Bleacher Report - Articles by Dustin Parks

The Legend of Grave Digger: Monster Truck's Black and Green Wrecking Machine

Dustin Parks — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:24:03 -0500

Every motorsport has that one iconic vehicle the fans instantly recognize.

In NASCAR, there's the black No. 3 of Dale Earnhardt. Drag racing has the Castrol funny car of John Force. Formula 1 has the bright red Ferrari of Michael Schumacher.

In the world of monster trucks, everyone unquestionably recognizes one vehicle: a black 1950 Chevrolet Panel Truck that bears green flames across the hood, red headlights that look like eyes.

The sides have a graveyard, tombstones signifying the trucks that have been defeated. A haunted house in the distance stands alone in front of a full moon. A ghost in purple sits behind the window, as if it's peering over the tombstones.

To the fans, it's known as the "Black and Green Wrecking Machine." Once George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone" hits the airwaves, everyone in the arena knows what's coming.

That truck is the Grave Digger.

Back in 1982, Dennis Anderson started his eventual phenomenon.

He had an old pickup that he build from scrap yard parts. The truck was old with faded red paint but still had a lot of power. He would take the truck to a local mud bog and the other competitors simply laughed, calling it a piece of old junk.

Not one to back down, Anderson came back, telling them, "I'll take this old junk and dig you a grave." He then simply stenciled in Grave Digger on the doors, and thus the craze was born.

Soon, that old truck gave way to a new vehicle, an old Ford Panel Wagon that was painted silver and powder blue. To be unique, Anderson decided to put his big block Chevrolet engine in the back for weight.

But there was just something that didn't sit right with the truck. A truck that had been named "Grave Digger" didn't fit with the silver and blue panels.

So, while Anderson was in Virginia, the original home of his shop, he went to a local auto body shop and asked the crew to paint the truck to fit the name.

What he got was simply unbelievable. Flames shot up the truck, graveyards and ghosts haunting the sides. In that moment, the Grave Digger was born.

Soon after, Anderson put a set of red headlights on the front, which he took off the bus he used to haul the truck to events.

The truck was immediately a hit as was Anderson for his punishing driving style. Each show he would go all out, sometimes sacrificing the truck to get the win.

Following the 1988 racing season, Anderson decided that his truck would not get the job done and built a new one. It was lower to the ground, wider and more powerful. Plus, he decided to go with the Chevy Panel Van instead of the Ford.

When the truck came out, it was a struggle to get it to a point where Anderson was happy with it. Parts kept breaking, as he would push the truck beyond its limits, and often go out early in competition. It earned him the nickname "One Run Anderson."

But, his attitude of going all out won over the fans, and his following swelled.

In the early 90s, the advancement to the tube-frame monster truck was in full swing, and not wanting to fall behind, Anderson built his third Grave Digger truck. The tube frame chassis was painted a bright green, and an ominous skull and crossbones flag was added to the back.

The new truck would work out great, and as the 90s progressed, Anderson would build three more trucks to keep up with the advances. Unfortunately, so did the demand to see Grave Digger.

Knowing he couldn't be everywhere at once, Anderson decided to officially make the Grave Digger team a multi-truck operation. He first hired on Paul Huffaker, followed by Lyle Hancock and Rod Schmidt.

Knowing they were driving a truck bearing the Grave Digger name, they too had to go all out.

Huffaker himself built his own Grave Digger truck along with a new one for Anderson in 1997.

During this time, Anderson had brought in another concept into monster trucks. Because of all the breakage, the Grave Digger would be out of competition. But, Anderson would fix the truck and then ask the promoters and officials to let him return and just show off for the fans.

They soon obliged, and Anderson would come out, do jumps, crush the cars and spin donuts, sometimes flipping over.

The idea would soon be called "freestyle" and he would be deemed it's "Godfather."

By the early part of this decade, Anderson's team had expanded to include three more drivers. Hancock would move to another truck, but both Huffaker and Schmidt stayed with the team.

Anderson hired on Charlie Paukens, Todd Frolik and Gary Porter to race his trucks.

In 2000, team Grave Digger got its first championship.

In front of a packed house at Sam Boyd Stadium, Anderson took his truck and won the first USHRA World Freestyle Championship. Anderson would finish his run with a leap up a dirt hill with his steering not working, which sent him over on his side.

The following year Anderson would move to a new Digger truck. Despite the championship, the truck he was driving had a lot of issues, both in handling and breakage.

His new truck was built by Patrick Enterprises, which at the time had the best equipment for the industry. Anderson would race that truck for three years, but would not get any championships.

When 2004 came, Anderson decided it was time to make a change. He hired on Chad Tingler to take over his old truck, while also bringing on Randy Brown as another new driver.

Then, he and the crew got together to build a brand new Grave Digger from the ground up.

The truck was the 19th to have the Grave Digger name, and it would set off a season that would be one of the greatest for Anderson. The truck was longer, wider, and had a lower center of gravity allowing drivers more control.

That March, once again in Las Vegas, Anderson completed something he had never done in his career. Despite the one championship, Anderson had never officially won a racing title.

Finally, after 22 years, Anderson had put the Grave Digger in victory lane for the first time as a racing champion. In the post-win interview, he actually was laughing just so he wouldn't cry.

Anderson would lose the title the following season, but came back in 2006 with another new truck. Set up similar to No. 19, the truck had thicker tubing and a tougher roll cage, but everything else was exactly like his previous truck.

That truck would bring him another racing championship as he defeated the Bounty Hunter in the final round.

The 2007 season would be the 25th anniversary of the Grave Digger, but in fact was one that Anderson would be a part of from the sidelines. In the first event of the year, he injured his shoulder during qualifying. The result sent him to the hospital, and thus out of the truck.

Not wanting to disappoint his fans, his son Adam, having only one year of driving under his belt, stepped up to drive his father's truck.

The season would be a successful one for the Anderson team, as Adam would win the following three freestyle competitions, finishing out the season with five.

Dennis himself would get well enough to get back in the truck in time for the World Finals that season, but just missed out on another racing title. He would finish second in the freestyle competition, but the real treat was to follow.

That weekend, every Grave Digger driver was in attendance with the exception of Porter. At the conclusion of the freestyle competition, the remaining five Digger drivers came out and did a tandem freestyle in honor of the team.

Anderson would return for a full season of racing in 2008, and in 2009 he saw his most successful year to date. His Grave Digger would win seven racing events along with six freestyles, including four where he swept both competitions.

Still looking for another championship, Anderson has stated he is not done driving. His family is now fully involved in monster truck racing. Adam himself won the 2008 freestyle championship, and this year his other son, Ryan, will begin his driving career.

The 2010 season will be Anderson's 28th behind the wheel of Grave Digger, and his fan base is just as strong as ever.

For a man that started off with a truck built from a salvage yard, Anderson has created quite an empire. Each time he drives the truck, each time he freestyles, and every time he wins a trophy, he has one simple message.

Pointing to his truck, he looks up to the crowd and says "I tear up that truck every weekend. I don't tear them up for promoters, I don't tear them up for my crew. I tear them up for you guys (the fans).

"I want to thank you for every nut and bolt on that truck, for every shingle on my roof."

No one pushes the equipment harder than Dennis Anderson, and there is no monster truck with the following of the Grave Digger.

There is no question, this duo will be bad to the bone for years to come.

Christmas Shopping For a NASCAR Fan: What's On Your List?

Dustin Parks — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:45:57 -0500

Black Friday officially started the holiday shopping season. People rushed to the stores to get those first big bargains. Some waited as long as 30 hours just to get through the doors.

This start of holiday shopping got me thinking, what exactly do people shop for when they are looking for gifts for the NASCAR fan in their life?

With such a diverse fan base that NASCAR has, the ideas for the perfect gift are quite different. Does he or she want to always wear their gift, or maybe display it for all to see? Do they want to use it everyday, or break it out for that weekend trip?

Not to worry, there are plenty of gifts that can satisfy the NASCAR fan in your life. Here's a few ideas that are sure to please.

Without a doubt, the most popular item for the fans are the die-cast cars. Motorsports Authentics has done an incredible job of getting every detail accurate in their collectibles. They continue to be the leading manufacturer in collectibles, and continue to come up with new finishes.

Starting price of the 1:24-scale cars is about $60. Local dealers will have a lot of the "standard" paint schemes in stock, but for many of the specialty paint schemes, it is best to order on-line. However, the die-cast market has become a high-end collectible with the addition of specialty finishes.

QVC, based in West Chester, PA, has many exclusive deals with Motorsports Authentics to produce die-casts with gold, polished, gun metal or the most popular finish, color chrome. The Color chrome cars usually start at $96, while the others can go up to $200.

For the collector in your life, a die-cast is a sure-fire bet to put a smile on his/her face.

But, there are some people that would rather show their driver pride on a more regular basis. For that fan, something to wear on the back or head is the best way to go.

One of the most popular pieces of apparel every year is the twill uniform jackets. Selling for $101 on NASCAR.com, these jackets are made to look like your favorite driver's firesuit.

But, they also are extremely comfortable and will keep you warm during these upcoming winter months.

For those that don't want to spent that amount of money, the ever reliable driver t-shirt is a good substitute. But, even that can be a tough decision.

There are the "total print" shirts, big number tees, long sleeves, customized shirts, and so many other options. The shirt area both on-line and in stores is so vast, there could be many that could make great gifts.

To complement that new shirt, a hat would be a good choice. It's one of the easiest ways to show other people which driver is the one they cheer for.

Many different designs are available for each driver, including the new championship gear that has come out for Jimmie Johnson. Whatever the choice is, the clothing options for Christmas are quite diverse.

Possibly clothing isn't exactly what you're looking for, maybe something a bit different or unique. One of the biggest things to hit the market in recent years have been the "Fatheads," the huge vinyl wall decals that won't leave residue.

These decals can practically take up an entire wall, drawing in the attention of everyone once they come into the room. Although they can be a bit expensive, ranging from $40 to $100. But, the price does reflect the quality.

The final item on my list of items to get this year is photos, but not just any driver photos. If you want to really wow that special fan, get them a very cool framed photo.

The company Mounted Memories works close with NASCAR to bring some very unique collectibles. Not only do they include photos, sometimes they include part of the track, car or even the flag.

Ranging from as little as $20 to as much as $300, and available for many of the sport's most popular drivers, they are truly a mounted memory.

Whatever your idea is for a gift to a NASCAR fan, the most important part is that it is given with love. No matter the price tag or the item, that is what matters.

There is less than a month until Christmas, so time to get out and buy that special fan in your life that perfect gift.

Dodging Out of Sight: The Decline of Dodge in NASCAR

Dustin Parks — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:25:07 -0500

When it was announced that Richard Petty Motorsports would switch to Ford in 2010, it meant that one of the most recognizable figures in racing was switching affiliations.

Back in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, Petty was the flagship driver for Daimler-Chrysler.

Petty was constantly driving a Plymouth or Dodge and was featured on many of their advertisements. When the famed "Super Bee" came out in 1970, Petty was quick to put one with his No. 43 on the track.

In 2001, when Ray Evernham led the charge of bringing Dodge back to NASCAR, Petty was the second team to come over to the brand. Soon, there were 10 cars that joined in, going to the Dodge name plate.

Now, 10 years later, that number is down to four. Heading into the 2010 season, only Penske Racing and James Finch remain as teams bearing the Dodge emblem in the Sprint Cup Series.

What happened to the brand that returned to the sport after nearly a 30-year hiatus?

The truth is, what happened was not much. When Dodge returned in 2001, it took the brand 23 races before they got to victory lane. That race was rain-shortened, as Sterling Marlin took the checkered flag.

Dodge would go on to win three more races that year, including putting Bill Elliott in victory lane for the first time since 1994.

The 2002 season would prove to be the best season for Dodge, as they recorded eight wins. They included a win in the Daytona 500 with Ward Burton, Ryan Newman winning the Winston, and Bill Elliott putting Dodge in victory lane at the Brickyard.

The following year saw Dodge have another successful campaign, as the brand was in victory lane seven times, six of which were from Ryan Newman.

Over the next two years, it would be a struggle to see Dodge in victory lane as they would only get seven victories.

Then in 2006, Dodge came back with horns blazing. Their lead driver, Kasey Kahne, recorded six victories, including sweeping the races at Charlotte.

But since 2007, the brand has only 11 victories in the series. Kahne leads all the Dodge drivers with five, while Busch has four, and both Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya each have one.

What could cause such a great brand to struggle in recent years in NASCAR?

It is hard to say, but many factors are responsible for such a decline. More recently, it has been the economy taking a hit on American car manufacturers. Both General Motors and Daimler-Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a signal that the car buyers were moving away from American makers.

With such a struggle, there were sacrifices. Richard Petty Motorsports admitted that the filing caused his team to lose a lot of their funding for the team. In turn, the organization had to lay off many of its workers.

