, it could happen

Mark is still having a great time racing, and it really is possible 2006 won't be his last year

u heard it here first at The NASCAR Edge
http://nascar2006.tripod.com

News Heading Into Pocono:

Brian Vickers asked Rick Hendrick to allow him to get out of his contract with Hendrick Motorsports after the 2006 season. Rick Hendrick has now granted Vicker's wish and Vickers is searching for a new job. Looks like he will be heading to the Red Bull Toyota Team in 2007.

Casey Mears told Chip Ganassi hours after Vicker's news that he will not return to Ganassi Racing in 2007. Mears is now also searching and it looks like he will move to the #25 GMAC Hendrick Motorsports Chevy that Vickers is leaving.

UPS is going to leave Robert Yates Racing after 2006 and move to the #9 Dodge Team of Kasey Kahne. This is just a rumor so far.

Pocono 500

1st Practice-Brian Vickers led

Denny Hamlin wins the Bud Pole

More practices tomorrow....

The Race Is Sunday at 1:30PM EST on FOX

Robert Yates Racing: Bigger Problems Every Day

May 21st, 2006
Robert Yates Racing is struggling in 2006. Dale Jarrett sits 12th in Nextel Cup Standings, while Elliott Sadler is 15th. Its only getting worse for RYR following Dale Jarrett’s big announcement of moving to Michael Waltrip Racing’s Toyotas in 2007 and 2008. That leaves Robert Yates scrambling to find a driver for the #88 Ford, but he has no clue if UPS is staying with the team. It is likely that UPS will follow Dale Jarrett to MWR for his final two Nextel Cup seasons. If that is the case, Robert Yates will need a new sponsor. Another problem in the last few weeks for the team is the #88 team has been penalized for a rule violation at Richmond. Robert Yates Racing appealed the penalty but the appeal was denied on May 17th, 2006 and the team lost 25 owner and driver points along with a monetary fine and suspension of Dale Jarrett’s crew chief for four races. Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, RYR had possibly one of the worst races of the year at Darlington. The #88 and #38 teams finished 24th and 29th following a horrible race of fighting ill handling race cars. Dale Jarrett said the way they ran was ridiculous and embarrassing to the organization. Then, coming to All-Star weekend, Dale Jarrett was already in the challenge and Elliott Sadler was in the Open. Elliott Sadler was qualifying for a race he was already in, and wrecked his car into the backstretch inside wall. Saturday night was no success for the teams either. Elliott Sadler didn’t even contend for winning the Open and Dale Jarrett survived wrecks and managed 7th but was in no contention for the win. Over the last couple months, Robert Yates Racing has took more hits than a Nextel Cup team can take. There are rumors floating around that Robert Yates may be pulling out of NASCAR. We shouldn’t see that happen but they are going to have to find Elliott Sadler a teammate for 07 and get both cars running good again. Its been all downhill for RYR for the past 1-2 years and bigger problems keep coming.

Justin Caruthers

2006 CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP UPDATE #5

I will post these updates throughout the year going up to the Chase in september. I will post most driver's chances at the time of making the chase.

These are predictions by me, nothing is positive when i say someone will or will not make the chase.

After Darlington

Unless something horrible happens such as a injury or something that will affect their team in a big way these guys will be in this years CHASE. 95% chance

Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowes Chevy

Tony Stewart #20 Home Depot Chevy

Matt Kenseth #17 Dewalt Ford

These Guys Have Very Good Chances Of Making The Chase 70-80% chance

Mark Martin

Dale Earnhardt Jr

These guys have to avoid multiple DNFs.

They probably need at least 1 win before the Chase to get there team in.

Right now 30-45% chance of making the 2006 Chase.

Jeff Gordon

Kyle Busch

Kasey Kahne

Kevin Harvick

Jeff Burton

Casey Mears

These guys are in danger right now. Really need to step up to stay in contention. Right now they have a 15-25% chance of making the Chase.

Dale Jarrett

Elliott Sadler

Carl Edwards

Kurt Busch

Greg Biffle

All other drivers will not make the 2006 Chase For The Nextel Cup.

After Darlington: 16 Drivers Could Still Make The Chase

That means 16 drivers are fighting for 10 spots. I could never see the 400 mark coming into play so it will be 10 drivers. 16 drivers-5(drivers who are almost secure in the chase)=11 drivers fighting for 5 spots!!!

