MARTINSVILLE

Off we go to the place renouned for their hot dogs and a paper clip shaped track...Martinsville. This is a place where the Hendrick boys could turn it around. This season has been a struggle, but Gordon and Johnson have owned this place the last couple of years. Could this be where they make it back into the winner's circle?

WELCOME WEEK OFF!!!!

I, for one, was glad NASCAR changed the schedule and moved the first open week to where it is this year...after race 5. It's the point of the season where the top 35 begin to be determined by this season's points. Plus, I never understood why take a break between two West Coast races...run them back to back without a break and maybe save some travel.

But, that having been said...I'm ready for a return to racing this weekend at Martinsville.

BTW - looks like Darrell might have to keep quiet this weekend...after how he sounded the last race, one more week's rest might be best...

IT'S BRISTOL...

A good quick race yesterday...once again, the Gibbs boys dominate, but come up short. Thought Tony would blast Harvick for the wreck that cost him the win, but I'm guessing they spoke. It's always nice to see Jeff Burton win...he's certainly revitalized his career with RCR.
Thought Fox had the right touch dealing with Dale Jarrett's departure...

The extended post race coverage certainly covered all the angles...with the current points standings now determining the top 35, interesting discussions on the teams swapping owners points. Rumors are Petty and Waltrip might do a mid season swap, but in my opinion, that's not fair....it's a rule NASCAR will have to look at...

Enjoy the week off...Martinsville is next....

WALL STADIUM CLOSES...

Sad news for local racing fans reported by the Asbury Park Press...Wall Stadium will not run races this season...rumors about it's closing have circulated for months...

Read about it here http://app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080315/NEWS/803150345&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

A FANS APPRECIATION....

This weekend will be special as Dale Jarrett says goodbye to the Sprint Cup competition. Although he has one race remaining (The All-Star race in May), this will be it for point races. As a long-time fan, I'm somewhat torn over this race...I jumped off the bandwagon when he left Yates two years ago and joined the Junior nation, but kept an eye out for old #88/44. Jarrett has never recovered from breaking up with Todd Parrott as his crew chief and had become a backmarker rarely in the top 20. His last win in 05 came with Todd back on board...
I remember watching him win at Pocono in August of 1997, and him crashing on lap 8 at Dover. I wore alot of UPS gear, folks wondered if I worked for them, not realizing it was a race sponsor/driver's jacket (I got the same responses this week as I pulled my old brown UPS jakcet from 2003 with the Winston Cup logo on it for old time sake).
If there is one thing he will always be remembered for, it's the Daytona 500 win in 1993 with his dad calling him to victory. I dare you to watch it and not cry if you are a father. His car owner in that race - Joe Gibbs.
Now, Dale joins the ESPN booth, just like his dad...so long , Dale - thanks for the ride.

BRISTOL....

It's the Car of Tomorrow's first birthday - this was the race it made it's debut one year ago...quick - who won? Kyle Busch!
While each Bristol race is special, it always seems like the night race in August has a little more juice to it...the spring race is OK, but the usual headlines are for the weather (snow two years ago).
The big question is can Roush Fenway continue their impressive run or will the Hendrick boys finally break out of their 'slump'?
It's the short track that thinks it's a superspeedway...it's Bristol, baby!

BUSCH MAKES HISTORY!!!!

Kinda fun to hear New Jersey mentioned in terms of history, since the last foreign make to win a race before yesterday was in Linden, NJ in 1954.

All hail King Kyle! Dominated all three races over the weekend, and won two. However, if Edwards hadn't blown up, he would have ran away with the race. Thought it was funny with him and interim crew chief Robbie Reiser calling each other the wrong names...

I'll say this - like him or not, Tony Stewart is a straight shooter. Man, he killed Goodyear after the race...and I have to say I agree with him...the race was somewhat boring....13 cars on lead lap out of 41 running...not exciting at all...

Let's hope Sunday's Bristol race is better...it's also DJ's swan song in a point race (He'll run the Sprint All-Star race in May at Lowe's before the Coke 600).

NASCAR LOWER THE BOOM ON BACKFLIPPER!

Carl Edwards just got hammered by NASCAR...he's been on a roll, but the questions over his Sunday victory make you wonder. He got hit with a big fine and loss of 100 points in the standings AND the 10 bonus points he would have gotten for Sunday's win in the Chase. Plus, say goodbye to crew chief Bob Osborne for 6 weeks.
At the same time, NASCAR recinded the point penalty for Robby Gordon over the unapproved nose found on his car at Daytona. That will keep Gordon in the top 35.

A reminder - tomorrow and Saturday is the auction for IROC in Tinton Falls. Lots of history up for grabs...

AN INTERESTING QUESTION....

Haven't heard from NASCAR on what will happen to Carl Edwards after the car's failure of post race inspection...curious why they haven't weighed in...

Everyone's dumping on Bruton Smith after the Gordon crash Sunday...even Rick Hendrick is screaming for SAFER wall inside the track. But, I do have to say he's right...a hit to an inside retaining wall is just as bad as an outside one without the SAFER barrier...

On to Atlanta...

MR. BACK-FLIP FOES BACK TO BACK...

Carl Edwards wins another for the Roushkateers, and he deserved it..overcoming a speeding penalty early and a possible pit violation late. Two late wrecks made him have to hold off Junior. It was a crash filled race with Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon taking hard licks off the wall. There is a cloud in the Edwards sky however - his car failed inspection after the race and he could get hit with a fine and points later this week.

Nice to see Mark Martin get a win in the Nationwide series Saturday.

Hotlanta is next....