Pocono thoughts and observations

Ladies and gentleman, i'd like to award the hottest driver in NASCAR title to a new owner, Kasey Kahne. The driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge won Sunday's Pocono 500, his third victory in the last four weeks. He was followed to the line by Brian Vickers, Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Burton.

Thoughts and observations

Did someone flip a switch on Kasey Kahne's back that told him it was time to go on a tear? Before the Coca-Cola 600 started Kahne was 14th in points, 426 points behind points leader Kyle Busch. But now after winning two of the last three points races (and three out of his last four, counting the All-Star Race) he is 9th in points, 365 points behind Kyle. That is a mighty impressive jump if I do say so myself.

Brian Vickers showed that he does, in fact, know how to drive a race car this weekend. He battled all day and was a threat to win the Pocono 500 late before being passed by Kasey Kahne. Add to that the fact that AJ Allmendinger was consistently in the top 10 a good chunk of the day and you'll have the best combined run for Red Bull Racing since the teams creation last year. Keep an eye on Red Bull Racing, they are gonna be a threat before its all said and done.

Kyle Busch's attempt at a historic weekend went up in smoke Sunday. After finishing 2nd and 20th in the Truck and Nationwide races, he ended the weekend in 43rd at Pocono. He did something you very rarely see at Pocono, he wrecked on the front stretch, and not while coming out of the last turn, he did it in the middle of the front stretch. In an even more shocking move, he actually admitted it was his fault. Is that a little maturity slipping through the cracks of young Rowdy Busch?

Kyle Busch's misfortune was Jeff Burton's gain. With a 5th place finish, Burton went from 142 points behind Busch to only 21. If Burton continues this kind of constancy it'll be hard to bet against him when the Chase starts.

More bad luck for Tony Stewart. By finishing a lap down in 35th position, Stewart has fallen all the way back to 12th in the standings, the last chase eligible spot. Now Stewart has a bullseye on his back and drivers like David Ragan, Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr. are all taking aim at the two-time Sprint Cup Champion. The one good thing to come out of all of this? Its almost time for Tony Stewart's annual mid-season run up the standings.

Its amazing to think that Hendrick Motorsports only has one win in 2008, Jimmie Johnson at Phoenix (and even that was on fuel mileage, he didn't have the best car their). For comparison's sake, at this time last year Hendrick Motorsports had 10 victories. Its not like the teams have been lacking horse power, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 3rd in points and has been a threat to win almost every weekend. They just haven't gotten back to victory lane yet.

Congrats to Kurt Busch, he finally got his second top 10 of 2008. Next goal? Get a top 5.

Scott Riggs seemed like he had something to prove early in the race. He led some laps and ran in the top 10 for a pretty good chunk of the early going. That hard work has payed off, his 21st place finish moved him and the No. 66 State Water Heaters Chevrolet back into the top 35 in owner points. The unlucky team to fall out of the top 35? Michael Waltrip's No. 55 NAPA Toyota. Does anyone else think it might be time for Waltrip to consider handing over the driving duties to someone else?