2006 Coca Cola 600

The next stop on the Nextel Cup Schedule is the Coca Cola 600 at Lowes Motor Speedway. After the All-Star race this past weekened at Lowes, we know what to expect. Probably a lot of wrecks and a lot of tempers. Points are on the line this week unlike at the All-Star, so drivers should be driving more carefully. Jimmie Johnson looks to be the favorite, winning the last 4 Lowes points races and the All-Star this past weekend. It will be an excting race for memorial day weekend at 5:00PM EST. I will be going to the race so Ill be updating this site after I return and I will give my at the track recap.

2006 CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP UPDATE #4

I will post these updates throughout the year going up to the Chase in september. I will post most driver's chances at the time of making the chase.

These are predictions by me, nothing is positive when i say someone will or will not make the chase.

After Richmond

Unless something horrible happens such as a injury or something that will affect their team in a big way these guys will be in this years CHASE. 95% chance

Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowes Chevy

Tony Stewart #20 Home Depot Chevy

These Guys Have Very Good Chances Of Making The Chase 70-80% chance

Matt Kenseth

Mark Martin

These guys have to avoid multiple DNFs.

They probably need at least 1 win before the Chase to get there team in.

Right now 30-45% chance of making the 2006 Chase.

Kevin Harvick

Dale Earnhardt Jr

Kasey Kahne

Kyle Busch

Jeff Gordon

These guys are in danger right now. Really need to step up to stay in contention. Right now they have a 15-25% chance of making the Chase.

Dale Jarrett

Casey Mears

Jeff Burton

Elliott Sadler

Carl Edwards

Kurt Busch

Jamie McMurray

Greg Biffle

All other drivers will not make the 2006 Chase For The Nextel Cup.

After Richmond: 17 Drivers Could Still Make The Chase

That means 17 drivers are fighting for 10 spots. I could never see the 400 mark coming into play so it will be 10 drivers. 17 drivers-4(drivers who are almost secure in the chase)=13 drivers fighting for 6 spots!!!

2006 CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP UPDATE #3

I will post these updates throughout the year going up to the Chase in september. I will post most driver's chances at the time of making the chase.

These are predictions by me, nothing is positive when i say someone will or will not make the chase.

After Talladega

These Guys Have Very Good Chances Of Making The Chase

Jimmie Johnson

Matt Kenseth

Tony Stewart

Kasey Kahne

Mark Martin

These guys have to avoid multiple Dnfs.

They probably need at least 1 win before the Chase.

Right now 30-50% chance of making the 2006 Chase.

Jeff Gordon

Kevin Harvick

Dale Earnhardt Jr

Kyle Busch

Dale Jarrett

Casey Mears

Jeff Burton

Elliott Sadler

These guys are in danger right now. Really need to step up to stay in contention. Right now they have a 15-25% chance of making the Chase.

Carl Edwards

Kurt Busch

Jamie McMurray

Greg Biffle

All other drivers will not make the 2006 Chase For The Nextel Cup.

After Phoenix: 17 Drivers Could Still Make The Chase

That means 17 drivers are fighting for 10 spots. I could never see the 400 mark coming into play so it will be 10 drivers. 17 drivers-5(drivers who are almost secure in the chase)=12 drivers fighting for 5 spots!!!

Nextel Cup Update-May 2nd, 2006

9/36 Races Completed-2006

The 2006 Season started at Daytona with the Bud Shootout. Denny Hamlin coming in as a top rookie of the year contender won the Bud Shootout. The Gatorade Duel 150 qualifing races were won by Elliott Sadler and Jeff Gordon and the field for the Daytona 500 was set.

The Daytona 500 was just as exciting as it is every season. Jimmie Johnson won his first Daytona 500 and 2nd in a row for Hendrick Motorsports. So Johnson was without crew chief Chad Knaus because of a violation before the 500 but he was still the Daytona 500 Champ. Casey Mears came home 2nd at Daytona and his career started to take off for the first time.

The Auto Club 500 was a battle between Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson. Matt Kenseth won the race but Jimmie Johnson looked amazing with his new crew chief with a 1st and 2nd to start the 06 season. Then there was Las Vegas which saw Jimmie Johnson in victory lane again, still without Chad Knaus. Jimmie had started 06 with a 1st, 2nd, and 1st.

