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Home , 2000 Food City 500, Alex Tagliani, Austin Dillon, Brad Keselowski, Brian Scott, Carl Edwards

NASCAR_27_Layout 1 8/21/12 12:09 PM Page 1

Four Turns Tracks on Tap

TESTING THE LIMITS? Hendrick Mo- SERIES 1 torsports had four engines experience Track: problems — or all-out failures — Location: Bristol, Tenn. over the race weekend. Jeff Playoff Implications When: Sunday, Aug. 25 Gordon and experienced TV: ABC (7:00 p.m. EST) valve train failures in Sunday’s race, Johnson blows engine late, hands win to Biffle in Michigan Layout: .533-mile oval while had engine Banking/Turns: Variable (24-30 degrees) problems in practice, prompting a Banking/Straightaways: Variable (6-10 degrees) change. He had another go terminal March Winner: with six laps to go on Sunday, costing Crew Chief’s Take: “Bristol is the fastest him a fourth win this season. short track we race at and one of the most TESTING THE LIMITS II exciting, for sure. This is considered a short On the flip- track, but the setups are very different from 2 side of the Hendrick engine docket all other short tracks on the schedule. This was , who finished third, is a mechanical-grip setup type track where Jr. (fourth) and Ryan we don’t focus on aerodynamics very much. Newman (eighth). Stewart and Gor- It is a very physically and mentally demand- don’s issues mirrored one another. ing track on the drivers. It’s unclear how the As for Johnson, might ace crew chief new grinding away of the top groove will ef- simply be testing the fect the racing. Most likely, it’ll narrow the limits of durability prior to the track up.” Chase? For the time being, one can only speculate. NATIONWIDE SERIES Track: Bristol Motor Speedway PIT ROAD A DANGEROUS PLACE ASP, Inc. takes the checkered flag in the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Race: Food City 250 3 was involved in a scary When: Friday, Aug. 24 wreck while leading the Pure Michi- By MATT TALIAFERRO matter what,” Biffle said. “I felt like doesn’t want to be the one caught TV: ESPN (7:00 p.m. EST) gan 400 on lap 65. After colliding with March Winner: Juan Montoya, Kasey Kahne and Athlon Sports Racing Editor I could catch (Johnson), but we’ll red-handed. , Martin’s car careened never know. Passing him might have “As a group at Penske Racing, we TRUCK SERIES into the edge of an opening in the pit Neither Greg Biffle nor team been a different story. But I certainly have not felt comfortable enough to Track: Bristol Motor Speedway road wall. The edge of the wall im- owner is unaccustomed think that with seven (laps) to go, I risk that name and reputation that Race: UNOH 200 When: Wednesday, Aug. 22 paled his No. 55 , puncturing to visiting Victory Lane at Michigan probably could have pulled up close Roger has over those parts and the oil cooler just behind the seat of to him.” TV: SPEED (7:30 p.m. EST) International Speedway. pieces. Others have, which is their 2011 Winner: the car, nearly striking some by- Keselowski held on for second, standers. All walked away unhurt. So it was no surprise that the duo prerogative — I’m not going to slam ended up spraying champagne fol- while Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt them for it.” THE NEW SHORT TRACKS Classic Moments Justin All- lowing Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 Jr. and rounded out He made it well known, though, 4 gaier nudged his way past Jacques Sprint Cup race. What was a surprise the top 5. Johnson was relegated to a that while Johnson may still be a pre- Bristol Motor Speedway Villeneuve and on to his first Nation- were the circumstances that landed 27th-place finish and left the garage No one could have known the signifi- wide Series win of the 2012 season at Chase title favorite, his No. 2 team is them there. area, and then the facility, without preparing for a 10-race war. cance of the Bristol night race on Aug. 26, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in . speaking to reporters. 