Yahoo! Pocono Preview

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Back-to-back races on flat tracks give fantasy owners and drivers a chance to build momentum in the race to the Chase. Check out this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf) for a list of drivers to place and hold.

Yahoo! Qualification Story – Indy

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the most weather sensitive tracks on the circuit and that means winners can come from anywhere in the field. Pole sitters are also not always the best value as you will see in this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf).

Yahoo! Indy Preview

Indy quickly became one of the most anticipated races of the season when it was added to the schedule 17 years ago. This week, nothing takes the place of winning and that is the same for fantasy owners as it is for Cup drivers. Check out this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Night Race Favorites Emerging as NASCAR Schedule Approaches Atlanta

Small Group of Drivers Performing Exceptionally Well in 2010 Night Races


From: Atlanta PR

HAMPTON, Ga. (July 15, 2010) – Breaking down the numbers from 2010 NASCAR night races reveals a clear class of contenders for Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Labor Day NASCAR night racing weekend.

Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards and David Reutimann have outperformed the field in 2010 night races based on their average finishes. And while the trio has just one combined win in night races – Reutimann’s victory in the most-recent evening race at Chicago – their consistently strong night race finishes may make them instant favorites entering Atlanta’s Sept. 5 race date.

Despite failing to win an event thus far in 2010, Gordon has been near unmatched in the year’s night races, posting an average finish of 3.3 and finishing no worse than sixth in the six evening affairs. With four top-three finishes in 2010 night events and four-career wins in Atlanta, Gordon should enter Atlanta Motor Speedway with high expectations for a race he finished eighth in a year ago.

Like Gordon, Edwards has been held winless in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, yet has been exceptional in races held at night. Edwards has an average finish at night of 8.5 and has twice finished in the top-five positions, with his best showing a second-place in last weekend’s night contest in Chicago. Also like Gordon, Edwards has a history of success at Atlanta Motor Speedway, further making the Missouri native more likeable on Labor Day Weekend; Edwards has three Sprint Cup Series wins in Atlanta, included his first ever.

Having just claimed his first victory of 2010 in last week’s night race, David Reutimann has had tremendous success in 2010’s evening events. With three top-10 finishes and an average night-time finish of 10.3, Reutimann will likely be among the preferred drivers entering Atlanta on Labor Day weekend, an event he finished fourth in a year ago.

Furthermore for Reutimann, if you remove his worst night-race finish – a 20th-place showing in the year’s first evening event - his average finish increases to 8.4.

When showing similar statistical courtesy to other drivers, an additional pair of contenders emerges for Atlanta’s Labor Day weekend of night racing. By removing Kevin Harvick’s most-recent finish at Chicago, a 34th-place showing, the points leader’s average night race finish jumps to 6.8 from 11.16, besting Edwards and Reutimann. After finishing second at Atlanta last summer and performing well in this year’s night races, Harvick should be a contender again in 2010.

Kyle Busch, statistically hampered by a 40th-place finish in Daytona’s evening event, also has a tremendous average night race finish when removing this outlier; withholding Daytona, Busch has an average result of 7.2 in 2010 night races. With his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory coming at Atlanta and with four additional Camping World Truck Series wins at the track, Busch should also enter Atlanta with high hopes.

While these drivers – Gordon, Edwards, Reutimann, Harvick and Busch – aren’t guaranteed success entering Atlanta on Labor Day weekend, their results in 2010 night races warrant consideration for favor entering Atlanta Motor Speedway’s weekend of NASCAR night racing.

The biggest Labor Day party in the USA is at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Labor Day weekend, as the NASCAR Sprint Cup stars head to the high banks for night racing on Sept. 4 and 5. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.

Atlanta Motor Speedway: A Weekend at the Track



Atlanta Motor Speedway - 1992 Hooters 500 Commemorative Collector's Edition Nov. 15, 1992 Petty Farewell & PATCH!

Yahoo! Qualification Story – Chicagoland

#NASCAR |
#FantasyRacing |
#LifeLock400 |

Qualification doesn't mean a thing at Chicagoland Speedway—or does it? Find out in this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf).

Yahoo! Chicagoland Preview

#NASCAR |
#FantasyRacing |
#LifeLock.com400 |

Cookies were never as sweet as when they follow a Restrictor-plate superspeedway race. This week, look for consistency to help set your lineup. Check out this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Yahoo! Qualification Story – Daytona

#NASCAR |
#FantasyRacing |
#CokeZero400 |

Qualification was rained out for the Coke Zero 400—not that it matters. Winners can come from anywhere in the field and the pole sitter is as likely to crash as a back marker, as we point out in this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf).

Yahoo! Daytona Preview

#NASCAR |
#FantasyRacing |
#CokeZero400 |

Restrictor-plate superspeedway races are defined more by luck than skill, so we dug out our lucky coin and came up with the favorites in this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Yahoo! Qualification Story – New Hampshire

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#FantasyRacing |
#LenoxTools301 |

This week, we've added two new features: in addition to where the winner has started, you will now find a chart detailing where the pole sitter has finished. Beginning with the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, the highest qualified driver in each Group will always be detailed, so check out this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf) and let me know if the new features are helpful.

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Yahoo! New Hampshire Preview

If not for the threat of retaliation from half the field against the other half, this would be an easy race to handicap. After the shenanigans at Infineon, check out our best choices in this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Yahoo! Qualification Story – Infineon

It can be extremely difficult to pass on the road courses, but in recent years coming from the back of the field has been the norm. Who'll earn top-10s from the front and who'll come from the back? Check out this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf) for our best guesses.

Yahoo! Infineon Preview

Cup drivers are not accustomed to turning right and left in a race, but some are better than others. For the top regulars and road ringers, check out this week's picks in the Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Yahoo! Qualification Story – Michigan

"You've got what you've got?" Not quite here at Michigan International Speedway. Find out who'll be coming and who'll be going in this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf).

