http://www.yardbarker.com/content/sport/14 Recent Yardbarker articles: NASCAR en-us my column for this week's newspaper Kyle Busch is just driving away. Literally and figuratively. Busch won his sixth race of the season Saturday night, edging out Carl Edwards on the last lap as the caution flag flew. Busch not only leads the championship points but he also has a 40-point edge as of today headed into the Chase for the Sprint Cup in eight more weeks. Some people think a hot start can hurt you over the long NASCAR Sprint Cup season, but Busch is making sure he can afford a bad week during the final 10-race playoff. Busch's 60 bonus points puts him up on the next highest total of 20 shared by Edwards and Kasey Kahne. No one else has won more than one race this season. Last year Jimmie Johnson put on a show, winning 10 races en route to his second consecutive championship, and now Busch looks well on his way to eclipsing that total. Through 18 races, Busch has won six, or one-third. The best winning percentage in baseball right now belongs to the Tampa Bay Rays at .628 entering play Sunday. Busch is at a cool .667, roundup up of course. And the younger brother has proven over the past couple of weeks that he can win on any track, anywhere. Busch picked up his first road course win in the Sprint Cup Series by dominating Infineon Raceway. He has won the last two restrictor plate races, winning Saturday in Daytona and at Talladega earlier this season. Busch also has wins at Dover, Darlington and Atlanta. Of the 10 races during the Chase there are stops at Dover, Atlanta and Talladega on the schedule. Busch was also in position for a win at Richmond, where they run the final race before the Chase. Watkins Glen is on the map ahead, as is a second trip to Pocono, California, Bristol and Michigan. It is not unreasonable given the performances he continues to lay down to expect Kyle to have seven or eight wins headed into the Chase. It also wouldn't be unreasonable to think he couldn't win three or four of the Chase races. 12 or 13 wins this season is completely within his grasp. Busch has found a way to leave the most powerful team in the sport, a team he was relegated to being the number three guy at best, and become the number one star on another team of stars. Two-time champion Tony Stewart has struggled to find any consistency all season, and hasn't found victory lane yet. Stewart didn't even finish Saturday's race in Daytona, suffering from flu-like symptoms. Denny Hamlin, the 2006 Rookie of the Year, has been strong in winning at Martinsville, but also has struggled to finish races. All three drivers will most likely cruise into the Chase, but only one will make any noise. I had been skeptical about Busch's talent in the past. I knew he was good, but I thought he was way too immature and stubborn to harness it. I figured he would win races, make Chases, and continue to fall short of championships because he wasn't finishing races. Busch has shown maturity this season, and is not only finishing races, he is making comebacks and winning them. Like last night, where he went from 37th at one point to the checkered flag at the end. Clearly this season is Kyle Busch's for the taking, and everyone else is just living in it. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:10:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286275 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286275 25380 Kyle Busch Here are the final laps to last nights race at Daytona. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:03:23 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286220 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286220 25352 Carl Edwards 25380 Kyle Busch 25367 Jeff Gordon Kyle Busch pulled another win out last night in last nights Coke Zero 400. Busch held off a spirited charge by Carl Edwards in a green-white-checkered situation to take his sixth win of the year. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:01:23 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286219 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286219 25380 Kyle Busch 25352 Carl Edwards 25367 Jeff Gordon It's time once again for that midsummer classic, the Firecracker Pepsi Coke Zero 400. Yes, the NASCAR boys are back in Daytona for some high speed, tight racing action. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:43:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286031 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286031 25382 Paul Menard Who is on fire and who is smoldering? Screaming Sports' Richard Ginn takes a look at NASCAR's 10 hottest drivers as of week 19. Jeff Gordon is still sitting pretty, while Kyle Busch is sinking like a rock. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:37:22 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285968 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285968 25367 Jeff Gordon 25352 Carl Edwards 25357 Jeff Burton 25364 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 25376 Jimmie Johnson 25380 Kyle Busch 25375 Martin Truex, Jr. 25407 Greg Biffle 25377 Matt Kenseth 25398 Tony Stewart After his Sprint Cup team shut down earlier this week, there have been many rumors sprung up on what 2007 Indy 500 Dario Franchitti will do to get his racing career back on track. Dario will like everyone to know that a return to the Indycars is out of the question... Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:23:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285957 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285957 News and notes from earlier this week... Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:22:27 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285956 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285956 The rumors were put to rest on Friday when an official announcement was made that Mark Martin will drive for Hendrick Motorsports full-time in 2009. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:08:35 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285892 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285892 25383 Mark Martin 25375 Martin Truex, Jr. Hendrick Motorsports announced today the signing of Mark Martin to a multi-year contract. DYN explains what that means for the future of Hendrick Motorsports, and also the underlying effects that the announcement will have on the rest of the NASCAR Silly Season. Tony Stewart is also rumored to have reached a sponsorship deal for his potential move next year to Haas CNC Racing. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:58:44 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285822 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285822 25383 Mark Martin 25398 Tony Stewart 25364 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 25376 Jimmie Johnson 25405 Ryan Newman 25375 Martin Truex, Jr. The "Loose in Turn 3" trio will discuss what will become of teams late Yates Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing now that we've seen a team like Chip Ganassi Racing have to fold one of their race teams due to a lack of sponsorship. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:55:47 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285821 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285821 Tony Stewart dominated this particular race in 2005 and 2006, and he was running second when he and teammate Denny Hamlin got together. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:06:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285616 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285616 25398 Tony Stewart 25364 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 25380 Kyle Busch 25405 Ryan Newman 25367 Jeff Gordon DYN gives an in-depth preview of this weekend's Sprint Cup race to be held at Daytona International Speedway. The preview provides stats for past races held at Daytona, weighs in on the favorites (as well as who NOT to expect to win), and provides DYN's fantasy picks. Also included is video of Jamie McMurray's win in the 2007 Pepsi 400 last July. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:59:06 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285540 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285540 25398 Tony Stewart 25364 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 25367 Jeff Gordon 25376 Jimmie Johnson 25371 Kevin Harvick 25405 Ryan Newman 25388 Jamie McMurray 25361 Kurt Busch 25349 Brian Vickers 25392 Elliott Sadler 25380 Kyle Busch 25368 Robby Gordon 25358 Casey Mears 25383 Mark Martin 25413 Aric Almirola 25381 Sterling Marlin 25385 Boris Said The Ride To Work Program is a great way to get you and your co-workers and friends to show their support if you have a motorcycle, scooter or even a bicycle. Please read more about it in my blog. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:11:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285475 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285475 I don't care if you're not a fan of NASCAR, you must check out this article. Screaming Sports' Richard Ginn does an amazing job of compiling charts with endless data about previous results at the Daytona International Speedway. You will not find another fantasy NASCAR article like this anywhere on the net. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:23:36 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285459 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285459 Looking to capitalize on his previously compiled data, Screaming Sports' Richard Ginn makes his expert picks for the Coke Zero 400. He's list an A list driver, two B list drivers, a C list driver and three potential sleepers. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:21:03 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285457 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285457 25398 Tony Stewart 25403 David Ragan 25378 Bobby Labonte 25385 Boris Said 25376 Jimmie Johnson 25372 David Reutimann 25358 Casey Mears Here's a rundown - along with a video clip - of what took place during Sunday's race at New Hampshire between Juan Pablo Montoya and the Sprint Cup points leader, Kyle Busch. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:08:14 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285352 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285352 25414 Juan Montoya 25380 Kyle Busch After having taken four different drivers to Victory Lane in the Nationwide Series this season, things are lined up perfectly for Dave Rogers to get another crack at the Sprint Cup by 2010. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:02:01 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285351 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285351 25398 Tony Stewart 25380 Kyle Busch 25408 Denny Hamlin Kerry Earnhardt will drive the number 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for DEI Friday night in the Nationwide Series. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:21:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285215 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285215 The Winn Dixie 250 Nationwide Series race will feature ten Sprint Cup regulars. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will drive in Friday night's event, as well as the Nationwide/Sprint Cup regulars such as Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, David Ragan, and David Reutimann. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:57:49 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285171 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285171 25380 Kyle Busch 25364 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 25399 Clint Bowyer 25352 Carl Edwards 25371 Kevin Harvick There was a time, like John Landau said of Bruce Springsteen and rock-n-roll, that I thought I saw the future of NASCAR. I thought its name was Juan Pablo Montoya. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:51:12 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285168 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285168 25414 Juan Montoya For the last season and a half, veteran Mark Martin and youngster Aric Almirola have shared a ride at DEI driving the recognizable number 8 Chevrolet. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:55:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284899 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284899 Dario Franchitti's much-heralded transition from IRL to NASCAR came to an abrupt ending on Tuesday when Chip Ganassi announced that the 40 team was shutting down. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:53:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284896 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284896 Chip Ganassi decided today to shut down his no 40 team laying off most of the employees on the team and leaving driver and former Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti out of a ride... Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:36:53 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284735 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284735 As was reported earlier today by Jayski, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates has officially shut down the #40 Cup team for the season and has laid off 70 employees. A lack of sponsorship is ultimately to blame for the team's demise. From what I'm hearing, the layoffs include the entire #40 team including crew chief Steven Lane, and effect every department at CGR from the body shop to sponsorship. Apparently CGR 's Managing Director John Fernandez is also among those who were laid off. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:31:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284731 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284731 In light of all of the rumors circulating around NASCAR's Silly Season, Mark Martin is expected to make an announcement this weekend regarding his future plans. Immediate speculation indicates that he will be headed to Hendrick Motorsports, but there are a few other intriguing - and feasible - possibilities that could lie ahead for the future Hall of Famer. DYN covers the bulk of the potential scenarios as well as the underlying effects of each. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:06:51 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284697 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284697 25383 Mark Martin 25398 Tony Stewart 25405 Ryan Newman 25375 Martin Truex, Jr. 25358 Casey Mears 25388 Jamie McMurray WTF? Random paparazzi guy with a video camera asks the NASCAR driver about . . . Madonna and Guy Ritchie? Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:59:53 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284693 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284693 25367 Jeff Gordon Randy Moss is expected to announce this week on his plans with his new Craftsman Truck series team. A source to told the Boston Herald (a trustworthy newspaper, *cough* spygate *cough*)... Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:51:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284612 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284612 Dale Earnhardt Jr. plans to have a little fun after the 2008 NASCAR season ends. Earnhardt will drive a Holden Commodore at final round of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series (which is like Nationwide Series for the V8 Supercars) at Oran Park in Australia... Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:48:45 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284609 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284609 25364 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Boy, Tony Stewart must love the attention he is getting these days with no wins this season (more on that to come later) and lot options when it comes to picking up a ride next year. And now with Casey Mears being released from Hendrick Motorsports at the end of the year, Tony may have another option... Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:37:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284603 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284603 25398 Tony Stewart 25358 Casey Mears 25383 Mark Martin Just my comments and observations from the race. What did you think of it? Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:00:07 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284597 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284597 25380 Kyle Busch 25408 Denny Hamlin