Now, with the move to Ford, a lot more of those employees will be out of work as the resources of Yates Racing are now part of the team.

One other reason for their decline can also be attributed to the debut of Toyota. When the Camry made it's debut in 2007, some of the lead teams elected to switch to the import brand.

Toyota would not get it's first win in the Sprint Cup Series until 2008. But, in the two years that followed, the brand has 20 wins. Meanwhile, Dodge only has eight.

Prior to the 2009 season, Dodge was already losing some drivers. Robby Gordon's single car team left the brand in favor of Toyota.

The Ganassi Racing team that fielded Montoya merged with Dale Earnhardt Inc., which fields Chevrolet.

Newman himself left the Penske organization to join Tony Stewart's new operation, switching over to Chevrolet as well.

The only teams that are left under for the Dodge brand in the Cup Series are Penske, who fields cars for Busch, Sam Hornish Jr., and rookie Brad Keselowski, plus James Finch, who has multiple drivers.

Just four cars bearing the Dodge emblem could mean that the end is near for them in NASCAR.

But how much longer can they last? They're committed through 2010, but will they be there in 2011? How about 2012?

They may have a Hemi, but it looks like their future is very meek. What a far cry from their days of dominance in NASCAR.

Parks Race Reactions: Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway

Dustin Parks — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:48:33 -0500

And so it ends. At approximately 6:30 last night, the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season came to a close. It started in mid-February with a rain-shortened Daytona 500 and came to an end under balmy overcast skies in Miami.

It was an unbelievable race to end the season. So much jockeying for position and such incredible action all around the track. Certainly was a fun race to conclude the season.

Now, in this edition of "Parks Race Reactions," I'll look back at the drivers who had a big day in the final race plus a view of an incredible feat in the sport's history.

Let's start out by looking at the race. What an awesome run by Denny Hamlin. He certainly was the hard-luck driver of the Chase. He had three DNF's in the Chase, which really put him at the back of the standings. But, in the races he didn't have trouble, he ran extremely well.

Sunday night, he put his FedEx Camry in victory lane, ending the year on a very high note. It was his fourth win of the season, the most in his career. Afterwards, Hamlin made a bold prediction as he stood in victory lane.

"I promise you, in the next couple years, we're going to win the championship," Hamlin proclaimed.

It's uncertain if that will happen, but the team is capable of getting in done. We will not know until the 2010 season begins.

Also, how about the RCR organization ending the season on a high note. Three of their cars ran up front all night long, with two of them finishing in the top five.

Runner-up Jeff Burton nearly pulled off a victory but he was unable to run down Hamlin in the late going. Kevin Harvick finished behind his teammate, and ran extremely well all afternoon and evening.

If this is any indication that this organization has rebounded, then 2010 looks to be a very good season for Richard Childress Racing.

Now, on to the points standings. Before I get to the champion himself, the entire Hendrick Motorsports organization made history Sunday night. His teams finished an improbable trifecta of finishing one-two-three in the standings. It is hard enough to get one team to finish in the top five of the points, let alone three, so big congrats to Rick Hendrick.

Unfortunately, the boss himself was not at the track to celebrate. Hendrick got news that his niece, Ashley Gainey, needed an emergency liver transplant, so he left the morning of the race.

So, the celebration was a bit somber, but it was nonetheless an incredible accomplishment.

It's also been an incredible accomplishment for runner-up Mark Martin. It was uncertain how Martin would do in his first full season since 2006, especially in a high profile ride like the No. 5 car.

However, not only did he run well, he nearly took the championship in his first season. His run over the year has been nothing short of amazing. His win at Phoenix showed that even at his age, he can get the job done.

He proved that wasn't a fluke weeks later in winning the Southern 500. Then came his win at Michigan, and then domination at Chicago. Those wins put him in the points lead heading into the Chase, and he started the final 10 races by winning at New Hampshire.

The entire season he was saying that all he's doing is having fun. You could tell that when he gets out of the car with a huge smile on his face.

After the race, Martin reflected on the opportunity that Hendrick gave him.

"To come in my first year and compete for a championship, it speaks volumes for this team. I feel really really blessed to have a chance," Martin said.

At the same time, he admitted it was an emotional ride for him because of all the support he's received.

"The fans and the competitors really made it emotional for me," Martin said.

It certainly was an emotional season for Martin and the entire No. 5 team, but this is an indication of what the 2010 season will bring. Martin will again battle for the championship, and everyone in the garage will be looking for another strong run by Martin.

But, what can you say that about the No. 48 Lowe's team, Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson. This team has done something that no one has come close to accomplishing in NASCAR.

In the eight years that this team has been on the track, they have four championships, a runner-up and have finished no lower than fifth. That is unheard of in this sport.

Johnson has opened up his own wing in the sport's history. Four consecutive championships are something that no one would have ever thought would happen.

"I never thought in my career, in my lifetime, I'd see someone win four in a row," Johnson's teammate Jeff Gordon said. "To see it happening right in front of your eyes makes it even more extraordinary."

Runner-up in the race, Jeff Burton, agreed, saying "If you would've told me four years ago that someone would win four championships in a row, I would've told you you were crazy."

Crazy or not, it happened. Johnson has put himself beyond the elite group of champions. He is in his own realm of history, one that will never again be matched.

Even Johnson himself could not believe what he and his team had done.

"The truth is, to do something that's never been done in this sport--to love this sport like I do, and respect it like I do--and the greats: Petty, Earnhardt, Gordon...to do something that they've never done is so awesome," Johnson said to ESPN's Alan Bestwick.

"To win four championships in eight years, what this team has done...I don't know where to start. It's unbelievable."

Believe it, it is a reality, Johnson is the driver to beat. The only question is how far he can go. Can he win five straight? Six straight? Seven? Eight?

It's unclear how many, but until teams figure out how to beat them in the Chase, get used to seeing Johnson win more titles. He is the champ, and he truly is "Superman."

Dustin Off the Final Race: Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway

Dustin Parks — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:24:51 -0500

It will be a bitter-sweet feeling for everyone in the NASCAR community as this Sunday, the 2009 season will come to a close. All the miles, all the finishes, and all the stories during the 36-race season end at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

All the miles, all the laps, and all the checkered flags will conclude Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It has been a season of many highs and many lows. Some things shocked us while others were expected.

It will definitely be a season that will be remembered. Now, in this finale edition of "Dustin Off," we'll go through the drivers to watch out for in the Ford 400 and a look at the championship race.

FAVORITES

CARL EDWARDS

The driver of the No. 99 was the bridesmaid at this race last season for a couple reasons. He won the race by using fuel strategy to make it to the end.

But, Johnson finished high enough to win his third title, a title that he was battling Edwards for.

This year has been a little different for Edwards as he has yet to win a race. He has been near the front and come close, but some incidents were outside his control.

This is a very good track for Roush-Fenway racing, as they have won the last four events. This is the last chance for Edwards to get a victory and salvage some good from the season. He will certainly be a factor come Sunday.

GREG BIFFLE

The other surprise from the Roush-Fenway stable is definitely Greg Biffle. As expected, he made the Chase, but has not made as much noise as expected.

Biffle has no wins this year, just like Edwards, but has run very consistent.

This is also his last chance to come away with a victory in the 2009 season. He came close at Michigan this past June, but fell half a lap short in gas.

Prior to Edwards winning last season, Biffle won three consecutive races at Homestead. He definitely will be up front.

TONY STEWART

Alright, so it has been nine years since "Smoke" has put his car in victory lane here, but that doesn't mean he won't be running well.

Stewart won the first two races at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 1999 and 2000, but there was a big difference in those races. The track had very little banking, as in six degrees in the corners, when Stewart won.

Since the track was reconfigured to have the progressive banking, Stewart has not found his way to victory lane.

However, tracks such as Atlanta and Charlotte have similar banking, and Stewart has won at both. Watch for Stewart's team to use a similar set up for this track as they would there.

This has been a dream season for the owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, and there's no better way to end the year than in victory lane.

SLEEPERS

KURT BUSCH

It looks as though Busch is taking a page out of Rusty Wallace's playbook. When he was with Penske, after a victory Wallace would name the race car.

Two weeks ago, Busch went to victory lane at Texas, and afterwards named the car "Patriot" because he carried Operation Homefront on the hood. This weekend that same car will be on the track again.

Both tracks were similar in banking, so the car will already be set up to run well and maybe just a bit loose to get off the corners.

I would not be surprised if he makes his way to the front early, so watch for the No. 2 Miller Lite Doge.

MARK MARTIN

No, that's not a typo, I'm actually putting Martin in this category for a reason. I have him as a sleeper because in order for him to even remotely have a chance to steal the championship, his weekend needs to be perfect.

He needs to win the race, lead the most laps, and somehow hope Jimmie Johnson has a problem. The likeliness of all that happening is slim to none, but he's going to try.

A win to finish out an incredible season would give this entire team a lot of momentum heading into 2010. Martin will be a contender for the title next year for sure.

A win would culminate an incredible return to full-time driving for Martin. He could sneak up and take some of the attention away from his teammate.

But, the attention will be on Johnson all weekend. Friday he came out and scorched the field in qualifying, putting his car on the pole. For a team that only needs to finish 25th or better, they came out fast and hard.

It will be a new chapter in NASCAR's history, as for the first time, a driver will have won four consecutive titles. That is unheard of in any sport. That's like seeing a team in the NFL win four straight Super Bowls, or a baseball team winning four World Series titles back to back.

It is history in itself, and one that everyone will be talking about for years to come. An incredible feat by an incredible driver.

Sunday culminates one of the most competitive seasons NASCAR has ever seen. The only question remaining is who will win the final race, and have bragging rights heading to Daytona in 2010. Coverage will be on ABC starting at 2:30 with NASCAR Countdown.

Horsepower and Manpower: The Greatest Dynasties in Motorsports

Dustin Parks — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:20:36 -0500

This coming Sunday, it looks as though a new chapter in motorsports will be written. For 61 years, there has never been one driver, with one team, to win four consecutive titles. However, when the checkered flag waves at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the possibility of that happening will look to become a reality. With all the hype that is going around Jimmie Johnson, it got me wondering what it takes to become a dynasty in the world of motorsports. The fact is, not many have actually taken place. It is tough enough to succeed in the sport, let alone become a dynasty, but there have been drivers and teams that have successfully proved everyone wrong. So, as we embark on a very historic moment in motorsports, I thought it would be appropriate to look back at some of the greatest dynasties in motorsports.

Begin Slideshow

Parks Race Reactions: Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix

Dustin Parks — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:20:48 -0500

There have not been many times this season where a driver has come out and completely dominated an event. There have been even fewer where that same driver was the eventual winner.

But, when Sunday's race concluded, it was clear that the best car won the race. So, this week's edition of "Parks Race Reactions" will look back at Sunday's race and look ahead to the grand finale of the 2009 season.

I honestly thought it couldn't be done. I believed that a different driver could take the top spot and be at the head table in Las Vegas. But, when the checkered flag flew in Phoenix, my thinking changed.

If there is any driver and team that has figured out how to win the Chase, it is very clearly Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team. Since the Chase began in 2004, there have been only three drivers to win the championship.

Kurt Busch had to hang on to win by eight points in 2004. Then, Tony Stewart earned his second championship in 2005.

Since that time, Jimmie Johnson has figured out exactly what to do to win the Chase. Whether they enter the Chase leading the points or middle of the pack, Johnson has figured out exactly how to win the title.

His incident at Texas was not a road block, just a setback. Sunday, he came out and utterly dominated for 500 miles. He was never passed on the track for the lead, and only lost the lead once during green-flag pit stops.

The gap is now 108 points back to Mark Martin. In order for Johnson to write his own chapter in NASCAR history, it will take a 25th place finish or better next Sunday.

Although it may look to be an easy ride, this race last year was not smooth sailing for Johnson. He qualified 30th, ran mid-pack all day, and finished 15th. He needed to be 18th or better to win the title.

Despite that fact, Johnson's legacy in NASCAR is set in stone. He will win the title—simple as that.

Now, on to other news not involving Johnson. How about great runs by Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer. The entire RCR team has struggled all season, having not won a single race. But, Sunday both the No. 31 and 33 were near the front and stayed very consistent.

A lot of times this organization has been written off because of all the changes, speculation, and hard times they have gone through. But, these have been the two best cars for RCR all season.

That was proved on Sunday as Burton finished second while Bowyer came home seventh. A good day for both drivers.

And finally, the ultimate loser on the afternoon is Dale Earnhardt Jr. The signs were already there when his crew was in a car accident just getting to the race track. Everyone was alright, no injuries, but it set the tone for the whole afternoon.

Like clockwork, the No. 88 was mid-pack all afternoon, and shortly after a restart, got loose down low and set off a chain-reaction crash.