Oh yeah, and please send me a note to tell me if the next stats under each showcased driver are helpful.

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Yahoo! Michigan Preview

Another green-white-checkered finish wrecked the finish of the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 last week. Undaunted, it's time to reload and check out this week's picks in the Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Yahoo! Qualification Story – Pocono

This week, you will find two new stats that should help you set your Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 roster. Check them out in this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf), and then Tweet me @FantasyRace to tell me if you believe they were helpful.

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Yahoo! Pocono Preview

Parity continues to reign supreme as only four drivers have swept the top 10 at Pocono Raceway during the last two seasons. There are still some solid picks in this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Yahoo! Charlotte Preview

Only 12 weeks into the season and NASCAR is coming off yet another off-week. Refreshed, the drivers are ready to tackle 600 miles at Charlotte Motor Speedway, so check out our best picks in this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

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Kahne wins Dover HH

Kasey Kahne posted the quickest average speed in Dover's Happy Hour with a 151.805 mph during 33 laps. That far outpaced his fastest single lap of 152.912 mph, which was only 17th best.

Our View Kahne has not yet cracked the top five at Dover, but last year, he swept the top 10. If he fits the final niche on your roster, he's worth considering, but you don't want to build a roster around him.

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Ky Busch posts fastest lap in Dover HH

Kyle Busch posted the single fastest lap in Dover's Happy Hour with a speed of 154.209 mph; his average speed of 151.387 mph in 56 laps was fifth-best on that chart.

Our View Since winning the spring 2008 race, Busch has not cracked the top 20 at Dover in the Cup series. That makes him a questionable pick this week regardless of his speed.

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Hamlin wins Dover Sat. a.m. practice

Denny Hamlin had only the seventh fastest single lap in Dover's morning session, but he posted the quickest average speed of 152.955 during 26 laps.

Our View Last week, he proved just how tough he is by sweeping victory lane at Darlington Raceway in the Cup and Nationwide Series. Dover is not his best track, but with the momentum he has this season, he should still be considered a favorite.

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Johnson posts fastest lap in Dover Sat. a.m. practice

Jimmie Johnson set the fastest single lap in the Saturday morning practice session at Dover International Speedway with a speed of 154.999 mph; his average speed of 152.099 during 33 laps was eighth best.

Our View Johnson continues to try and prove that the accidents he suffered in two of the last three races are not going to affect him. By the numbers alone, he should be considered a favorite, but the intangible factor of luck may not be on his side.

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Yahoo! Qualification Story – Dover

Nearly 80 percent of Dover's winners have started on the first five rows, giving 10 drivers a distinct advantage on Sunday. Find out if your favorite is among them in this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf).

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Sadler destroys primary car

Elliott Sadler cut a tire and slammed the wall in the early minutes of practice; he will roll out a backup car.

Our View Sadler probably thought this would be a good day after qualifying on the outside of the front row for the Craftsman Truck Series race. His primary car was only 30th on the speed chart at the time of his incident and it's unlikely his backup will be much better.

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Yahoo! Dover Preview

The toughest tracks on NASCAR's circuit are often the most predictable because it allows the cream to rise to the top. This week, the best picks are in Group A, so check out this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf) to see who we think will win.

Yahoo! Qualification Story – Darlington

Three drivers broke last year's track record and that increase in speed is part of the reason why this track has become so tricky this year. Statistically, your best choices will come from drivers starting near the font; check out this week's Yahoo! qualification story to find out who they are.

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Darlington Raceway: 50th Anniversary

Darlington Stripes

"The Lady in Black" continues to be "Too Tough to Tame" and the first Darlington stripe came barely five minutes into the first session. According to @NASCAR, Joey Logano was the first driver to get a stripe.
 
Our View Here is a ongoing list of who has scraped the wall so far:

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (backup) and then he striped the backup as well. Practice 1
Clint Bowyer (backup) Practice 1
Scott Speed (backup) Practice 1
Greg Biffle (backup) Happy Hour
Joe Nemechek, hard crash (backup) Happy Hour
Casey Mears, hard crash (backup) Happy Hour
Marcos Ambrose, crash (backup) Happy Hour

Joey Logano Practice 1
Travis Kvapil Practice 1
Jamie McMurray Practice 1
Kyle Busch Happy Hour and qualification

Juan Montoya, very slight Practice 1
Kurt Busch, spin without contact Happy Hour

Darlington International Raceway 1950-1967



Darlington Raceway: 50th Anniversary

Johnson wins Darlington Happy Hour

Jimmie Johnson had only the seventh fastest single lap in Darlington's Happy Hour, but he was quickest over the long run with a speed of 175.316 mph during 11 laps.

Our View With six top-fives in the last eight Darlington starts—including a sweep of victory lane in 2004—he has to be one of the favorites to win the Showtime Southern 500.

Most importantly, he kept from hitting the wall, which is something 13 other drivers could not report. For a complete list of drivers involved in incidents in the combined practice sessions, check out Darlington Stripes, a rolling list of drivers who have made contact with the wall this weekend.

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McMurray fastest in Darlington Happy Hour

Jamie McMurray slapped the wall late in the first practice session, but he apparently got the car repaired; he posted the fastest single lap in Happy Hour practice with a speed of 178.064 mph.

Our View His average speed of 171.089 mph during 24 laps wasn't too bad and it ranked him ninth among drivers in the top 35 in owner points.

For a complete list of drivers who hit the wall in the combined practice sessions, check out Darlington Stripes, a rolling list of drivers who have made contact with the wall this weekend.

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Allmendinger wins Darlington's first practice

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@TooToughToTame |

A.J. Allmendinger posted the fastest single lap of the first practice session with a speed of 173.271 mph. He also posted the quickest average speed among drivers inside the top 35 in points with a mark of 170.542 mph during 34 laps.

