•  Jeff Gordon was the winner of the Brickyard 400, it just happened to be his fourth win in this event.
  
• Dale Jarrett, a two-time winner of this event was the bridesmaid this time.  Who's to say if he could have caught him if that last caution hadn't been displayed.
  
• Jarrett's Yates teammate, Elliott Sadler started third on the grid, and came across to take the checkers in the same position.  He never ran any worse than sixth on Sunday.  I think Mr. Sadler may be a sleeper pick for the last ten "Chase for the Cup" sprint.  I may eat my words later.  Elliott was just given a Humanitarian award for his work with autism, and deservedly so.
  
• Rookie Kasey Kahne, in his first run at the famous Brickyard, brought home to Ray Evernham a solid fourth place finish for the Dodge UAW team.
  
• Tony Stewart rounded out the top five after spinning early in the race without hitting a thing.

Please feel free to post comments, and observations. And, for a complete rundown of the finish, click on the link below:

Dave Blaney gets screwed again!

A person in their 30s doesn't have the price tag like it was in the 70s and 80s, you have these young, up and coming drivers getting the nods now.  In 10 years, I think we will no longer have a driver that is 35-40, you might have to get in the sport when your 19, but where did experience go????  I remember back in the day when you had a ROOKIE that was a young pup and he was 24-26 years of age.   Basically, now all you have to do is race cars for 2-3 years and someone throws you in the car.   It's just wrong,  now we have drivers like Dave Blaney  getting the shaft.  I have to agree, I hope he gets something soon, maybe a truck ride at least, like Johnny Benson did this season. 

Tony Stewart was the winner in the Nascar Nextel Cup event at Watkins Glen.  2nd was road course "ringer" Ron Fellows in the DEI #1 car, who did an awesome job, but seemed more than just race weary while being interviewed post race.  Just the opposite, was the energized Mark Martin who finished 3rd, gaining valuable points toward the top ten cut-off, while point leader Jimmie Johnson blew an engine and finished 40th.  

Just a side note:  Stewart had complained of illness all race long and exited his car in victory lane and declined interview.  He went directly to his motorcoach to change.  With all the recent weeks of controversy during the post-race ceremonies, I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this one, although Tony's excuse seems to be more valid than the others.

For the complete unofficial results of the Sirius at The Glen, follow the link below:

http://aolsvc.sports.aol.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/22/data/results_unofficial.html

-B

Just a little news/gossip thanks to the folks at Nascar.com. 

Michael "Fatback" McSwain has been named crew chief for the #21 Wood Brothers Ford and driver Ricky Rudd, starting at the Nascar Nextel Cup event at Bristol Motor Speedway.  This move reunites the two, who worked together twice in the past.   

Rudd's current crew chief, Ben Leslie has accepted a position with Ford Racing Technology.

For the full details on this story, follow the link below:

http://aolsvc.sports.aol.nascar.com/2004/news/headlines/cup/08/18/rrudd_chief/index.html

In an unsurprising qualifying lap, Jeff Gordon posts the fastest time and takes down the pole.  Jimmy Johnson who's last three NNC races have ended in DNF's, has to start in the rear after a crash.   Kasey Kahne slaps the wall, but does not damage his car enough to have to go to the rear.  He is starting on the outside pole.  We are just thrilled that at least we got some qualifying in this week.  Starting straight up the last two due to inclement weather has been a bore!

Click on the link below for the complete starting lineup for Bristol.

http://aolsvc.sports.aol.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/24/data/lineup.html

Rusty Wallace held a press conference today and announced that he will be hanging his helmet after the last NASCAR Nextel Cup Race of 2005.  Rusty wants to concentrate his time on his BGN team.  He will run his Busch car next season with two different NNC drivers who will split the duties.  Also rumored was that Rusty will also start up a NNC team within the next few years. We wish him well, and as racefans, we have enjoyed watching his career.

Look for a few other veteran drivers to announce their retirements as well.

Rookie Brian Vickers takes the pole in NNC qualifying today. 

Follow the link below for the lineup for the NNC race scheduled to run 9/05/04:

http://aolsvc.sports.aol.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/25/data/lineup.html

Ryan Newman received another pole today at the Richmond International Raceway, for the running of this weekend's Nextel Cup Race.  For a complete listing of the lineup, follow the link below:

Qualifying for the  NNC event at the  NEW HAMPSHIRE SPEEDWAY has been cancelled due to weather. The field will lineup by points. For the starting order follow the  link below.

http://aolsvc.sports.aol.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/27/data/lineup.html/index.html

Kurt Bush and his Roush racing Ford went to victory lane, and Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart and Jeremy Mayfield all wonder if their chase for the cup hopes have gone away. For the full unofficial rundown of todays finishers, follow the link below:

http://aolsvc.sports.aol.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/27/data/results_unofficial.html

Jeremey Mayfield won the pole for sundays Nextel CUP Event.  For the complete starting lineup, follow the link below:

http://aolsvc.sports.aol.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/28/data/lineup.html

It was starting to get old hearing "Front Row Joe" when he hadn't had a pole in a while.  But Talladega is his "pole place", and for the third time, Joe Nemechek receives the Bud Pole Award for qualifying fastest at in Alabama.  Watch out for "the big one" Joe!