Another race, another good car, and another disappointing finish—this time 35th on the board. I'm sure the entire Amp Energy/National Guard crew will be glad once Homestead is complete. It has been nothing but a season of chaos and frustration, one which they all will be glad to see end.

Now, after 35 races and thousands of miles, it all comes down to Homestead. The questions of who will win the race have already begun. Questions about the championship have already been answered.

All that is left to wonder is whether anyone has the team, the cars, or the driver capable to knock Johnson off his perch.

Darrell Waltrip said at the beginning of the year that in order to win the title, you had to beat Johnson.

He was right on yet again. Even though there's still one race left, it is safe to say that, for another year, Johnson will be hoisting the Sprint Cup title.

Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin Are Ready to Rumble at Homestead

Dustin Parks — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:35:51 -0500

In the world of stock car racing, rivalries are a part of the sport from years gone by. You have Richard Petty vs. David Pearson, Cale Yarborough vs. Donnie Allison, Darrell Waltrip vs. Dale Earnhardt, among many others.

Now, you can add another rivalry to that list, Brad Keselowski vs. Denny Hamlin.

This feud has gone through many chapters, and today's Nationwide race in Phoenix added one more.

Late in the race, following a restart, Hamlin gets into Keselowski in turn one, pushing him up the track. Coming out of the dogleg, Keselowski lifts the rear of his car up.

Then, right in the middle of turns three and four, the knockout shot as Hamlin spins out right in front of the field. A flat tire and a pit stop later, Hamlin was back out on track and making up positions.

Keselowski went on to finish fifth, while Hamlin made up spots to finish 12th.

Afterwards, the question of whether Hamlin would seek revenge was on everyone's mind. Even some drivers were expecting some kind of retribution.

"I got out of my car as quick as I could, I thought we would see some action," said second-place Kevin Harvick.

Unfortunately, Hamlin simply drove past his car to his pit stall, and exited his car.

But, walking back to the garage, he made it clear what his intentions would be in one week's time.

"I'm just happy I signed up for next week's Nationwide race. There's a lot of guys that owe him. There's a lot of guys that have a lot of chips that they're going to cash in," Hamlin said to ESPN.

"I'm just going to be the first at the pay window."

The line that struck a chord with every broadcaster at Phoenix came after he was asked if NASCAR needed to get involved.

"Nah, I'll take care of him. I've got it," he said.

As much as Keselowski tried to downplay the incident, he must know that he is out to get him.

Keselowski has admitted he has been driving more aggressive, as was most notable at Memphis earlier this year.

He caused at least two spin-outs, and was involved with at least two others, including one run-in with Carl Edwards late, which had Edwards a bit irked.

"If that's how he's going to race, then that's how we're gonna race," Edwards said afterwards.

On the other end of the incidents, Keselowski said that the contact throughout the day actually slowed his car down.

"I was aggressive and put myself in a lot of those situations that led to contact. It's not like I came out on top with that," he said.

Truthfully, he did come out on top. Keselowski was the one in victory lane.

Look back at the Sprint Cup race two weeks ago at Talladega. The last incident of the race begun when Keselowski got into the back of Kurt Busch. What ensued was a multi-car wreck with Mark Martin on his roof and many good cars destroyed.

To say Keselowski is a marked man would be an understatement. Hamlin may be going for a win, but he will also be going for payback.

The fans at Homestead-Miami Speedway may be paying to see a race, but what they could end up getting is a fight.

To coin a phrase from UFC referee "Big John" McCarthy, once the green flag flies, let's get it on.

Dustin' Off the Next Race: Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix

Dustin Parks — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:08:18 -0500

After everything that unfolded at Texas last weekend, this coming Sunday's race at Phoenix has taken on a very different tone.

Many thought that Jimmie Johnson would possibly wrap up the championship a week early. But on lap three at Ft. Worth, that changed entirely. What was a 184-point deficit has now become 73, and the teams chasing the No. 48 are now within striking distance.

How appropriate that the series' next-to-last stop is out west in the desert. It will certainly be a fight among the cactus and sand. But this race could have championship implications heading into Homestead.

It will be interesting what happens once the green flag flies. So, I'm "Dustin' off" the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500.

Let's look at who will be the favorites and who will be the dark horses for 500 miles.

FAVORITES

MARK MARTIN

You have to figure the odds-on favorite has to be the winner of the spring race at this track.

Mark Martin gained a lot of ground at Texas and admitted his team has a good car setup for Phoenix.

It was in this race that Martin got his first win for Hendrick Motorsports. That set off an unbelievable season for the No. 5 team. Five wins, 13 Top Five finishes, and 20 Top Ten finishes later, Martin is right in the thick of the championship hunt.

I believe that this race is more important than Homestead because a good run here will give Martin a lot of confidence going into the finale.

The No. 5 team is my pick on Sunday, and with the determination Martin has shown all year, he will be hard to beat.

KEVIN HARVICK

It's odd to put Harvick in this category, but the more I looked at it, he is a strong favorite in this race.

It wasn't long ago that Harvick swept both races at Phoenix, and he always runs strong at this track. In fact, he and teammate Jeff Burton have both won at Phoenix and will be big contenders.

But I think Harvick is the one with the best opportunity to win, and it would be very odd if he wasn't up front at some point in the race.

Keep your eyes on the No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet.

JIMMIE JOHNSON

Oh yes, Johnson will be a contender. He has won this race in each of the last two seasons, when it essentially decided the championship.

For me, Johnson must win the title this weekend by running well at Phoenix. In 2007, he won this race, his fourth in a row, then went out and finished seventh at Homestead to get his second title.

Last year, Johnson won this race and had a comfortable lead. He then just cruised to a 15th-place finish at Homestead. Despite a win by his closest challenge, Carl Edwards, it was not enough.

This race will decide the the championship again this year, so Johnson must have his game face on.

SLEEPERS

JEFF GORDON

This is not one of Gordon's better tracks, but he does run better here than he does at Texas, which he admits.

But with only one win, it is tough to put him as a favorite. However, I still believe Gordon will be running well. He is also closely behind Johnson and could possibly make a move to cut into his points lead.

With only one win this season, at Texas no less, Gordon is hungry and wants to put the DuPont Chevrolet in victory lane one more time. He could surprise everyone and win this race.

DALE EARNHARDT JR.

If it seems as if I'm favoring Hendrick Motorsports, you are right. But Junior has not gotten a win for Hendrick at Phoenix. His two wins at this track came in 2003 and 2004, racing for his dad's company.

The last two weeks have been up and down for this team. At Talladega, obviously, he ran up front all afternoon. However, because of him running out of fuel, he was at the back of the pack late and finished 11th.

Last week, he ran in the top five all day long, but on his last pit stop just for fuel, he stalled the car, leaving his pit box. It took nearly two laps for him to get his car fired, and he wound up 25th.

If it could happen to this team, it has. There are just two races left, and he will be trying hard to get that long awaited win. Phoenix is his best chance, and he will go all out for the win.

This weekend is the pivotal race and could possibly decide a champion. Coverage on ABC begins at 2:30 p.m. Sunday with NASCAR Countdown.

Did Kyle Busch's Success with Dave Rogers Come at Joey Logano's Expense?

Dustin Parks — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:09:26 -0500

When the checkered flag fell at Talladega two weeks ago, Kyle Busch saw the end of a successful combination. Following that race, Steve Addington, who was Busch's crew chief since joining Joe Gibbs Racing, was leaving his post.

The 2008 season was an unprecedented success for Busch in his first year in the No. 18 car. After 26 races, Busch gained eight victories, 16 top fives and 17 top 10s. Going into the Chase, Busch was the heavy favorite to win the title.

Then, the last 10 races were a disaster. Busch failed to finish in the first two Chase races, putting him back in points. He would not get a victory, and only garnered two top fives and four top 10s.

This year, the success has not been at the same level. Only four wins, eight top fives, and 11 top 10s were not enough to put him in the Chase.

So, it was time to make a change.

In comes Dave Rogers, who was the crew chief on Joey Logano's No. 20 GameStop Toyota in the Nationwide Series.

Every win Logano has in Nationwide, Rogers was there making the calls on the pit box. Now, he gets promoted to the big show, and to the top team at Gibbs.

His first day on the job, many would call it a success.

Busch got to the front, led the most laps, never lost the lead on pit road, and had the car to beat.

Had it not been for a gamble on fuel mileage that did not pan out, he would be in victory lane.

As successful as this duo was on its first night, did it come at a price?

The day prior, in the Nationwide Series, Logano got to experience his first race without Rogers on his pit box.

Logano admitted in the pre-race that his Smackdown vs. Raw Toyota was not good when they unloaded on Friday. In practice, they still couldn't find the handle, then ended up qualifying in the back.

On race day, despite all the adjustments the team tried, the car would not handle as he was barely cracking the top 10.

Finally, a cut left rear tire ended his day as it blew out coming down the back straightaway, sending him headlong into the outside wall.

All afternoon it seemed as if Logano was out of sync with his team as to how to make the car handle better, a position that he was not used to. When he was teamed up with Rogers, his No. 20 car was near the front every week, often beating his teammate, Busch. He currently holds the lead between the two drivers in 1-2 finishes, as he owns four wins compared to Busch's one.

But, in just one race, it seemed as if Logano was a pure rookie, just trying to get a feel for his place in the race. It appeared as though the magic Logano had in all those victories vanished on Monday when Rogers started his new duty.

It could possibly be beginner's luck that Busch had success with Rogers his first day out. Busch loves to race at Texas. Having won four consecutive races in the Nationwide Series in dominating fashion proves that.

Rogers started at a track where Busch was already a heavy favorite. Add in the chance that he could pull off a trifecta of wins proves he came in at the appropriate time. There were other factors outside his control that took away the chance at victory.

You first must consider that the final caution of the race came out on lap 206, with the green flag coming back out at lap 211. Every team that even remotely had a chance to catch Busch had to go 123 laps, including at least one pit stop.

Busch made his final pit stop at lap 269, meaning he would have to go 65 laps on a tank of fuel. Had another caution come in that last fuel run, the fuel strategy would be thrown out the window.

The fact is that every time on a pit cycle, either under green or yellow, Busch never once lost the lead on pit road. His crew would definitely had the chance to win the race on pit road, as the No. 18 was the class of the field.

There is also the thought that the car being used for that race could have been set up already by Addington to compete at Texas. He knew from earlier notes of how well he ran and what the car needed to have.

Rogers came on board at a track where Busch excelled. There was no doubt he was going to run well, even with a new crew chief in his ear.

Finally, when Logano unloaded with his Nationwide team and struggled right away, they knew they were already in the race. Their focus was getting the car right in race trim, not really worrying about qualifying.

With an impound race, they had to keep the car in race trim for qualifying, and did not fair well. Then in the race, Logano was just a sub-par car. Mid-pack all afternoon, barely in the top 10, and a blown tire due to contact ended his day.

Logano self-admitted he had an "eighth-, ninth-, or 10th-place car" and that is where he probably would have finished.

Could Logano's struggles be attributed to him not being teamed with Rogers? Possibly, but it was not the sole reason.

Can Busch have success with Rogers on his pit box? Absolutely, if you judge by only one race.

Did Busch's success at Texas come at the expense of Logano? That question cannot be answered after only one race.

If the struggles continue for Logano, and the success continues for Busch, then there will be a definitive answer.

Parks's Race Reactions: Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway

Dustin Parks — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:59:35 -0500

It always seems when NASCAR comes to Texas, there is going to be a stampede of emotions. With the focus squarely on the Chase, all eyes were looking to the guys in the championship battle to do well.

Needless to say, all eyes were on the top Chase drivers, but for different reasons. This week's "Parks Race Reactions" will look at yesterday's race and look ahead to the how much the Chase to the Championship has changed.

Right away, the big story throughout the race was Jimmie Johnson. A 184-point lead when the green flag flew, and after three laps, it was gone. A little tap by David Reutimann into Sam Hornish sent Johnson sliding into the outside wall. Then, he slid back into Hornish, tearing up even more of his car.

In that instance, the entire championship hunt changed. Johnson pulled his car to the garage, not once unbuckling his belts, and just waited for his team to do the work.

It took 114 laps, and over an hour of repairs, but the Lowe's team got the car back on track and kept it fast enough to maintain minimum speed.

When the checkered flag flew, Johnson was credited with a 38th-place finish, but he actually finished the race. The team never gave up and wanted to get all the points possible.

Now, heading into Phoenix, the Chase is closer and will come even more down to the wire. Another mishap and Johnson could find himself in an unfamiliar position heading into Homestead-coming from behind to win a title.

The race itself was a boring one, especially when you have both Kurt and Kyle Busch dominating the race. Between the two brothers, they led all but 13 of the 334 laps. That is a dominating performance.

