The Sixth NASCAR Day of Christmas: Six Weeks Suspension

Bowyer went from one to done after his car failed
inspection post-Loudon.

In NASCAR,  fortune can turn on a dime.

And no team knows that better than the No. 33 team of Clint Bowyer.

The Richard Childress Racing team went from the highest of highs (winning the first race of the Chase at Loudon) to the lowest of lows (failing inspection and getting docked 150 points).

Per the official NASCAR press release:

"The No. 33 team was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-3 (car body location specifications in reference to the certified chassis did not meet NASCAR-approved specifications) of the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book."

In addition to the points deficit, crew chief Shane Wilson was suspended for six weeks for the infraction and put on probabation until Dec. 31.

The stiff penalty effectively turned Bowyer and team from a possible championship contender into just another also-ran.

And although Richard Childress fought the judgment with his infamous wrecker defense, NASCAR capitulated not.  The ruling stood.

But you gotta give credit to Bowyer. After his initial impassioned response, the driver didn't waste time crying over lost points. 

Instead, he pulled off a second-place result at Fontana, and went on to win Talladega in a virtual photo finish.

And while dwelling on "could have beens" is often an exercise in futility, I can't help but wonder how Bowyer and Wilson's season would have ended had the penalty never been incurred.

Something tells me they would have finished a heckuva lot better than tenth.

The Twelfth NASCAR Day of Christmas: 12 Chasers Chasing

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One of the best things about the 2010 season, was that the Sprint Cup Chase was the closest in Chase history. 

Twelve drivers didn't just make the Chase, they made the Chase exciting.

There were flying fists, fingers and fines.  There was high drama and low blows. And, to top it off, there was a reigning champ who came from behind to score his fifth championship in a row - a feat unparalleled in NASCAR history.

Clint Bowyer started the Chase with a win in New Hampshire  - only to be fined and penalized days later when his car failed post-race inspection.  The judgment punted the No. 33 from second to twelfth in the points.  And Bowyer's response to the penalty made "The Wrecker Defense" a motorsports byword.

Bowyer ended the year in 10th spot.

Then there was Kyle Busch.  Although Rowdy failed to produce a "W" during the Chase, he did make for some good TV with his flying one-finger salute on national television.  Busch finished the year in eighth place.

Kevin "Happy" Harvick brought the goods all year long. The regular season champ, he stayed in contention 'til the very end.  And though he finished in third, his message was heard throughout the NASCAR world - Richard Childress Racing is back.

Second-place finisher Denny Hamlin added a heap of racing drama to the Chase.  He started the Chase in the top seed after a win at Richmond.  He then lost the Chase lead, but stole it back from the No. 48 team with a win at Texas. 

And then the mind games and the verbal potshots began as Hamlin and crew chief Mike Ford called Johnson and Chad Knaus the weaker team, vowing to beat the Lowe's dynasty. 

But words can come back to haunt you, and at Homestead, Johnson and company showed their strength while Denny spun out, ending his quest to win his first championship. 

Moral of the story? You better check yourself, before you wreck yourself.

Wilson Should Wear His Penalty With Pride

If your first name is Shane and your last name is Wilson, then you'll probably have some free time on your hands during the next few weeks.

Although NASCAR reduced the suspension for Wilson (who's the crew chief for the No. 33 team of Clint Bowyer), he'll still have to sit out four races. He won't return to the track until Nov. 7.

But Wilson shouldn't fret too much.

Back in the day, bending the rules 'til they almost broke was a mark of honor. (Junior Johnson anyone?) And more recently, a few line-crossin' crew chiefs once benched by NASCAR have gone on to do pretty darn well. 

Case in point? Chad Knaus.

So I say to Shane Wilson, embrace your newfound renegade status.  Wear your infraction like a NASCAR merit badge.  After all, you don't get far without pushing the envelope. And whether the wrecker-made-us-do-it defense was legit or not, you've now joined the ranks of an elite band of rebel brothers.

