Kevin Harvick Fired Up For Atlanta
Cup preview: Atlanta lights Harvick's fire
Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
If the 2006 season were like the first two versions of the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup, we'd already be talking about magic numbers - where the points leader has to finish in the next four races to clinch the title, that is.
With four races left this season, however, the only relevant number is "9." That's how many drivers could possibly hold the points lead after Sunday's Bass Pro Shops 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Of the Chase competitors, only 10th-place Kyle Busch, who is 171 points behind leader Matt Kenseth, isn't within reach of the top spot in a single race.
With the top five drivers within 48 points of each other, no team can afford to approach the Chase conservatively. According to Kevin Harvick, who moved into second place when Richard Childress Racing teammate Jeff Burton dropped out of last Sunday's Subway 500 at Martinsville with a blown engine, each of the Chasers is pushing his equipment to the limit.
"Everybody is pushing everything to the extreme, whether it's engines, bodies, drivers," Harvick said. "No matter what it is, you're pushing everything as hard as you can, so you're walking that ultra-thin line of being good with an advantage of more horsepower or more downforce or whatever the case may be, being more aggressive on the racetrack.
"But when you push it too far, you wind up crashing the car or blowing an engine or whatever you're pushing it on - and everyone is pushing everything. It appears to be sloppy, but it's just that a lot of us have had good fortunes through the year, and now it seems like some of those bad fortunes have caught up to us. But on the performance side, we're still OK and able to salvage good finishes out of it."
more on Kevin Harvick at Atlanta 500
No Shock, Kurt Busch takes Martinsville pole
Greg Engle
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- This week, Kurt Busch's qualifying time was not taken away.
Busch won the pole for Sunday's Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Going out 34th of 50 drivers Friday, Busch lapped the .526-mile track in 19.408 seconds (97.568 mph).
"It was great lap," Busch said. "Totally unexpected for me, but this team has always qualified well at this track with Rusty (Wallace) behind the wheel."
During qualifying at Lowe's Motor Speedway last week, Busch qualified second but had his time disallowed after NASCAR found a problem with the right rear shock on the No. 2 Dodge. NASCAR confiscated the shock, and the Penske Racing team was forced to start Saturday's race at the rear of the field.
This week, NASCAR suspended Busch's crew chief, Roy McCauley, until Nov. 1 because of the incident. NASCAR also docked Busch 50 driver championship points, and car owner Roger Penske was penalized 50 owner championship points.
Busch's run was his first career Martinsville pole, and the sixth of his 2006 season.
"This is his favorite track," Busch said of McCauley. "This is for him."
Jeff Gordon, who went out 18th and held the top spot until Busch's run, starts on the outside front row. Gordon scraped the wall on the second of his two qualifying laps.
"We're having fun being here and trying to make the most of it," said Gordon, currently 10th in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. "I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't hit the wall, but I don't think it was going to be better anyway."
Rookie and Virginia native Denny Hamlin (sixth in points) will start third in his home state; Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart rounded out the top five.
"I'm pretty happy with that," Hamlin said. "I felt like I hit the lap pretty good. I didn't overdrive like I did here in the spring."
more Martinsville qualifying results
Kurt Busch's crew chief suspended
Greg Engle
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- NASCAR announced Wednesday it has fined Penske Racing crew chief Roy McCauley $25,000 and suspended him from all Nextel Cup events until Nov. 1.
The sanctioning body levied the penalties after discovering a nonconforming right rear shock absorber on Kurt Busch's No. 2 Dodge during postqualifying inspection Oct. 12 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Busch had qualified third, but his time was disallowed because of the violation of three sections of the NASCAR rule book: 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-12.3M (right rear shock absorber would not compress). As a result, Busch started Saturday night's Bank of America 500 from the rear of the field.
In addition, NASCAR docked Busch 50 driver championship points and team owner Roger Penske 50 owner championship points. McCauley also was placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2006.
"NASCAR is right, there was problem with it," McCauley said last Friday. "Right now, I believe it was an equipment malfunction or failure. Obviously, we got loose in qualifying and we were expecting to be tight, so I think that at some point during the run the shock must have failed.
"I don't fault NASCAR one bit. It wasn't right, but obviously we wouldn't put it on the car like that."