Kyle himself was the more dominant of the two drivers. He had his sights set on a complete weekend sweep, having won both the Truck and Nationwide events already.

All he really needed to do was make sure he had enough fuel to get to the finish. His final pit stop came on lap 269, 65 laps from the finish. That was outside of the expected window for fuel, but crew chief Dave Rogers decided to gamble and conserve fuel.

Looking to be three laps short, he began conserving and slowing his lap times. But, with three laps left, coming out of turn two, his car wiggles. Right then and there, his tank ran dry. That meant even conserving fuel, they were much shorter on fuel than expected.

Busch came in, got the gas he needed to finish, and came home 11th. After the race, Busch once again made a quick exit from the track, as the disappointment of missing the trifecta set in.

Kyle's misfortune would become a gift for his brother. Kurt also appeared to be low on fuel, but pitted two laps after his brother. He also had to conserve fuel, but he managed to save just enough to make the finish.

He came across the finish line to win his second race of the season and to also give a big prize to one lucky fan.

The day prior, the Dickies Hardest Working Man contest winner, Michael McGee, randomly selected Kurt Busch to win the race. If he pulled off the victory, Dickies would give him a $1 million bonus.

After Busch did his signature reverse victory lap, McGee joined Busch in victory lane and got his big payday. Not bad for a guy who just works hard for a living.

The entire Chase setting is now changed for the championship contenders. There is now a 73-point gap from Johnson to Martin. Johnson to clinch the title one of three ways.

1- Finishing fourth or better at both Phoenix and Homestead.

2- Leaving Phoenix with a 194-point lead on second place will give him the title a week early.

3- Leaving Phoenix with a 164-point lead will mean all he must do is take the green flag at Homestead to win the title.

Phoenix now becomes very important for Johnson, Martin and Jeff Gordon. The Chase will be coming down to the wire.

It will certainly be a close battle as NASCAR heads west into the desert. The Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 now becomes rather interesting. Coverage begins at 2:30 on ABC.

Dustin Off the Next Race: Dickies 500 at Texas

Dustin Parks — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:15:47 -0500

With all the smoke and grass settled from Talladega, NASCAR stays in the southern portion of the United States as the series moves to Texas.

There will be no restrictor plates, no bump drafting, and the big packs will only occur on the restarts. The Texas Motor Speedway is fast, wide, and has provided a lot of excitement since it opened in 1997. A Texas tornado could quite possibly be in the future for Sunday's race.

Now, let me dust off the Dickies 500 and give you my views on who could be the drivers to watch once the green flag flies.

FAVORITES

JEFF GORDON

For once I can actually put this man in this category. Texas has been nothing but a house of horrors for Gordon and the No. 24 team. Crashes, handling, and mistakes have been the story for this team since the track opened.

Finally, this past spring, the team broke through, and Gordon put his car and his team in victory lane. After 12 years of anguish, Gordon got to put on the cowboy hat and fire off his "six shooters."

He will certainly be one to watch as he returns to the track of his last win. Gordon has come close to getting the second victory of the season, but just has not finished the job. He only has three more opportunities to get a win, and this weekend could possibly be the best opportunity.

The No. 24 will be up front early and often, watch out for the DuPont Chevrolet.

CARL EDWARDS

Now here's a driver with a chip on his shoulder. This time last year, Edwards was in a close battle for the championship, now he's just battling to get a victory.

Edwards was the first driver to sweep both races at Texas, and it is no secret that Jack Roush has done well at this track. Do not count this team out, he could get that long awaited victory this weekend.

The No. 99 team had it's moments of greatness during the season, but has not seen victory lane in 34 races. Now is the best chance for Edwards to get a win, and to finally do his signature back flip.

JEFF BURTON

This is an interesting pick not because of the struggles of RCR this year, but because Burton is exceptionally good at Texas.

Back in 1997, Burton got his first win in Cup competition at the inaugural race at this track. In 2007, he became the first driver to repeat as a winner. He has also won at the sister race track to Texas, Lowe's Motor Speedway.

I predict to see the Caterpillar car near the front, and could shock everyone with a win.

It has been a season of woes this year for the entire Richard Childress organization, and a win could certainly get them ready for the 2010 campaign.

SLEEPERS

GREG BIFFLE

Here's a guy that has really surprised me by not getting to victory lane once this year. After having such a stellar year in 2008, the fact that Biffle has yet to win a race is unbelievable.

There have been moments where it appeared to finally happen, most notably at Michigan. Had he not run out of gas coming into turn three, he would have gotten that win by a big margin.

However, Roush is very good at this track, and coming off the win last week at Talladega, the entire organization rallied and is set for battle.

The No. 16 is for certain on my watch list.

RYAN NEWMAN

Here's a driver with not only a chip on his shoulder but more motivation than any driver in the garage to win.

Last week, Newman was on his roof and then blasted NASCAR for the race at Talladega. This week, it is a little different story.

Two days ago, the shootings at Fort Hood were on everyone's mind as the nation saw terror on it's own home front. With Newman sponsored by the U.S. Army, it had to hurt a lot more as he represents all the troops home and overseas.

He does not only want to win the race for him, but also the soldiers suffering the loss of their brothers and sisters at the Fort Hood.

A win by Newman will not only erase last week's incident, but will be a boost to the entire country. Watch out for the Stewart/Haas driver.

The saying is "Everything's bigger in Texas" and that will certainly come true Sunday afternoon. Coverage of the Dickies 500 begins on ABC with NASCAR Countdown at 2:30 PM.

Danica Patrick To Race For JR Motorsports In 2010

Dustin Parks — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:49:52 -0500

It appears one of the biggest names in Indy Car will be making the switch from open-wheel racing to stock cars.

According to ESPN, Danica Patrick is nearing the completion of signing a two-year deal with JR Motorsports, owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., to race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series starting in 2010. Sources close to the contract negotiations are saying that the two sides are in the "final phases."

Other sources close to the negotiations are saying the deal is moving forward, and could put Patrick on the track in a Nationwide car for Speedweeks at Daytona.

Currently, Patrick is racing for Andretti-Green in the Indy Car Series, and signed a three-year extension to her contract through 2012. The schedule for the open-wheel season is relatively light. It only has 17 races over seven and a half months, compared to the Nationwide Series which runs 34 races in a ten-month period.

This is not the first time that Patrick has been in the news regarding NASCAR. Earlier this year there was rumors that she could sign with Stewart-Haas, Michael Waltrip Racing, or Hendrick Motorsports.

Hendrick helps support JR Motorsports in cars and engines. Also, current JR Motorsports driver Brad Keselowski is sponsored by GoDaddy.com, who Patrick is associated with.

In NASCAR's 61-year history, no woman has ever won a race in the sport. This could be the sport's biggest opportunity to have a female in victory lane.

It is also another opportunity to have an open-wheel driver try stock cars. The most successful driver to defect from Indy Car to NASCAR is Juan Pablo Montoya, currently fourth in the Chase. The other notable driver in Sprint Cup that has raced open-wheel is Sam Hornish Jr., driver of Penske's No. 77 Mobil One Dodge.

Both Patrick and JR Motorsports representatives declined to comment.

Parks' Race Reactions: Amp Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway

Dustin Parks — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:18:02 -0500

If there's one thing about the Talladega Superspeedway that is the most expected, it is that the unexpected will happen. When you aren't looking, something will catch your attention and make everyone gasp and awe.

On Sunday afternoon it was not about finishing the race, it was more about surviving the race. This week's edition of "Parks' Race Reactions" will look at the drivers who did well, the ones who did poorly, the ones who survived, and the race itself.

First, you have got to give a lot of credit to Jamie McMurray and his team for running a smart race. He did not lag back and make a move late, he stayed up front leading laps. When it mattered most, he had the best position.

Unfortunately, the win for McMurray is more an audition for next year. The No. 26 team will not exist in 2010 as Roush had to reduce his field to only four teams.

With Crown Royal making the move to Matt Kenseth, it has left McMurray without a ride for next year. The win will look good on his resume, and he does deserve to have a team sign him. He has a lot of talent behind the wheel and could really give any team a chance at victory.

Speaking of a strong run, you cannot help but be amazed at how Kasey Kahne dealt with his afternoon. After getting some early damage in the race, he fought all the way back to finish second.

Considering how the Chase has gone for him and the Budweiser team, he must feel good about getting out of Talladega with a strong run.

But the strongest run and the highlight for many people was seeing the No. 88 Amp Energy Chevrolet running out front.

All the struggles, all the frustrations, and all the disappointments were nowhere to be seen on Sunday. Dale Earnhardt Jr. made sure he was in the mix all afternoon as he led laps, used the draft to help his teammates, and stayed a contender.

Running out of fuel just before the green-white checkered finish set him back. But, with the way Talladega is raced, he made his way to the front. That kept him out of the way when the last wreck occurred and gave him an 11th-place finish.

It may not have been exactly what the fans wanted, but it was a definite boost for the team. It was their best finish since Michigan in August, and one of the few highlights the team has experienced in 2009. It was a great run by the entire No. 88 team.

Unfortunately, like has become expected at Talladega, there were a few moments that left teams angry and upset. NASCAR warned the drivers in the pre-race meeting that bump-drafting in the corners would force a penalty.

The drivers obeyed, but it was bumping that led to the biggest accidents of the afternoon, both of which happened with less than five laps left.

On lap 183, Tony Stewart was pushing his teammate, Ryan Newman, when he pushed a little too hard. Newman went sliding down the track into oncoming traffic and spun backwards. Suddenly, the rear of the car lifted off the ground.

The rear deck lid landed on the hood of Kevin Harvick, and Newman went sliding across the track on his roof. After hitting the grass, he spun in a complete circle, never once landing on his wheels.

Rescue crews had to first upright his U.S. Army Chevrolet, then they cut away the roof and some supports just so he could get out.

Afterwards Newman was critical of NASCAR and their decision making, stating that NASCAR must not think much of drivers these days.

Then, just as McMurray took the white flag, Kurt Busch gets bumped by Brad Keselowski, sending him across the front stretch into Mark Martin. Martin does a 360 both in a spin and flip before hitting the outside wall.

Behind him, the field begins to stack up as seven or more cars get damaged. Martin afterward admitted that he did not know what happened.

Both wrecks were a product of the kind of racing that Talladega produces. Late in the race, drivers know they need to make a move, and any opportunity to do so, they take.

The drivers that had the patience early in the race started to become aggressive. That aggression led to some quick moves and some blocking by others. Then, when one driver gets a big run, that sudden block could send one driver into another, and then chaos just ensues afterwards.

Talladega will always be the "wild card" or the "lottery" race in the Chase; that fact will not change. As long as there is bump drafting, blocking, and restrictor plates, the risk of having a big wreck will follow along.

The Amp Energy 500 is now behind the teams, and it is time to look ahead to the next race.

On the agenda will be the Dickies 500 at Texas. No restrictor plates, no "out of bounds," and no bump drafting. The racing will be different, and expect to see an old style shootout when the green flag falls.

Coverage from Texas will begin at 2:30 p.m. on ABC with NASCAR Countdown.

Dustin Off the Next Race: Amp Energy 500 at Talladega

Dustin Parks — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:02:40 -0400

It is time for NASCAR to go up against its biggest foe. This track is 2.66 miles in length, corners banked at a staggering 33 degrees, and cars separated by just mere inches.

The track is Talladega. Sunday afternoon, 43 cars will tempt their fate when they take the green flag in the Amp Energy 500.

So many factors come into play at this track. Right away, the cars will have a smaller restrictor plate, which will reduce the speeds. But that also means it will tighten up the packs and could lead to some strategy to get up front.

Then, throw in the "out of bounds" rule. In the spring, Brad Keselowski knew full well what the penalty would be for going below the double-yellow line. It cost Regan Smith a win in 2008, and he was not going to let that happen again.

It came at a cost, as Carl Edwards went sailing into the catch fence, destroying the race car and injuring some fans.

That fence has been moved up, but the risks are still evident and everyone will be on edge.

The risks are just as big as the reward. Following Sunday's race, just three races will be left to decide a champion. The Chase could look very different coming out of Talladega than it did going in.

With all these factors in mind, it is time to dust off my predictions for the teams to watch out for when the green flag flies.

FAVORITES

JEFF GORDON

In what seems to be a forgotten factor at Talladega, Gordon has the most wins among active drivers with six. He also won the first restrictor plate race in the new car at this track two years ago.

This was also the track that he surpassed Dale Earnhardt in victories. He is certainly a driver that one must consider for victory.

In the spring, Gordon did not get the opportunity to show how good his car could have been. Just seven laps into the race, the "Big One" occurred and took his DuPont/Pepsi Challenger car out of contention.

Gordon is looking for a bit of redemption, and could make a move ahead in the points if he can survive Sunday's events. The No. 24 team has come close to victory in the Chase, maybe Sunday will be that breakthrough.