Our View Most importantly, he avoided the wall and was not one of the seven drivers who suffered a Darlington stripe. For a complete list of these drivers, check out Darlington Stripes, a rolling list of drivers who have made contact with the wall this weekend.

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Yahoo! Darlington Preview

Darlington is "Too Tough to Tame," but over during the years, certain drivers have found the right whip. To find out which six drivers have four or more consecutive top-15s, check out this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

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Yahoo! Qualification Story – Richmond

Fantasy owners took their lumps at Talladega. By comparison, the short track of Richmond should be kinder. Check out this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf).

Bill France Jr.: The Man Who Made Nascar

Yahoo! Richmond Preview

Texas had one "Big One" crash, so not to be outdone, Talladega featured three. If that were not enough to decimate your roster, then four cautions in rapid succession at the end of the Aaron's 499 completely shook up the lineup. Now the series rolls onto a nice, safe short track. Check out this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Yahoo! Qualification Story – Talladega

Starting the race by points is as good a way as any at Talladega SuperSpeedway. This week, we've added a chart showing where the winners have come from and as expected it's all over the board. Check out this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf).

Yahoo! Talladega Preview

After last week's "Big One" crash at Texas Motor Speedway, it would seem that matters couldn't get worse at Talladega SuperSpeedway. Then again, this has always been a lottery, so you will want to read this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Hurtin' Hamlin wins at Texas

Denny Hamlin's ACL surgery doesn't seem to be slowing him any: he held off the "cookie-cutter" king Jimmie Johnson to win the Samsung Mobile 500.

Our View Another late caution set up another wild finish. This time, a lap-311 yellow stacked the field up and contributed to a nine car accident that eliminated the dominant driver of the day when Jeff Gordon rubbed Tony Stewart in a three-wide incident that started the melee.

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Yahoo! Qualification Story – Texas

An overwhelming 78 percent of Texas' winners have started on the first four rows. Find out how your team lines up in this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf).

Biffle fastest in Texas practice 1

Greg Biffle posted the single fastest lap in the first practice session for the Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway with a speed of 190.813 mph.

Our View Biffle enters the weekend with three consecutive Texas top-10s, but only one of those came after he started on one of the first five rows. He should be able to improve that record in time trials.

Yahoo! Texas Preview

Cookies were never so sweet. Four green-white-checkered finishes in the first seven races have created havoc in fantasy owners' lineups and it will be nice to get to a track type that should be predictable. It would be nice, that is, if the "cookie-cutter" tracks were still predictable. Find out why this may not be true in this week's Yahoo! fantasy racing preview (.pdf).

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Newman wins Phoenix

Ryan Newman has not visited victory lane on one of the short, flat tracks (Phoenix, New Hampshire, Richmond and Martinsville) in his last 37 attempts, but he had the right stuff Saturday night in the Subway Fresh Fit 600k. He got a great restart and beat Jeff Gordon back to the line.

Our View His last victory on this track type came in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire and top-fives have been hard to come by, but he rewarded his faithful fans this week.

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Bill France Jr.: The Man Who Made Nascar

Yahoo! Qualification Story – Phoenix

It was the "Revenge of the Group C Drivers" in qualification—but can they stay up front of 375 laps? Read this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf) for our take.

Martin wins Phoenix Happy Hour

Mark Martin posted the quickest average speed in Phoenix's Happy Hour with a speed of 129.775 during 10 laps.

Our View None of the drivers at the very top of the list posted very many laps, so it is difficult to put too much emphasis on his time. However, Martin won this race last year, so one must assume he knows what he needs to feel.

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He Crashed Me So I Crashed Him Back: The True Story of the Year the King, Jaws, Earnhardt, and the Rest of NASCAR's Feudin', Fightin' Good Ol' Boys Put Stock Car Racing on the Map

Gordon posts fastest Phoenix HH lap

Jeff Gordon posted the single fastest lap in Happy Hour with a speed of 131.444 mph.

Our View His average speed of 126.672 mph during 28 laps was way down the list, however. Gordon has some strong runs at Phoenix, but for the most part this has been one of his less successful tracks. Leave him in the garage this week.

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Johnson is the latest spinner

Add Jimmie Johnson to the list of drivers who spun during Happy Hour. His incident came at the 42-minute mark.
 
Our View Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and Marcos Ambrose preceded him, which is a smorgasbord of experience levels. Qualification could be an interesting session.
 
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The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing: Records, Streaks, Oddities, and Trivia

Ambrose loops at Phoenix

Moments after the track went back to green following a spin for Kyle Busch, Marcos Ambrose sent his car into a spin cycle. Like Busch and Tony Stewart, he avoided contact with the wall though.
 
Our View as a former road racer, Ambrose should be solid on this short, flat track, but he has yet to completely prove himself in a brief career.
 
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V8 Supercars Championship Series-2005 Highlights (

Harmless spin for Ky Busch in Phoenix Happy Hour

Kyle Busch got behind on his steering in turn two at Phoenix International Raceway at the 15 minute mark of Happy Hour and spun harmlessly to the bottom of the track.
 
Our View Busch has been mediocre at Phoenix since winning in his rookie season. His last three years have not been all that bad with a worst result of 17th, but his best run netted a seventh.
 
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Bill France Jr.: The Man Who Made Nascar

Hurting, Hamlin at top of Phoenix speed chart

He may be hurting after his ACL surgery last week, but it certainly didn't mar Denny Hamlin's speed: he topped the fastest lap chart with a 131.210 mph circuit around the one-mile Phoenix International Raceway.
 
Our View Hamlin is a flat track master and at the start of the week, we suggested making him a race day decision. So far, it appears his knee is not slowing him any, but wait until this afternoon for the final determination.
 