For the full line up of the next "plate" race of the season, follow the link below:

http://aolsvc.sports.aol.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/29/data/lineup.html/index.html

On a selfish note: I'm thrilled that the top ten fastest qualifiers are a mix of not just the "top ten" guys.  But then again, you can go from 1st to 30th in one lap at Talladega.  All 3 DEI "cats" are in the race, Kenny Wallace starts 43rd in the #1 Aaron's car, Jr 10th, and Mikey 14th.

Kudos to Hermie Sadler who qualified and uncharacteristic 11th for Sunday's race in the East Tennesee Trailers Ford.  Wouldn't have anything to do with that Yates power under the hood, would it.   Congratulations Hermie, Three Yates cars in the top 11!

Well unless you took a little nap under a rock for a few days, you all well know Dale Earnhardt Jr has been fined $10,000 and more importantly docked 25 precious CHACE FOR THE CUP points, for his use of profanity in victory lane after winning Sundays Talladega race. Now Jr's contention is he used the S-WORD IN celabration not anger as Johny Sauter did earlier in the year (and was subsequently fined and docked points). DEI plans an appeal saying the loss of points is devastating in the chace points set up. Nascar however stood by there policy since the beggining of the season which warned drivers against use of profanity

In other news: John Andretti will team with Bgn series owner Greg Pollex to drive the #14 Victory Brand Ford in all the remaining Nextel Cup events except Martinsville in the 04 season, and a full schedule in 05. Now of interest in this deal, Victory Brand is a cigarette maker HMMM.. and also Pollex Bgn team is in search of a sponsor for the 05 season, putting longtime team driver Jason Keller's job in jepaordy. Pollex said if he is forced to scale back to a partial Bgn schedule because of lack of sponsorship, Andretti could also drive the Bgn car.

Joe Nemechek capped off a "dream weekend" by winning the Banquet 400 at the Kansas Speedway. For the complete finish follow the link below.

http://aolsvc.sports.aol.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/30/data/results_unofficial.html

As had been rumored for the past several weeks, Jason Leffler will drive #11 Fed Ex car for Joe Gibbs Racing full time in 2005 in the Nextel Cup Series. This will be Leffler's second stint driving for JGR as he drove a Gibbs BGN car in 2000 before leaving to run cup for Chip Ganasi in 2001. This season Leffler had been running the Busch Series for Haas Cnc racing, when rumors of him being in line for the Gibbs ride surfaced he was suddenly replaced by driver Blake Feese.

Sterling Marlin and crew chief Tony Glover are reunited once again. Glover will be the interim crew chief for Marlin in the Nextel Cup Series, as previous crew chief Lee Mcall has excepted a shop position at Chip Ganasi Racing.

Ryan Newman takes another Bud Pole as he wins the pole for Saturday's Uaw Gm 500. For the full lineup follow the link below.

http://aolsvc.sports.aol.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/31/data/lineup.html

Craftsman Truck Series driver Travis Kvapil, will drive a fourth Penske racing Dodge in this weekends event at the Martinsville Speedway. Kvapil had recently tested a Penske NNC car at the Kansas Speedway, and team sources said Kvapil being in the car at Martinsville is part of Penske Racings ongoing driver development program.

Jimmie Johnson makes it two in a row as he wins at Martinsville. A side note: A Hendrick Motorsports plane enroute to the track crashed. We have posted one link,  with the full results of the race, and a story  from Nascar.com on the crash. We send our sympathies to Hendrick Motorsports and the familys of the victims.

http://aolsvc.sports.aol.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/32/data/results_unofficial.html

Morgan Mclure Motorsports has announced, that driver Jimmy Spencer has been released effective immediately to pursue other driving opportunities in the Nextel Cup Series. Morgan Mclure Motorsports will announce Spencers replacement Friday, at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. 

No suprises here, as Ryan Newman has won another pole as he has grabbed the top spot for Sundays race. For the complete starting lineup follow the link below:

http://aolsvc.sports.aol.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/33/data/lineup.html

It was an emotional victory lane as Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson won the Bass Pro Shop 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was Johnson's third straight win and moved him into second in the point standings. For the complete rundown of finishers follow the link below:

  http://aolsvc.sports.aol.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/33/data/results_unofficial.html

No this is not a repost, Ryan Newman wins his fourth consecutive pole as he grabs the top spot for Sundays event. For the complete starting lineup follow the link below:

http://aolsvc.sports.aol.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/34/data/lineup.html