NASCAR also issued fines against two Busch series crew chiefs.
more on NASCAR fines
President Busch visits Victory Junction Gang Camp
President Bush paid a very special visit to the Victory Junction Gang Camp today.
The President's visit was prompted by his interest in the great humanitarian work that takes place at Victory Junction. Upon the Presidents' arrival he was greeted by Victory Junction co-founders, Kyle Petty and his wife Pattie, as well as Richard "The King" Petty.
"This visit enabled the President to see how the camp provides a life changing experience to the children and their families free of charge. I can't thank the President enough for taking the time to come visit Victory Junction. I hope this makes every child and parent that has visited the camp very proud," said Pattie Petty, CEO of the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
The Presidential visit consisted of a tour of Victory Junction and participated in some of the camps program areas. Fishing took place at the Bass Pro Shop, Catch Kiss & Release Marina where the President was met by Victory Junction campers Maddie Lee, and Hank Grissom.
"Pattie and I are honored to have President Bush come visit the camp.This is exciting for all of us and we are truly humbled. So many NASCAR drivers, officials and fans have poured their hearts and souls into helping the camp grow," said Kyle Petty.
"President Bush visiting the camp is a great reward for everyone's dedication and an incredible opportunity for him to bring awareness to the plight of a chronically ill child."
The second stop was Adams Race Shop, a 9,000 square foot building that looks like a race car. Inside Adams Race Shop President Bush was greeted by Victory Junction campers Paul Rader, Will "Cheese" Kwapil, Morgan Sagerman as well as NASCAR drivers Michael Waltrip, and Jimmie Johnson. The campers challenged the President to test his skills on one of the NASCAR simulators. The final stop was at the Fuel Stop (dining hall) where the President greeted and took a photo with the entire staff and also took a photo with the staff.
For more information, visit www.victoryjunction.org
Burton Brothers Are Back On Track
Ward Burton back in action at Martinsville
Lee Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
CONCORD, N.C. -- After nearly a two-year absence, Ward Burton will return to the Nextel Cup Series next weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway behind the wheel of the No. 4 Lucas Oil Chevrolet for Morgan McClure Racing.
"He expressed a lot of interest in driving," said Chris Carrier, crew chief of the No. 4. "He's a Virginia driver and we're a Virginia team. That makes for a great combination at Martinsville."
Scott Wimmer started the season in the No. 4 but was replaced by Todd Bodine after he failed to qualify for the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway. Bodine failed to qualify for the following week's race at Talladega, but he did start 14th in the No. 4 for Saturday's Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. With the tight practice schedule next week at Martinsville, Bodine, the current Craftsman Truck Series points leader, felt more comfortable missing the Subway 500 to concentrate on his championship run.
more on Ward Burton at Martinsville
IN 2006, Kahne Is King At Charlotte
Kahne sweeps Lowe's; Burton retains lead
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
photo by CHUCK BURTON / AP
© 2006 The Associated Press
CONCORD, N.C. — Two things are abundantly clear at the midway point of the Chase for the championship: Jeff Burton can't do anything wrong, and nothing Kasey Kahne does is good enough.
Kahne did everything right Saturday night, leading a race-high 134 laps en route to his sixth win of the year and a season sweep at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
But Burton overcame a pit-road miscue to finish third, and retain his hold on the championship standings. He's 45 points ahead of Matt Kenseth.
Kahne, who finished first and second the past two weeks, is still stuck back in eighth place. The Dodge driver is 160 points out and accepts how hard it will be to chase down Burton.
"It's just tough when you're racing the guys we're racing with. The reason all 10 of us are in the top 10 in points is because we've all run well all year long," Kahne said. "A couple of guys had some hard luck tonight, or things happened to them and the leader, Jeff Burton, didn't.
more from Charlotte Motor Speedway
Pressure Mounts Half-way Through The Chase
Tension rises midway through Chase
Greg Engle
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
CONCORD, N.C. -- Never has the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup been so close.
The Bank of America 500, race No. 5 in the 10-race Chase, takes place Saturday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway, near the home of so many of NASCAR's race teams.
And the pressure is mounting.
The aftermath of last Sunday's UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway saw seven of the 10 Chase drivers swap points positions, and now only 185 points separate the top 10 -- the closest margin after four races in the Chase's three-year history.