Oh, and if you're looking for something to do while you're missing Fontana, I hear there's a construction crew in Charlotte that could use help filling a sinkhole.

Non-Chaser of Note: Paul Menard

Lately, Paul Menard is making Richard Childress look like a talent acquisition genius.

When Childress announced in August that Menard would join RCR's Cup stable in 2011, there were those in NASCAR circles who openly scoffed.

Certainly, they said, Childress was just bringing the driver on board for the Menards sponsorship alone. A few even claimed Childress was pretending Menard had talent just to get the bucks.

Take this quote from SB Nation writer, Jeff Gluck:

"People can convince themselves of many things, and when it comes to Paul Menard, that seems to be the case with Richard Childress.

Childress kept a completely straight face on Friday when he discussed Richard Childress Racing's new three-year deal with Menard, a below-average driver who has gotten elite rides due to the Menards sponsorship he brings."

Well who's convinced now?

In the last two races, this below-average driver has finished in the top ten.  At Kansas Speedway, Menard was the highest-finishing non-chaser with an eighth-place finish.  He qualified second.

So far, Menard has posted his best season to date - earning one top five finish and five top tens.  He's currently 23rd in points (his highest points standing ever) and he's looking better and better as the races wind down.

Guess Childress isn't so crazy after all ...

Kyle Petty Talks Bikes, Childress and the Chase

Kyle Petty is known as a guy who gives it to you straight.  Fans love hearing his no-bull approach to racing analysis.  And they also admire all he does for charity when the cameras are off.

Right now, Petty is getting revved up for the eighth annual Ride to Victory - a charity bike ride that will benefit Victory Junction, the camp for kids with chronic medical conditions and serious illnesses that Petty and his wife Pattie founded.

We caught up with Petty earlier today and asked him about this year's ride, the Childress penalty and other things NASCAR.  Here's what he had to say:

Describe what the Ride to Victory is like for folks who may be thinking about joining you.

"It's like one day on the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America. The riders show up and everything is handled from the moment they arrive at zMAX Dragway. All they have to do is get on the bike and ride.

We have one fuel stop at Pilot Flying J, 'the Official Travel Center of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride' with our amazing Charity Ride Fuel Team working the pumps. A typical day on the Ride Across America involved three to four pit stops. First-time riders are always amazed that hundreds of bikes can be fueled so quickly.

We're parading around Victory Junction and heading to my farm. This year we're adding something totally new to the mix - a Songwriters' Jam at my place. My good friend Mark Collie is joining us, along with Rafe Van Hoy and my son-in-law's father Billy Montana. These guys are amazing singers and songwriters and they've written for some of the biggest names in country music. Writers' rounds are really popular in Nashville - on any given night you can find one on Broadway. We've had a few of these songwriters' nights before and they've been a huge hit. This is something we're hoping to introduce to our area."

Can you give us a preview of your set list for the post-ride concert?

"You will recognize the songs from Billy, Rafe and Mark. Songs they've done and songs they've written for other artists you hear on the radio. My songs are all original and are only heard when I play a writers' night such as this or when I play for my friends."

Would you rather be at the race track on a Sunday or on your bike?

"At this point in life - it's a toss up."

The networks who broadcast NASCAR each year can take a beating when it comes to fans' criticism of their race coverage. Do you think NASCAR needs its own TV network? Would having an all-NASCAR, all-the-time channel boost fan interest or make it even harder to attract new fans?

"I don't think a NASCAR network would mean less criticism from the fans and I don't think it would attract new fans. The fans of the sport have access to NASCAR 24/7 365 days a year through the major networks, radio and other media outlets. Social networking and Twitter have a lot to do with this. Fans can ask a driver a question or make a comment and receive an answer from the driver himself, not through a PR rep or media statement. There's as much information for the fan today as there is misinformation for fans. So some of the criticism the sport and networks receive is not always justified."

Who's your dark horse for the championship?

"The 24 - Jeff Gordon"

What are the odds that NASCAR will eventually reduce the penalty against Richard Childress Racing and the No. 33 team? Should Childress just accept the defeat and move on?

