Sterling Marlin is an Iron Man!!!

Sterling Marlin makes his 700th career start in NASCAR racing this weekend when he takes the wheel at this Sunday's Sony HD 500 in California.
Sterling has been driving for 30 years and has always been one of the more blunt and wonderful interviews I've had the chance to do when covering NASCAR races. He's a one of a kind and this weekend he'll join some pretty elite company. Only 11 drivers in NASCAR have 700 or more starts. Who's got the most? Well the King Richard Petty started 1,185 races. I doubt if any driver will EVER surpass King Richard's record of starts(1, 185) and victories(200)
It's a stellar accomplishment to start 700 races in NASCAR. A hat's off and a big salute to Sterling and the other drivers who had the longevity to achieve that goal. To be in any career that you love for 30 years(especially one this dangerous) and still be doing it well at the age of 49 is a terrific accomplishment.
Sterling's dad died in August of last year but if he were in California this weekend,
Coo Coo would be proud!!!

Kenseth is Looking to Win Baby!!!!

I know I sound like Dick Vitale with that post title. But it's true!! Matt Kenseth is hotter than Johnston County asphalt on a 100 degree August day. He was rolling at Bristol. Congrats and now he's only nine points back of Jimmie Johnson in the points race. He's looking like he could win it all if he maintains this kind of consistency. His Dewalt team was superb.
Dale Jr. said his nerves are much better after he had a good top five finish and got himself a little bit of a pad in the points. Technically the field of 10 is almost completely set at this point. Mark Martin could drop out if he does really bad at California, but I doubt he will. Mark usuually runs well in California. My guess is everybody in right now is in and Kasey Kahn and the rest of the 11th thru 20th guys are all outside looking in....
California then Richmond....then the Chase!!! Gonna be a fun one.
News and Notes coming later this week!!!
Gotta get moved into my new house tomorrow. Have a great day!!!

Kenseth Kruises and Burton Blows Up!

Wow, what a difference a week makes. Matt Kenseth ripped it up in the Dewalt Ford and made his move to make the NEXTEL CUP CHASE for the Championship with only three races left before the cutoff.
Jeff Burton's blown engine early in the Michigan race really hurt him and his team's chances of making the CHASE. He dropped all the way to ninth in the standings and is hanging on by the hair of his chiny chiny chin. Jeff will need an excellent couple of runs in the next two weeks to secure his spot for the RCR team. Kyle Busch is looking human as well after whacking the wall and blowing a tire at Michigan. He dropped from fifth in points to seventh and will need a couple of good finishes to secure his place in the race!1
The LOWES team continues to roll along like a freight team and Jimmie Johnson is in like flynn. Barring major disaster Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick will find themselves alongside Jimmie Johnson as the Top Three in the NEXTEL CUP Chase for the Championship.
This weekend's Bristol race could be make or break for Kasey Kahn, rookie Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. .
My guess is that Jeff Gordon will separate himself from the bunched up pack near the bottom of the top ten. Gordon is one of the strongest short track drivers out there and he's been a force to be reckoned with at Bristol every single year.
Tony Stewart will make a big move this weekend as well. He should get a top five at Bristol. Barring any major wreck Dale Jr. should be able to post a good finish as well. I look for Kasey Kahn to run hard and go for the whole shebang at one of the coolest tracks on the whole circuit, Bristol Motor Speedway!!!

Elliott does the Evernham Shuffle!!

Rumors, ruminations and 99.9% truths!!!

They're dancing the shuffle again this week in the world of NASCAR. First my old high school golf teammate Todd Parrott leaves the Bobby Labonte/Petty Enterprises team and returns to Robert Yates Racing. No word yet on what Todd's job will be. I imagine he'll oversee things in a management role.

Then there's the firing of Jeremy Mayfield...he's outta there at Evernham Motor Sports. For a minute I thought Ray would pull Awesome Bill from Dawsonville out of retirement, alas, it was only a one race thing. Elliott Sadler will be the new driver of the #19 Dodge. Elliott is really confusing my sons because they still associate him him the M&M's Yellow car. If he keeps moving I'm gonna be broke from buying all his different sponsor's products for my kids. Maybe that's how NASCAR does it. They make driver changes so unsuspecting dad's like me will continue to spend money on new teams. It's an idea for all you racing marketers out there. It's sure working on me.

Opinions and Suggestions
The reason for Jeremy Mayfield's release.......Ray Evernham says the team had to do some things to the Dodge Charger that Mayfield wasn't comfortable with or wanted to do. I think if Bo and Luke Duke could take over that Dodge Charger for at least a couple of weeks(2 episodes in TV time) then there'd be a Big Ole "01" painted on the side and nobody would ever catch the team again. I mean those Duke boys knew how to juke up a car!!!! Put ole Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane in a beat up Crown Vic chasing them on the track and there'd be no way the Dodge Charger could lose!!!!
Good luck to Elliott and his new team!!! They'll rev it up for the first time together this weekend in Ted Nugent country.....Michigan International Speedway!!!!


SIDEBAR(that has nothing to do with racing but is news for country music lovers)
Speaking of Michigan....did you see where Country singer Troy Gentry is in trouble with the law in Minnesota for killing a tame bear and claiming it was a wild kill? T Roy could face up to five years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Whew, that's awfully stiff!! Good luck to Troy. Here's hoping he's innocent.