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Arizona Author (and a friend):

Cold Black Hearts

Stewart spins w/o contact at Phoenix

Near the end of the first practice session for the Subway Fresh Fit 600k, Tony Stewart went into the spin cycle. He avoided contact, however, and drove back into the garage.
 
Our View Last year, he was hit-and-miss on this track with a second in the spring and a 25th in the fall.
 
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True Speed: My Racing Life


Bill France Jr.: The Man Who Made Nascar

Yahoo! Phoenix Preview

If you were successful last week at Martinsville, you may want to stand pat; if you were not, you may wish to check out this week's Yahoo! Preview (.pdf).

The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing: Records, Streaks, Oddities, and Trivia

Hamlin wins a Martinsville stunner

Four tires with less than 10 laps remaining gave Denny Hamlin the grip he needed in a green-white-checkered finish as the front of the field was characterized by a lot of bumping and banging to open a lane for the hometown driver.
 
Our View From the second row, Matt Kenseth bumped Jeff Gordon to get him a lane high, Denny Hamlin bumped Ryan Newman to knock him out of the way and then the No. 11 knocked the 17 around.
 
After the smoke cleared, it was a Joe Gibbs Racing one-two finish as Hamlin led Joey Logano across the line. Gordon finished third, Newman was fourth and a surprising Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top-five.

Kenseth was the biggest loser. He finished 18th.

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Bill France Jr.: The Man Who Made Nascar

Montoya remains fast in Martinsville HH

Juan Montoya had the second and third quickest average times in Saturday's practice sessions with a speed of 94.323 mph during 43 laps in the morning (second best) and 94.342 during 36 laps in Happy Hour (third best).
 
Our View His biggest challenge is going to be overcoming his grid position of 22nd since the race will be started by owner points. He's experienced bad luck in the early races, but he's run much stronger than his position suggests. The bottom line is that he should be on most fantasy owners' rosters.
 
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Juan Pablo Montoya Restart

Earnhardt wins Martinsville HH

Dale Earnhardt Jr. posted the quickest average during Happy Hour at Martinsville with a speed of 94.453 mph during 67 laps. His fastest circuit of 95.675 mph was seventh best on that chart.

Our View Earnhardt was one of our dark horses at the beginning of the year and he is living up to projections. He's been consistent in 2010 and with a little luck, he could challenge teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon for the victory.

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Looking for something to read?
The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing: Records, Streaks, Oddities, and Trivia

McMurray posts fastest lap in M'Ville HH

Jamie McMurray posted the fastest single lap in Happy Hour at Martinsville with a speed of 95.869 mph.

Our View His average speed was 94.232 mph during 90 laps, which was fifth best on the chart. Combined with his fast laps in the morning session, this makes him a strong dark horse contender for a top-five finish and he is probably not on your competition's radar screen.

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Bill France Jr.: The Man Who Made Nascar

R Gordon blows tranny late in Martinsville HH

Robby Gordon blew a transmission in the closing minutes of Happy Hour and will need to change it before the race.

Our View That will send him to the tail of the field, but he was starting there anyway. It's hard to imagine just how bad his luck has been all season and his bid to climb back into the top 35 in owner points has taken a huge hit.

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Teammates McMurray, Montoya win Martinsville P2

Jamie McMurray and Juan Montoya posted the two quickest speeds in Martinsville's practice over long runs: McMurray's speed was 94.440 mph during 41 laps; Montoya went 94.323 mph during 43 circuits.

Our View Montoya has been consistently fast all season and last week McMurray had one of his best runs on the short track of Bristol Motor Speedway, so both should be watched closely during Happy Hour.

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One of the best statistical books in print:

Martin posts fastest lap in Martinsville practice 2

Mark Martin posted the single fastest lap in Martinsville's Saturday morning practice session, with a speed of 96.010 mph. His average speed was not bad either with the fifth quickest speed of 94.108 mph during 59 laps.

Our View After last week's mistake at Bristol, Martin needs to make some fantasy amends. This track is tailor-made for Hendrick Motorsports drivers though, and Martin should be a favorite to earn a top-five.

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Yahoo! Qualification Story – Martinsville

It seems that Kevin Harvick inherited the Golden Horseshoe from Jimmie Johnson now that Mother Nature awarded him the pole. Starting position has not been nearly as critical at Martinsville in recent seasons though as we point out in this week's Yahoo! qualification story.

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Bill France Jr.: The Man Who Made Nascar

There wouldn't be a NASCAR Fantasy Racing game is if wasn't for the men who made the sport. From NASCAR PR's, Herb Branham has written a history of Bill France Jr. and you should take a look at it. Here is the review from Amazon.com

Former NASCAR president, chairman, and CEO William Clifton France known to most people as Bill France Jr. is remembered and revered as the man who followed his visionary father at the helm of NASCAR, in the process becoming a visionary himself, as he guided NASCAR to unprecedented levels of popularity.


Bill Jr. grew up in the formative years of stock car racing, living and learning every detail of the sport from his own experiences, and those of his father, NASCAR founder William Henry Getty France who was known as Bill Sr. or Big Bill. In Bill France Jr: The Man Who Made NASCAR, the life of Bill France Jr. is examined, starting with the day in 1934 when his family arrived at the then-sleepy town of Daytona Beach, Florida.

The biography covers Bill Jr. s role in NASCAR s formative years; his assumption of the NASCAR presidency, replacing his father; the sport s explosion in popularity under his leadership; his courageous battle with cancer throughout the last decade of his life; and his final role, as NASCAR vice chairman and main advisor to NASCAR s third generation leader, his son, Chairman/CEO Brian France.

He combined pragmatism with optimism, an approach that resulted in a calculated and adventurous road to success for NASCAR. That approach was marked always by an inimitable, colorful style now recalled as both endearing and intimidating. Bill France Jr: The Man Who Made NASCAR gives the reader an insider s look at a remarkable life.

