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September 18, 2007

Snoozer to Start the Chase
Making the Grade-NHIS 2
By Dennis Michelsen
NASCAR officials seem to love the comparison of their sport to the NFL. They finally got it right this weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway! After a full week of non-stop hype for the start of the playoffs the race itself was a real snoozer. Doesn't this remind you of the Super Bowl almost every year? The talk of the sale of NHIS and the moving of their dates to better tracks sure was timed well! A race at Kentucky and a second race at Las Vegas would be much better than this snooze-fest to start the Chase!

Nextel Cup-Bristol

1. Clint Bowyer
2. Jeff Gordon
3. Tony Stewart
4. Kyle Busch
5. Martin Truex Jr
6. Jimmie Johnson
7. Matt Kenseth
8. Casey Mears
9. Ryan Newman
10. JJ Yeley

F for Ganassi Racing
You can hire all the open wheel all stars you want Chip but until the cars are faster you won't win much even if AJ Foyt is signed! David Stremme and Reed Sorenson's jobs are on the line but I think it is more the car than the driver in both situations!

D for Evernham Motorsports
Just when you thought Evernham Motorsports was getting the hang of this new car they go out and have a lack luster performance again! You can add all the big money to the team but until you go back to the basics and fix the engineering side of the equation this team will be hot and cold.

C for Roush Fenway Racing
This new Car of Tomorrow seems to be a Doctor Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde sort of a challenge for Roush-Fenway Racing. Some weeks they seem to have it figured out and then other weeks they struggle. A team with the depth of talent should post better finishes than 7th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 19th to start the playoffs.

B for Non-Chase Drivers
ESPN didn't seem to realize that more than 12 drivers were in the race unless they crashed! Three non-chase drivers finished in the top ten led by Casey Mears in 8th place but Ryan Newman and JJ Yeley deserve some love too!

A for Clint Bowyer
Finally the best driver in NASCAR without a win got that win! In a stunning turn around Clint Bowyer won his first race in dominant fashion at a track where his average finish before yesterday was 29th place! This team could go on a roll now that Clint knows he can win.

Tuesday on Race Talk Radio
8 pm Eastern-ASALMS Radio and Down on the Farm-Each week the best in minor league racing is profiled including the news from the cars and stars of the ASA Late Model Series. Host Dennis Michelsen interviews the drivers, series promoters, and others making news at local short tracks all over the country.

9pm Eastern-Inside the ARCA RE/MAX Series-Host Mike Harper brings you the news from inside the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Since 1953 the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) has featured some of the best stockcar racing in the country! Meet the drivers making news in the ARCA RE/MAX series every Tuesday night.