The separation is even tighter near the top. Only 51 points divide the top five, again the closest margin at this juncture in history.
Add the lingering tensions carried over from last week's race, and the anxiety will be running high Saturday night.
One of those feeling the pressure is Nextel Cup points leader Jeff Burton. He looked in position to score a top 10 finish last Sunday, but a cut tire with less than 10 laps to go forced him into the pits and relegated him to 27th place. His 69-point lead going into Talladega is now only six points over second-place Matt Kenseth. Burton will start seventh in Saturday's race.
more on Chase for the NEXTEL Cup
What Caused The Kurt Busch DQ and Parson's Cancer
No. 2 crew chief blames DQ on shock
Greg Engle
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
CONCORD, N.C. -- A NASCAR spokesperson confirmed Friday that the sanctioning body has taken possession of the right rear shock from the No. 2 Dodge driven by Kurt Busch on Thursday night.
Busch qualified in the second spot, but NASCAR's post-qualifying inspection found that the right rear shock would not bounce back. Because of that, NASCAR officials ruled that the car did not meet specifications, disqualified the time and forced the team to take a provisional. Busch will start 42nd Saturday.
Roy McCauley, crew chief for the No. 2, said Friday that he believes the problem was a simple mechanical breakdown.
"NASCAR is right, there was a problem with it," McCauley said. "Right now, I believe it was an equipment malfunction or failure. We got loose in qualifying and we were expecting to be tight, so I think that at some point during the run the shock must have failed. I don't fault NASCAR one bit (for taking the shock). It wasn't right, but obviously we wouldn't put it on the car like that. We've just got to move past it and move on." Read the rest on the Busch DQ and Benny Parsons battle with cancer
ESPN Announces Line Up For 2007 NEXTEL Cup Coverage
Ex-NBA star to be part of ESPN crew
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Five-time NBA All-Star and former NASCAR team owner Brad Daugherty will be part of a new NASCAR show set to debut in 2007 as part of ESPN's coverage, the network announced Thursday.
"NASCAR Now," the network's first daily program dedicated solely to NASCAR, will debut February 5 on ESPN2. The show will run Monday through Friday and also will include NASCAR crew chief Frank Stoddard, driver Jeff Burton and veteran racing TV reporter Shannon Spake.
Daugherty, of Black Mountain, N.C., was a team owner in the Busch and Craftsman Truck series with drivers Robert Pressley and Kenny Irwin Jr. among others. Daugherty has followed NASCAR since his youth and chose his No. 43 jersey in honor of Richard Petty. Daugherty, who starred at the University of North Carolina, has been serving on the National Stock Car Racing Commission for the past three years.
ESPN/ABC also unveiled its anchor lineup Thursday at Lowe's Motor Speedway as the networks began the process to take over the second half of NASCAR's television coverage from NBC in 2007.
Brent Musburger will lead the team along with Cup champion Rusty Wallace. ESPN/ABC also will bring back Jerry Punch, who was part of ESPN's coverage team in the 1990s.
more on ESPN's lineup for NEXTEL Cup coverage
All Evernham Front Row At Charlotte, Busch Disallowed
Riggs leads Dodge sweep at Charlotte
Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
CONCORD, N.C. -- Scott Riggs knocked Evernham Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne off the provisional pole late in Thursday night's qualifying session, earning the top starting spot for Saturday's Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Driving the same No. 10 car he powered to the pole for the Coca-Cola 600 in May, Riggs turned a lap in 28.203 seconds (191.469 mph), as Dodge swept the top five positions -- until the time of third-place qualifier Kurt Busch was disallowed after inspection.
Kahne continued the momentum he gained in last Sunday's 88-point reprieve at Talladega with his front-row performance.
Kahne held the top spot until late in the Thursday's session with a lap at 190.194 mph. Casey Mears (189.613) was third after Busch's disqualification for a right rear shock that did not conform to NASCAR's rules. Elliott Sadler (189.023 mph) qualified fourth, as Evernham Motorsports grabbed three of the top four starting positions.
"I knew we had a shot at the pole," Riggs said. "For us to be able to pull it off, it just makes it more rewarding. I put a lot of pressure on myself to make sure I didn't make a mistake.
