| Truex says 'not so fast' about contract | Saturday 7/26, 10:18 PM CT |
|
Despite ESPN reports that Martin Truex Jr. has signed a contract extension, Martin Truex Jr. told the Sporting News Wire service that he has not yet reached an agreement with DEI.
Our View: This is precisely why it's called Silly Season. "It's [expletive]. I don't know what the hell [the reporters] is talking about. He doesn't know what he's talking about," Truex said. |
|
| N'Wide: Braun gets career best finish | Saturday 7/26, 9:08 PM CT |
|
Colin Braun didn't quite have enough for Kyle Busch, but he had more than ever in the past. The No. 16 finished second in the Kroger 200 for Riley Hospital for Children at O'Reilly Raceway Park.
Our View: Braun has started in the top 10 in four of five career starts, but before tonight his best finish was only 15th at Nashville Superspeedway this fall. Fantasy owners may have found another Young Gun dark horse. |
|
| N'Wide: Busch wins – yes, again | Saturday 7/26, 9:01 PM CT |
|
NASCAR reduced the horsepower on the Toyotas, but it didn't make any difference to Kyle Busch. He whipped the field to win his sixth Nationwide series race of the season.
Our View: There simply is no stopping this kid. Love him or hate him, he is fantasy gold. |
|
| Stewart to be fined over altercation | Saturday 7/26, 8:40 PM CT |
|
Tony Stewart believes he will be fined after having a confrontation with a track official during Thursday night's race at O'Reilly Raceway Park, according to ESPN.com. One of Stewart's National Midget team drivers suffered a flat tire and was not allowed back in the race before another restart. Stewart wanted an explanation, and reportedly smacked an official's headset off and then shoved him.
Our View: Sounds like assault, but Stewart will happily pay the fine while believing it was the official's fault. "It got their eyes open and they're doing everything they can to make sure incidents like that don't happen again," Stewart commented. |
|
| Truex signs deal with DEI | Saturday 7/26, 8:32 PM CT |
|
Martin Truex Jr. has agreed to a two-year deal that will keep him with DEI until 2010, according to ESPN.com.
Our View: With Mark Martin moving to HMS next year, DEI couldn't afford to lose Truex because they need to start rebuilding their program. In 19 starts, he has six top-10 finishes this season, but is laboring without his regular crew chief. |
|
| N'Wide: Braun wins ORP pole | Saturday 7/26, 4:41 PM CT |
|
Colin Braun caught a cloud that cooled the asphalt and he blistered the track with a lap of 108.140 mph. He will lead the field to green.
Our View: Braun is in the No. 16 and was required to qualify on time. Notably, Kyle Busch in the No. 18 was also a "go-or-go-home" driver and he will line up second. |
|
| Johnson wins Indy Happy Hour | Saturday 7/26, 4:00 PM CT |
|
Jimmie Johnson posted the fastest single lap in Happy Hour with a speed of 176.298 mph. Better yet, he also posted the quickest average speed at 173.424 during 22 laps.
Our View: The track is slowly taking rubber, which allowed the drivers to uniformly run faster in this session. |
|
| Hamlin quickest in Indy P3 | Saturday 7/26, 2:11 PM CT |
|
Denny Hamlin posted the quickest average speed in practice at 172.551 during 13 laps.
Our View: That was about an average number of laps run in this session and no one was able to make a long run. The Indy track is simply not taking on rubber—which could be bad news for the competition on Sunday. |
|
| Gordon fastest in Indy P3 | Saturday 7/26, 2:08 PM CT |
|
Jeff Gordon posted the fastest single lap of practice with a speed of 174.496 mph.
Our View: He qualified well, but Gordon must have wanted to prove he was capable of winning the pole. His average speed in this session was down the grid somewhat, but with excessive tire wear, it's hard to know exactly how these speeds will translate to Sunday's race conditions. |
|
| N'Wide: Braun wins ORP P2 | Saturday 7/26, 11:07 AM CT |
|
Colin Braun posted the fastest lap in the second practice session with a speed of 107.467 mph.
Our View: The Claim Jumpers were forced to miss this session since qualification was being run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but Braun's time still beat David Reutimann's morning speed of 107.318. |
|
| Earnhardt fans made the switch | Saturday 7/26, 9:40 AM CT |
|
At Indy, Dale Earnhardt, Jr was asked if he felt his fans had made the switch with him to HMS. “Yeah, they’ve been real supportive all year long. They’re very loyal in this sport and they always have been in this sport. I was glad to see that.”
Our View: Junior Nation is alive and well, and drivers can feel that inside the car. It's an intangible that makes them go faster. |
|
| N'Wide: Reutimann wins P1 at ORP | Saturday 7/26, 9:23 AM CT |
|
David Reutimann posted the fastest single lap in the first practice session with a speed of 107.318 mph.
Our View: Now he'll jump n a helicopter to get to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The speeds will be a little different, however, as Ryan Newman has the provisional pole at Indy with a lap of 180.970. |
|
| N'Wide: No. 5 gets new chief | Saturday 7/26, 8:50 AM CT |
|
Cam Strader will assume the crew chief duties for the No. 5 JR Motorsports team, which will be driven this week by Landon Cassill.
Our View: Chad Walters resigned, which created the opening, but it's hard to believe that someone would want to leave a team with this much momentum. |
|
|
|
