‘In The Loop’ At New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth have combined for seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships.
They’ve also combined for zero wins in 2008. According to the statistics, the “slump” will be busted sooner than later.
All three are either strong at this weekend’s track, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, or over the 10-race Race to the Chase. Below is a rundown of the three drivers, and their chances of victory:

Tony Stewart

Of the three, Stewart has the least to worry about. He is a notorious late bloomer. In seven of his nine NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seasons, it took Stewart until after race No. 10 for his first victory (2002 and 2006).

Last season, it took him until race No. 19 at Chicagoland to capture his first win. His stats suggest this season’s first victory may come two races earlier – this weekend at New Hampshire, race No. 17.

His statistics there are phenomenal. Over the past six races, Stewart has a win, two runner-up finishes and a third-place finish. Below is Stewart’s race-by-race log over the last six races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the site of Sunday’s LENOX Industrial Tools 301 (all driver race logs can be seen at NASCARMedia.com):

Stewart at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Date Finish ARP FLR LT15% DR
7/05 1 2.2 80 100% 149.2
9/05 2 2.9 71 97.7% 143
7/06 37 29.2 8 29.2% 89.9
9/06 2 9.2 9 85.3% 109.5
7/07 12 10.4 5 87.0% 92.9
9/07 3 3.7 16 99.3% 122.8
Total 9.5 9.6 189 82.9% 117.9
ARP: Average Running Position
FLR: Fastest Laps Run
LT15: Percentage of Laps in the Top 15
DR: Driver Rating

But if a victory doesn’t happen this weekend for Stewart, it very well could happen before the Chase begins.

At the upcoming 10 tracks in the Race to the Chase – the 10 races prior to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – Stewart has 18 career wins, 59 top fives and 91 top 10s. And over the last three seasons, Stewart has series-best numbers in Driver Rating (107.2), Average Running Position (10.5) and Laps in the Top 15 percentage (76.2%).

Jeff Gordon

Like Stewart, Gordon excels at New Hampshire and has strong numbers at the Race to the Chase tracks.
Over the last three races at NHMS, Gordon has done just about everything but win. He finished second in both 2007 NHMS races, and third in the second race of 2006. Check out his numbers during that span:

Gordon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Date Finish ARP FLR LT15% DR
9/06 3 3.5 49 98.7% 125.1
7/07 2 4.1 38 97.3% 125
9/07 2 5.5 40 93.0% 119.8
Total 2.3 4.4 127 96.3% 123.3

Over the next 10 tracks, Gordon has a Driver Rating of 96.3 and an Average Running Position of 11.8 since 2005.

Matt Kenseth

Even without a Victory Lane trip, Kenseth is the hottest driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series right now. Over the last six races – all top-10 finishes – he has tallied more points than any other driver (934). And over the next 10 tracks, only Stewart boasts better numbers.

Over the last three seasons, Kenseth has a Driver Rating of 98.2 and Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 73.8% during the Race to the Chase. Both figures are second-best in the series.

"Smoke" Runs To HASS

Tony Stewart has been very tight lipped about his future in racing, and the rumors have been soaring. Maybe the question is finally answered.... Sources are saying that Tony Stewart is going to HASS CNC Racing, as a part or full time owner, and is getting a buy-out of the last year of his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing by manufacture Chevy. Stewart has a long relationship with Chevy, as Stewart's racing teams outside of NASCAR all have Chevy chassis's and are sponsored by Chevy.

Another twist to this news is the fact that Ryan Newman, driver of the #12 Penske Dodge, is reportedly going with Stewart to HASS Racing. Newman has made it very clear that in the last few weeks that if improvements were not seen at the #12 team then he would go elsewhere.

Reported sponsors for the drivers are to be Burger King, and Office Depot, which recently announced they would not be with Roush/Fenway Racing after this season.

So who will be in the #20 and the #12? Well it is mostly likely Rookie Joey Lagono will take the place of Stewart in the #20. Lagono has had a great start to his NASCAR career with a win in his 2nd Nationwide race and a couple of front row starts, for JGR.

No driver yet has been named to the #12 if Newman leaves.

Tony Stewart leaving JGR.... done deal?

I was told by a source that Tony is gone at the end of this year and that Chevy is buying out his contract. He is going to the same place that has been reported on, HASS Racing, and that Ryan Newman is going too. With sponsors Burger King and Office Depot. No news on who will be replacing Stewart in the #20 but word is that Rookie driver Joey Logano who has been very strong in his early runs in the Nationwide series.