"Slim to none. Childress shouldn't accept the penalty, but at the same time he has to move on."

If you were stranded on a desert island, who would you rather be with - Kenny Wallace or Darrell Waltrip?

" 'Kenny Waltrip'. He could talk up a storm that would blow us back to the mainland."

This year's Ride to Victory will take place on Sunday, Oct. 17.  For more information or to pre-register, visit http://www.kylepettycharityride.com/ or call (704) 714-4545.

If NASCAR Were a Musical: Hamlin vs. RCR

Thank God for Denny Hamlin. 

You may think he's mouthy, immature and lacking in judgment. But he sure is good at stirring the pot and amping up interest in any given race.

It started Friday with Hamlin's harsh weigh-in on the penalty against the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing team.  He ripped RCR to shreds.

And it just got better from there.

The umpteen media stories about the escalating fuss between Hamlin and RCR make for riveting reading (it's hard to top a quote like "pissing contest with a skunk").  Yet there is another way to tell the tale - through the magical and universal language of song.

Without further ado, I give you a summary of this week's biggest story - retold in the lyrics of popular songs:

Hamlin on Clint Bowyer and RCR's penalty: "Don't think I don't think about it. I've seen it all before.  Everybody knows. Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats. Hey white liar - you get what you deserve."

Bowyer to Hamlin: "Shut up and drive."

Childress on Hamlin: "Ain't no talkin' to this man."

Bowyer on his team's penalty: "What kind of fool do you think I am? I know I should not gamble, 'cause I can't afford to lose. It's a bitch at the bottom."

Harvick to Hamlin: "You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me."

Hamlin to Harvick: "Hit me with your best shot."

Mike Ford to Hamlin: "Just walk away."

Childress to NASCAR: "What I need is a good defense. They will stop degrading us.  They will not control us. We will be victorious."

Jimmie Johnson on the whole deal: "Here's a quarter, call someone who cares."

Editor's note: See the comments for song titles from which the lyrics were pulled.

When All Else Fails, Blame the Wrecker ...



Bowyer celebrates his Loudon win after Sunday's race.

My how fortunes can change. And sometimes all it takes is 60 thousandths of an inch.

Today NASCAR got tough with New Hampshire race winner Clint Bowyer, team owner Richard Childress, crew chief Shane Wilson and car chief Chad Haney when the No. 33 car failed tech inspection. 

And the penalties are bad enough to put a sizable dent in the team's once rosy championship hopes.

Bowyer was docked 150 championship points,  punting him from second to twelfth in the Chase standings.  Childress was docked 150 owner points.  Wilson was fined $150 thousand, suspended from the next six races and put on probation until Dec. 31.  Haney was served with the same penalty as Wilson - minus the hefty fine.

“It revolves around how the body of the car is located on the frame on three coordinates,” said Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby.

Childress vows to repeal the ruling.  And, in its defense, the team is blaming the wrecker which they say hit the rear bumper of Bowyer's No. 33 when it pushed the gasless Chevy to Victory Lane after Sunday's race.

RCR's official statement is below:

"The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and chief executive officer of Richard Childress Racing, regarding NASCAR’s penalty on the No. 33 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team after last week’s race in New Hampshire:

'First of all, I’d like to apologize to our sponsors, our fans and everyone at RCR for the situation that has resulted from this ruling. RCR has a long-standing reputation of integrity on and off the race track. We pride ourselves on working within the rules established by the sanctioning body.

NASCAR informed us after the Richmond race that we were very close to their maximum tolerances. They also told us they were going to take our New Hampshire car to the NASCAR Technical Center after that race. It doesn’t make any sense at all that we would send a car to New Hampshire that wasn’t within NASCAR’s tolerances. I am confident we fixed the area of concern and the New Hampshire car left the race shop well within the tolerances required by NASCAR.

