From the May, 2006 issue of Stock Car Insider

Stock Car Insider - May 22nd Issue

Upcoming Events in the World of NASCAR

May in Charlotte is a beautiful! The azaleas are in bloom, the temperature is mild, and the delivery trucks are delivering the port-o-jons by the thousands. That's right, the whole town is gearing up for two action packed weeks of racing with the NASCAR Nextel Cup All-Star race and the Coca-Cola 600.

Thousands of people will be coming to town for the next two weeks to witness the longest NASCAR race, the Coca-Cola 600, making it the second largest sporting event in America.

This year's All-Star and 600 races will once again be nail biting terrific. Lowe's Motor Speedway's track was recently re-paved. The levigating days of last year are history, and the officials at Lowe's Motor Speedway are guaranteeing this year's races will be just as fast as last year's and safer.

However, despite what the track officials are saying, folks in and around the garages as well as Goodyear reps are saying the speeds this year will actually be slower. For the 2006 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Goodyear is supplying a stiffer compound tire which will ensure less blow outs on the track. What the drivers gain in safety, they lose in speed. Stiffer tires do not grip the track as well as a softer tire. Less grip means the drivers cannot carry as much speed in the turns which will also affect the top end speeds on the straightaways.

Some in the garages are nicknaming the stiffer tires, "restrictor tires". The tires will rob the cars of speed like the restrictor plates used at Daytona and Talladega rob the cars of horsepower. However, fans do not be dismayed. I very seriously doubt that we will perceive a 2-5 mph difference in speeds. The action, like every weekend in NASCAR, will be heart-pounding dramatic!

Expect Jimmie Johnson to have lots of fun the next two weeks. Of the current drivers with 5 or more starts at Lowe's Motor Speedway, he has the highest average finish of 7th.

Other drivers to note:

Tony Stewart - Average Finish 12th
Bobby Labonte - Average Finish 13th
Jamie McMurray - Average Finish 14th
Jeff Gordon - Average Finish 16th

Next Week's Schedule:
(all times CST)

Nextel Cup: @ Lowe's Motor Speedway
5/27/06 - 6:05pm Coca-Cola 600 Practice
5/25/06 - 07:10pm NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 Qualifying
5/28/06 - 05:40pm Coca-Cola 600

Busch Series: @ Lowe's Motor Speedway
5/25/06 - 01:50pm CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 Practice
5/25/06 - 08:45pm CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 Qualifying
5/27/06 - 08:00pm CARQUEST Auto Parts 300

Craftsman Truck Series: @ Mansfield Motorsports Speedway
5/26/06 - 01:30pm City of Mansfield 250 Practice
5/26/06 - 06:30pm City of Mansfield 250 Qualifying
5/27/06 - 02:15pm City of Mansfield 250

See complete 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Race Schedule

Who's Hot?

This week's pick for Who's Hot is simple, Jimmie Johnson. Jimmie is currently the Nextel Cup points leader with a 93 point lead over second place, Tony Stewart. After this past week, Jimmie is $1,000,000+ richer. He pocketed a cool million for winning the All Star Challenge, and also got a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports through the 2010 season. Oh, and guess what, his sponsor, Lowe's, signed up through the 2010 season as well. I call that job security!

Everyone in NASCAR knows the man to beat at Lowe's Motor Speedway is Jimmie Johnson. He has won 4 consecutive races there, 3 consecutive Coca-Cola 600's, and 2 All-Star Challenges. His dominance at LMS is awe-inspiring for the fans, and frustrating for his competitors. It will be interesting to see if he can win his 4th consecutive 600 this coming Sunday!

Shop for NASCAR merchandise

Who's Not?

I hate to pick on Carl Edwards, I really do! The guy is such a winner in so many ways. Everything he does in life, he does it to the extreme and never once doubts himself.

His 2006 season to date has not gone as Carl wished. He currently sits in 17th spot, 125 points out of qualifying for the Nextel Cup Championship race. It seems the luck Greg Biffle recently found has been lost in Carl Edward's pits. However, unlike Biffle, I'm not sure we can fault luck for Carl's lack of success in 2006.

Carl's crew chief from last year and the early part of 2006, Bob Osborne, was shuffled over to help jump start Jamie McMurray's team. Obviously, the shuffle has not gone as planned. Both Carl Edwards and Jamie McMurray (currently 20th in the points) stand a strong chance of not qualifying for the championship race-off at the end of the season. Jack Roush and the rest of management at Roush Racing will soon have to decide whether to leave Bob with Jamie; or re-unite him with Carl to form the successful duo that shocked the world of NASCAR in 2006.

Shop for Carl Edwards merchandise

Last Week's Headlines

Recap of the Nextel All Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway:

One part of NASCAR's appeal is the drama that occurs off-track. The season long love affair between Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart is continuing to blossom. The first seeds were probably planted late last year, but started to grow and flower at the Daytona 500 earlier this year (remember Tony intentionally ramming into the nose of Matt Kenseth and Matt Kenseth's subsequent retaliation coming off of pit road?). Saturday night's events at the Nextel All Star Challenge are sure to fertilize the relationship and guarantee more drama for us to enjoy the rest of the season.

Tony Stewart ran into Matt Kenseth in the final 20 lap segment causing both cars to wreck. After the race, Tony flipped Matt the "bird". Evidently, that is how Tony says I love you.

Tony and Matt's wreck was just one of several in the entire race. The biggest wreck happened when Kasey Kahne lost control coming out of Turn 2 and slid into Mark Martin. Both cars lost control down the back stretch, and caused a 8 car pile up that eliminated themselves and Kyle Busch, Jeremy Mayfield, Jamie McMurray, and Greg Biffle from the field.

Kyle Busch won the 40 lap, Segment 1, but the fans at home voted to invert 10 drivers in the field (thus sending Kyle to the back of the line to start segment 2). Between the first and second segment, the crowd was entertained with a crazy performance by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The 30 lap, Segment 2 was perhaps the most action packed segment that included several lead changes and the monster wreck that took out 6 drivers. Kevin Harvick won Segment 2, and started in pole sitter's spot starting the final segment. However, Kevin opted to take only 2 tires in the final pit stop while the rest of the field took 4.
Jimmie Johnson, with fresh tires, quickly took over the lead from Kevin at the beginning of the final 20 lap segment and never shared it with anyone else for the rest of the race.

See complete 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Race Schedule