More on Stewart and Haas CNC

Tony Stewart is shopping for car sponsorships in anticipation of a potential partnership with Haas CNC Racing, multiple sources told ESPN.com. Although Stewart has a year left on his contract at Joe Gibbs Racing and JGR officials insist he hasn't asked for a release, the two-time Sprint Cup champion appears prepared to share ownership of Haas Racing's two-car team in 2009. One source close to the situation said there have been discussions with Ryan Newman as the second driver. Newman has said he will not return to Penske Racing if the performance of that team doesn't improve quickly. Newman's name definitely would help draw sponsorship to Haas. "He's talking to every major sponsor that is available out there for this Haas deal," one source said of Stewart and his representatives. "I don't know if it's done, but it sounds like it's very close." Office Depot and Old Spice have emerged as the favorites for at least one of the cars. Office Depot lost its bid to remain with Carl Edwards of Roush Fenway Racing when Aflac was chosen as the primary sponsor of the #99. Sources said there have been discussions with Stewart's representatives that would make Office Depot and Old Spice co-primaries with Office Depot as the lead sponsor. Old Spice already has a relationship with Stewart in the Cup and Nationwide Series. Stewart would not address his future following Sunday's race at Infineon Raceway. JGR president J.D. Gibbs insisted Stewart had not closed the door on signing a long-term deal with the company that brought him to Cup racing in 1999 and helped him win titles in 2002 and 2005. But there is widespread speculation that the reason JGR has rushed Joey Logano into the Nationwide Series is to prepare him to take Stewart's place should Stewart leave. Stewart admitted two months ago there had been inquiries from other teams. He acknowledged there had been talks with Haas CNC that included ownership.(ESPN.com)

With Haas partnership possible, Stewart has eye on sponsorship

By David Newton
ESPN.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Tony Stewart is shopping for car sponsorships in anticipation of a potential partnership with Haas CNC Racing, multiple sources told ESPN.com.

Although Stewart has a year left on his contract at Joe Gibbs Racing and JGR officials insist he hasn't asked for a release, the two-time Sprint Cup champion appears prepared to share ownership of Haas Racing's two-car team in 2009.

One source close to the situation said there have been discussions with Ryan Newman as the second driver. Newman has said he will not return to Penske Racing if the performance of that team doesn't improve quickly.

Newman's name definitely would help draw sponsorship to Haas.

"He's talking to every major sponsor that is available out there for this Haas deal," one source said of Stewart and his representatives. "I don't know if it's done, but it sounds like it's very close."

Office Depot and Old Spice have emerged as the favorites for at least one of the cars. Office Depot lost its bid to remain with Carl Edwards of Roush Fenway Racing when Aflac was chosen as the primary sponsor of the No. 99.

Sources said there have been discussions with Stewart's representatives that would make Office Depot and Old Spice co-primaries with Office Depot as the lead sponsor. Old Spice already has a relationship with Stewart in the Cup and Nationwide Series.

Stewart would not address his future following Sunday's race at Infineon Raceway.

JGR president J.D. Gibbs insisted Stewart had not closed the door on signing a long-term deal with the company that brought him to Cup racing in 1999 and helped him win titles in 2002 and 2005.

But there is widespread speculation that the reason JGR has rushed Joey Logano into the Nationwide Series is to prepare him to take Stewart's place should Stewart leave.

Stewart admitted two months ago there had been inquiries from other teams. He acknowledged there had been talks with Haas CNC that included ownership.

Joe Custer, who is running Haas CNC while owner Gene Haas serves jail time for tax evasion, would not comment on where things stood.

"Nothing can happen until they let him out of his contract," he said of JGR. "They hold all the cards. Go figure out what they are going to do. When he becomes available we want to talk to him."

Custer said it was not appealing to have Stewart as a co-owner while still driving for JGR next season if the company holds him to his deal.

Both Haas cars, the No. 66 of Scott Riggs and the No. 70 that has been driven by multiple drivers, are outside the top 35 guaranteed a spot in the field each week. Riggs is 36th in owner points and the 70 is 44th.

Haas admitted a partner like Stewart could turn things around for a program that already has support from Hendrick Motorsports.

"It would be extremely helpful to have Tony Stewart or a franchise type player," Custer said. "Those folks have an enormous impact on a team. Would it help us? Yes. It would help us significantly."

