Top 35 Owner Points Countdown: Four Down, One to Go

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 10, 2009) – The developing picture of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will become clearer at the conclusion of the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 22.

That’s when the use of last year’s final car owner points to determine the top 35 weekly guaranteed starting spots ends. Starting at Martinsville Speedway March 29, the current owner points determine the top 35 guarantees.

And so, during this off-week for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the “bubble” is big news looking ahead to Bristol.

The reason for that, is this: Some major NASCAR names are hovering way-too-close to the cut-off, starting with the out-of-retirement Mark Martin (No. 5 Kellogg’s/Carquest Chevrolet) whose Hendrick Motorsports team sits in 35th this week, merely nine points ahead of the 36th-place team owned by Chip Ganassi, the No. 8 Cub Cadet Chevrolet driven by Aric Almirola.

Continue reading “Big Teams in Top 35 Danger Zone”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 10, 2009) – Jimmy Watts, a crew member for the No. 47 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been suspended from the next four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events (until April 22) for rule violations during last Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

VIDEO LINK: http://www.nascar.com/video/cup/2009/03/08/cup.atl.pitmove.a.nascar/index.html

Watts was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 9-15-U (crew members must not go on the race track for any reason while the cars are racing or while the cars are running under the yellow flag or the red flag, unless otherwise directed to do so by a NASCAR official). Watts has also been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

Continue reading “Four Race Suspension for stroll on Frontstretch Lawn”

Back-To-Back Busch: Brothers Take Act To Bristol’s Short-Track Theatre
Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch have won the last two NASCAR Sprint Cup races and after this off-week it’ll be on to Bristol Motor Speedway, there the Busch Brothers have excelled in the past.

Consider:

Kurt – the 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion – has five NASCAR Sprint Cup wins there, while Kyle has one.

Overall all, the brothers have combined for 32 victories in NASCAR’s premier series – Kurt with 19, Kyle with 13. That’s the sixth-best sibling total of all-time. Bobby and Donnie Allison lead with a combined 94 during their storied careers.

Continue reading “Busch Bros Go Back to Back”

Jeff Gordon didn’t win Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but he came up clutch when it counted most.

NSCS Recap: Big Brother Dominates At Atlanta
HAMPTON, GA. — The other Busch won this one. Big Brother. Kurt. The Busch that won a championship before his little brother hit the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series scene a few years ago.

Photo: CIA Stock Photo

Last week in the Busch Brothers’ hometown, Las Vegas, it was young Kyle winning the race.

Sunday, in Atlanta, it was Kurt’s day to shine and shine he did. Literally driving the wheels off his Miller Lite Penske Dodge, Kurt led a whopping 234 of the 325-lap Kobalt Tools 500, banging into the outside retaining wall several times in the process.

It was the elder Busch’s first win of the season and he did it in very convincing fashion.

When the 10th caution of the day waved with just three laps remaining and Busch leading, it set the stage for an exciting green, white, checkered flag finish. All the lead cars pitted for tires and Carl Edwards beat Busch and Jeff Gordon back on the track.

Continue reading “Kurt Busch Wins Atlanta”