Want to buy a copy? Follow this link:

Newman wins first Martinsville practice

Ryan Newman posted the fastest speed in the first qualification session, with a speed of 96.934 mph.

Our View Last fall after failing to crack the top-10 in qualification in five straight races, Newman earned his third Martinsville pole. The Rocketman is on his way to another strong qualification.

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Yahoo! Martinsville Preview

Bristol left a lot of cars battered and beaten, but drivers managed to keep their anger in check. Back-to-back short track races might put an end to that, however. Check out this week's Yahoo! Preview (.pdf).

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Johnson wins Food City 500

Jimmie Johnson scored his 50th career Cup victory at Bristol Motor Speedway, tying him for 10th on the all time winner's list with Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson. This was his first victory at Bristol—a track on which he has traditionally struggled.

Our View This could be the last piece of the puzzle for Johnson. Last year in this race he said a light switch flipped in his head and he finished third. He came back to finish eighth in the fall and with this victory, it would seem he was correct.

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Montoya wins Food City 500 Happy Hour

Juan Montoya posted the quickest average speed in Food City 500's Happy Hour with a speed of 119.399 mph in 57 laps.

Our View It's still too soon to draw conclusions about Montoya's short track racing skill based on his record, but he certainly has the right attitude to beat and bang with the best stockers in the world.

If he is already on your roster, there is very little incentive to remove him considering his top-10 starting position.

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Johnson fastest again in Happy Hour

Jimmie Johnson backed up his fastest single lap of 122.725 mph in the morning session for the Food City 500 with another fastest lap in Happy Hour. This time, his top speed was 122.287 mph.

Our View His average speed of 119.009 mph was third best compared to second best in the morning session. However, the most important stat is that Johnson ran 116 laps in this session and still maintained that speed. Johnson reports that a light switch has flipped on how to run this place. Perhaps it's time to dump the reservations surrounding his Bristol record and go ahead and recommend him.

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Almirola practically skips Food City 500 Happy Hour

Aric Almirola logged only eight laps in Bristol's Happy Hour and that would seem to suggest this unsponsored team will start and park.

Our View We are reporting this because he was fast enough in Happy Hour and did a long enough run to make us consider him as a dark horse. Running only eight laps, however, suggest this team is not serious about racing on Sunday.

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Logano notably fast in Sat. a.m. session

Joey Logano posted both the fifth fastest single lap (at 121.697 mph) and the fifth quickest average speed (119.717 mph during 55 laps) in the Saturday morning session for the Food City 500. This comes on the heels of winning his first career Cup pole on Friday and his fastest single lap in Friday's practice session.

Our View This certainly makes him a driver to watch closely in Happy Hour, although we are not yet ready to make him a favorite to win the race outright. If he can stay out of trouble, however, he could be headed for a top-five.

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Earnhardt wins Food City 500 Sat. a.m. practice

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the fourth fastest single lap in the morning practice session for the Food City 500 (at 121.705 mph), but he was strongest on the long run. His speed of 120.039 mph during 55 laps made him the only driver to crack the 120 mark.

Our View Earnhardt has had some strong runs at Bristol in the past, but it's hard to recommend him considering the dismal luck he brings into this weekend. Diehard fans will want to start him, but it is safest to watch him from the sidelines until the crew begins to click.

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Almirola a dark horse?

Keep an eye on Aric Almirola during Happy Hour: he posted the 14th quickest average speed of 119.349 mph during 36 laps of practice and could be one of the most surprising dark horses of the weekend.

Keep an eye on Aric Almirola during Happy Hour: he posted the 14th quickest average speed of 119.349 mph during 36 laps of practice and could be one of the most surprising dark horses of the weekend.

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Johnson fastest in Food City 500 Sat. a.m. practice

Jimmie Johnson posted the single fastest lap of 122.725 mph in Saturday morning's practice session, which confirms his fourth-place qualification effort. In addition, his average speed of 120.039 during 55 laps was the second best on that chart.

Our View We stand by the fact that this is one of his weakest tracks. The issue at Bristol is not so much speed as it is attitude in heavy traffic.

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Yahoo! Qualification Story – Bristol

An impressive 35 percent of Bristol winners have started on the first five rows, but only 18 percent of the top-fives have been earned by that same row. There are going to be some good values deep in the pack, so check out this week's Yahoo! qualification story to find out who they are.

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Logano wins Food City 500 pole

Joey Logano proved that his fastest lap in practice was not a fluke: he backed it up with his first career pole on one of NASCAR's toughest tracks. With a speed of 124.630, he'll lead the field to green on Sunday in the Food City 500.

Our View Starting up front hasn't helped him much at Bristol, but with only two Cup races, he's record can be discounted.

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Logano fastest in Food City 500 practice 1

Joey Logano posted the single fastest lap in the first practice session for the Food City 500 when drivers typically work on qualification trim. His top speed was 124.114 mph.

Our View Logano started eighth last fall and looked good in the early going, but he was slowed by crash damage and finished 16 laps off the pace.

That was not his best qualification effort, however. In 2006, he qualified fifth in a USAR Pro Cup race. That was also a bad omen as he crashed two-thirds of the way through the race.

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Joey Logano 2009 Pit Hat

Labonte crashes in Food City 500 practice 1

Bobby Labonte spun at the 20-minute mark in the first practice session for the Food City 500. He made significant contact with the wall and will almost certainly need to roll out a backup car.

Our View In addition, one of this week's favorites Kyle Busch also spun and a perennial favorite Jimmie Johnson looped down the frontstretch, but neither of these drivers made contact.

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Yahoo! Bristol Preview

NASCAR re-affirmed their "have at it, boys" policy by levying a light penalty against Carl Edwards for his retaliation against Brad Keselowski—just in time to head to back-to-back short tracks. If you thought Atlanta was wild, folks: you ain't seen nothing yet. Check out this week's Yahoo! Preview (.pdf).