Truck Series Driver Buys Montgomery Speedway

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Rick Crawford has reached an agreement in principal to buy the half-mile track, according to Doug Carwyle, a local businessman who helped broker the deal. The only stipulation to the sale is that the city of Montgomery grant a license allowing the track to hold races. Kevin Radvany, who handles public relations for Crawford's race team, said track representatives will make the request with the city licensing board July 17. "Outside of that one thing, it's a done deal," said Carwyle, who is expected to help manage the track once Crawford takes ownership. "Rick and (current owner) Bill Manfull have agreed on the price. Rick sent the retainer -- $50,000 -- to the auction company. All that's left is getting that license. If that happens, we go back racing." Carwyle said Crawford, a Mobile native who is currently fifth in the Craftsman Truck Series points standings, has been involved in the sale of MMS since the auction a month ago. Radvany said Crawford's purchase of the track would have no effect on his participation in the Truck Series. "This is no different than Tony Stewart owning Eldora Speedway (a small dirt track in Ohio)," Radvany said. "This is something Rick has always said he wanted to do."(Montgomery Advertiser)

NASCAR Newscast: Toyota / Save Mart 350

NASCAR Newscast: Toyota / Save Mart 350

Infineon Post Race Report

The twists and turns of Infineon Raceway was not going to get in the way of Kyle Busch on Sunday as he took his #18 Toyota to his 5th victory of the year, giving him 50 bonus point so far going into the chase, for the final 10 races of the year. Anyone who is doubting this kids ability needs to look back at the different types of tracks he has won at this year. Atlanta (1.5 Mile Oval) Talladega (restrictor-plate track) Dover, (high banked concrete oval) Darlington (toughest track) and Infineon ( roadie).
This kid is the real deal. What Hendrick's Motorsports must be thinking? We kept Mears and got rid of Busch? All the na-sayers were talking about how bad Kyle would do at Gibbs, with a new car in Toyota and everyone saying that Gibbs would not be able to handle 3 hot-headed drivers. Well right now Joe Gibbs Racing look like the smartest team in the garage.

Race Results:

1st Kyle Busch - 5 wins in 16 races this year...... ummmm WOW!

2nd David Gililland - Why is it such a shocked that he got 2nd, this guy has more laps around this track then most Cup drivers. Its called the Nascar West Series.

3rd Jeff Gordon - Nice Improvement, but all expected more from him at a roadie

4th Clint Bowyer - Wait, wait.... Bowyer can turn right too?

5th Casey Mears - Great top 5, but too little, too late. Gone after this season?

6th Juan Montoya - Great run most of the race, bad luck, and he is mad at Marcos Ambrose for spinning him out.

7th Ryan Newman - Nice solid run for the Daytona 500 winner

8th Matt Kenseth - Great finish for a bad start, still in the top 12 in points, but only 2 ahead of Harvick

9th Carl Edwards - No backflip here, but he won the Nationwide Race, oh and no backflip there too.

10th Tony Stewart - Can we expect a phone call from Kevin Harvick? Tony had a solid top 3 or 5 until the #29 changed that.

Other Notables:

12th Dale Earnhardt Jr - Glad to be anyway from a road course for a while.

18th Jamie McMurray - You gotta feel for him, last year at Infineon he was almost there, and this year Harvick takes him out.

19th Elliott Sadler - If you feel bad for McMurray then you have to cry for Sadler, flat right rear tire does him in after the red flag

33rd Kasey Kahne - went from first to...... well 33rd

NASCAR CAMP WORLD WEST SERIES

Jason Bowles won a spirited three-way battle around the twisting 1.99-mile road course of Infineon Raceway to take the victory in the Bennett Lane Winery 200 presented by Supercuts on Saturday.

Bowles held off fierce challenges from Eric Holmes and Jim Inglebright in the closing laps to score his first win of the year in NASCAR Camping World Series West competition.

Bowles opted to pit early for fuel and not change tires. That strategy helped him get out front by lap 31 and avoid much of the rough and tumble action that eliminated some of his competition, who were trying to work their way to the front of the record 41-car field after making pits stops. Holmes and Inglebright used a similar plan of taking on fuel, but not stopping for tires.

Their early pit stops became a concern later, when the race distance was extended for a green-white-checkered finish due to a late-race caution. Bowles, who had shut off his engine and coasted around portions of the track during cautions to conserve fuel, was able to make it to the finish despite his fuel pressure gauge dropping to zero in the final lap.

Tom Hubert followed the trio across the finish line in third, followed by Ken Schrader.

The win gave Bowles a victory on the only road course where he did not win in 2007, having encountered mechanical problems in last year’s race at Infineon Raceway. The win also secured him a spot in the prestigious post-season NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.)

Holmes’ second-place finish, meanwhile, gave him a slight lead in the championship standings over Mike David, who battled back to ninth after being spun by another car. Holmes, who won the 2006 championship, leads defending champion David – 971 to 969. Bowles moved to third in the standings, with 905.

Most insane crash of the day