We feel certain that the cause of the car being out of tolerance by sixty thousandths of an inch, less than 1/16 of an inch, happened as a result of the wrecker hitting the rear bumper when it pushed the car into winner’s circle. The rear bumper was also hit on the cool down lap by other drivers congratulating Clint on his victory. That’s the only logical way that the left-rear of the car was found to be high at the tech center. We will appeal NASCAR’s ruling and take it all the way to the NASCAR commissioner for a final ruling, if need be.'”

Childress versus NASCAR.  This could be good ...

Menard and RCR - a Win-Win Partnership

It may not have made as much news as Kasey Kahne's temporary move to Red Bull Racing, but Richard Childress Racing announced today that Paul Menard will be the team's newest driver in 2011.

Menard will bring a fourth car back to its stable next year, and Menard is the guy who's going to wheel it.  What sweetened the deal is that Menard comes with a multi-year sponsorship courtesy of Menards  (the third-largest home improvement company) which happens to be owned by his father.

The move gives Menard, who has four full seasons of Cup racing to his credit, an opportunity to prove himself with one of the best teams in the biz.

RCR is having a banner year.  Its drivers currently hold first and third place in the Chase standings - and Clint Bowyer is on the bubble, in 13th spot.

From the more mercenary finance side, the move gives RCR the relief of knowing its fourth car will have solid financial backing for the entire season. And that's nothing to be sneered at in the current NASCAR economy.

Although Menard hasn't been to Victory Lane on the Cup side, this year has been his best. So far, Menard has racked up one top five and three top 10 finishes.  In 2009, he failed to finish in the top 10 even once.

From RCR's official press release:

"Paul has developed into a very good race car driver, and we see his move to RCR next year as an opportunity for him to continue that progress," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR.

"Richard Childress Racing has shown this year that they're headed on the right track," said Menard. "Having three cars competing for the Chase and, ultimately, the championship is no small feat and they're on top of their game. With that in mind and having known Richard for the past 10 years or so, when this opportunity to join RCR came about it was a no-brainer. I have always had the utmost respect for Richard and what his organization has accomplished in the past and what they're capable of achieving in the future."

What's not to love?

Nationwide Boys (and Girl) Might Steal the Daytona Show

The Coke Zero 400 is shaping up to be all sorts of good. 

Kyle Busch is already causing trouble.  He wrecked his teammate and erstwhile "frenemy" Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart and Reed Sorenson in the last few laps of Thursday's practice. 

Bobby Labonte will be making his 600th career start and his first appearance as a Cup race Grand Marshal.

And Goodyear has introduced specially designed tires to show NASCAR's support of the U.S. military.

But even with all the fireworks that are sure to explode on the Cup side, Friday's Subway Jalapeno 250 might steal its thunder.

In the category of a long time coming, the Nationwide Series is going back to the future as the newest evolution of the "pony cars" take to the track.  The new Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger will be long-awaited eye candy for those fans who have long lamented the lack of brand identity on race day.

And although Danica Patrick isn't on the entry list, another lady is - Jennifer Jo Cobb. Cobb, who has a number of ARCA, Truck and Nationwide starts to her credit, will drive the No. 27 Ford for owner Mike Curb.

Then there's the most photographed car in recent memory - the No. 3 Wrangler Chevy with Dale Earnhardt Jr. behind the wheel.  A throwback to one of his father's most famous paint schemes, the car is the result of a three-way partnership between JR Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing and Teresa Earnhardt.

Not surprisingly, fan response to this collaboration has been unreal. 

Michael Smith at the Sports Business Journal reports, "Wrangler No. 3 merchandise has accounted for eight of the NASCAR.com Superstore’s top 10 best-selling items and it has led all other driver categories in sales. Within 36 hours of the announcement, Superstore sold out of its second-highest-priced item, a special die-cast car that came in a limited edition of 333, priced at $89.99."

And Friday night under those Daytona lights, the famous No. 3 Wrangler car will receive a worthy salute.  Richard Childress Racing is requesting that all fans in attendance stand to their feet at the start of lap three and hold up three fingers for the entire lap.

Now how's the Cup race gonna top that?

