We Won't Buying This Mag For the Articles...

Now that this pic of Carl Edwards from ESPN Magazine's upcoming "Body Issue" has made the rounds on the 'Net, female fans have just two things to say:

1. Thank you ESPN.
2. Please God, let Carl start wearing this look during driver introductions.

Clearly, Carl's the perfect pick for the mag's special section, titled "Bodies We Want" (talk about a double entendre). And his inclusion in the mag got me to thinking...if I were a magazine editor, which driver would I pick to grace my cover?

So to be fair, and to give other NASCAR stars their due, I present my selections for the new cover boys of motorsports.

Jimmie Johnson: That man can wear a suit. So move over George Clooney and co., Johnson's got looks and smooth to spare. He's the masculine equivalent of a little black dress. He looks good with anything (and in anything). Ergo, he needs to be on the cover of GQ--and pronto.

Dale Earnhardt Jr: With a little scruff and a lot of Southern, Junior always looks a tad uncomfortable when he's dressed up for some industry awards do. But put him in a Carhardt jacket and a Remington ball cap, and he looks ruggedly right at home. That's why he's my pick to grace the cover of Field & Stream. Speaking of Field & Stream...anyone catch their latest story about the new way to start a fire?

Tony Stewart: Smoke may not have classic cover boy looks, but he's got the brains and the guts to build a new race team -- and so far, his risk has paid dividends. That's why I'm choosing Stewart for the cover of Forbes Magazine. After all, Forbes is no stranger to racing...they're covering the Penske Saturn story right now.

Joey Logano: Though he's manned up this year on the Sprint Cup track, Logano's choir boy visage still appeals more to the tweens and the teens. So kiss Nick Jonas goodbye and get ready for Sliced Bread on the cover of Tiger Beat. He's cute, he's talented and he looks like the type of boy any mother would love.

Kurt and Kyle Busch: They may not be co-starring in the latest Hollywood blockbuster, but when things don't go their way on race day, they're the most entertaining things on four wheels (though Denny Hamlin garners a close third). That's why the Busch brothers ought to be on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, but only when they're good and riled up.

Photo credit: ESPN The Magazine/SARAH A. FRIEDMAN

Show Your Support For a Cure With Bobby Labonte

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and multiple race teams will be running pink paint schemes on Oct. 17 at Charlotte to show their support for a cure.

Bobby Labonte, driver of the Ask.com No. 96 car, will be one of those NASCAR stars piloting a pink car. And to help recognize those who have been affected by breast cancer, Ask.com is offering fans like you the opportunity to have a loved one’s name incorporated into Labonte’s pink Susan G. Komen tribute paint scheme.

Just visit Ask.com on Oct. 1 and make a free tribute to honor survivors, those living with breast cancer or a loved one who's been lost to the disease. These fan tributes will be featured on the car during the upcoming Oct. 17 race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

This effort is part of a multi-faceted partnership program Ask.com has with Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The program includes a $1 million commitment to the organization.

Hey Denny, Payback's a Bitch

Clint Bowyer scored a much-needed victory Saturday at Dover. But the hottest story of the night was the on-track contact and off-track altercation between Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski.

Who's at fault for Hamlin's late-race spin is up to interpretation. But if fans had to choose sides based on the drivers' post-race interviews alone, odds are they'd take Keselowski's part 10 to 1.

When questioned by Shannon Spake, Keselowski first congratulated Bowyer on his win and then went into the details of his deal with Denny, saying that Hamlin knew he was coming and chose not let him have the position. It was a mature and articulate response to a heated situation.

Denny on the other hand, called Brad an idiot. Then said Brad obviously wasn't getting enough guidance. At first Hamlin said Keselwoski couldn't race, although he later back-tracked and admitted Brad had talent. My favorite part of Hamlin's comments though, was when he said these are mistakes Brad will make in his "younger years".

Note to Denny: You are 28. Brad is 25. You hardly qualify as a racing veteran.

Besides, if Hamlin is so doggone interested in guiding younger drivers, he'd better remember that people learn best by example. And the only example Hamlin's set for BK is how to wreck folks under caution. At least Brad returned the favor under green--and for position.