2000, when the field took the green flag. Allgaier used the bumper to move Vil- Running second to a scorchingly “The 48 has the most and fast Jimmie Johnson, it looked as if Keselowski, though, had plenty to and Tony Stewart clearly leneuve, who appeared to slow, on the best history as far as the Chase is had the to beat, and the duo finished the final lap at the road course. Coin- Biffle would have to settle for a run- say in his post-race press conference. concerned,” Keselowski stated. “But “I don’t know what to say other than first (Wallace) and second (Stewart). For cidentally (or not), Villeneuve used the ner-up showing and “a good points it’s my job to not roll over and give Wallace, it was his ninth and final victory I was just close to getting what would same tactic to obtain the lead from day” after leading a respectable 19 it to them. We’re doing everything at the track where he earned his first ca- have been one of the biggest wins of on lap 66 of 81. laps and being a top-5 contender we can do and we nailed it on that reer Cup win (1986). my career,” the Michigan native said. throughout the day. last green-flag (pit) sequence (Ke- For two other titans of the half-mile bull- Sprint Cup Standings “That would have been really special, However, as Johnson’s No. 48 selowski beat Johnson off pit road). ring, it would mark their final starts at a track Chevy streaked down Michigan’s but it wasn’t in the cards today.” where they had enjoyed so much success. DRIVER (WINS) POINTS BEHIND I’m proud as hell of my guys for long backstretch and near certain Then he took aim at the Hendrick knew this was it for him. 1. Greg Biffle (2) 823 — doing that. victory with six laps remaining, the -prepared cars, which A record 12-time winner at Bristol, he 2. (1) 803 -20 “The 48 might be the favorite for 3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1) 801 -22 engine sputtered, then detonated, be- seem to have had a chassis advan- would retire at season’s end. But no one the championship, but we’re not 4. Jimmie Johnson (3) 795 -28 coming the fourth Hendrick power- tage after winning seven of the last could foresee that Dale Earnhardt — a going to roll over and just let them nine-time victor at BMS — would never 5. Brad Keselowski (3) 776 -47 plant of the weekend to experience 13 races since early May. grace the high banks again. Earnhardt 6. Martin Truex Jr. 763 -60 “There’s parts and pieces on the car have it.” problems. passed away in an accident at Daytona the 7. (1) 757 -66 As Johnson shifted to neutral, that are moving after inspection that So even in victory, Biffle, ironically 8. Kevin Harvick 738 -85 the new points leader, flies under the following February. coasting to the garage on the track’s make the car more competitive,” Ke- Wallace, Waltrip and Earnhardt accounted 9. Tony Stewart (3) 728 -95 radar — as he has throughout the sea- apron, Biffle assumed the lead as a selowski explained when elaborating for 30 wins over a 23-year span (46 races) 10. (2) 727 -96 son. And that seems just fine by him: ^ CHASE FOR THE SPRINT CUP ^ yellow flag waved for oil dropped by on a perceived advantage. “Some in the mountains of East Tennessee. “I know that a lot of people don’t 11. Kasey Kahne (2) 694 -129 Johnson’s shattered motor. guys have it, some don’t. There’s a 12. 689 -134 On the ensuing green-white- question to the interpretation of the expect us to win the championship, Athlon Fantasy Stall 13. Ryan Newman (1) 680 -143 checker restart, Biffle fended off a rule. Penske Racing errs on the safe don’t expect us to compete for the 14. (1) 669 -154 gaggle of challengers as the field side because we don’t want to be the title. I don’t care what they say or Looking at Checkers: Brad Keselowski 15. 665 -158 raced into Turn 1, nosing in front of guys that get the big penalty. who they want to talk about or what owns the joint right now. Pretty Solid Pick: If Racing can 16. (1) 650 -173 Brad Keselowski and driving away “Obviously, there’s a question to they talk about. give Kyle Busch an engine that lasts, he 17. Marcos Ambrose (1) 639 -184 in clean air to his second win of the the interpretation (of the rule) that as “We will be a factor when it 18. (1) 600 -223 can wheel it to Victory Lane. 2012 season. of right now it’s legal, but I’m sure comes down to Homestead, I prom- 19. Jamie McMurray 571 -254 Good Sleeper Pick: Brian 20. 566 -257 “It was going to be a great race no that Roger (Penske, team owner) ise you that.” Vickers finished fifth here in March. Nationwide Standings Runs on Seven Cylin- ■ On Aug. 17, an- gramming, daily news segments and weekly ders: Sam Hornish DRIVER (WINS) POINTS BEHIND nounced that the Army National Guard will updates starting in 2013. Of the 15 race Jr. has surprised in 1. Elliott Sadler (4) 824 — continue as a primary sponsor of the No. 88 broadcasts, FOX Deportes will carry live six his Cup gig, but he 2. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (3) 802 -22 team and driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. after extending its re- Cup races, including a Spanish-language broadcast of the and Bristol don’t 3. Sam Hornish Jr. 802 -22 lationship through the 2013 NASCAR season. The National . In addition to the 15 Spanish-language race get along. 4. (1) 789 -35 Guard will receive primary paint schemes in 20 Sprint Cup broadcasts, FOX Deportes will also produce and air a se- Insider Tip: BMS 5. (1) 756 -68 winners run in 6. 690 -134 races, including the Daytona 500. ries of original NASCAR programs focused on engaging the Latino fan base. waves. That 7. 633 -191 ■ NASCAR and FOX Deportes, announced they are team- makes Keselowski 8. 609 -215 ing up to provide the sport's most expansive Spanish-lan- This move by NASCAR furthers its initiative to cater to the and Busch attrac- 9. 540 -284 guage broadcast offering ever with coverage of 15 Spanish-speaking community, which it feels is a major un- tive options. 10. 506 -318 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races as well as original pro- tapped market in the . Truck Standings ASP, Inc. DRIVER (WINS) POINTS BEHIND 1. (1) 449 — 1. Jimmie Johnson Loses another in heartbreaking fashion for the second time in three weeks. That may derail some 2. 449 — teams, but with the 48, you get the feeling it only makes them more determined. 3. (3) 443 -6 2. Brad Keselowski Keselowski and the boys are rounding into form nicely, with seven consecutive runs of ninth or better. 4. (1) 432 -17 They’re going to be a handful at Bristol this weekend. 5. 424 -25 6. 413 -36 3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. After a broken transmission and a spin in the oil knocked Junior’s bunch back the last two weeks, 7. (1) 406 -43 they rebounded in fine fashion to the tune of a fourth-place finish in Michigan. 8. Nelson Piquet Jr. (1) 392 -57 4. Greg Biffle Earned his second win of the season at the 2-mile Michigan track. His other was at the 1.5-mile Texas 9. Ron Hornaday 386 -63 Motor Speedway. For those keeping score, there are five such tracks in the Chase. 10. Jason White 371 -78 5. Matt Kenseth It’s been a rocky month for Kenseth, who suffered a cut tire late at Michigan while running in the top 5. As luck would have it, the 17th-place result bumped him up a notch to second in the standings. Throttle Up/Throttle Down 6. Kasey Kahne Since a 33rd in the June Michigan race, Kahne has been spot-on, recording eight straight top-15 runs. Like Biffle, the tracks in the Chase line up well for Kahne and his engineer/crew chief, . KASEY KAHNE In the last five races, 7. Clint Bowyer A solid seventh at Michigan did the trick. However, if this team — albeit a relatively new team — is Kahne has three top-3 showings — going to challenge in the Chase, it needs more than a boatload of fifth- to ninth-place showings. including a win in New Hampshire. 8. Martin Truex Jr. Truex, like his teammate Bowyer, has been as steady as they come this season. However, his No. 56 The Hendrick Motorsports pilot team must push beyond the sixth- to 10th-place pattern it has fallen into and win races. has advanced from 16th to 11th 9. Denny Hamlin Virtually invisible at Michigan, Hamlin notched the most under-the-radar 11th-place finish in NASCAR in the standings in that time. history. You have to wonder, with a Chase spot virtually sown up, if this team is doing some testing. JEFF GORDON When Gordon 10. Tony Stewart A failed valve spring felled Stewart at Michigan — the track where he finished second in June. scored an unlikely win at Would have been interesting to see what he could’ve done with a healthy engine. Pocono two weeks ago, it 11. Jeff Gordon Outside of the Pocono surprise, Murphy’s Law has ruled for Gordon and the 24 bunch. breathed new life into his Chase 12. Ryan Newman A 7.8-place average finish over the last six races finds Newman in the second spot. hopes. However, since the win he’s 13. Kyle Busch Another win — think Bristol and/or Richmond — would do wonders for Busch right about now. notched runs of 21st and 28th. 14. Marcos Ambrose After 10th-, first- and fifth-place runs, imagine if Ambrose won Bristol ... hey, he’s not that bad there. Compiled and written by Matt Taliaferro. 15. Carl Edwards Gets the 15th-place nod this week for being the highest “best of the rest-er” at Michigan. Follow Matt on @MattTaliaferro or email at [email protected] Greg Biffle ASP, Inc. Just off the lead pack: Kevin Harvick, Sam Hornish Jr., Joey Logano, Paul Menard,