TONY STEWART

The man they call "Smoke" got his final win for Joe Gibbs racing last season at this track amid controversy.

At the same time, Stewart runs very consistent in Talladega. Plus, he has more drafting partners this year, considering his team is backed with Hendrick power and chassis.

I would not count the No. 14 out of this race by a long shot. He will be out front when it matters most. The Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet is on my watch list.

DALE EARNHARDT, JR.

That is not a typo, and I'm not putting his name here to humor everyone. Face it, Talladega is Earnhardt country. When Talladega comes up on the schedule, there is no way that you cannot put Dale Earnhardt Jr. as a favorite to win.

He is second to Gordon on the active wins list with five, and his legendary father won here ten times, including his final victory.

Earnhardt Jr. has gone through every form of bad luck a driver and his team could endure for one season. Broken parts, blown engines, ill-handling cars, and accidents have been the story of the 2009 campaign.

But, when the restrictor plates go on the cars and he straps into the No. 88 Chevrolet, he becomes a major contender. In the spring, he finished second, his highest finish of the season. This team is hungry, and the followers in "Junior Nation" are waiting for their driver to make it into that win column.

It's Talladega, he's an Earnhardt, and he's my pick for this race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. CAN win the Amp Energy 500.

SLEEPERS

CARL EDWARDS

Before he ended up in the catch fence and running across the finish line, Carl Edwards ran a very smart race in April. Despite slight damage to his car from an earlier accident, he was patient and worked his way to the front.

You wouldn't have considered him to be a contender when the race started. However, when half the field got eliminated early, new faces emerged.

Edwards may not come back with the same car, but he will come back as someone who could surprise everyone.

Keep your eyes on the No. 99.

BRAD KESELOWSKI

Oh yes, I cannot forget about the young man who got his first win at this track. In a car that was leased from Hendrick Motorsports, Keselowski stunned the NASCAR world by winning the Aaron's 499.

Let's not forget one thing, this is a driver who, for his entire Nationwide Series career, has raced for Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports. There is no better driver right now to learn how to race at a restrictor plate track.

But Keselowski won the race because he was smart, and did not break the rules. Keselowski was not going to go below the yellow line, which would have cost him the chance at victory. Although it meant sacrificing Edwards' and Ryan Newman's chances at a good finish, he was not crossing the line.

He returns to the same track trying to do something that has not been done since 2007—that is, sweep Talladega. He will be back in the No. 09 James Finch Chevrolet, and you can bet the drivers know he can pull off the upset again.

At this track, it is not uncommon to expect the unexpected. What is expected is that each driver will have his foot on the gas, hoping to escape without catastrophe.

Sunday's Amp Energy 500 will be on ABC starting at noon ET with NASCAR Countdown .

Parks Race Reactions SPECIAL EDITION: Logano and Busch Host WWE Raw

Dustin Parks — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:01:37 -0400

It's not often that I go outside my normal "reactions" article, but this is a special occasion. Joe Gibbs teammates Kyle Busch and Joey Logano last night were the guest hosts of WWE Monday Night Raw, taking place in Buffalo, New York.

To say the least, Logano and Busch did a spectacular job. So, in a special edition of ""Parks Race Reactions," I will look back at last night's program on the USA Network.

The evening began with WWE's tag team champions, Chris Jericho and the Big Show, talking about the previous night's pay-per-view event, Bragging Rights. Jericho and Big Show were discussing how the main event tag team match ended between team Raw and team Smackdown. Soon, the two got in an argument.

And then, enter your guest hosts, and what an entrance it was. As Jericho and Big Show continued arguing, on the screen came a picture of the No. 18 and 20 Nationwide Series cars of Busch and Logano. Both cars were decorated in the colors of WWE's new video game, Smackdown vs. Raw 2010.

How did the two make their entrance?

The teammates were burning the tires off in the parking lot of the arena, smoke billowing from under the cars. After about 30 seconds of smoking tires, the two entered the arena and made their way into the ring.

After discussing the match from the previous night, Busch decided to make himself the "heel" of the two hosts. After a quote about being in Buffalo, Busch then said "A city that hasn't won a playoff game since Hulkamania."

Logano then followed up by making his first official match of the night, pitting Big Show against Triple H as the main event.

Busch then followed up with putting Jericho in a match against Kofi Kingston. Well, he actually said Kofi "Johnson", and then corrected himself. I guess he had the No. 48 team on his mind.

After the Kingston-Jericho match, Randy Orton was backstage with his Legacy members, Ted Dibiase and Cody Rhodes. After a discussion about Orton's loss at Bragging Rights, the two presented Orton with a gift.

That gift was Busch's No. 18 Nationwide car decked out in a paint scheme for Orton himself. I have to tell you, the car looked phenomenal. The black and gold colors looked spectacular under the lights.

Unfortunately, that would be the best the car would look as later in the night, Kingston got back at Orton for an earlier attack. After standing on top of Orton's new car, Kingston took his car keys and scored the entire passenger side of the car.

He wasn't done, as he then took a crowbar and pounded the hood as if he was driving a railroad spike into the ground.

Finally, Kofi grabbed a five-gallon bucket of paint, stood on top of the car, and poured the entire contents onto the car. As kind of a sponsor plug, the paint he poured on the car was orange, referencing Logano's sponsor in the Sprint Cup Series, the Home Depot.

Seeing that car covered in paint really stunk as it looked spectacular. I hope that car will be on the track sometime because it would be a big hit with the crowd.

At the end of the night, following the main event of Triple H vs. the Big Show, Logano and Busch came out on stage to announce the new No. 1 contender for WWE Champion John Cena.

The two decided on the duo of Triple H and Shawn Michaels, better known as DX, to face Cena at WWE's next pay-per-view event, Survivor Series.

Overall, the two did a great job. I was more surprised at Logano and how he handled being in front of such a huge crowd, especially on live television. He really went over with the crowd.

Busch held his own in front of the audience, but his botched line early in the evening really made him look bad.

I'm sure the media is going to have a lot of fun with this as the week progresses leading up to Talladega. Still, it was a very impressive night for the true baby face and heel of NASCAR.

The cars that Logano and Busch drove at the beginning of the night will be raced on November 7 in the O'Reilly Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway. Coverage of the race will be on ESPN2 at 12 p.m.

Video of Busch and Logano from Monday night is on YouTube, search "Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, WWE Raw." Video of the Orton car is also available, search "Randy Orton race car."

Parks' Race Reactions: Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville

Dustin Parks — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:50:30 -0400

The one thing about short-track racing is that no matter what you do, at the end of the day, there will be some crumpled-up sheet metal. Whether you're leading or at the back of the pack, a dent in the car is normal.

I love this kind of racing because you can have the worst-looking car on the track and still be competitive.

Sunday saw the final short-track race of the season, the Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville, and what an event it was.

What a great run by Denny Hamlin. A good run was long overdue for this team. Two rough weeks at California and Charlotte really put this team behind and you could see their confidence was low.

Sometimes a trip home is exactly what a team needs. It may not be Richmond, but it was still Virginia. Hamlin was on his own stomping grounds and he proved he can still do the job.

It was a case of deja vu as Hamlin found himself again ahead of Jimmie Johnson late in the race. Flashbacks of the spring, when Johnson bumped him out of the lead for victory, had to be in his head.

Not this time. Hamlin held on in a green-white-checkered finish to win the race. Nice work by the entire FedEx team.

Speaking of Johnson, it's becoming clear that the first 26 races really don't matter to him at all beyond seeding in the Chase.

At this point, Johnson could start the Chase in last and somehow figure out a way to win. He's now got a 118-point gap over Mark Martin and is in the driver's seat for another title.

In the words of Martin himself, here comes the "lotto" race as NASCAR makes the move to Talladega. It's going from one extreme to another in consecutive weeks.

On Sunday, the drivers were braking hard and banging harder on a half-mile oval. In six days, it will be all about full-throttle, close quarters and drafting with restrictor plates.

Just thinking about this race brings back memories from the spring. The big wreck happened early in the race, wiping out many of the top contenders after just a few laps. However, the major fireworks were still to come in the race's final laps.

Seeing Carl Edwards' car airborne and into the fence is a lasting image of the season. It completely overshadowed Brad Keselowski's victory, his first in Cup and the first for owner James Finch. It's a danger that every driver faces when the series descends on the 2.66-mile tri-oval.

There is only one thing sure about Talladega, and it's that nothing is for sure. Sunday will certainly be interesting when the green flag flies at the Amp Energy 500.

Dustin' Off the Next Race: Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville

Dustin Parks — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:15:20 -0400

There is no better time for NASCAR to go short-track racing. This weekend, it is a trip to Virginia and the Martinsville Speedway. Two long straightaways and tight corners play host to the NASCAR Chase for the Cup.

This could prove to be a rather interesting race, especially with the double-file restarts. As tight as these drivers will be heading into the first turn, positioning will be even more important. I do not expect to see the leader go for the outside lane at any point in the race, not even to test it out.

The best line on the restarts will definitely be the inside. It will be the quicker way to the corner and the better way onto the straightaway.

Now, without any further delay, let's take a look at the favorites and sleepers for Sunday's Tums Fast Relief 500.

FAVORITES

Jeff Gordon

There was a time where this team was the dominant driver at Martinsville. Through the mid-1990s up to about four years ago, Martinsville was owned by the No. 24.

Gordon himself has said he loves racing at this track. Even though he has not won here since 2005, he has been up front competing for the win each time.

There is a 135-point gap that Gordon needs to make up to get the points lead, and this is the perfect track for him to erase some of that deficit. Don't expect Gordon to just race clean either, he has been known to beat and bang his competitors to get position. Ask Jimmie Johnson, he'll verify that.

Gordon is my pick for this race, and I would be shocked if he let his team down. Watch for the DuPont/NationalGuard.com Chevrolet to be out front early and often come Sunday afternoon.

Jimmie Johnson

After Gordon's domination at Martinsville, it was Jimmie Johnson taking the reigns at the "paper clip." The statistics of how Johnson runs at this track speaks for itself.

Since his rookie season, Johnson has six wins, 11 top-five, and 14 top-ten finishes at Martinsville. Five of those wins have come in the last six races. Much like Charlotte, this track could be considered his "house."

This race itself is emotional for the entire Hendrick company. It was this race in 2004 where the Hendrick family took a big hit. An airplane carrying many of Rick's family and employees, including his son Ricky, crashed just outside of Martinsville.

Everyone on the plane passed away, and everyone at Hendrick was hurting. But, that weekend, Johnson went out and got the victory for the Hendrick organization.

He's got the points lead, he's the driver all the competitors are chasing, and he's the one with a stranglehold on Martinsville. Johnson will once again be a player when the green flag flies.

Denny Hamlin

Yeah, it may not be Richmond, but Hamlin is in his home state. He also has a win at the Martinsville Speedway.

But, what Hamlin really needs is a good run for his entire team's sake. The last two weeks have been extremely rough for the FedEx Toyota. He had a great run going, leading 54 laps, but then the engine dropped a valve. The early exit left Hamlin with a 42nd-place finish, and dropped him to 11th in the points.

A trip home could cure some of the ills Hamlin and his team have been feeling. Just maybe, the Martinsville Speedway will put some luck back into this team.

SLEEPERS

Tony Stewart

Not very often will I put "Smoke" in this category, but there are exceptions. Stewart is a two-time winner at this track, but has not won here since 2006.

The Chase has not been kind to Stewart, but slowly he has worked his way up to fourth in the standings. He is still in this championship hunt and could cut into Johnson's lead.

The Office Depot/Old Spice team is still trying to make history in NASCAR, so keep an eye on the No. 14.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

When was the last time I put his name in any category of predictions? Well, there's a reason I have him here.

Martinsville is a good track. Despite not having any wins, he does have eight top-five and ten top-ten finishes at this track. That is not bad considering that his season has not really been one to remember.

Earnhardt Jr. needs to have a good run, and both this week and next week will possibly be his best opportunities to salvage one good finish before the year ends. This weekend could be critical for the No. 88 team as the season draws to a close.

"Junior Nation" definitely needs reason to cheer, hopefully their driver can pull through this time.

All the rubbing and banging will begin at 1 p.m. on ABC.

Settle It in the Ring: Joey Logano and Kyle Busch to Guest Host WWE Raw

Dustin Parks — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:14:17 -0400

It has been seen this season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series that Joey Logano and Kyle Busch have been battling hard on the race track. Now, these two will have the opportunity to do battle in a different environment.

This Monday night, the Joe Gibbs teammates will be the guest host of WWE Monday Night Raw.

One day removed from racing 500 laps at Martinsville, these two will be heading up to Buffalo, NY, to stand alongside guys like Triple H, the Big Show, and Shawn Michaels.

But what will they do with their control? Would Logano and Busch consider stepping into the ring and settling their little feud?