Remember?

Shannon Spake Gets Extra Help in the Pits

Shannon Spake has been reporting from the pits for ESPN’s NASCAR coverage for several years, but Spake is now carrying something extra. Spake and her husband are expecting their first children in January – twin boys.

To assist her in performing her duties through the rest of the season, ESPN and Spake worked with firesuit manufacturer Impact to produce a special piece of apparel for her to wear while in the pits during races. The two-piece suit is equipped with a stretch gusset in the back so that it can be expanded as her pregnancy progresses through the fall.

ESPN’s live coverage of Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover will air on ABC, while ESPN2 will air Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

Things Are Tough All Over--Just Ask Reed Sorenson

So the US economy is basically in shambles, everybody and their brother is getting laid off, and retail spaces are closing left and right.

But amid all the dire fiscal news this year, there's one group of folks that you'd think would have it made in the paycheck department--NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers.

That's why I was rather surprised to read the news snippet on Jayski today, which revealed that Reed Sorenson is driving for Richard Petty Motorsports for the rest of the season--for nothin'! Yup, call it fallout from the Petty/Yates merger or the best deal a team owner ever got, but poor old Sorenson is racing each weekend for FREE.

When faced with the veritable Sophie's Choice of keeping a ride with no salary or losing a ride with no salary, Sorenson chose to keep racing--for the exposure alone. Suffice it to say, such a deal would probably ONLY work in NASCAR. I can't imagine a pro ball player of any sort, be it foot, base or basket, agreeing to play for free. Those cats strike every chance they get.

But such an ultimatum also wouldn't fly in my workaday world. I don't know of anyone in corporate, blue collar or political America who would show up every day for no pay (unless they were independently wealthy or on par with Mother Theresa).

So you gotta give Reed props. The guy just wants to race. However, Sorenson's raw deal leaves me wondering. What if he wins a race for RPM? For his sake, I hope The King springs for a profit-sharing plan.

Would Tony Stewart Lie?

As far as I know, Tony Stewart isn't a suspect in any unsolved federal crimes. But he will be taking a real live polygraph test on Oct. 20.

Yep, beginning Sept. 28, fans can submit and vote on the questions that ol' Smoke will be asked--and forced to answer. Stewart will tell the truth (or not) during a live webcast on Oct. 20. For more info., head on over to Burger King Racing.

I don't know about you, but I can think of a few questions I'd like Tony to answer when he's hooked up to that lie detector. Such as:

Has Stewart-Haas secretly cut a deal with Danica Patrick?

Did you go to charm school during the off-season?

How much money do you make each year?

Do you really wear Old Spice?

And for your viewing pleasure, here's a video of the behind-the-scenes shenanigans that went on when Stewart, Carrot Top and Erik Estrada filmed that BK commercial we told you about last week.

Chase, Chase, and More Chase

Can you tell it's Chase Media Week? The "dandy dozen" are making the rounds in Manhattan as we speak. Tonight, in fact, all 12 Cup contenders will be appearing on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon at 12:35 on NBC. Then tomorrow morning, the chasers will be on ABC Good Morning America followed by Live With Regis and Kelly. Check here for your local Regis listing.

Earlier today Kurt Busch, driver of the Blue Deuce, talked to ESPN's Jay Crawford about his little bro not making the cut.

"I was devastated for him, I couldn’t believe it that he didn’t make it,” Busch said, “He won four races so far this year, and the way that their team has been running. They just didn’t put that consistency together throughout the summer run. And so him outside looking in right now is tough. But hey, I’ll be the Busch brother to carry the banner for this year’s Chase.”

Gee...can you imagine how devastated Kyle feels?

Photo: Kurt Busch on ESPN's First Take. Photo courtesy of ESPN

More Chase, More NASCAR Now

Mike Massaro and the folks at NASCAR Now are heading to Chase Media Day in NYC. The show's Thursday night broadcast will be a jam-packed hour stuffed with anything and everything you need to know about the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

The expanded one-hour episode airs Thursday, Sept. 17, at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN2. Host Massaro will preview the Chase with driver interviews from New York , while members of the Roush Fenway Racing team and some guests from the Boston Red Sox will be interviewed from Boston during the hour as well.

