The Final Lap with Kerry Murphey

FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick Talk Phoenix

A newly configured and repaved Phoenix International Raceway track presents a huge question mark for drivers and teams as Carl Edwards totes a skinny three-point advantage over Tony Stewart with two races and 96 total points remaining for their championship runs.
The Kobalt Tools 500 in Phoenix, Ariz., will consume 312 stock car laps on a one-mile oval with 11-degree banking to a sold-out audience.
Fans not shoulder-to-shoulder in the stands can tune into ESPN at 3 p.m. Sun., Nov. 13.

Author: Dwight Drum racetake.com

The media focus may shift from Kyle Busch’s dilemma should he return to the track—with probation limitations—to the tight fight between Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart for the trophy.

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FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson talk Michigan start and finish

Author: Dwight Drum racetake.com

Michigan International Speedway has sweeping 73-foot wide turns providing three and four grooves for drivers of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) to catch and pass one another.

The 2-mile tri-oval track with 18 degree banking did not disappoint during Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 as numerous lead changes, bold pit road strategies and fast competition pleased the abundant crowd.

PHOTO CREDIT: NASCARMEDIA

Although cautions happened, the day of racing was surprisingly free of crashes. Some cars scrapped the wall. Some ran low on fuel, but it was a speedy event where equipment failed—not drivers or teams.

Race 23 of 36 in the Sprint Cup Series in Brooklyn, Mich., was important for all wanting a win or good result, but for Chase contenders on the bubble the finish became tense.

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Guest Column By Cathy Elliott

Anyone who was on the fence about the appeal of road course racing leading up to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Watkins Glen International on August 15 must now have surely cold-shouldered the “road courses are boring” side in favor of the side simply known as “wow.”

Early on, the outlook was cloudy as the race, scheduled to be run on Sunday afternoon, was postponed until Monday morning due to wet weather.

In NASCAR, rain dampens more than the ground; it dampens the general spirit of things. Speedways rely heavily on volunteers and temporary workers to keep event weekends running smoothly, but many of those helpers must return to their “real” jobs on Monday. Fans have the same issue; some of them simply can’t stick around for a Monday race. And the teams lose a critical work day which would normally be spent getting ready for the next stop on the schedule.

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