Atlanta was fast like always. Carl Edwards with possibly best car had an accident in the pits and damaged his car. His sophmore slump had begun in 2006. No good races because of a lot of bad luck. But good things came for Kasey Kahne. He won Atlanta on a Monday after rain postponed the race from Sunday. Kasey Kahne had started the season off with a bang. Top 5 in points and looking good for making his first CHASE. Then came bumping and banging at Bristol. Kurt Busch bumped Matt Kenseth out of the way to win the race but there were two big things everyone was talking about after the race. After Matt Kenseth was bumped out of the lead he fell to 4th on the track, frustrated he ran over Jeff Gordon on the track and sent Gordon from a 3rd place finish to 21st in the closing laps. After the race Gordon got out of his car and shoved Kenseth. Accepting the monetary fine, Jeff Gordon was tired of it. He didn't just let something like this slide past him and for the first time in his career was fined due to bad conduct. A new attitude for Gordon and a weird celebration for Kurt Busch. It had snowed at Bristol on Saturday before the Cup race. Well following his win, Kurt did a snow angel on the track. Everyone talked about it for weeks.

Things were already heated up and the series went to short track racing again at Martinsville. Jeff Gordon had one of the best cars of the day but no one could stop Tony Stewart who got his first victory of the season. The following week at Texas Kasey Kahne went to victory lane again. Already has more wins in 2006 than he had in his career coming into 2006. After a week off the series went to Phoenix and Kevin Harvick dominated both the Cup and Busch series. This win and other good finishes recently helped out Harvick's contract issues and he is now signed with RCR for a couple more years.

This week the series came back to restrictor plate racing and the result was the same as at Daytona. Jimmie Johnson back in victory lane and Chad Knaus back in victory lane for the first time since 2005. Jeff Gordon and Elliott Sadler had the most dominant cars but were left out to dry in the last lap and Jimmie Johnson and Stewart battled for the win similar to the weeks of the end of 05 battling for the title.

Now after the first 9 events of the 2006 season, things are starting to fall into place. Greg Biffle, Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, and Jamie McMurray are top Nextel drivers struggling so far. It will be interesting to see if any of them will be able to fight back into the CHASE before Richmond in September. Speaking of Richmond, that is the stop this weekend. Saturday night racing in Virginia.

TEXAS Coming Up

Everything is bigger in Texas, and this weekend will be big in determing the CHASE field of 2006.

April 5th, 2006-Texas will be the most important race to start the season. Its a downforce track and downforce tracks make up most of the schedule. If you are a team 30th or worse in the standings, you are pretty much out of making the 06 chase now. If you are close to 30th, you really need to turn things around here. This is the type of track that they will be running a lot more before the chase begins so you can't have a bad handling car at a track like this. If you are 25th or below in the standings, you don't want a DNF right now, you would not be out of it by doing the math but if you have a DNF again your team will lose hope and not ever get things back on track.

April 7th, 2006-Texas Motor Speedway's construction began in 1995. The original configuration called for an unusual dual banking system that had 24 degrees of banking for stock cars.
On April 5, 1997, Mark Martin won the first NASCAR event at Texas, a Busch Series event. Jeff Burton won the inaugural Cup Series race. In 1998, Turn 4 at Texas Motor Speedway was reshaped to ease the transition from the turns to the front straightaway. Later that year, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s popular career started after his first Busch Series victory. After that race, a second renovation started and was completed in less than two months. The project eliminated the dual banking and it made what the track is today. One of the fastest tracks in NASCAR, if not the fastest. In 2005, Texas was given a second Cup race, one now takes place in the CHASE.

PAST Pole Sitters (TEXAS) (CUP)

97-Cancelled due to weather 98-Jeremy Mayfield

99-Kenny Irwin 00-Terry Labonte

01-Dale Earnhardt Jr 02-Bill Elliott

03-Bobby Labonte 04-Bobby Labonte

05 spring-Ryan Newman 05 fall-Ryan Newman

RACE WINNERS (TEXAS) (CUP)

97-Jeff Burton

98-Mark Martin

99-Terry Labonte

00-Dale Earnhardt Jr

01-Dale Jarrett