So if you still can't get enough Chase, then be sure to catch the show Thursday night.

Photo: Mike Massaro, courtesy of ESPN

Mr. Excitement on TWIN

The irrepressible Jimmy Spencer brings a little excitement to tomorrow night's This Week in NASCAR broadcast. Spence will join crew chief Chad Knaus and host Steve Byrnes as they dissect the 2009 Chase for the Cup and give us the Richmond rundown from their very opinionated perspective.

A Raceday regular, Spencer will be taking Michael Waltrip's chair (MW is in Italy of all places) Monday night and he's bound to lend a little drama to the show. Just give Spencer a mic and put him in front of a camera, and you've got good TV. I can't wait to see how he and Knaus will break down the weekend's NASCAR news.

Catch TWIN at 8 p.m. Monday on Speed TV.

The Chase Is On!

The wait is over and the Chase is on. And one look at the names of the 2009 contenders and you'll see it's rife with potential storylines. Read on for this fan's take on who's in, who's out and more:

Montoya Makes the Cut: As the first international driver to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Juan Pablo Montoya deserves some props. His solid run has also been a godsend for Earnhardt-Ganassi racing which sure did need this bright spot in what has been an otherwise dim season.

A Worst First for Matt K: In case you missed the first few hundered times race pundits mentioned it, this is the first Chase Matt the Brat will miss. Not cool buddy, not cool.

The Stewart-Haas Coup: When the season starts with your teammate smacking into you during Daytona 500 practice, it would be easy to get a little down about your 2009 prospects. But Stewart-Haas has come a long way baby since that sunny day in February. In Smoke's debut year as an owner-driver, both of his cars have made it into the Chase. Yes, Stewart's partnership with Hendrick Motorsports has paid dividends. But I think good ol' Tony might have just a little something to do with his teams' magical season.

Vick Under Pressure: Like Montoya, Brian Vickers has never been here before-at least at the Cup level. Let's not forget, Vick won a Busch Series Championship in 2003 for Hendrick Motorsports. And judging by the way he raced last night, it looks like BV can handle the pressure.

Richard Childress Racing: In 2008, the folks at RCR could boast that all three of their Cup teams made it into the Chase. What a difference a year makes. Take a look at the 2009 Chasers and you'll find nary a Childress driver on the list. Neither Harvick, nor Bowyer, nor Burton, nor Mears. I'm sure I'm not the only race fan wondering what happened...I'm just hoping it doesn't happen again in 2010.

Bring On the Kid!: I'll say it before and I'll say it again, Mark "The Kid" Martin has the opportunity to make a lifelong dream come true and score his first Sprint Cup Championship for Hendrick Motorsports. He's sittin' pretty right now. And if he can hang on to his lead and keep his eyes on the prize, there will be legions of armchair crew chiefs who might shed a few happy tears come Homestead.

Where's Rowdy?: Kyle Busch. He's the villain. The bad boy. The driver fans love to hat. The phenom. Whatever you call him and whatever your personal feelings for the younger Busch bro, something ain't right when the co-winningest driver in 2009 is absent from the Chase. It sure won't be as interesting without him.

Sometimes Nice Guys Finish First

When the checkered flag waved at Richmond International Speedway tonight, Mark Martin went from almost-on-the-bubble to first place in the Chase. Quite an accomplishment from a guy who pretty much retired from NASCAR a couple years ago.

This season, the driver of the No. 5 Chevy has managed to snag six pole positions four wins and nine top five finishes--all without controversy.

In a sport where petulant loudmouths often get the most air time, Martin stands apart as a driver who exhibits limitless class, consummate sportsmanship and consistency of performance. Martin drives clean, is generous when giving credit to his crew and he always has a smile for the cameras and race fans.

Sure, Martin's interviews may not make the most newsworthy sound bites. But all-in-all, Martin is the man.

And it's nice to see the man sittin' in the top spot after all these years.