"The car did exactly what I wanted it to do, and it was an awesome-feeling lap, but I'd definitely trade this pole for a win."
With a second-place finish at Talladega, Kahne gained 88 points on Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup leader Jeff Burton, who finished 27th. Now ninth in points, Kahne is 185 behind Burton with six races remaining.
more Charlotte qualifying results
Mark Martin's Replacement At Jack Roush Racing Debuts
INTRODUCING:Rookie Ragan replaces Martin at Roush
By Lee Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
CONCORD, N.C. -- David Ragan will drive the No. 6 AAA Ford for Roush Racing in 2007. Ragan will make his debut in the Fusion next February in the Daytona 500.
Ragan, 20, replaces Mark Martin, who debuted in Roush's flagship car in the Cup Series in 1988. Ragan drove for Martin in the Legends Pro-Division and was selected by the popular veteran to share driving duties in the No. 6 F-150 Ford in the Craftsman Truck Series.
"We are very pleased to have David Ragan going into the No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion next season," Jack Roush said in a press release. "David is a driver with outstanding talent and as a result of his actions he is the young man I selected to fill the seat. The No. 6 is obviously a special car to me personally and this organization and we are confident in David's ability to step up and get the job done."
During Ragan's short stint in trucks, he has posted one pole and six top-10 finishes in 15 starts. He started second and finished seventh last weekend in the No. 50 Ford in the inaugural CTS race at Talladega.
more on Mark Martin's replacement
Extra Security For Vickers At Charlotte
Bruton Smith Assigns Extra Security to Assist Brian Vickers during Bank of America 500 Week:
In the aftermath of the controversial finish Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway Chairman Bruton Smith has assigned extra security for driver Brian Vickers during this week's Bank of America 500 activities at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Monday, the speedway ticket office was inundated with calls from race fans [idiots?] angry about the finish in which Vickers initiated a wreck that took out race leader Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and second-place Jimmie Johnson on the final lap.
"We want to make sure Brian has an uninterrupted weekend here and that he is able focus on his driving duties," Smith said. "We will offer security escorts in and out of the speedway and anywhere he feels he needs our assistance. We've done this in the past as well, I think the last time was for Rusty (Wallace) when he knocked Darrell (Waltrip) out of the way to win the all-star race back in 1989. We added security at his house and track the week of the Coca-Cola 600."
Tickets are still available for all events and can be purchased by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.
Vickers Controversial First Win At Talladega
Spin to win: Vickers takes Talladega
Greg Engle
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
TALLADEGA, Ala. -- A wild afternoon of racing Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway was capped off with a wild and controversial finish as Brian Vickers won his first Nextel Cup race.
Running third on the final lap behind Chase drivers Jimmie Johnson and race leader Dale Earnhardt Jr., Vickers clipped Johnson, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, as Johnson went low to pass Earnhardt for the lead. Johnson hit Earnhardt, taking out both cars, and Vickers flew by to win the UAW-Ford 500, his first victory in 107 Nextel Cup starts. Earnhardt was scored 23rd and Johnson 24th.
"It's not quite exactly how I planned it," Vickers said. "When (Johnson) turned down to pass the No. 8, the No. 8 kept pushing down and when he jerked to avoid the No. 8 trying to block him, I just got into him.
"I apologize. That is the last thing I want to do is to get into Jimmie, but when the No. 8 chopped him and Jimmie swerved, I just got him. It is not how I wanted to win it, but it is nice to get a win."
Earnhardt offered a kind assessment, considering he appeared to have the car to beat when the field took the green after a caution with 10 laps to go.
"He didn't mean to wreck anybody on purpose," said Earnhardt, who led the most laps, 37. "I think he was just trying to push the 48. He was just racing hard there."
Kasey Kahne was credited with second, followed by Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and rookie Martin Truex Jr. Rounding out the top 10 were Kevin Harvick, Jeff Green, Mark Martin, Carl Edwards and Bobby Labonte.
Chase leader Jeff Burton, victim of a blown tire, finished 27th, and his lead was trimmed to six points over Kenseth. Martin remained third in points but is now 10 points out of the lead. Harvick is fourth, 33 back, and rookie Denny Hamlin dropped from second to fifth and is 51 points out of first. Burton entered the race with a 69-point lead over Hamlin.
more Brian Vickers spin to win at Talladega
RYR's Youngest and Oldest Grab Front Row At Talladega
Gilliland takes pole at Talladega
Greg Engle
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Rookie David Gilliland has had an up-and-down start to his Nextel Cup career. Saturday constituted his biggest "up" to date, as he won the pole -- the first of his career in just nine Cup starts -- for Sunday's UAW-Ford 500.
