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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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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