160 YARDS. NOW LET'S JOIN BILL WEBER IN CHARLOTTE FOR PRIMETIME NASCAR NEXTEL CUP RACING PRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP. SO LONG, EVERYBODY. BY NBC INC. >>> THESE CARS ARE GOING FASTER THAN THEY EVER HAVE. GO INTO THE CORNER SIDABLY SIDE, CORNER SIDE BY SIDE AT THESE SPEEDS. THE CAR AT THE BOTTOM LOSES THE AERODYNAMICS AND SPINS OUT. >> FIFTH RACE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP, THE TEN DRIVERS IN YELLOW ON THE TICKER ARE THE TE. RYAN NEWMAN LED THE FIRST LAP. HE GETS FIVE BONUS POINTS FOR LEADING THAT LAP. MORE THAN HERE TONIGHT. >> I THINK ROBBY GORDON HAS A HIS CAR. >> A CAUTION IS OUT. THE CAUTION LIGHTS ARE ON. THE CAUTION FLAG IS OUT.UX8M >> THE LEFT REAR TIRE, THE CAP CAME OFF THE TIRE. >> I THINK I GOTTIRE. >> GOT NO TIRE. >> I SAW HIM GET KWIRLY UP IN THREE AND FOUR AND HE WAS TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. HERE'S WHERE THE TIRE FINALLY COMES OFF AT THE START/FINISH LINE. >> RIGHT IN FRONT CONTENDERS IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP. JIMMIE QUALIFIED THIRD BUT HAD TO START AT THE BACK OF THE FIELD BECAUSE OF AN ENGINE PROBLEM EARLIER IN THE WEEK. ON BOARD WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON WHO HAS WON THE LAST THREE RACES AT THIS TRACK. >> HAVING TROUBLE ON T JIMMIE, ON THE BOTTOM. COME ON. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. SIDE CLEAR. >> A LOT OF HEADS-UP DRIVER AND A LOT OF DRIVERS BACK THERE. >> A LOT OF WORK WAS DONE ON THE RACING SURFACE HERE. THEY CAME HERE AND GRINDED IT SERIES THE RACE IN MAY. THAT SMOOTHER AND FASTER, BUT THE QUESTION IS HOW IS IT GOING TO AFFECT THE RACE? YOU'VE ADDRESSED SOME OF THOSE ISSUES. >> IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR THE DRIVERS. 9 TRACK IS VERY FAST. USED TO BE BUMPS UP IN THREE AND FOUR. WE DON'T HAVE THAT YET, SO THE THE CORNER ABOUT HALFWAY UP THE RACETRACK TO THE BOTTOM SO WHEN A CAR GOES SIDE BY SIDE IF YOU'RE ON THE BOTTOM YOU LOSE THE AERODYNAMICS ON YOUR CAR THAT MAKES THE CAR SPIN OUT OR TAKES THE DOWNFORCE OFF THE NOSE. SOMETIMES YOU'LL SLIDE UP THE . YOU CAN'T GET AWAY FROM A GUY THAT'S SO FAST AROUND HERE, BP. >> THE SPEED THIS YEAR, VERSUS LAST YEAR, 4 1/2 MILES PER HOUR FASTER. WE NORMALLY SEE SOME EXTRA SPEED EACH YEAR BUT 4 1/2 MILESXTRAOR >> TIRES ARE A HUGE CONCERN. BP, YOU DID SOME WORK ON THAT. >> I TALKED TO THE GOODYEAR FOLKS AND THIS SPEED CAUGHT THEM BY SURPRISE. THEY TRIED TO TAKE THE TIRES RIGHT TO THE LIMIT AS FAR AS GRIP IS CONCERNED, BUT THIS EXTRA SPEE OVER THE TOP, AND LAST NIGHT, WE HAD ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. JIMMIE JOHNSON LAST NIGHT, HE GOES DOWN IN TURN ONE, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE GOES FLAT. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT GOES FLAT. INTO THE WALL YOU GO. DOWN IN THE CORNER, YOU CAN DO NOTHING. YOU'RE ALONG FOR THE RIDE. YOU JUST BRACE YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HIT A TON. IT'S 195 PLUS MILES PER HOUR DOWN IN THE CORNERS HERE. >> TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS HEADING INTO TONIGHT'S RACE, THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP HITS THE EVENT AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. TONY STEWART IS THE CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER, 75 POINTS AHEAD OF RYAN NEWMAN BUT THE LOGJAM IS FROM RYAN NEWMAN BACK TO MATT KENSETH, JUST 41 POINTS. >> YOU'RE ABLE TO GAIN AROUND 150 POINTS IN ONE POINTS AMOUNTU CAN GAIN IN ONE RACE IS 156. JEREMY MAYFIELD AND KURT BUSCH, THE TEN DRIVERS ELIGIBLE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP. STEWART IS A PAST WINNER HERE. JOHNSON IN THE 48 CAR HAS RACES TRACK AND FOUR OF THE LAST FIVE. LET'S TAKE YOU DOWN TO PIT ROAD, GET SOME STORIES FROM THERE BEGINNING WITH DAVE BURNS. >> YOU TALKED ABOUT CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER TONY STEWART. WELL, HIS -- ACTUALLY HIS LAST FEW WEEKS HERE AT THE LOWE'S DU AGO, HE CRASHED TWO DIFFERENT CARS. BUT YOU ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING WHEN YOU DO THAT. LAST NIGHT AT THE BUSCH SERIES RACE, THE CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER IN THIS SERIES NEARLY FINISHED THE RACE AHEAD OF RYAN NEWMAN TRYING TO PASS HIM FOR THE LEAD LATE IN THE RACE, HE GOT INTO TROUBLE AND WRECKED HIS RN SO TONY STEW HAS LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT HE CAN DO HERE AND ABOUT WHAT HE CAN'T DO HERE. >> MARK MARTIN TOLD ME ALTHOUGH WE'RE IN CHARLOTTE IT'S MORE LIKE TALLADEGA. COULD BE THE BIGGEST DECK SHUFFLER. TONIGHT IT'S ALL ABOUT TEAMS WI TIRE ISSUES LAST NIGHT. HE SAID THERE'S SO MUCH OUT OF YOUR HANDS HERE TONIGHT, IT'S MORE LIKE A RESTRICTOR PLATE RACE. HE IS CURRENTLY RUNNING SEVENTH. MARTY SNIDER? >> JIMMIE JOHNSON CALLS THIS HIS HOUSE, THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY OBVIOUSLY, HE IS SPONSORED B CAME ON FOR FUEL ONLY. THE REASON, HE STARTED AT THE BACK OF THE FIELD. OFFICIALLY 41st IS WHERE HE TOOK THE GREEN FLAG FROM. HE HAS WON FROM BACK THERE BEFORE IN MAY OF 2002 HE WON FROM 37th ALL THE WAY BACK THERE AND MADE2EYC HIS WAY THROUGH TH FIELD. JIMMIE TOLD ME IT WILL BE FIELD TONIGHT, MY PLAN, STAY PATIENT EAá;D FOR IT AT THE END OF THE RACE. THIS RACE LAST YEAR SPARKED A STREAK WHERE HE WON FOUR OF FINAL SIX RACES IN THE 2004 SEASON. ALLEN BESTWICK? >> RYAN NEWMAN LEADS THE RACE, SECOND IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP COMING INTO THE NIGHT ACRASH-FI PRELIMINARY HERE AT CHARLOTTE A NIGHT AGO. IT WAS NOT A NIGHT WITHOUT ITS TROUBLES. RYAN SUFFERING FROM SOME OF THE TIRE PROBLEMS THAT PLAGUED LAST NIGHT'S RACE AND THAT MANY EXPECT TO CROP UP THROUGHOUT TONIGHT'S RACE. THE QUESTION TONIGHT FOR RYAN AND THE OTHER NINE DRIVERS OF THEM DO TIRE TROUBLES STRIKE? HOW DOES IT AFFECT THEIR FINISH IN THE RACE? DOES