Gilliland laid down a lap around the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway in his No. 38 Robert Yates Racing Ford with a speed of 191.712 miles per hour.
Although Gilliland was one of the few drivers to turn laps on Talladega's new pavement during a recent Goodyear tire test, this is his first visit to the track for competition.
"To come to a restrictor-plate race for my first time ever and to be able to start where we're starting up on the pole is very exciting," Gilliland said.
This Alabama track was repaved for the first time in 27 years during the summer, and on the new asphalt, speeds during Friday's practice sessions approached 200 mph. NASCAR mandated smaller restrictor plates Saturday in an effort to slow the cars down. The four holes in the new plates are each one-64th of an inch smaller than the ones distributed Friday, and now measure seven-eighths of an inch each in diameter.
Gilliland's pole speed, however, was still faster than the spring pole speed of 188.511 posted by Elliott Sadler, then the driver of the No. 38.
"We were fortunate enough a few weeks ago, David got his clearance through NASCAR to run down here," said Gilliland's crew chief, Todd Parrott. "As soon as that happened, we heard about the tire test that was coming down here. We talked with NASCAR about coming down here and doing a tire test. David got some laps in and just kinda learned the racetrack. I think that was a little bit of a help for us."
Gilliland's Robert Yates Racing teammate, Dale Jarrett, will start second. Jarrett is defending champion of this event. more
Martin To Continue In Cup, But Without Jack
NEW ERA
Martin leaving Roush for MB2 in '07
By Greg Engle
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
TALLADEGA, Ala. -- After months of indecision concerning his future, long-time Roush Racing driver Mark Martin announced Friday he'll be running a partial Nextel Cup schedule for MB2 Motorsports next season.
The 47-year-old Martin will run 20 points-paying races in the No. 01 Chevy, splitting time with rookie David Ragan. Martin also will compete in the Budweiser Shootout and the Nextel All-Star Challenge.
"I think that everybody knows that I'm not interested in just riding around," Martin said. "I've got a chance to keep going on a limited basis with great flexibility in Nextel Cup competition. It's hard to walk away when you have an opportunity to still have an opportunity to win races."
Last year was supposed to be Martin's final year as a full-time Nextel Cup competitor. Team owner Jack Roush, however, convinced Martin to stay one more season, and now Martin finds himself third in points and a contender for the Nextel Cup championship.
Martin, who has 35 wins in 667 starts, wants to run the limited schedule so he can spend more time with his family and have a chance to choose where he wants to compete. That wasn't an option Roush Racing was able to provide.
"We have five teams at Roush Racing that are all competitive and championship-challenging race teams," Martin said. "With NASCAR's limitation on the number of teams that you can have, and with all of the programs being set up to be championship-contending teams, there wasn't an opportunity there to split a season with a driver."
Joe Nemechek, current driver of the No. 01 U.S. Army-sponsored Chevy, will become part of a third MB2 team, the No. 13, in 2007. The Army sponsorship will stay on the 01 with Martin.
more on Martin Leaving Roush Racing
Plate Gets Smaller As Speeds Get Bigger At Talladega
NASCAR changes restrictor-plate size
SCENEDAILY - BY BOB POCKRASS - ASSOCIATE EDITOR
TALLADEGA, Ala. - NASCAR will issue restrictor plates with smaller holes for the rest of the UAW-Ford 500 weekend as teams scrambled Saturday morning to get their cars ready for qualifying.
The new restrictor plates will have four holes of seven-eighths of an inch in diameter, one-64th of an inch smaller than the ones used in practice Friday when Jeff Gordon reached a speed of 198.689 mph in the opening session at Talladega Superspeedway.
The change should slow the speeds by 2-5 mph, according to crew chiefs,.
Teams were informed of the change Saturday morning. There are no practice sessions left on the schedule - qualifying begins at 12:10 p.m. ET today and the cars will be impounded after qualifying.