This season in the Nationwide Series, Logano and Busch have finished one-two five different times. But, it is Logano holding a 4-1 advantage on his teammate. And Busch is not afraid to say he is tired of finishing second to the Sprint Cup rookie.

Maybe these two could settle their differences inside the WWE ring. It certainly would be the ultimate "heel vs. face" matchup.

There's no secret as to how the fans feel about Kyle Busch. His nickname, Rowdy, says it all. His aggressive driving, no excuses attitude, and his "not my fault" demeanor make him a perfect heel in professional wrestling.

Then you have Logano, the 19-year-old who is a pure baby face. The fans love this young man. He's taken to the Cup Series rather well, despite his slow start.

It could be so unique seeing these two lace up some wrestling boots and go at it in the squared circle. Maybe Busch could team up with Cody Rhodes and Ted Debiase to take on Logano, who could team up with DX.

Logano and Busch would be the fourth and fifth athletes to host the WWE program. Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O'Neal, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and boxing star Floyd Mayweather have each hosted the show on separate occasions.

It will certainly be an interesting and fun night when Monday comes again. The LIVE broadcast of WWE Raw is on USA starting at 9 p.m. Eastern.

Parks Race Reactions: NASCAR Banking 500 In Charlotte

Dustin Parks — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:05:57 -0400

I'm going to say it straight up: I love the Lowe's Motor Speedway. It's always been my favorite track because of the competition and what the speedway represents. Based right at the home of many of the teams, it truly is NASCAR's "Home Track."

This track has provided some of the most breathtaking moments in the sport's history. Each race provides a memory that every fan can remember for years to come.

Saturday night, the track added another chapter to it's book as NASCAR's finest did battle in the NASCAR Banking 500. This week's "Parks Race Reactions" will tackle some of the things that came about during and after the race.

Right away, I'm going to get the obvious point out of the way. I said it earlier, and this weekend it was proved beyond any doubt—Lowe's Motor Speedway is Jimmie Johnson's house. If there was ever a dominant car for an entire weekend, the No. 48 car was it.

Johnson led the first practice, then the second practice, qualified on the pole, and then led Happy Hour.

Then in the race, Johnson goes out and leads the most laps. Despite falling back in the middle of the race, Johnson powered back to win.

That gives him six wins at this track—the most among active drivers. Now, with a 90 point lead over Mark Martin, the championship seems to be coming ever so close to being in the hands of the No. 48 team yet again.

The only true obstacle left in the way of Johnson's quest is Talladega. It's unpredictable nature could change the standings immensely. That race is still two weeks away.

If Johnson survives 500 miles at that track, it's his title to lose.

You also have to give big props to Matt Kenseth. It certainly has been a year of more low points than highs for the No. 17 team. Saturday night, the entire team showed they can still run well and are capable of winning races.

A runner-up finish to Johnson is nothing to be ashamed of. Kenseth led laps, the pit crew once again did an awesome job on pit road, and stayed up front the entire race.

Very good night for the entire team.

The biggest night definitely had to go to the Richard Childress Racing teams. All four cars ran well the entire night. Both Clint Bowyer and Casey Mears finished in the top ten, with Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick finishing just behind them.

There is a lot of uncertainty with this operation right now. Questions are still being asked about Harvick's future at RCR, and sponsorship of Casey Mears's No. 07 has not been finalized for next season.

A night where all the cars ran well has been long overdue, so big congratulations go out to the Childress teams on a solid performance.

The two drivers you have to feel bad for coming out of Charlotte have to be Juan Montoya and Denny Hamlin. Montoya was running so well and has provided the biggest surprise in this championship run.

But, one restart led things on a major downturn. A crumpled up quarter panel, followed by some quick repairs, and then having the repairs fly off on the track. Montoya would finish 35th, dropping him to sixth in the standings.

Hamlin definitely had the worst night of any of the Chase drivers. He was poised to have a great finish after leading 54 laps early, the engine in his FedEx Toyota dropped a valve.

Rather than run on seven cylinders and risk bigger damage, Hamlin parked the car. His frustration was heard on the radio, but it was an issue beyond his control. His 42nd place finish moved him down to 11th in the standings.

It's been two very tough weeks for Hamlin. Next weekend is a trip back to Hamlin's home state in Virginia, as the Sprint Cup Series moves to Martinsville.

He won at this track last year, which was the only time in the last six races a driver other than Johnson has gone to victory lane.

Next Sunday's Tums Fast Relief 500 could play into the hands of some drivers behind Johnson in the points. But, they first must beat the No. 48 team. Just like Charlotte, he's got a stranglehold on this "paper clip" and he won't give it up that easily.

Coverage from Martinsville will be on ABC starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Dustin Off the Next Race: NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway

Dustin Parks — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:19:28 -0400

This Saturday, NASCAR comes home to Charlotte, NC. The final night race of the year will be the NASCAR Banking 500 at the Lowe's Motor Speedway.

This is not only the last night race of the year, but it will be the last time this track will be sponsored by the Lowe's Home Improvement company. It was announced earlier this year that Lowe's will not renew its sponsorship of the track. Next year, it is expected that the 1.5-mile quad oval will be renamed the Charlotte Motor Speedway, as it was in years past.

The track is fast, wide, and has provided some spectacular moments in NASCAR. The majority of the teams are based in the area, so this return home comes at a great time.

Here's who I think will be the drivers to watch out for when the green flag falls Saturday night.

FAVORITES

JIMMIE JOHNSON

Of course, it's the obvious choice. This track is Jimmie's "House" and he intends to prove it once again.

Look at the statistics: Five wins, eight top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. He's the dominant driver, and the No. 48 team is the dominant crew at this track.

Yes, he has not won at Lowe's Motor Speedway since 2005, but he has constantly been close to the front when it counted.

His win at California gave him a lot of momentum, and it will be a shock if Johnson does not do well at this track.

The No. 48 car is my pick for Saturday night, so keep your eyes on this team.

JEFF GORDON

Let's not forget about the other five-time winner at this track. Gordon finally broke a drought of bad luck at Lowe's Motor Speedway with his win in 2007.

Unfortunately, after that win, Johnson got a lot of momentum en route to his second of three titles.

However, Gordon will still be a factor when the race goes green. Gordon won at the Texas Motor Speedway earlier this year, a track similar in configuration.

This team's 1.5-mile track program has greatly improved over the last two years, and this race could prove critical in the Chase for the Cup. Gordon currently sits fifth in points, and is within striking distance of the leaders.

The No. 24 DuPont/Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Chevrolet will be one to watch once the green flag falls.

KASEY KAHNE

Recently, this track has proved to be one of the best for Kasey Kahne. Two wins in the Coca-Cola 600, one win in this race, plus a victory in the All-Star race means that Kahne is a factor each time the series comes home to Charlotte.

Kahne won in Atlanta just over a month ago, which is also a similar track to the Lowe's Motor Speedway. However, that race was also run at night, just as it will be Saturday.

I would expect this team to run a similar setup as they did at Atlanta, with a few minor adjustments because of banking and handling.

The Chase has not been kind to Kahne, but this track could bring a change in momentum. There's not a better time for Kahne to get some momentum in his favor.

SLEEPERS

TONY STEWART

Why would I put "Smoke" in this category? It's pretty simple, on 1.5-mile tracks, Stewart only has three wins. When he raced for Joe Gibbs, he got the organization it's first 1.5-mile track win in Atlanta.

Then, as a team owner and driver, he won the All-Star race this year plus he took the win at Kansas.

I would not put it past this team to get a victory this Saturday night. With the Chase as close as it is this year, any driver in the top five can make a significant move.

Stewart is poised to make a move in the standings, so watch out, "Smoke" could ignite his run for the title at Charlotte.

JEFF BURTON

Does anyone remember who won this race last year? It could be because Richard Childress Racing has experienced such a down year, their last win as a team has fallen on the back burner.

But this time last year, Jeff Burton was in victory lane, celebrating a victory for his team.

Of course, this year has been a different story. There have been moments where the RCR teams have shown improvements, but they have no wins to their credit.

Maybe a return to the site of the organization's last win can provide a big boost in confidence. The Caterpillar Chevrolet could surprise a lot of people on Saturday night.

Coverage of the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America begins at 7 PM on ABC.

For Jimmie Johnson, Lowe's Motor Speedway Will Always Be "His House"

Dustin Parks — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:54:01 -0400

Besides Daytona, the Lowe's Motor Speedway outside Concord, North Carolina, is possibly the most famous track in NASCAR. Majority of the teams are based in the area, hosts three Cup events each year and will be the site of the new NASCAR Hall of Fame.

However, there is a new name for this track, at least in one driver's mind.

Since 2002, Jimmie Johnson has considered this track "his house." He made his debut at the Lowe's Motor Speedway the year prior, qualifying a surprising 15th.

One year later, Johnson began putting his stamp on the 1.5-mile quad-oval.

Between 2002 and 2006, Johnson qualified in the top ten for nine of the 10 races, including two poles. In that same span, Johnson finished no lower than seventh in each race.

The driver of the Lowe's Chevrolet also has completed a feat that no other driver has. Between 2003 and 2005, he became the only driver to win three consecutive Coca-Cola 600 races. At one point in the 2003 event, Johnson was so dominant, he lapped the entire field.

Currently he is tied with most wins at this track among active drivers with Jeff Gordon. The teammates each have five wins, with Gordon holding the most recent victory in 2007.

However, if there is anyone to beat at the Lowe's Motor Speedway, it is Johnson. It's almost as if when he comes to this track, he's expected to win. There is no other driver as tough to beat at this track than Johnson.

His average starting position is eighth, with an average finishing position of ninth. Five victories, eight top-five and 12 top-ten finishes gives him the right to call the track "His House."

The fans have even realized that when this track is coming up, his team is on it's game. I was at the track in 2006 and 2007 for the Coca-Cola 600, and Johnson came out to a roar of boos in driver introductions.

Maybe the people were getting tired of him winning at this track, but both years he did not win the race, but was up front when it mattered the most near the end.

No matter whether the race is 500 miles or 600 miles, whether it's for points or just for money, or if it is during the regular season or the Chase, Johnson is the man to beat at this track.

Lowe's has already announced that they will not be sponsoring the track next season. Most likely, it will be called the Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2010, as it was prior to the sponsorship.

That is unlikely to change the domination that Johnson has when they visit Concord, NC. Saturday night, in the NASCAR Banking 500, the No. 48 car will undoubtedly have a bulls eye square on it.

This is Jimmie Johnson's yard, and it looks like he's not giving it up anytime soon.

Parks Race Reactions: Pepsi 500 at California

Dustin Parks — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:14:06 -0400

In the shadows of Hollywood, where the stars of the screen are always in front of a camera, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series took center stage. After 250 laps, 500 miles, and a few hot tempers, one driver took home the award for "Most Outstanding Performance."

This week's edition of "Parks Race Reactions" will look at the race along with some things seen off the race track that made headlines.

I first will go back to the Nationwide race on Saturday. What a great job by Joey Logano. After an incident with Greg Biffle that did some damage to both the left and right side of his GameStop Camry, he came back and won the Copart 300.

But, the big story was after the race. While Biffle was on pit road, Joey's father, Tom Logano, showed his displeasure of Biffle by giving him the middle finger. Biffle acknowledge it, and a NASCAR official immediately pulled his credential.

The elder Logano did apply for a paper credential for Sunday's race, but his hard card has been pulled until NASCAR says he can get it back.

I am all for a father standing up for his son, but Joey was handling the situation very well. Even though he is just 19, he did not let the incident get to him, and came out on top.

The incident is over now, and hopefully these two can come to some agreement before it gets out of hand.

Now, onto Sunday's Pepsi 500.

What else can you say about the No. 48 team? It just seems when the series comes to the Auto Club Speedway, this team and this car turn up the pressure. Three straight years, three straight victories.

When this race was held before the Chase, Johnson gained the necessary momentum to propel him to the championship. Even though the race is later, the story remained the same.

The victory, his second in the Chase, allowed him to get the points lead. He now has a 12-point advantage on his teammate, Mark Martin, who finished third. It is certainly going to be interesting once the series moves to Charlotte this week.

I must also give some big props to Jeff Gordon. California has been one of his best tracks, and he put up a great fight for the win late in the going.

But, much like many weeks, the double-file restarts did him in. Neither line had a definitive advantage over the other, making it a tough choice for Gordon. However, in each case, Johnson got the better drive coming out of the second turn to get the lead, and that ultimately was the deciding factor.

Still, his runner-up position moved him to fifth in the Chase. He is still a legitimate threat for the title, and the next two tracks are some of his best. Now is definitely the time for the entire No. 24 team to make a move in the standings.

My biggest surprise was definitely David Ragan. What a spectacular race for the No. 6 UPS team. He ran up near the front all day and was the best contender for Roush-Fenway all afternoon.