IT HURT THEIR CHANCE TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP A FEW WEEKS FROM NOW? BILL? >> THANKS, ALLEN. YOU GUYS ENJOY THE RACE DOWN THERE. THERE HAVE BEEN 93 RACES HERE AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY FOR THE NEXTEL CUP SERIES, 45 GUY TT STARTED IN THE FIRST TWO ROWS. WALLY, YOU TALKED ABOUT GUYS TRYING TO USE THE8M <u> IN </u> TO PASS. LAST NIGHT ONE-THIRD WAS RUN UNDER CAUTION BECAUSE OF INCIDENTS LIKE THIS. >> STEWART TRIED TO GO ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF NEWMAN ON THE RESTART. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WHEN THE TH TAIL END OF A CAR HERE, YOU CAN'T CATCH IT. ONCE IT GOES, IT GOES REALLY FAST, SO IT'S TOUGH. >> HERE ARE THE CARS THAT CRASHED OUT OF THE RACE LAST NIGHT. >> HUGE LIST OF THEM. >> STEWART, JIMMIE JOHNSON, GREG BIFFLE, JEREMY MAYFIELD ARE ALL DRIVERS IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP THAT RAN IN THE BUSCH RACE HERE LAST NIGHT. FAILED TO 19 CARSZvY FINISH OF THE 43 THAT STARTED. 67 CAUTION LAPS, 100NE-THIRD OF. AND THERE IS A SIMILAR CONCERN THAT WE COULD SEE INCIDENTS LIKE THAT HERE TONIGHT. PACE VEHICLE TO PIT ROAD, RYAN NEWMAN BRINGS THEM BACK TO THE GREEN. COMPLETING LAP SEVEN. NBC SPORTS LIVE AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA. >> CASEY<u>x OF TWO, HE'S </u> GOING TO LOSE A FEW SPOTS. MARK MARTIN GOING UNDERNEATH HIM. >> MARK IN THE 6, CARL EDWARDS IN THE 99. >> SLIDES UP THE RACETRACK. HE DOESN'T SLIDES. ALMOST WENT THREE WIDE. >> MATT YOCUM? >> MARK MARTIN WAS TELLING HIS CREW CHIEF, MY CAR IS SO MUCH FASTER THAN THE 41 OF MEARS IN THE CORNERS, I'M HAVING TO PLAY MORE ERNED ABOUT HIS TEAMMATE IN THE 99. HE WAS HIGHER ON THE RACETRACK IN HIS MIRROR CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLY TAKING AIR OFF THAT SPOILER THAT WE SAW HAPPEN TO SOME CARS LAST NIGHT WHICH THEY WENT AROUND AND BACKED IT IN THE WALL. >> EDWAR 99. CARL RAN IN THE 600 RACE, ALAN, HIS FIRST COMPLETE RACE AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY? >> DRIVER HAS DONE A REMARKABLE CONTENDING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP DESPITE HIS EXPERIENCE. VETERAN SPOTTER, HUDSON, CONSTANTLY ON THE RADIO COACHING HIM, TRYING TO KEEP HIM CALM. CARL SAYS, I'M A ROOKIE,ru<u> -Ñ IL</u> TO DO THINGS SOMETIMES THAT MIGHT UPSET THE GUYS I'M RACING WITH. TRYING TO KEEP HIM UNDER CONTROL. KEEPING HIS AMBITIONS IN CHECK. CARL EDWARDS, ONE OF THE TEN DRIVERS IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP. AND AS ALLEN SAID, SPECTACULAR SEASON FOR THE DRIVER OF THAT 99 MACHINE. FOLLOWING THE VETERK <font color="#FF0000"> MARTIN THE WINNER LAST </font> WEEK AT KANSAS. >> I'M TOLD JOE NEMECHEK MIGHT HAVE TOUCHED5, WALL A MOMO AND JUST BARELY, MIGHT:>gDO HAV EVEN TOUCHED IT. HE GOT SO C BUMPS.z MARTIN RIGHT BEHIND HIM AND HIS TEAMMATE, EDWARDS. >> LIKE JEFF GORDON IS WANTING TO GO. GORDON LOOKS LIKE HE HAS A