Ku Busch wins a wild one at Atlanta

Kurt Busch survived to attempts at a green-white-checkered finish and scooted away from Matt Kenseth and Juan Montoya to win the Kobalt Tools 500.

Our View Busch had one of two dominant cars along with Kasey Kahne (who finished fourth).

This race featured action at the end and retaliation between Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski for an early-race incident that shuffled the finishing order—but fans' hearts got to pumping.

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Stewart & Newman to change engines

According to @bobpockrass: Engine changes for Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart. Possible valve train issue. They will have to drop to the back for the start of the Kobalt Tools 500.

No other Hendrick cars will change engines (according to @JesseEssex). Didn't see same issues in "scope" if valve trains. #nascar

Burton Wins Kobalt Tools 500 Happy Hour

Jeff Burton had the quickest average time in Happy Hour for the Kobalt Tools 500 with a speed of 179.359 mph during 45 laps. His fastest circuit of 185.158 was sixth best, which gives him a great balance of speed and durability.

Our View Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has a ton of momentum, so this could be Burton's opportunity to score a second top-five in 2010 like he did at Auto Club Speedway.

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Martin fastest in Kobalt Tolls 500 Happy Hour

Mark Martin posted the single fastest lap in Happy Hour practice for the Kobalt Tools 500 with a speed of 185.524 mph.

Our View Races aren't won on a single lap, however, and his average speed of 178.074 during 45 laps was well down the chart. Moreover, last year Martin finished 31st in this race but was in top form during the fall with a fifth.

This weekend could go either way for the veteran.

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Ky Busch, Said run out of room in Atlanta Happy Hour

Kyle Busch and Boris Said ran out of room exiting turn two at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the closing minutes of practice and the two made contact. That will effectively end the session for the No. 18, which was 23rd on the speed chart.

Our View The damage on the No. 18 is not very great. It appears that it was all behind the wheels so he probably won't have to roll out a backup.

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Biffle slaps wall in Kobalt Tools 500 Happy Hour

Update: Greg Biffle has rolled out a backup.

Biffle slapped the wall 10 minutes into Happy Hour for the Kobalt Tools 500 and sustained significant damage.

Our View Expect him to roll out a backup car and give up his 13th-place starting position. Driver can come from the back at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but winning from there is nearly impossible.

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Menard notably fast in Kobalt Tools 500 practice 1

There weren't a lot of surprises on the average speed chart, but one name jumped to the forefront: Paul Menard posted the second quickest average speed of 180.614 during 27 laps.

Our View If you are looking for a sleeper this week, give Menard a second glance. Last fall, he was well worth starting in the fall Pep Boys Auto 500 with a 15th-place finish.

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Stewart wins Kobalt Tools 500 practice 1

Tony Stewart had only the 21st fastest lap in Saturday's first practice session, but races aren't won in a single circuit. His average speed of 180.900 during 25 laps was the fastest in the field.

Our View Stewart was the "cookie-cutter" king for a while—before Jimmie Johnson came along—and he is hungry to regain his crown.

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Johnson posts fastest lap in Kobalt Tolls 500 practice 1

Jimmie Johnson posted the single fastest lap in Saturday's first practice session with a speed of 189.694 mph.

Our View His average speed of 180.128 during 35 laps was not bad either and it ranked sixth on that chart. Once more, he will be one of the drivers to beat on Sunday.

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Yahoo! Qualification Story – Atlanta

With rapidly cooling conditions, drivers chased the weather and the track on a venue where qualification is very important. Who prevailed? Find out in this week's Yahoo! qualification story (.pdf).

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Almirola, Mears and Cook go home from Atlanta

Three drivers failed to make the Coca-Cola 600: Aric Almirola, Casey Mears and Terry Cook failed to find enough speed to qualify.

Our View Neither Mears nor Cook have made a single race this year.

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Earnhardt win Atlanta pole

Slowly but surely, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is turning his season around. He gave his fans something to cheer about this week by winning the pole for the Kobalt Tools 500.

Our View His top speed of 192.761 is the fastest pole ever recorded for the Car of Tomorrow (COT) and Earnhardt's second at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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Martin fastest in Atlanta practice 1

Mark Martin posted the fastest single lap in the first practice session with a 189.409 mph.

Our View Martin only took nine laps total, but he made the most of them. Last year, Martin tried to take the nickname "Rocketman" away from Ryan Newman and he should be considered a threat for the Kobalt Tools 500 pole.

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Yahoo! Atlanta Preview

Two "cookie-cutter" races in a row will present fantasy owners with some predictable options, but it would be difficult for this race to be as similar as between Auto Club Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Check out this week's Yahoo! Preview (.pdf).

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Johnson wins two in a row

Jimmie Johnson took four tires while Jeff Gordon took only two on the final pit stop and that made the difference at the end. Johnson won his second race in a row in the Shelby American. In fact, for the second consecutive race, he finished just ahead of Kevin Harvick as that driver also slipped past Gordon.

Our View Johnson has officially regained his title as the "Cookie-cutter" king after struggling at Vegas during the last two races.

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N'Wide: Harvick wins at Vegas

Kevin Harvick was happy with the result of the Sam's Town 300, but he was not happy with the crew's performance. Using a long green flag segment to finish the race, he scooted out to a 1.3 second lead over Denny Hamlin.

Our View Mistakes in the pit could have cost him the race, but Harvick's talent in the car made up the difference.

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Martin wins Vegas Happy Hour

Mark Martin posted the quickest average speed in Las Vegas Happy Hour with a speed of 181.356 mph during 26 laps and with the third-fastest speed of 183.299 mph, he had the best mix of speed and durability.

Our View Martin blew an engine in this race last year, but it's impossible to overlook him as one of the favorites to win the Shelby American.

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Bowyer fastest in Vegas Happy Hour

Clint Bowyer posted the fastest single lap in Happy Hour for the Shelby American with a speed of 183.530 mph. The session was shortened a little by rain.