His seventh-place finish was well deserved. Great job by that entire team.

The big losers in this race were Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kasey Kahne and the Auto Club Speedway itself.

What is it going to take to get the No. 88 team to finish a race? Once again, Junior ran near the front, and was a strong contender. But, I really question the call with about 20 laps to go to come to pit road for tires. That was not a smart move in my eyes.

He was running in the top ten, and probably would have finishes there if not better had they stayed out with the other lead cars. But instead, they come in, get new rubber and get stuck in a hornets nest of chaos.

Less than ten laps left, he gets pushed by Elliott Sadler and then a major wreck occurs. Once again, the No. 88 car has a good run and a horrible finish. This team needs to catch a break, and soon.

Kahne really stepped out of character, which was something I never expected. After a caution for debris, Kahne gets caught up in not one, but both of the final cautions in the race.

Afterwards, Kahne says something that maybe a lot of drivers want to say, but really aren't sure if they would be allowed to.

"NASCAR threw a debris caution for no debris," Kahne said after being involved in the multi-car accident with Junior and others. "We had a bad race to get a caution to put a show on for the fans."

If anything comes of these comments, I would be really shocked. However, someone had to speak their mind on the issue.

Finally, the ultimate loser for the weekend was the Auto Club Speedway. Yes, that is right, the host track was the one who suffered the most.

Does Brian France not see the obvious? This track does not draw the fans like it did when it first opened. I'm sorry, but when over half the grandstands are empty, it is not a big crowd. The capacity for this track is 90,000. They made an estimate that there were 70,000 people there.

There is no question that when Atlanta and California switched dates on the schedule, Atlanta got the better deal. Their race was at night, just like California's was last season, and they had a near sold out crowd.

The fans just have not taken to the Auto Club Speedway having two races like NASCAR expected. It is time to take one of those dates away and give it to a track that will bring in the fans.

Up next will be the NASCAR Banking 500 at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. If Johnson continues the momentum he gained on Sunday, not only will he win Saturday night, he'll surely wrap up a record fourth-straight title.

Dustin Off the Next Race: Pepsi 500 At California

Dustin Parks — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:54:15 -0400

Another trip out west is in order for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend. This time, what awaits the drivers is the Auto Club Speedway, the host of the Pepsi 500.

Built on the same design as Michigan, this track is wide, fast, and can produce some excellent side-by-side racing. Although the banking is not as high as Michigan, only 14 degrees, the drivers will race this track the same way.

This week's edition of "Dustin Off" will look at the drivers to watch for this weekend, along with the major story of the week coming from NASCAR.

Before getting into the picks for the race, the big news that was announced earlier this week was NASCAR is going with uniform start times for the Sprint Cup Series in 2010. All east coast races will start at 1 p.m, west coast will be 3 p.m. and all night races will start at 7:30 p.m. The lone exception is the Coca-Cola 600, which will be a 5:45 start.

This is a move that is long overdue for the series. There are now no questions of when a race starts and fans will be able to get out of the track earlier, which will help expenses for those at the track.

It is a great move on the part of NASCAR because again they have listened to the fans. That is key for the sport, because the fans have made the sport what it is.

And now onto this week's picks for Sunday's race.

FAVORITES

JEFF GORDON

He is not a favorite just because this is his sponsor's race. Gordon is a very hungry in this year's Chase for the Championship. To this point, Gordon has yet to lead a lap in the Chase.

Gordon's last win in a Chase race was 2007 at Charlotte. This team is hungry for a win in the Chase. Last week, they were so close to victory, but had to settle for second place.

California is a very good track for Gordon. Three wins, nine top fives and 14 top tens; it is hard to doubt that they will not be a contender.

The No. 24 Pepsi/DuPont Chevrolet is my pick for the race. Watch for this team to be really strong once the green flag drops.

JIMMIE JOHNSON

It is hard to bet against the two-time defending winner of this race. Johnson has put on a clinic at the Auto Club Speedway the last two years, but has also done well outside the track.

This is the weekend that Johnson does many fundraisers for his own foundation, and he honors them during the race. So far, having the fundraisers works like a good luck charm for the Lowe's team.

Let us not forget that Johnson got his first win at this track way back in 2002. The call by crew chief Chad Knaus for fuel only put the No. 48 out front, and got them the victory.

Johnson is right on the heels of getting the points lead, so this could be a make or break race for the team.

BRIAN VICKERS

Yes, that is not a typo. I really believe this is a car to watch out for. Vickers won at Michigan a few months ago. Similar race track, similar banking, and it is possible for a similar result.

This team really needs a good weekend. After the issues last week at Kansas, the Red Bull team is at the bottom of the Chase standings. It's unfortunate because this entire group ran so well to get into the Chase.

This could be the time to get some momentum. The No. 83 could surprise a lot of people.

SLEEPERS

KASEY KAHNE

It is not often that I put the No. 9 car in this category, but there is always an exception. Kahne is starting to get back in the swing of the Chase after a slow start at New Hampshire and Dover.

Kahne has won this particular race before, back in 2006, but it has consistently been a good track for this team.

There could be a toast at the end of the race. Watch out for the Budweiser Dodge.

CARL EDWARDS

Here's another guy who I rarely put in the sleeper category, but he's not one who will be sleeping for long. Edwards has dealt with his broken foot for nearly a month now, but has made steady progress.

This week he took the next step in healing and has stopped using the crutches to get around.

Although his foot has not healed completely, Edwards has downplayed it and has done well. Now he comes to a track where he won at last season.

With no wins in the Cup Series this year, Edwards and team are hungry to get to victory lane. The Aflac Fusion could make some noise come Sunday.

Sunday's Pepsi 500 will be on ABC. Coverage starts at 2:30 p.m.

Consistency Matters: Sprint Cup Series Goes With Uniform Start Times In 2010

Dustin Parks — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:26:55 -0400

To go along with NASCAR's approach of going "back to basics," today it was announced that starting next season, the Sprint Cup Series will have consistent start times for it's races.

"NASCAR fans have been asking for earlier and more consistent start times, and we are making this change for our fans, beginning with the Daytona 500 next February," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.

"We are revisiting our sport's tradition of earlier green flags, and the added consistency will make it easier for fans to know exactly when the races are being televised.

Additionally, the new start times will help track operators get fans in and out of the track earlier in the evening. Many fans heading home from the race earlier will be able to eliminate the costs of an extra day of travel."

In all, 28 races will have their start time changed next season. All races that are run on the east coast and central regions will begin at 1 p.m. ET. West coast events will begin at 3 p.m. ET. All night races, east coast, central, or west coast, will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The Coca-Cola 600 will remain with a 5:45 p.m. start time because of it's length.

Following the invocation—the National Anthem—the green flag will be posted approximately 15-20 minutes after the listed start time.

The move to start the races earlier was based after consulting with the NASCAR Fan Council. Two-thirds of the fans stated that if they had to choose an ideal start time for races, it would be early on Sunday afternoons.

The Daytona 500 is now at it's earliest start time since 2003, when the race took the green flag at 1 p.m. The last three seasons, the "Great American Race" has started later than 3 p.m, with this season's race being shortened due to rain.

"An earlier starting time for the Daytona 500 is great news for our race fans," said Robin Braig, President of Daytona International Speedway.

"With the help of our partners in the sport at NASCAR and FOX Sports, we're proud to deliver an earlier starting time for the 2010 Daytona 500."

This move once again shows that NASCAR is willing to listen to it's fans and give them what they have been asking for. Earlier this season, NASCAR listened to its fans when they decided to go with it's double-file, shootout-style restarts.

The earlier start times are just another step to show how pro-fan NASCAR is.

"It's become clear to us that traditional, early Sunday afternoon, start time are favored by NASCAR fans who both attend races and watch on television," said David Hill, FOX Sports Chairman.

"NASCAR, perhaps more than any other sport, belongs to the generations of fans who have passed on their passion, father to son, mother to daughter, so whatever we can do to make them feel better connected to the sport they love should be done."

The most avid fans of NASCAR have been with the sport for multiple years. Moving back to the Sunday afternoon start times could possibly bring the ratings up, along with the attendance of the races.

When a track such as Bristol sells out it's event the day before the race, and needs to advertise to fill it's seats, there's an issue.

Anticipate having more sell-out crowds, much higher viewership, and an overall better experience next season for NASCAR.

The start times for the Budweiser Shootout, the Gatorade Duels, the Sprint Showdown, and the Sprint All-Star Race have still not been announced.

California Dream-Rusty Wallace Wins On His Friend's Birthday

Dustin Parks — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:33:47 -0400

There is no question that the 2001 NASCAR Cup season was a difficult one for everyone. The death of Dale Earnhardt overshadowed the activities at the track each week.

On the third lap of each race, the fans held up three fingers, honoring their fallen hero. The announcers went silent, not speaking a word during the same lap. The loss of the icon was constantly on the minds of the drivers, crews, and fans.

Quite possibly the most difficult day of the year came when the series made at that time its lone trip to the California Speedway. The setting was the NAPA Auto Parts 500, but what made the race tough was the day it was raced. It was April 29, what would have been Earnhardt's 50th birthday.

The driver that took it the hardest, other than Earnhardt Jr, was Rusty Wallace. These two, although stiff competitors, were the closest of friends outside the track. Both of them, along with Jeff Gordon, helped start Chase Authentics, which has become the official apparel designer of NASCAR.

They were also great friends when it comes to hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. You could not find two drivers closer outside the track.

For Wallace, it was more than just losing a fellow driver. It was as if one of his family members had passed away.

He wanted to win a race during the season, just so he could honor his fallen friend in some small way.

Then came the California Speedway. After 200 laps, it came down to a battle between Wallace and Gordon for the checkered flag. Gordon was trying to continue his run of winning at California on odd-numbered years. Wallace was trying to get his first win since Bristol the year before.

When the laps began winding down, Wallace had the lead, with Gordon trying to run him down. However, this time it was Wallace's turn to take the victory.

After the race, as has been tradition with Wallace, he would do the "Polish Victory Lap," in honor of Alan Kulwicki. This time, he decided to do something different.

The crew came out to the front stretch, handing Wallace a flag. No one could tell what it was, until he began to pull away. What the fans and the camera captured was an Earnhardt flag.

As Wallace pulled away, the FOX announce team was left speechless because all of them also had a close relationship with Earnhardt.

Darrell Waltrip had his rivalry in the mid 1980s. Larry McReynolds was his crew chief when he won the Daytona 500. Mike Joy had announced countless races that Earnhardt had won.

As Wallace rounded the second turn, the FOX production crew did something that was very appropriate. They kept Wallace's car on screen, but then blended in a picture of Earnhardt.

That image is one I remember so vividly. It was as if Earnhardt was there, watching his friend honor him the only way he knew how.

Wallace would continue to race until 2005, stepping aside from the career he enjoyed so much.

Out of all the wins in Wallace's career, that win had to be the most emotional. At that point in the season, it was also the most appropriate.

In my eyes, when the series makes it's trip to California, that win is the one that always comes to mind.

Parks Race Reactions: Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway

Dustin Parks — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:30:59 -0400

Apparently it wasn't Dorothy who saw a twister in Kansas. Sunday afternoon, the Kansas Speedway added a little twist into the Chase for the Championship.

For this week's edition of "Parks Race Reactions," I'm going to look at the big winners in Sunday's race, along with some of the disappointments.

Right out of the gate, I'm giving a lot of credit to Darian Grubb for his call on the final pit stop. Opting to go with just right-side tires while some of the leaders went with four was a big risk. But, as was seen early in the race, taking two tires can work, and Tony Stewart took advantage.

It also helped that Stewart got a great jump on the final restart, getting ahead of Greg Biffle and letting the field sort it out behind him. That allowed him to stretch his lead out and get a big enough gap to make him hard to catch.

The regular season points leader now moves up to fourth in the Chase, 67 points out of the lead. "Smoke" can smell the lead and an unprecedented championship in his first year as an owner/driver. The No. 14 team is coming, and coming strong.

I've also got to give big kudos to the No. 24 and Jeff Gordon. All weekend the DuPont Chevrolet was a difficult car for Gordon to handle. At one point the car was so bad, Gordon keyed the radio saying to crew chief Steve Letarte "If you can fix this car, you'll be my hero."

Well, it may not have been perfect, but what the car was in the closing laps was fast. Gordon was closing, and closing at a fast pace. Had he not been blocked in by a lapped car, it could have been a spectacular battle for the win. Still, finishing second was a big boost for that team.

They have yet to lead a lap in the Chase, but the next three tracks on the schedule are some of Gordon's strongest. Watch for the No. 24 to make some noise over the next month.

As for the points leader, Mark Martin, he did what was needed to remain the leader. His seventh-place finish increases his points lead over Jimmie Johnson, who finished ninth, to 18 points.

