The Final Lap with Kerry Murphey

Sprint Summer Showdown Enters Finale
Sprint’s unique bonus program comes to an end this weekend, and it sets up to be an intriguing finale. The winners of Indianapolis (Paul Menard), Pocono (Brad Keselowski), Watkins Glen (Marcos Ambrose), Michigan (Kyle Busch) and Bristol (Keselowski again) are all eligible to win the $3 million bonus at Atlanta.

If one of those drivers wins Sunday’s race, a million dollars will be split evenly between the driver, the driver’s charity and one lucky fan. If Keselowski wins, the $1 million will be split evenly among two fans.

Wild Card And Bonus Points Up For Grabs
After race No. 26, the top-10 drivers will set up the first portion of the 12-driver Chase field. Spots 11 and 12 will go to those drivers with the most wins, provided they are inside the top 20.

Currently, Brad Keselowski (three wins) and Denny Hamlin (one win) reside in the two Wild Card spots.

After the Chase field is set, all drivers will have their points reset to 2,000, but only the top 10 will earn three bonus points for each regular season win. Currently, Kyle Busch leads with four wins – and 12 bonus points.

Only six bonus points – three per win – remain in this season.

Defending Winner Stewart Seeks Redemption
Atlanta comes at a nice time for Tony Stewart.

The two-time champion finished 28th at Bristol after starting 42nd. Clearly, it wasn’t one of Stewart’s best races. But last year’s race at Atlanta was – he ‘smoked’ the field, leading 176 laps.

Stewart, in 10th, enjoys a cushion of just 21 points over 11th-place Keselowski.

Newman: Milestone Pole Awaits
This weekend, a major track milestone will fall.

Newman, known for his qualifying prowess, is looking to win his eighth career pole. Currently, Newman is tied with NASCAR great Buddy Baker, a driver for whom Newman has great admiration.

Johnson, Busch Battle For Points Lead
Though in less than a month, the points positions will be shuffled, it’s interesting to note who sits at the very top right now.

Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson sit in a points tie for the number one spot, a points lead that officially goes to Busch because of his series-leading four wins.

But even though that tie will evaporate once the points reset after Richmond, these just might be THE two drivers to watch. Johnson is the five-time defending champion, and Busch is often at the top of the list entitled “Who Can End Johnson’s Reign.”

SHOW #172 – David Caraviello (@dcaraviello) Senior Writer from NASCAR.com is our guest, plus we discuss Bristol, Danica Patrick, Clint Bowyer, point standings, chase hopefuls, plus preview all things Atlanta. Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Paul Northrop (About 48mins)

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FORT KNOX, Ky., Aug. 30, 2011 – As the nation observes the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Army announced today that both its NHRA and NASCAR teams will honor the victims of the Pentagon attack with special paint schemes atupcoming races.

At this weekend’s Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis (Sept. 2-5), Tony Schumacher’s U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster will carry the names of the 75 U.S. Army personnel killed at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.

One week later, on Sept. 10, Stewart-Haas Racing driver Ryan Newman also will carry the names of the 75 U.S. Army Pentagon victims on his No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet in the Wonderful Pistachios 400 NASCAR

Sprint Cup race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.

In addition to the listing of the names, both race cars will carry an inscription “We Will Never Forget” and sport a specially-designed logo featuring the World Trade Center twin towers, Pentagon and the American Flag.

“It will be a moving experience when we unveil the race car in Indy,” said Schumacher, a seven-time world champion. “Many years later, all of us still remember that horrible day which affected so many innocent people, including those at the Pentagon. Our hearts and prayers clearly remain with the families of the victims. We will never, ever forget that terrible tragedy.”

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Goodyear wrapped up tire testing at Phoenix International Raceway on Monday and Tuesday. Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch were all on hand testing the rubber on the new racing surface. Kurt said like a roller coaster, you drive up the banking off of Turn 2 and then you drop down. It’s a nice, light feeling when you get up top – a really interesting back straightaway. I’m also glad they kept many of the old, signature characteristics of Phoenix.”
Teams will head to phoenix for an official NASCAR Test on October 4th

PHOTO CREDIT: NASCARMEDIA