| Next stop on the Nextel Cup Schedule is Phoenix | | | | with Dale Earnhardt, Richard Childress, could no longer |
| International Raceway | | | | do it. |
| Next week, NASCAR gears up for the ultimate test | | | | Hopefully, Jeff Burton's win yesterday in the Samsung |
| for the new Cars of Tomorrow as the teams head to | | | | Radioshack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway proved |
| Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) for the Subway | | | | the RCR doubters wrong. In just five races this year, |
| Fresh Fit 500. This year's spring race at Phoenix will | | | | RCR has won a combined 2 Nextel Cup events, the |
| mark the first time the new Car of Tomorrow has | | | | Daytona 500 and yesterday's race. Only one other |
| ever seen the unique one mile, low-banked, sun | | | | team, Hendrick Motorsports, has done better. |
| soaked asphalt track nestled in the desert hills outside | | | | Here Mikey, Mikey, Mikey! |
| of Phoenix. | | | | If you were a marketing representative for NAPA |
| That's right! To date, no test sessions have been run | | | | Auto Parts, what would you do? Your main |
| with the new COT's at Phoenix. Unlike previous COT | | | | spokesman, Michael Waltrip, who you've paid millions of |
| races at Bristol and Martinsville where teams had an | | | | dollars to showcase your corporate name on the race |
| official test session before actually racing at the track, | | | | track, has failed to qualify for every race this year |
| drivers and crews enter next weekend blind to how | | | | except Daytona. Oh, and don't forget that Daytona |
| the new COT's will react to the challenges posed by | | | | had a bit of negative publicity associated with the |
| PIR. | | | | whole cheating thing. |
| What's even more discomforting to teams is that | | | | It seems that in trying to do the unthinkable, field three |
| Phoenix is truly a unique track. Most tracks on the | | | | Nextel Cup teams along with using equipment from |
| Nextel Cup circuit have similar tracks where teams | | | | NASCAR's newest auto manufacturer, Toyota, |
| can go and perform tests. However, there is no other | | | | Michael Waltrip has stretched himself and his |
| asphalt track in the US similar enough to Phoenix that | | | | organization thin. In doing so, could he be jeopardizing |
| will allow teams the chance to practice with their new | | | | the other quality sponsors, such as UPS, currently |
| cars. | | | | signed up with his race team? |
| Typically at this point I would give you a list of drivers | | | | For Michael's sake, let's hope that he can correct his |
| to watch based on historical results. However, given | | | | current course! And if he asked, I would strongly |
| the huge unknowns for next week's race, I'll give you | | | | suggest that he let a younger, talented driver take the |
| my gut feeling. Expect the top teams, Hendrick | | | | reigns of the NAPA ride while he took care of |
| Motorsports and Roush Racing, to do the best at | | | | managing the business. What's the famous saying; |
| Phoenix. The COT project for most teams has been | | | | either crap or get off the pot? I think it's time for |
| overwhelming. But both Roush and Hendrick have | | | | Michael to get off the pot. |
| more manpower devoted to developing their COTs. | | | | Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at Texas Speedway |
| More man power in the shops translates to more | | | | Recap |
| horsepower on the track come Sunday. | | | | Going into the Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at Texas |
| Next Week's Schedule: | | | | Motor Speedway, no NASCAR Cup driver had ever |
| Nextel Cup: @ Phoenix International Raceway (all | | | | won more than one race at Texas. That all changed |
| times PST) | | | | yesterday as Jeff Burton went on to win for the |
| 04/19/07 - 05:10pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Qualifying - | | | | second time by passing Matt Kenseth on the final lap. |
| SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 | | | | Winning ten years ago at the inaugural NASCAR race |
| 04/20/07 - 04:50pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Practice - | | | | in Texas, Burton celebrated the track's 10th |
| SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 | | | | anniversary with yet another win, 19th of his career. |
| 04/21/07 - 05:30pm NASCAR Nextel Cup SUBWAY | | | | Ten years of racing at Texas has yielded ten |
| Fresh Fit 500 | | | | separate winners. Not included in that list of winners is |
| Busch Series: @ Phoenix International Raceway | | | | four time champion, Jeff Gordon. Starting on the pole |
| 04/19/07 - 06:45pm NASCAR Busch Series Practice - | | | | at the start of the 500, Gordon held on to the top |
| Bashas' Supermarkets 200 | | | | position for much of the race leading 173 of 334 laps. |
| 04/20/07 - 02:35pm NASCAR Busch Series Qualifying | | | | By not winning, Gordon ended a four race winning |
| - Bashas' Supermarkets 200 | | | | streak that saw a Hendrick Motorsports driver take |
| 04/20/07 - 06:30pm NASCAR Busch Series Bashas' | | | | the checkered flag. |
| Supermarkets 200 | | | | After missing the last two races while deciding to run a |
| Craftsman Truck Series off until April 28th at Kansas | | | | limited schedule in 2007, Mark Martin finished in 3rd |
| Speedway | | | | place in just his 5th race of the year. The 3rd place |
| Burton Sets the Course for Richard Childress Racing! | | | | finish moved Martin up to 12th in points. Over the five |
| Last year we saw a resurgence in Richard Childress | | | | races that Mark has participated in this year, his |
| Racing. Not since the days of Dale Earnhardt, have | | | | average finish is 5th. |
| we seen a driver from RCR be a contender not just | | | | If the Chase for the Championship were to start today, |
| for a race, but for a championship. | | | | Martin would be a qualifier. That brings up an interesting |
| Some skeptics thought last year was an anomaly. No | | | | scenario for NASCAR, could a driver race a limited |
| team could compete with the likes of Hendrick | | | | schedule and still qualify for the Chase? Mathematically |
| Motorsports and Roush Racing in the new age of | | | | it is possible. But it never could have happened under |
| NASCAR. Even the man who won six championships | | | | the old system. |