Quote of the Day Goes to Jack Roush

Carl Edwards put on the biggest show last night in the Nationwide Series Virginia 529 College Savings 250, but team owner Jack Roush wins the prize for most imaginative quote.

Edwards maneuvered his Ford from worst to first - a win made even more impressive due to his discussed ad-nauseum Frisbee injury. The reason for Edward's tail-of-the field start? A spark plug change after the car was impounded post qualifying.

When asked about the issue that put his driver in starting position #43, Roush sounded like he'd been reading Edgar Allan Poe in the hauler: ""When the sun goes down and the moon goes full, the demons creep in sometimes on us at night," team owner Jack Roush. "I'm sure it was just an isolated component failure of some kind. One way or the other, we'll try to avoid that going forward."

For a guy often called the Cat in the Hat, Roush's words aren't Seussical in the least. To the contrary, I half expected him to end his answer with "Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore'"... but maybe he's saving that for HALLOW-DEGA.

A Bit of Red Bull Bling

If you're a Red Bull Racing girl, you'll want grab this bit of fun and funky bling to wear the next time you're at the track. I found this "purr-fectly" charming pendant from Funky Junq while browsing Etsy. It's made from recycled materials, it's only $5, and it's Hello Kitty to boot. What's not to love?

Remembering September 11, 2001

I recently visited the Ground Zero site in New York City. And even though the rebuilding efforts are well underway, downtown Manhattan is still filled with reminders of the terrorist attacks of eight years ago.

There are still black burn marks on the roofs of buildings near the World Trade Center site. Hundreds of tiles painted by children who lived through that day still adorn a chainlink fence in Greenwich Village. The stump and roots of a sycamore tree, which shielded St. Paul's Chapel from falling debris, have been preserved as a tribute to hope.

And less than a block from Ground Zero stands this cross. Constructed of steel beams salvaged from the Twin Towers wreckage, it stands as a permanent memorial to all those who died that day.

May we never forget.

Obama or Eldora? Not too tough a choice...

While President Obama is selling his national health care plan to Congress tonight, this U.S. citizen will be tuned in to the goings on at Eldora Speedway. Perhaps that means I'm apathetic regarding issues of national importance, but to be honest, unless Senators Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi challenge Mitch McConnell and John McCain to a duel, the 2009 Prelude to a Dream is going to be the REAL must-see TV.

Besides, I can always read the text of Obama's speech online later...but missing a live, mid-week race? I mean, is this even worth debating?

In addition to putting on the event at Eldora and racing a Cup car each week, Tony Stewart is one busy dude. In fact, as the result of some ad man's surreal brainstorm, Stewart recently finished filming a new Burger King commercial with no other than Erik Estrada of "ChiPs" fame and comedian Carrot Top. (I admit, I had a crush on Estrada when I was five...)

“The Tony Stewart School of Endorsements” is the latest ad campaign for BURGER KING® restaurants and includes a series of four ads showcasing Stewart with his favorite menu item, the famous WHOPPER® sandwich. Visit http://www.bkracing.com/ for more information on Burger King Corp.’s national promotion with Stewart-Haas Racing.

And why don't you join me in ditching the big Presidential speech for an event that's well, pretty darn exciting. Remember, the proceeds from the Prelude telecast benefit the men and women of the U.S. military.

Catch Prelude to a Dream Tomorrow Night!

Due to the recent spate of off-track injuries, Carl Edwards and Bill Elliott won't be racing late models at Eldora Speedway tomorrow night. But that doesn't mean there won't be plenty of other drivers ready to rumble in Tony Stewart's fifth annual Prelude to a Dream.

In fact, more than 20 NASCAR drivers will kicking up some dirt as they go head-to-head for the Prelude trophy and some old-fashioned bragging rights.

Drivers slated to take the track are: Stewart, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer. Aric Almirola, Brian Vickers, David Reutimann, Marcos Ambrose, Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace, Robby Gordon, Dave Blaney, Ray Evernham, Ron Capps and Cruz Pedregon should also be racing.

Catch the race on HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Proceeds from the telecast will benefit four military charities: Wounded Warrior Project, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Operation Homefront and Fisher House.

