Chase = over

Well if Johnson's win at Martinsville didn't end the Chase, his finish in Sunday's Pep Boys Auto 500 certainly did. It's too bad for Edwards, he thought he gained at least 50 points on Johnson when in reality he only gained 15 while Johnson actually padded his points lead. Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle also faltered, leaving Edwards as the only real threat to Johnson at this point. Do I think Johnson can be caught? No, not really. This Chase is effectively over no matter what Edwards or anyone else might think.

Rain rain go away

Is it just me or is anyone else really getting tired of all the rain at NASCAR events this year? For the 10th time this season qualifying was canceled Friday due to wet weather. I'm inclined to believe that there has got to be a better solution to this rain issue rather then canceling qualifying every week.

Granted, weekend schedules at NASCAR events are usually more then a little cramped but that doesn't mean NASCAR can do something to make things better under the circumstances? What about drivers like Bryan Clauson and Joey Logano? Both drivers have missed races due to rain that otherwise they probably would have made. I've heard the suggestion before and I like the idea of holding a special round of qualifying (if rain cancels the main qualifying session) just for go-or-go homers like Clauson or Logano. At least then you would give the drivers not guaranteed a spot in the race the chance to prove how good they are.

Or, NASCAR can keep doing what they are doing and continue to get disgruntled looks from drivers and fans alike. Unless of course your the points leader, in which case you don't mind qualifying getting canceled. At least then you can start from the pole.

See, there is always a positive for every negative.

How about them Craftsman Trucks?

I've spent so much time this year talking about the Sprint and Nationwide Series' that I almost totally overlooked what many would say is the most competitive series in NASCAR, the Craftsman Truck Series.

For me, when I get the chance to watch the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series it feels almost like your going back in time, back when hard racing was not only common but expected of every driver in every race. These guys beat, bang, bash and just in general race hard.

While watching the Sprint Cup race the other week a TV interviewer stopped a moment and talked with Mike Skinner after a crash during the race. She mentioned that Mike was helping the No. 84 Red Bull team that he was driving for (replacing AJ Allmendinger) work on the car after the crash. Skinner simply replied, "I'm a truck driver, that's how we do it over there."

THAT is the kinda of tenacity that I like to hear from a race car driver. The Craftsman Truck Series has created some great drivers to never see much mainstream success in the Sprint Cup Series. Skinner, Jack Sprague, Ron Hornaday, Johnny Benson, Bobby Hamilton, Dennis Setzer, Ted Musgrave and I could name countless others. All of these drivers tried their hand at running in the Sprint Cup Series but ultimately found themselves driving Truck's for a living. And believe you me, that is no insult to their abilities, they just found that the Truck Series is more suited to their driving abilities.

So if you find yourself with a chance to sit down and watch a Craftsman Truck Series race, do it. You might just be surprised at how good the racing really is.

Busy as a bee

It's been a long few week's around the newsroom and I often find myself a little overwhelmed on occasion. Yet I wanted to sit down today and write a blog about the Chase for the Sprint Cup, despite the fact that I've got work floating up to my eye balls. It's probably gonna be short, but why not.

When the chase started, things looked good for Kyle Busch. Now he finds himself more than 300 points behind current leader Jimmie Johnson and all but out of the championship hunt. What's left for him to do? The same thing he was doing before his bad luck began, win everything in site.

The truth is Kyle Busch, much like everyone about 200 points back of Johnson, has nothing to lose at this point. For Busch it's go for broke or go home. So if I am Busch and company, I start putting caution to the wind and aim at getting as many wins as possible before the end of the season at Homestead. He's already started in that direction, he won Friday's Nationwide Series race at LMS easily (FYI, that is his 20th win this year in NASCAR's top three divisions).

I wish I had time to say more, but I'm swamped. I'll touch base later with more.