Our View RCR has the greatest momentum of all teams and with a decent qualification run in the top 15, Bowyer is liable to be the best of that group.

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Earnhardt spins in Vegas Happy Hour

"Twenty-nine, seventy-four, that's your fastest lap so far," Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s spotter called just before he spun five minutes into Happy Hour. Guess he found the limit.

Our View Fortunately, Earnhardt did not make any contact with the wall or another car—and the engine did not appear to over-rev while he was spinning. Four fresh tires should be all the No. 88 needs before continuing practice.

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Ky Busch wins first Sat. Vegas practice

Kyle Busch posted the fastest single lap of practice in the first Saturday session with a speed of 184.037 mph. His brother Kurt was not far behind: the No. 2 posted a lap of 183.486 mph, which was third best.

In fact, Kyle won practice overall; he also posted the quickest average speed of 181.725 mph during 30 laps.

Our View Of the two, Kyle has a much greater chance of finishing up front. He's finished 11th or better at Vegas in all but one of his starts.

Kurt's average speed of 180.499 was only 14th quick, which is about where you can expect to find him at the end of a typical Vegas race.

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N'Wide: Keselowski on Vegas pole

Brad Keselowski carried his momentum from last week's third-place finish in the Stater Bros. 300 at Auto Club Speedway into this week's Las Vegas Motor Speedway race and that was enough to give him the pole for Saturday's contest.

Our View Unfortunately, he's suffered crash damage in his last two Nationwide attempts on this track and he's blown an engine one other time. In four Nationwide starts at Vegas, his best result is only 23rd.

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Yahoo! Qualification Story – Las Vegas

One hometown hero won the pole for the Shelby American, but another is much more likely to win the race. Find out which is which in this week's Yahoo! qualification story (.pdf).

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Ku Busch wins pole at hometown LVMS

Cool temperatures helped Kurt Busch and a myriad of other drivers break the old track record. When the dust finally settled, he raised the mark to 188.719 mph.

Our View Until the final cars went out on track, however, Dale Earnhardt Jr. seemed unassailable with his speed of 188.173. He was the second driver to take time and settled into fourth on the grid. By comparison, the first driver was Jimmie Johnson and he eventually qualified 20th.

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Montoya fastest in Vegas practice 1

Juan Montoya posted the fastest single lap in the first practice session that is usually devoted to qualification setups. His top speed of 186.168 mph was set early in the session.

Our View Montoya has been solid on the unrestricted, intermediate speedways during the last two years, but last week's struggle at Auto Club Speedway and last year's trouble at Vegas make him a risky proposition.

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Some chassis choices for Vegas

@DustinLong has identified some of the cars that will be used this week:

Among RCR, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton will have new cars this weekend; Clint Bowyer using same car he drove at Indy (21st) & Kansas (18th) last yearr.

Kurt Busch using same car @ Vegas that he won with at Texas last year and should have won with at Homestead.

Denny Hamlin will use this weekend @ Vegas has won in both its starts, winning at both Pocono and Martinsville last year.

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Yahoo! Las Vegas Preview

This week is the first of back-to-back "cookie-cutter" races. Who will get off on the right foot? Our best guesses can be found in this week's Yahoo! Preview (.pdf).

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Johnson wins fifth Auto Club race

He won in his first start at this track in 2002 and now Jimmie Johnson has five Auto Club Speedway victories after holding off a furious charge by Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton.

Our View That is his sixth top-three finish on this track in his last seven starts. During that span, he has an average finish of 2.57, which makes him as much of a must-have as you will find.

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N'Wide: Logano dominates, Busch wins Stater Bros. 300

Joey Logano dominated the race but he was roughed up by Greg Biffle on the final restart. Kyle Busch exacted revenge, however, and passed Biffle in the run to the checkers.

Our View The best car doesn't always win and today, they finished fifth after getting knocked around by Biffle and Brad Keselowski—who must have thought Denny Hamlin was in the No. 20 this week.

Keselowski dumped Logano only a few yards from the finish line.

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Johnson wins Auto Club Happy Hour

After posting the single fastest lap in the first Saturday practice session at Auto Club Speedway, Jimmie Johnson logged the quickest average speed in Happy Hour at 177.507 mph during 39 laps.

Our View Johnson has been as close to perfect in the last three years at Auto Club as is possible. He remains a must-have.

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Martin fastest in Auto Club Happy Hour

Mark Martin backed up his second fastest lap and second quickest time in the first practice session of Saturday with the fastest single lap (181.726 mph) and the fifth quickest average speed in Happy Hour.

Our View Martin was hit-and-miss on the two-mile tracks last year, but it appears this is going to be a great weekend for the veteran.

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Montoya wins Auto Club practice 2

Juan Montoya posted the quickest average speed during the Saturday morning session with a 178.917 during 12 laps.

Our View His fastest lap of 180.429 wasn't bad either; that placed him sixth on the speed chart and the No. 42 could be one of the best values in the game.

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Johnson posts fastest lap in Auto Club practice 2

Jimmie Johnson posted the fastest single lap of practice in the first Saturday session, with a speed of 182.537 mph.

Our View His average speed during 25 laps was third best at 178.253 mph, which gives him one of the best balances of speed and sustainability.

Both drivers ahead of him on the average speed chart posted fewer laps.

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N'Wide: Patrick's learning curve continues

Danica Patrick will race on Saturday afternoon, but not because of the time she laid down in qualification. She'll roll of the grid 36th, but was actually slower than two of the "go-or-go-home" drivers (Morgan Shepherd and Danny O'Quinn) who failed to make the show.

Our View She was tentative on her qualification lap in part because she knew that with top-30 owners' points, she would be guaranteed a starting position. She'll improve during the race, but a top-20 is probably the outside mark fantasy owners should expect.