Are You Ready for Some Richmond?

The NASCAR Sprint Cup series is moving to ABC for the rest of the season...and Saturday night's race under the lights at Richmond International Speedway is gonna be one heckuva night. It's the final race before the Chase and the last time that the on-the-bubble boys will have a shot at a Cup championship in 2009. There's gonna be flat-out, wide-open, no-holds-barred racing. And for a diehard NASCAR fan, this is a night you don't want to miss.

ESPN’s live, flag-to-flag coverage of the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, the race that will determine who's in and who's out of the Chase for the Cup, will air on ABC. The telecast begins with NASCAR Countdown presented by Degree V12 at 7 p.m. ET and the race’s green flag is at 7:43 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12.

ESPN will also broadcast NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Friday, Sept. 11, at 5:30 p.m., and a telecast of NASCAR Sprint Cup final practice on Friday at 2 p.m., both on ESPN2.

Set your Tivos now...and make plans for a rowdy and rockin' Saturday night.

Photo caption: Dr. Jerry Punch will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Photo credit - ESPN

Hot Racing in Hot-lanta

The track was hot and the racing was hotter. And the Labor Day race at Atlanta Motor Speedway definitely lived up to its hype.

With Kasey Kahne taking the checkers in an unpredictable finish, the 500-mile marathon sure did have its share of surprises. Here are just a few of the high points and best stories from the "night the lights went on in Georgia":

An inspiring little girl: Nursing a broken foot and a damaged oil cooler, Carl Edwards didn't have a great points night in Atlanta. But some things are more important than points. The paint scheme on Edwards' 99 car was designed by Jody Lawrence--a smiling 12-year-old girl who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Jody was the winner of Aflac's "Color Carl's Car" contest and her story, and her inspiring attitude, puts a bad night into glaring perspective. Our prayers are with her and her family. For those of you who missed her story, watch it here on the CBS News site.

Jimmie Johnson goes for a spin: Johnson's Chevy was loose from the get-go and he had his hands full just hanging onto the wheel. But eventually even Johnson's estimable talents were no match for his monster of a car...and thus he went sliding 'cross the track. He did manage to keep his car out of the wall, but the spin was just a foretaste of things to come. The race ended for the #48 with a broken rear axle. It was a rare bad night for Knaus and crew. Fiddle-dee-dee.

Kenseth saves the chase: What looked like a hopeless start for Matt the Brat wound up ending on a pretty good note. He may have gone a lap or two down early on, but you can never count Kenseth out. And with a 12th place finish, the driver of the #17 car kept himself in the hunt for a spot in the chase.

Bobby L. proves his mettle: It's been a roller coaster of a week for Bobby Labonte. But he's handled the upheaval with class and aplomb--even though his fans were pretty darn perturbed when he was parked by Yates Racing earlier this week. However, in short order, the resilient Labonte snagged a new ride with TRG Motorsports for seven races and he ended up with an impressive 18th place finish in Atlanta. The rookie that took Labonte's Yates ride? Well, Erik Darnell finished 3oth. Not that anyone's counting...

It was almost a sweep: For a while Sunday night, it sure did look like Kevin Harvick was going to sweep the weekend's Atlanta races. Fresh off a knockout win on Saturday night, Harvick seemed to have another unbeatable car in the Cup race. Although a runner-up finish is nothing to sneeze at, it sure would have been nice to see Harvick sweep the weekend. Maybe in Richmond.

Tom Cruise: I Wear My Sunglasses at Night

Cyberspace was all a-Twitter tonight with buzz about Tom Cruise sightings at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Cruise, who narrates the soon-to-be-released Hendrick Motorsports documentary, "Together" spent most of his time atop Jimmie Johnson's pit box. Cruise wore dark shades all night...a throwback to Corey Hart, perhaps?

Johnson wasn't the only driver Cruise spent some time with. The Miss Sprint Cups posted this shot of Tom hanging with Junior in the pits pre-race. This one's for all you Cole Trickle fans...enjoy!