Childress in Championship State of Mind!

Kevin Harvick is back. The number 29 was sharp as a tack at Watkins Glen. He and Tony Stewart put on quite a show for the final six laps or so and it was a much deserved win for "Cupcake" That's our Kernersville affectionate term for Kevin. You see I lived in Kernersville for the past five years before moving to Raleigh and Kevin lives there and has a truck shop there. He's a great guy and I'm glad he got the victory yesterday. I've secretly rooted for him ever since he had to take on the massive responibility of stepping in the shoes of Dale Earnhardt Sr. in 2001 after Earnhardt's death at Daytona. Kevin has had an up and down time since then and it's great to see him making a run for the NEXTEL CUP championship. He's in the top ten right now along with teammate Jeff Burton and as team owner Richard Childress said over the weekend, "if both our drivers get in the top ten then we've got a great shot at the championship" I have to agree with Richard. This could be the year he returns RCR to the Earnhardt Glory Days. And I could think of no better way to cap off 2006, than a victory dinner in New York with Richard and his driver taking the coveted NEXTEL CUP.
Great run for Jamie McMurray on Sunday. He needed that one.
Great to see independent Robbie Gordon doing what he does best and that is driving a road course. I think if Robbie had access to more money and people he could win like a madman. His fourth place was fantastic considering his limited resources.
Tony Stewart continues to be dominate on road courses.
The top ten in points still looks very good. Poor Jimmie Johnson....he's built up a huge lead and in just four more races it will dissappear as they reboot and start all over with the top ten in the Chase. I really think Jimmie should win the CUP this year. He's far and away better than anybody else. And he really was last year as well. He just had that bit of a late season slide last year.
We'll see what happens.
I love road courses. They're not as much fun to watch in person but on FOX 50 you could see every turn and every slide.
I could tell the effects of chemotherapy on Benny Parsons. His throat was hurting, it was obvious during the broadcast. My prayers to Benny as he continues to fight lung cancer!! He's a fighter.

Silly Season Rules!!!

Well hats off to Jimmie Johnson. He finally got the monkey off his back and stopped the Indy slide. For the past several years the Brickyard was Jimmie's nemesis and this year he was able to kiss the bricks and in the process pad his points lead dramatically. In fact if we were still in the old NASCAR points system Jimmie would pretty much already have the CUP championship wrapped up and if you ask me, if he continues his remarkable consistency then he deserves it!!! Of course that's not the way it works now is it!! The Top Ten is looking good after Indy. Only problem is, can Dale Jr., Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart maintain their positions in the Top Ten. Those three are marquee names and need to be in the Chase to provide excitement and better ratings for NASCAR. I'm hoping they all three make it. Not to slight any other drivers but you need your bread and butter to make the dough!!!! Or is it you need the dough the make the bread and butter. I think that's interchangeable.
I didn't think Jimmie would win after his early tire troubles at Indy but it only goes to show if you keep your wits about you then you can do anything. Calm under pressure is a key ingredient in racing.
Watkins Glen could prove to be the undoing of more than one driver with hopes for the NEXTEL CUP Chase for the Championship! Should be a good weekend for that road course superstar Jeff Gordon. If Gordon wins he'll tie Dale Earnhardt Sr. for the second most victories ever on the NASCAR circuit. And if you're wondering. It's 76 wins. Who has the most? Well you know that don't you. The King has 200 victories and I don't think anyone will ever surpass the greatest of all NASCAR drivers, Richard Petty!! I'll bet you a lifetime supply of BC powders.
I love silly season! Can't wait for Charlotte and the fall Martinsville races in October!!!

Hotter than Grandma's Frying Pan!

I could use a misting tent along about now. It's almost 100 in Raleigh, NC today. The Heat Index is 109 degrees. I'm wondering what the temperature will be in Indianapolis this weekend as the NASCAR guys swing into the Brickyard?
Should be interesting with the new safer barriers. This could change the way the groove is driven at Indy!!! We'll see what happens!!

Scene and Heard!
I heard an interesting observation from a radio talk show caller last night. The caller suggested that NASCAR let the driver with the most wins make the NEXTEL CUP Chase for The Championship. I like that idea. It would work. It would reward winning and give drivers incentive to win more races instead of just hanging in there long enough to get a top ten or top fifteen finish so they could keep their points position. Of course currently it would be a moot point because Casey Kahn has the most wins but he's already in the top ten and will make the Chase. It's definitely a concept for Brian France and the NASCAR powers to mull over though!!! Food for thought as they consider changing some of the current rules for the NEXTEL CUP chase format.

Predictions and Prognostications!
Tony Stewart will win at the Brickyard. He will climb the storied fence once again and probably have to call Richard Petty for a BC powder 'cause it's a tough fence and he might scrape a hand or two.
Jeff Gordon will finish in the top five.
Jimmie Johnson will finish in the top ten.
Carl Edwards will run well.
Kurt Busch will continue to roll and land in the top Five.
Dale Jr. will struggle.
Mark Martin will finish in the top ten!!
Rousch racing will dominate the Top Ten.
Look for Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick to land in the top ten as well.
That's my view. What's yours?