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N'Wide: Logano on Auto Club pole

Joey Logano was the second driver to hit the track in qualification for the Stater Bros. 300, and despite slick track conditions, he logged the fastest time and will lead the field to green in a few hours.

Our View The track may have been slick, but Logano benefited from cool conditions so the net effect was positive. He should have a car capable of staying in the top five all day.

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Yahoo! Qualification Story – Auto Club

Jamie McMurray carried his substantial momentum from the Daytona 500, but will it be enough to recommend him at Auto Club Speedway? And who is the driver most likely to star in a Hollywood horror story?

Find out in this week's Yahoo! qualification story (.pdf).

IRL: Sato coming to IndyCar

Former F1 driver Takuma Sato will race for KV Racing Technologies as a teammate to Hideki Mutoh, according to ESPN.com.

Our View It's kind of nice to see an open wheel guy stay with open wheel after the sudden influx of F1 drivers into NASCAR. Expect Sato to run better on road courses than ovals as he starts his learning curve in this type of racing.

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Martin wins Auto Club practice 1

Mark Martin set the pace early in the first practice session at Auto Club Speedway with a speed of 182.924 mph and he maintained his top spot until the end of Friday's 1.5-hour practice.

Our View This practice is typically used to work on qualification setups and while Martin was fast nearly everywhere, he struggled a bit at Auto Club with an 18th-place time trial run in this race and a ninth in the fall. As one of only three drivers to break the 182 mph mark, he should better that this week.

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Yahoo! Auto Club Preview

As unpredictable as Daytona International Speedway can be, Auto Club Speedway is much easier to predict. Here are the best bets to dominate this week's lineup (.pdf).

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Nationwide Inspection cleared

According to @bobpockrass: Inspection for the #NASCAR Nationwide Series is complete and there were no issues.

Smoke 'em: Stewart wins Daytona Nationwide race

Tony Stewart survived a wild Drive4COPD.com 300 to beat the field to the checkers and win in dominant fashion.

Our View "Survived" is the operative word as a 10-car crash erupted immediately behind him in the final quarter of the race. Stewart's odds for the Daytona 500 are improved after this run.

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Allmendinger to change engine

A.J. Allmendinger will change engines before for the start of the Daytona 500, according to a tweet from @DustinLong.

Our View The engine was spewing a lot of steam during practice, so this is likely a precaution. Teams are allowed one engine change during the 500 weekend, but this should be his second and will force him to the back of the pack. That shouldn't really matter on a restrictor-plate superspeedway track, however.

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Lucas Oil Chili Bowl on SPEED Moved to February 14

TULSA, Okla. (February 13, 2010) – Reset that DVR, as the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals broadcast scheduled for Saturday night, February 13, on SPEED has been reset to Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. EST due to the rain-induced shuffling of this week’s Daytona Speedweeks events.

So, cuddle up with that special Valentine or just get the whole gang together to catch the highlights of the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals and Saturday’s stellar 50-lap Rockstar championship feature event, an event already being touted as ranking among the most spectacular in event history.

A total of 256 competitors from throughout the nation and beyond converged upon the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway for the January 12-16 event that culminated with Saturday night’s 50-lap Rockstar Energy Drink championship feature event.
That championship finale, along with other highlights throughout the week, will be included in the February 14 airing on SPEED.

Bowyer quickest in Daytona 500 Happy Hour

Teammate Jeff Burton may have been the fastest driver in Happy Hour practice for the Daytona 500, but Clint Bowyer had the distinction of being the quickest in terms of average speeds with a 191.050 during 11 laps.

Our View His times were skewed somewhat by the relative few laps he ran, but that speed is confirmed by Kevin Harvick, who was second quick with a 191.003 during 16 laps.

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Burton fastest in Daytona 500 Happy Hour

Jeff Burton posted the fastest single lap of Happy Hour practice for the Daytona 500 with a speed of 195.194 mph.

Our View His biggest concern was about comfort, however, and he logged 60 laps of practice, which was the most among all drivers. That was only good enough for 19th on the average speed chart.

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All Clear from Gatorade 150s

According to @dustinlong: Post-race inspection for qualifying races is done. No issues. #NASCAR

Yahoo! Qualification Story – Daytona

With the unique format for setting the lineup for the Daytona 500, it takes a while to get the field set, but barring any unforeseen accidents in Friday's practice that will cause drivers to roll out a backup, everyone should be set for Sunday.

Here is this week's Yahoo! qualification story.

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Bliss, Speed race into Daytona 500 and lock in Waltrip

Mike Bliss and Scott Speed were the two highest finishing drivers from outside the top 35 in points and they transfer into the Daytona 500. Since Speed will not need to fall back on his time, that also locks in Michael Waltrip—who had the fifth fastest time in qualification.

Our View Speed and Waltrip should be considered solid dark horses for the 500.

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Kahne wins second Duel in Daytona

In a mirror image of the first Duel in Daytona, Kasey Kahne beat Tony Stewart to the line by inches.

Our View The combined margin of victory of the two races was less than a tenth of a second. It just doesn't get any closer than that.

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McDowell, Papis transfer

Michael McDowell and Max Papis were the two highest finishing drivers from those outside the top 35 in points, which means they will race in the Daytona 500.

Our View McDowell finished 14th and Papis finished 15th, but all that matters is they have qualified for NASCAR's Super Bowl.

Most impressively, Papis held onto a transfer position by staying out on old tires. That could make him one of this season's favorite dark horses.

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Johnson wins first Duel in Daytona

Jimmie Johnson spent most of his Gatorade 150 Duel in Daytona back in the pack, but with the checkers in sight, he stayed out on old tires and beat Kevin Harvick to the line by fractions of an inch.

Our View Johnson needs to hang on for 500 miles on Sunday, however, and he is not one of the best restrictor-plate superspeedway racers. Start him at your own risk.

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