Hamlin Takes Broadcaster for a Hotlanta Thrill Ride

There's lots of fun stuff going on in Atlanta this weekend. Not only do the NASCAR stars take to the track, but football heavyweights Virginia Tech and The University of Alabama are squaring off in the college season opener.

And, while legendary ABC/ESPN broadcaster Brent Musburger and sideline reporter Lisa Salters were in town to broadcast the game, they took a little side trip to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, courtesy of Coke Zero and Coca-Cola Racing Family driver Denny Hamlin.

Coke Zero made it possible for Musburger and Salters to experience the ride of a lifetime: 160 MPH in a REAL race car, with a REAL NASCAR® driver, on a REAL race track.

Hamlin showed the reporters why Atlanta Motor Speedway is one of the fastest tracks on the circuit with a few heart-pounding laps in a specially equipped two-seat race car.

Color me jealous!

Winners of the "If I Were Smoke" contest!

Two NASCAR-ista readers had a couple good ideas about what kind of car they'd buy if they were Tony Stewart--and they're the lucky winners of our "If I Were Smoke" contest.

South Carolina fan H.C. said she'd buy a 2010 Chevy Camaro SS if she were Smoke because, "This car just screams SMOKE to me... It looks sharp and has EDGE just like Tony."

And S.K., who hails from the Gulf Coast of Florida said he'd buy a Ferrari F430 Scuderia, "It's fast, expensive and a mid-life crisis kind of car. Perfect for Tony."

But Honorable Mention has to go to Ovalscream: "OK, not big on sexy, but this fella might be just the dream car for getting Smoke across the rain-slogged finish line at Pocono ... And from all appearances, it still is a babe magnet (helps to have Tony at the wheel, I guess) ..."

Thanks to all the folks who entered and to the winners--enjoy those ArmorAll prize packs. And be sure to check out more behind the scenes with Tony footage at the ArmorAll Owner Center.

Hendrick Motorsports Documentary Set to Premiere

"TOGETHER The Hendrick Motorsports Story," will premiere Oct. 11 at 1:30 p.m. on ABC, right before the start of the Pepsi 500.

Tom Cruise narrates the documentary which chronicles 25 years of Hendrick Motorsports with employee interviews, archival footage and family photography.

The full-length version of "TOGETHER" with bonus material will be released Oct. 31 on DVD, and it will become NASCAR Media Group's first officially licensed title available on Blu-ray Disc.

A portion of Hendrick Motorsport's proceeds from those sales will benefit the Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, NC.

View the "TOGETHER" trailer here.

Jimmie Johnson...One of the Good Guys

What's not to love about Jimmie Johnson? He's good-looking, well-spoken, pretty handy with a race car, a big-time winner...and oh, did I mention he looks darned good on those Lowe's commercials?

Add to all this Johnson's significant off-track charity work and that makes JJ the guy you'd like to take home to mama.

This year, Johnson is doing good again by decorating his helmet for one race with the names of charities that are hand-picked by the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. Johnson will sport his Helmet of Hope during the Cup race at the Auto Club Speedway in October. And each charity selected will receive a $1,048 donation in addition to proceeds from the sale of Helmet of Hope t-shirts.'

Fans can nominate their favorite charities online at the Jimmie Johnson Foundation site. Johnson will draw two charities each race weekend through the New Hampshire event in September, collecting a total of 12 winning organizations.

So check out the web site and get your favorite non-profit on Johnson's Helmet of Hope...I guarantee he'll look good in it!

Michael Waltrip Calling...

If you've got a few extra bucks then Michael Waltrip's got a few extra minutes--or at least a pre-recorded message.

Waltrip, who is never at a loss for words, has lent his talent for all things verbal to Celebrities Call You-- a fun and funny web site that lets fans send personal phone and/or e-mail messages from their fave celebrities.

The Michael Waltrip message can be personalized with your friend's name (and the sender's too) and also personalized by special occasion. Think of it as a drop-down Mad Libs for your phone. Just choose your picks from the drop-down menu and your Waltrip phone or e-mail message will be on its way. You can even pick the time and date of delivery.

What's next? A talking Dale Jr. GPS? Oh wait...we've got that already...