Team Owner Shoutouts

Chip Ganassi got a lot of press this weekend - and deservedly so.  With Dario Franchitti's domination of the Indy 500 and Jamie McMurray's victory at the Daytona 500 in February, Ganassi is now the first team owner in history to win both of these events in the same year.

(Insert round of applause here).

With McMurray back at EGR and Juan Pablo "Mad-toya" wheeling the No. 42 car, it looks like 2010 is going to be a better year than expected for the NASCAR side of team Ganassi.

But Ganassi isn't the only surprise in the NASCAR garage. There are a couple more team owners who deserve props for the first third of the season.  Sure, they haven't made history yet - but then again, the year ain't over.

Take Michael Waltrip.  Mikey's best career move may turn out to be giving Martin Truex, Jr. a full-time ride.  Truex definitely seems to click with the guys at MWR and he has the points to prove it. After Charlotte, Truex is only 14 points outside the top twelve. And he might well be the sleeper of the season.  The New Jersey native drove his way into the All-Star race and finished second only to winner Kurt Busch.  And let's not forget Truex also snagged the pole at Dover. 

MWR's David Reutimann isn't doing too badly either.  Reutimann has managed to secure top five finishes in the last two points races (which is more than current champ Jimmie Johnson can boast).

Another owner that deserves props is Richard Childress.  Toward the end of 2009, it was apparent to anyone paying attention that the RCR cars were making vast improvements. If the season had been a few races longer, we might even have seen an RCR win. 

That's why it wasn't all that surprising that Childress and company hit the track running in 2010.  Kevin Harvick is leading the points and has an early season win courtesy of Dega. Jeff Burton is in the top 12. And Clint Bowyer is a mere four points out.  It looks like Childress is back - and they mean business.

Rick Hendrick and company better watch out ...

Photo info: Kevin Harvick and team owner Richard Childress talk in the garage.

Richmond in the Rear View

If the spring race at Talladega was Christmas morning for race fans, then Saturday's contest at Richmond was Thanksgiving at the in-laws - nice enough and somewhat satisfying, but not as good as Mama makes it.

In what is usually an exciting showdown with fender-bangin' and last-minute slidin', Saturday night's race at RIR didn't quite live up to the hype (or the Dega comparison).

Still, for all the opportunities to catch some shuteye during the broadcast, there were a few developments of note at Richmond this weekend:

Kyle Busch - the Official Restart King - It was only a matter of time before Rowdy ended up in Victory Lane again.  And how fitting that KB's first checkers of the season would be the result of beating Jeff Gordon on a late-race restart.  Gotta hand it to Rowdy, if he's near the front, he gets it done.

MWR outruns HMS - The boys at Michael Waltrip Racing haven't had too much to smile about in 2010. But Richmond may have turned those frowns upside down - both Martin Truex, Jr. and Marcos Ambrose earned Top 10 finishes, while David Reutimann eked out a p15.  Compare that to the Hendrick Motorsports crew who finished 2nd, 10th, 25th and 32nd. Proof of the apocalypse?

Has JJ found his kryptonite? - Ever since the return of the spoiler, Jimmie Johnson hasn't had the most stellar of finishes. Richmond was tough on the No. 48 team. After a miserable night in the pits, Johnson barely saved the car as it slid across the finish line into10th place.  If the spoiler isn't to blame, maybe his tiff with Gordon is.  Ol' Jeff's earlier rantings just might be messing with four-time's head.

Jeff Gordon makes nice - Speaking of Jeff, After Rick Hendrick reportedly put the smackdown on the brewing feud between teammates Gordon and Johnson, all was nicey-nice at Richmond. The pair never got together on the track and Gordon's attitude post-race was all rainbows and sunshine.  We'll see how long it takes for the drivers to go at it again.  Darlington, anyone?

