The Final Lap – NASCAR News, Radio, Podcast

PHOTO CREDIT: NASCARMEDIA (USED WITH PERMISSION)

1 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet 49.973 191.623
2 22 AJ Allmendinger Shell Pennzoil/AAA Dodge 50.107 191.111
3 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford 50.126 191.039
4 43 Aric Almirola VeriFone Sail Ford 50.141 190.981
5 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet 50.196 190.772
6 16 Greg Biffle 3M/O’Reilly Auto Parts Ford 50.245 190.586
7 99 Carl Edwards Fastenal Ford 50.245 190.586
8 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet 50.274 190.476

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9 55 Michael Waltrip Aaron’s Color Your Way Toyota 50.335 190.245
10 17 Matt Kenseth Best Buy Ford 50.347 190.200

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Photo Credit: Tyler Barrick/Getty Images for NASCAR

By: Toby Christie – Follow on Twitter @Tobalical

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career has caught a second-wind after horrid seasons in 2009 and 2010 where he finished outside the top-20 in the point standings. Last season Earnhardt began building a foundation with his new crew chief Steve Letarte. The two gelled nearly to perfection, and Earnhardt returned to the Chase for the first time since 2008.

This season Earnhardt is on fire. Through the first seven races he has racked up five top-ten finishes, and he has yet to finish outside of the top-15 in any event. Coincidentally now that Earnhardt has things turned around, the rest of Hendrick Motorsports seems to be struggling to find their way as the organization sits at 199 wins in the Sprint Cup Series.

Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne can’t seem to buy good luck, while Jimmie Johnson was mired in a cheating scandal during the early stages of the season.

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BROOKLYN, Mich. (April 4, 2012) – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Brad Keselowski, Juan Pablo Montoya and Kyle Busch concluded Goodyear Tire testing at Michigan International Speedway on Wednesday. The session was the second day for the test.

Speeds were very quick. Montoya said minimum speed was 189 mph, but cars were going above 215 in the straightaways.

The test is a result of the track’s repave, finished last November. This was the fourth repave – 1977, 1986 and 1995.

PHOTO CREDIT: Todd Davis, LAT USA

Opportunistic Ryan Newman cashes in at Martinsville

April 1, 2012

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — In the wake of a controversial late-race caution, Ryan Newman spoiled an afternoon of Hendrick hegemony with an opportunistic victory in the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.

After Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson dominated the action for 497 laps, an untimely caution flag flew on Lap 497 and sent the race to overtime, after David Reutimann stalled on the frontstretch.

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Here are the contenders for the crown: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin.

Oddly, neither won a Martinsville race last year (Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart did), but that was a rarity.

Every year since 2003, at least one of those three drivers has won a Martinsville race. And even though Martinsville’s history goes all the way back to 1949, the three already reside near the top of the track’s wins list. Gordon has seven wins (tied for third-most); Johnson has six wins (tied for fifth); and Hamlin has four wins (tied for ninth).

Gordon needs the usual Martinsville success most – he currently sits 25th (the lowest points position through five races of his career), 51 points outside the top 10.

If a Gordon victory occurs (or a Johnson, Kasey Kahne or Dale Earnhardt Jr. win), it’ll be Hendrick Motorsports’ 200th win. That scene would be fitting – Martinsville was the site of Hendrick’s first win in 1984. Hendrick would also tie Petty Enterprises from most wins all time at the Virginia short track.

Hendrick’s Hiccups Only Temporary
You don’t hear this often: Hendrick Motorsports has only one driver in the top 10 and three outside the top 20.

No need to worry just yet. Jimmie Johnson, currently 37th due in most part to a 25-point penalty after Daytona, has won four times at Las Vegas, more than any other driver.

Jeff Gordon, currently 22nd, won at Las Vegas in 2001.

Currently 32nd, Kasey Kahne earned his first pole at Las Vegas, in 2004. He has four top 10s in eight races at the 1.5-mile track.

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