Kyle Petty must make the race on speed, and the late change concerns Petty Enterprises Executive Vice President Robbie Loomis.
"My gut was telling me [they would change] halfway through the first practice," Loomis said. "Unfortunately, it took a lot longer to make the decision. ... It would be OK if we all had Ford engines or all had Dodge engines.
"They all react to something different. I guarantee you that the restrictor plate will not [have] the same [effect] for all of the manufacturers."
NASCAR officials are expected to address the media concerning the change later this morning.
Philippe Lopez, crew chief at Hall of Fame Racing, which gets its engines from Joe Gibbs Racing, said a practice with the new plates would have been helpful.
"They're wearing out at Gibbs right now trying to give us the best engines they can," Lopez said. "There's no replacing [time] on the race track.
more on smaller restrictor plate at Talladega
Mark Martin To Leave Roush For MB2 Team
Reports: Martin leaving Roush Racing for MB2
TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Mark Martin will leave Roush Racing at the end of this season to drive a partial NASCAR Nextel Cup schedule for MB2 Motorsports, The Associated Press and NASCAR.com reported Thursday night.
Team owner Jack Roush, who has fielded a Ford for Martin in NASCAR's top series since 1988, is expected to make the announcement Friday at 10:30 a.m. ET at Talladega Superspeedway.
“ We have a man who's not ready for retirement, exactly. I'm pretty sure he's ruled out that this is the time in his life where he's ready to drive [wife] Arlene on her errands every day. ”
— Roush Racing team president Geoff Smith, on Mark Martin
MB2 general manager Jay Frye has scheduled a news conference for later Friday morning at the Talladega track, where the Cup cars will race Sunday.
Martin reportedly will share the ride in the No. 01 Chevrolet with rookie Regan Smith, a 23-year-old regular in the Busch Series, a source told The Associated Press. Joe Nemechek, currently racing in the No. 01, will remain with MB2, but will move to a third team entry, while Sterling Marlin will stay in the team's No. 14 Chevy.
It is believed that Martin will run 22 races for the MB2 team, NASCAR.com reported. Smith will run the remaining 14 Cup races, a source told the Web site.
Martin, 47, has been talking about retirement from the Cup series for the past two seasons. He was set to give up his ride in the No. 6 Roush Ford after the 2005 season, but he was persuaded by Roush to stay another year because none of the team's young drivers was ready to step into the ride.
Earlier this season, it appeared Martin would leave Cup in 2007 to drive a full season -- considerably shorter than the Cup schedule -- for Roush in the Craftsman Truck Series, but he recently began talking about the possibility of running at least a partial schedule in Cup.
Roush team president Geoff Smith said several weeks ago that the team would definitely not field a Cup car for Martin in 2007 and that it was close to completing a deal with Martin to drive a Roush truck. But that deal apparently fell apart after the MB2 ride became available.
One way or another, though, Smith said recently he knew Martin wasn't ready to leave the driver's seat.
more on Mark Martin Leaving Jack Roush
Stewart Runs Out Of Gas To Win Kansas City
Stewart coasts to Kansas City win
Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Unlike most of the other competitors, and in particular the contenders in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup, Tony Stewart and his crew actually did something that worked the way they planned Sunday at Kansas Speedway.
Stewart stretched his fuel mileage to the maximum, ran out of gas exiting Turn 2 on the final lap and coasted the rest of the way to win the Banquet 400 -- or more aptly, the Murphy's Law 400 -- by 12.422 seconds over Casey Mears, who also ran out of fuel on the final lap.
Stewart's first win at Kansas was his third of the year and the 27th of his career. When he ran out of fuel on the final lap, he put the No. 20 Chevrolet in neutral and rolled to the finish line.
Stewart's crew chief, Greg Zipadelli, had calculated the No. 20 would run out of fuel half a lap before the finish. Stewart began conserving gas with about 30 laps left in the final run.
"I said, 'We've got nothing to lose here. Let's try to win this thing on fuel mileage,'" Stewart said. "The rest of the way he (Zipadelli) was yelling at me on the radio to save fuel. The bad thing is, he's got a stopwatch and can tell if I'm slowing down or not.
"But I got to see the checkered flag for a really long time there for a change. That was cool."
more on Stewart's NEXTEL Cup win at Kansas