RCR lookin' good - At the end of last year, Richard Childress Racing was making a comeback. They just didn't have enough races left to prove it.  Now that the 2010 season is well underway, it's clear that something is clicking over at RCR.  Harvick has already snagged one victory this season and Jeff Burton hasn't been running too badly either. Also consider they finished third and fourth (respectively) at Richmond. And now that Harvick is the points leader - I'm thinking Happy just might smash "four-time's" plans to make it five.

Dale Jr's No. 3 Wrangler Tribute - Smartest Business Move of the Year

Today's announcement that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet at Daytona this summer may have been the worst-kept secret in all of NASCAR.

But the lack of shock value at the car's unveiling didn't seem to matter to the tried-and-true Earnhardt fans watching the live webcast streamed by DEI this afternoon.

If online chatter is any barometer, Earnhardt  fans and Junior Nation alike were thrilled to the gills about Dale the younger driving his father's famous number (and the old-school paint scheme) on the Daytona asphalt. Many watching the web cast commented they had already pre-ordered the diecast, t-shirts and other merchandise that will be available as part of the special car's promotion.

It's just such fan reaction that will make this unexpected collaboration between the oft-maligned Teresa Earnhardt, Dale Jr. and Richard Childress go down as racing's smartest business move in 2010.

Let's face it. Ticket sales are down. Merchandise sales stink. Fans have less income and are highly particular about how they spend it. In this economy, you have to offer spectacular product to make big bucks.

And with the Daytona race coming on the heels of Earnhardt's induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, nobody could argue that the No. 3 Wrangler tribute, and all that when into making it happen, is pretty darn spectacular.

Per the offical Daytona International Speedway press release -

The legendary No. 3 car with Dale Earnhardt Jr. behind the wheel will be returning to the historic high banks of Daytona International Speedway in the Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Friday, July 2.

"The No. 3 car has always been a favorite among our race fans here at Daytona,” said Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig. “Having Dale Earnhardt Jr. competing at the ‘World Center of Racing’ with the storied No. 3 will be an exciting moment that all race fans will want to witness in person.”

Tickets for the race are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/ or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Photo: The Earnhardts and Richard Childress pose with the No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet which Dale Jr. will drive this July at Daytona, from @MikeDavis88 via Twitter.

Somebody Dial 811

Kevin Harvick wants you to call before you dig.

Okay, not to call him exactly, but to dial three little numbers - 811. And to that end, the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil car will feature a new logo on the deck lid at Homestead that will read, “811 Know what’s below. Call before you dig.”

The Richard Childress Racing teams are working with Shell and the Common Ground Alliance to educate fans about the importance of calling 811 before doing any digging or excavation activity. A quick and easy call to 811 helps to keep you from unintentionally hitting underground pipelines, infrastructure and utility lines, which can put the community and environment at risk.

“Calling 811 is like having a spotter when you’re digging,” said Richard Childress, President and CEO, Richard Childress Racing. “The spotter’s job is it to let the driver know whether or not it is clear before he makes a move on the track helping him to avoid a collision that would put everyone in jeopardy. 811 helps keep neighborhoods safe by ensuring people know what’s below and that they’re clear to break ground.”

This Guy's Got $1 Million Ridin' On Kurt Busch

If Kurt Busch wins the Cup race Sunday, then Michael McGee will be one happy man - and $1 million richer.

McGee is the winner of the 2009 Dickies American Worker of the Year® contest, and on Saturday, he "randomly selected" Busch as the one Chase driver who can make him an instant millionaire. Right now, McGee is an agricultural teacher and horse training business owner from Broken Bow, Okla.

McGee was named the 2009 Dickies American Worker of the Year on Oct. 30 at the Professional Bull Riders World Finals in Las Vegas. As the promotion’s winner, McGee received $50,000 and an all-access, VIP trip for two to the Dickies 500 this weekend at the Texas Motorspeedway, which includes all track activities, a tour of the track’s garage, a view of the race from exclusive seats in the Dickies suite, and most importantly, the chance to turn his $50,000 prize into $1,000,000.

Photo caption: Richard Childress, owner of Richard Childress Racing and Michael McGee, 2009 Dickies American Worker of the Year

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.