After winning the pole, I expected Martin to run well all afternoon, but he got shuffled back on some pit stops. Still, a great run by the No. 5 team to stay on top.

The biggest disappointment without question was Dale Earnhardt Jr.

How many bad breaks can this team get? The National Guard/Amp Energy car was fast, and ran incredibly well. Junior put the car on the outside pole, and ran at the front early in the race, leading 41 laps.

Then, everything began unravelling. First, a loose lug nut on a green-flag pit stop, forcing him to come back to pit road. The second stop put him one lap down.

Needless to say, Earnhardt Jr. was not as good in traffic as he was out front. Stuck behind other cars, his car appeared tight, and he could not make up ground.

Finally, the oil pump belt came off the motor. No oil pressure yielded another blown engine for the team. Their 36th-place finish is just another statistic on what has been a dismal season for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

It is now time for another trip out west to the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California. The fourth race in the Chase, the Pepsi 500, kicks off on ABC at 2:30 p.m.

Dustin Off the Next Race: Price Chopper 400 at Kansas

Dustin Parks — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:16:19 -0400

NASCAR will make their annual trip to the Great Plains for Sunday's Price Chopper 400 at the Kansas Speedway. This is a race that has often come down to fuel mileage, but has also produced some excellent finishes.

This edition of Dustin Off will look ahead to Sunday's festivities, but I'm also going to address some of the incidents that happened last weekend.

After the race at Dover, both Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin's cars were taken to NASCAR's R & D Center for analysis. Afterwards, officials did not that the cars both drivers raced were legal, however were pushing the line. Now, owner Rick Hendrick has been told to not bring either car back to the track.

It's not the first time that Hendrick has heard this statement. It was back in 1997 when Jeff Gordon brought a car to the All-Star race that also was within limits, but banned from returning.

However, the Hendrick team learned a lot from that car that they applied to future cars in their stable. I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing happens with the No. 5 and 48 teams.

Despite the very strict rules on this car, both teams gained some knowledge that they could share with the No. 24 and 88 crews. I expect the entire Hendrick organization to be a better running group, despite the fact that those two cars won't be back racing.

Now, onto Sunday's race. Kansas to me is a cross between Michigan and Charlotte. The track is the same distance as Charlotte, 1.5 miles, but has long, sweeping corners. Those corners provide multiple grooves, and have yielded some great side-by-side racing.

Now, let me go to my favorites and some sleepers for Sunday's Price Chopper 400.

FAVORITES

MARK MARTIN

This guy just can't do no wrong. Martin wins the first Chase race, finishes runner up a week later, and now starts on the pole for Sunday.

If there is such a thing as karma in NASCAR, Martin is proof. After trying so hard to win a championship at Roush, coming close three different times, he opted to begin walking away.

It seemed almost as if his popularity grew more because he was not at the track as much. When he committed to drive full-time once again, and with Hendrick, his following increased even more.

As a former winner at Kansas, he will definitely be a contender for victory. Martin already has the best starting position, now he will look to finish there as well.

CLINT BOWYER

I've got to give praise to the home state hero. Bowyer has run well at Kansas and has put himself again near the front of the field, qualifying eighth.

As we all know, this year has been one to forget for the Richard Childress Racing organization. Even on Friday three of the four RCR teams had lack-luster qualifying runs. The one bright spot was Bowyer.

He loves running in front of his home crowd, as does any driver, so watch out for the No. 33 car to be a factor.

JEFF GORDON

Now here's a driver who has Kansas figured out. The driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet won the first two races at Kansas in 2001 and 2002.

Despite that, I do not have Gordon as my immediate favorite this time around. The entire DuPont team has done an exceptional job this year getting back the momentum they had in 2007.

Even though they have just one win, they have been running a lot better and with more passion. Now that they are in the Chase, although a bit back in the standings, look for them to turn up the heat with just eight races remaining.

SLEEPERS

CARL EDWARDS

It was a bold move that went for not last season when Edwards made the pass on Johnson for the lead on the last lap.

The dive inside of Johnson in turn 3 was excellent and Edwards had a great run through the corner. Unfortunately, he swept up into the marbles and brushed the wall, giving the lead and the win to Johnson.

That defeat must still be on the mind of Edwards heading into this weekend. The good news is that Edwards says this will be his last weekend using his crutches for his broken foot.

Do not expect him to use that as a reason to lay back and just stay content. Edwards nearly won this race last year, and he just may surprise everyone come Sunday.

GREG BIFFLE

When the race was shortened back in 2007, this is the guy who took the victory.

Sure, there was a lot of debate whether he truly won. As we remember, Biffle was coasting on the apron while some of the other leaders passed him on the track. But, the field was already frozen, giving Biffle the win.

Biffle used a lot of strategy to get to the front, and it could come down to that again Sunday. This team deserves a win, and maybe this is their weekend.

The third race in the Chase will go green at 1 p.m. Coverage once again will be on ABC.

Jimmie Johnson or Mark Martin: Who's the Top Hendrick Driver in 2009?

Dustin Parks — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:51:51 -0400

In today's NASCAR, it appears that the younger generation of drivers have become the top guys on track. We have a 19-year-old, Joey Logano, who openly admits that he's a year ahead of schedule in his career, and there's many young faces just waiting for the opportunity to break into the sport.

At Hendrick Motorsports, it was Jeff Gordon who first took notice of a young driver waiting for an opportunity by the name of Jimmie Johnson. After watching and studying his talent, Gordon made the pitch to hire Johnson as the new young face of Hendrick.

Things quickly fell into place. Johnson ran some Nationwide races, then got the opportunity to debut in the Sprint Cup Series in 2001 at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. With Gordon and Hendrick as the listed owners, Johnson took to the track in the No. 48 Lowe's Power of Pride Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

In his first attempt at making a NASCAR Cup Series race, Johnson put his car solidly in the field, qualifying 15th. Unfortunately, his day ended after 146 laps due to a crash, giving him a 39th-place finish.

One year later, Johnson made the jump full-time to the Cup Series. From that point on, the Johnson Era had begun.

In the season-opening Daytona 500, Johnson put his Lowe's Chevrolet on pole. He ran up front all afternoon, eventually finishing 15th.

As the season progressed, Johnson put himself not only in contention for the Rookie of the Year award, but found himself in the hunt for a championship. Johnson won his first race in his home state of California, then swept both races at Dover.

Eventually, late in the season, he became the first rookie ever to get the points lead as he would take the top spot heading into Talladega.

At the end of the season, Johnson would finish fifth in the standings, win the Rookie of the Year, and everyone took notice that Johnson would be a major player in the Cup Series for years to come.

Eight years and three championships later, Johnson is the face of the Sprint Cup Series. That gamble for Gordon and Hendrick paid off in full.

This season, it appears that role has changed within the Hendrick organization, but not by a driver everyone expected.

After the 2008 season, Hendrick driver Casey Mears announced he was leaving to join Richard Childress Racing. That left an opening in Hendrick's longest running car, the No. 5.

Unsure of who to put in the seat, Hendrick made an offer to a veteran of the sport, who spent two years on a reduced schedule.

Hendrick made an offer to a well respected and well liked driver named Mark Martin. A short time later, Martin made the announcement that he would be in the No. 5 car, and would be for an entire season.

It was almost as if Hendrick was reliving his signing of Johnson. You could see the excitement on Martin's face. He had a smile as big as the Tony the Tiger decal on his hood.

What happened was almost a repeat occurrence of when Hendrick signed Johnson. At the beginning of the year, just like Johnson in 2002, the team had its struggles.

Some crashes and mechanical failures put the team way back in the standings. But, as the season progressed, the team began to come around. Then, much like Johnson, everything came together, and Martin got his first win in over two years at Phoenix.

Then, the team got another victory at Darlington. A few weeks later, they claimed a third at Michigan. In mid-July, the No. 5 car dominated Chicagoland. Finally, just two weeks ago, Martin got his first win at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

In just one season, Martin has become the hottest driver in NASCAR. This poses an interesting question: Who is the top Hendrick driver this season, Johnson or Martin?

Statistically, both teammates are almost identical. Martin has five wins, while Johnson has four. Both drivers have 11 top-fives. Martin has 16 top-10s; Johnson has 17 of his own.

However, it seems this season that Johnson is not the hottest driver on the circuit. Despite his win last week, it was his first win in over a month. He entered the Chase without the momentum he had the previous two years.

Martin, however, came into the Chase with momentum on his side. Starting with New Hampshire, he had his team at the top of the points standings. First race in the Chase, Martin put his car in victory lane, and opened up his points lead.

The following week at Dover, Johnson took the win, but Martin was in the runner-up spot. His finish kept him in the points lead, despite the gap going from 35 points down to 10.

With the eight remaining races, both Johnson and Martin have won at all the tracks except for Homestead. It appears that it will come down to these two teammates in a battle for the title.

You have Johnson who is trying to put himself in a league of his own. A fourth-straight title would put him in a place among the greats of the sport that could be impossible to match.

But Martin, just winning his first title will be an accomplishment that everyone in the garage will be excited about. It would be up there with Dale Earnhardt winning the Daytona 500.

There is no question that Martin is one of, if not the most, respected driver in the garage. If he were to win the Sprint Cup title, everyone in NASCAR will be celebrating alongside the No. 5 team.

So who truly is the top Hendrick driver this season? Is it the defending champion Johnson? Is it the rejuvenated veteran Martin?

The debate can be argued for either of these drivers. That question could be answered when the Chase concludes at Homestead.

Parks Race Reactions: AAA 400 at Dover

Dustin Parks — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:34:59 -0400

A lot of times when a driver dominates a race, usually it would be expected to see that driver take the checkered flag. It is not very often that a driver dominates both races at the same track.

On Sunday, that fact became a reality as it was Jimmie Johnson winning the AAA 400 at Dover. The No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet was out front for 271 of the 400 laps, including the final 224. There was no better team at Dover in 2009 than the defending champions.

In this edition of Parks Race Reactions, I'll examine what Johnson's win means for his status in the Chase. Also, I'll give you a look at some of the other drivers that made noise in Sunday's race.

I will start off by actually going back to the beginning of the race. The big highlight that has everyone talking was Joey Logano's crash just 31 laps into the race. His barrel roll in turns 3 and 4 was reminiscent of Michael McDowell's crash last year in Texas. Ten flips probably felt like 20 to Logano while in the driver's seat.

Finally, after the rolls, the car ended up on the driver's side, only to seemingly bounce back onto it's wheels like a pogo-stick.

Finally, with the fans holding their breath, Logano climbed out of his mangled race car. Despite visibly shaken by the wreck, there was not a scratch on his body. Logano walked to the ambulance under his own power.

What his wreck proves, just like McDowell's, is that this new car is all about safety. In both instances, the driver got out of the car and walked away. Even though some drivers complain about how the car handles, it has proved to be very safe.

Now, onto other drivers that were impressive on Sunday. It was certainly a great rebound for Matt Kenseth as he came home in third. After having a rough season following his wins at Daytona and California, his season has been a disaster. He showed a lot at Dover, and he will quite possibly get back to victory lane by season's end.

One guy who wasn't on the radar all day until it mattered most was Mark Martin. The No. 5 team struggled all weekend, never getting a handle on the car.

But, when it was time to battle for the win, there's Martin in the thick of it. His patience paid off as he finished runner-up to his teammate.

If Martin wants to win the title, he's got to keep his momentum up. Finishing first and second in the first two Chase races is a great way to start. Heading into next week at Kansas, he is once again a favorite as he has won this race before.

The fact that Martin is still the points leader shows me that he truly does want to win this title. He may not speak of it, or want to acknowledge it, but you can tell he want to win. I said that Martin was my pick for the championship, and so far, that pick has been accurate.

Finally, what else can be said about Johnson's performance. There was no car that could compete with him all weekend. The No. 48 team is putting more effort into winning their fourth-straight title than they did winning their third.

The big difference is that when Johnson won his third title, he had a lot of momentum going into the Chase. He won the two races leading up to the Chase, and won multiple races while competing for the title. The team had a lot of momentum, and by that time the title was theirs to lose.

This time, Johnson and crew are looking for the momentum they had last year. After winning the Brickyard, the No. 48 team didn't look like the defending champions.

Now, after this dominant victory, they certainly have some of that momentum back. Even a push to victory lane after blowing the engine didn't dampen his spirits.

Johnson came into Dover 35 points out of the points lead, but is now just ten behind Martin. That could be big as next weekend is Kansas.

Both these drivers have done exceptionally well at Kansas, each turning in a winning performance. Look for both of them to run hard and be up front early and often. It could quite possibly come down to these two not only in the race, but the championship.

The Price Chopper 400 at the Kansas Speedway will definitely be interesting. Coverage begins on ABC at 1 p.m.