DECENT CAR. NOW HE'S GOT THE SPOT. >> HEY, BURNS. >> JUST A LITTLE LOOSE AT THE START. BUT QUICKER THAN THE 41. IT WAS GOOD IN PRACTICE THIS WEEKEND BUT JEFF, YOU SEE HIMOM. >> ALMOST HAD TO PASS -- PULLED OFF, THEN WENT IN THERE SIDE BY SIDE. THAT'S THE THING. JEFF HAD TO GET OUT OF THE THROTTLE JUST TO CRACK IT. >> IN THE 41. >> THE PROBLEM IS -- HE LOST A COUPLE SPOTS. >> CARL EDWARDS TRYING TO GET F GORD CARL EDWARDS GOT BY, ALSO KYLE BUSCH IN THE 5 CAR GOT BY MARK MARTIN IN THE 6.cí >> DAVE, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO GET IN? >> JUST THAT HE CAN- HIGH LINE. CASEY MEARS SAIDO(wñ$ukU■ BETTE OF MY CAR. YOU SAW HOW HE HELD OFF. >> LIVE NASCAR NEXTEL CUP RACING FROM THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY OUTSIDE CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, PRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP HERE ON NBC.zRñ>r >> SEE, GORDON WAS STUCK IN THE BOTTOM LINE. HE LINE BUT HE WAS LOSING A LOT OF SPOTS DOWN THERE BECAUSE HIS CAR WAS SO LOOSE ON THE BOTTOM. >> THE 16 OF BIFFLE, 17 OF KENSETH, TWO MORE OF THE GUYS IN <font color="#00FF00"><u>HASE.</u>Kb$</font> MARTY SNIDER? >> TALKED TO BIFFLE BEFORE HE GOT IN THE CAR. HE TOLD ME HE WAS CONCERNED NECESSARILY HIS SAFETY, BUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN OUT OF HIS CONTROL. TIRES, OBVIOUSLY A BIG ISSUE. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN YESTERDAY'S BUSCH SERIES RACE AND BIFFLE HAD ONE GO DOWN ON HIS RACE CAR. HE SAID MY PLAN FIRST HALF OF <font color="#0000FF"><u>ñ </u>E RACE, TAKE IT EASY ANDTVk2uK</font> MYSELF IN AAND HIS CRUSADE, THA JOB. I HAVE TO KEEP HIM CALM FOR THE FIRST HALF AND UNLEASH HIM IN THE LAST HALF. >> YOU SEE BIFFLE TRYING TO GET BY THE 24 CAR OF JEFF GORDON COULD NOT MAKE THE PASS. KEVIN LEPAGE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF JEFF GORDON. THOUGHT GORDON WASt BLOCKED UP THERE. >> BIFFLE IN THE 16 AND KENSETH IN THE 17, THEY ARE TEAMMATES DRIVE FOR ROUSH RACING. ROUSH HAS FI THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUUPsox CHAMPION. GORDON IN THAT INSIDE GROOVE. >> REALLY DIFFICULT TO MAKE A PASS DOWN THERE. YOU WANT TO TELL ME, JIMMIE JOHNSON MOVED HIS WAY UP TO 29th,ON, RESTARTED NEAR THE END OF THE FIELD AND RKED HIS WAY UP INTO THE TOP 30. >> YOU SEE THE 8 CAR, THE RED CAR OF DALE EARNHARDT JR., HE IS CURRENTLY HE STARTED 28th. >> WATCH HIM, BP, HE'S BEEN PASSING A LOT OF CARS SINCE THE DAVE. >> THEY WERE HAPPY WITH THIS RACE CAR$ PRACTICE WON ON SATURDAY. THAT WAS WHEN JUNIOR8vóúáÑ WAS THE HIGHEST OF THE CHART TELLING THE GUYS WE HAVE A FAST RACE CAR THIS WEEKEND, BOYS. >> MATT KENSETH TOLD KEYS, PATIENCE AND TIRE CONSERVATION. <font color="#00FF00">ó3 MAY SEE HIM HANG BACK FOR</font> MOST OF THE FIRST HALF. HE SAID LATER IN THE RACE, THAT'S WHEN I'LLXzp Ge HE TOO HAD A PROBLEM IN YESTERDAY'S RACE BUT NOT A TIRE. THEY HAD A MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE RACE. HE SAID THE LOAD ON THESE CARS H THESE FEEDS WE'RE RUNNING IS UNBELIEVABLE. UNHEARD OF, HE SAID, LAST NIGHT. >> HE TALKED ABOUT THE SPEEDS, FRONT ROW OF ELLIOTT SADLER AND RYAN NEWMAN BROKE THE OLD TRACK RECORD AT QUALIFYING AT AN AVERAGE SPEED, AVERAGE SPEED, OVER 193 MILESOUR. >> A MILE AND ONE-HALF RACETRACK. JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE 48. >> LOOKS RIGHT AROUND. YOU CAN SEE HOW FAST THESE CARS ARE GOING AROUND THIS RACETRACK. JIMMIE JOHNSON TRYING TO WORKoz THE LOW SIDE RIGHT NOW. THE BAC. >> CARRY A LOT OF SPEED INTO TURN THREE HERE. WE'LL WATCH HIS CAR GO DOWN. >> IT LOOKS LIKE HIS CAR -- ACTUALLY THE CAR IS PROBABLY PUSHING A LITTLE BIT. THAT THROTTLE. HE IS ON THE THROTTLE A LONG, LONG DOGLEG ALONG THE FRONTSTRETCH HERE AND INTO TURN ONE. MARTY? >> I WAS GOING TO TELL WALLY, HE ACTS LIKE A RACE CAR DRIVER. HE IS A PRETTY SMART GUY BECAUSE JIMMIE JOHNSON'S TIGHT, WON'T TURN, AS YOU SAID, PUSHY. >> THAT'S PROBABLY GOOD THIS PART OF THE RACE RIGHT NOW. >> ELLIOTT SADLER UNDER RYAN NEWMAN FOR THE LEAD. SADLER STARTED ON THE BUDWEISER POLE NO THE FRONT. DAVE BURNS? >> HIS TEAM TOLD ME BEFORE THE START OF THE RACE IF RYAN NEWMAN JUMPS OUT THERE WE WON'T PRESSURE HIM UNTIL WE FEEL LIKE OUR CAR IS COMING AROUND. WE DON'T WANT TO ABUSE OUR TIRES. WE SAW PROBLEMS WITH THAT LAST NIGHT AND NOW ELLIOTT OUT OF HIS CAR IS BACK BY THE 12. >> 23 LAPS ARE COMPLETE HERE AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. OUR THANKS TO NASCAR. THEY HELD UP THE START OF THIS RACE SO WE'D BE WITH YOU FOR THE GREEN FLAG FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE NOTRE GAME. WE WELCOME ALL YOU FOOTBALL FANS. TONY STEWART UNDER RYAN NEWMAN FOR SECOND PLACE, THEY'RE ALL CHASING ELLIOTT SADLER. NBC SPORTS LIVE AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. Éu÷ >>> NASCAR NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP FROM THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY LIVE ON NBC PRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP. 27 LAPS ARAD A DEVELOPMENT CONCERNING ONE OF THE CHASERS, RYAN NEWMAN HAS BEEN ON AND OFF OF PIT ROAD FOR A TIRE ISSUE. >> ALSO, KEVIN LEPAGE IN THE 66 CAR THAT YOU SAW RUNNING SO WELL HAS BEEN ON AND OFF THE RACETRACK. ALLEN, WHAT ABOUT RYAN NEWMAN, WHAT WAS HIS >> RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A BIG CHUNK OUT OF IT, BENNY. THE CREW CHECKING THE DEPTH MARKS. ON THE BOTTOM SIDE THERE IS A BIG CHUNK MISSING FROM THE FRONT. >> NASCAR REALIZES THEY HAVE TIRE PROBLEMS HERE AND WILL MORE LAPS TO LET THESE GUYS MAKE A PIT STOP IF THEY CHOOSE TO AND CHECK THE TIRES OUT. I'M PRETTY SURE EVERYONE WILL CHOOSE TO. >> TOLD TEAMS IN THE DRIVERS' MEETING A MANDATORY CAUTION AROUND LAP 30. THIS IS CHASING ELLIOTT SADLER FOR THE LEAD. STEWART IS GOING TO TRY IT. THIS IS WHERE HE LOST IT LAST NIGHT IN THE BUSCH RACE. >> I THINK ELLIOTT IS GOING TO GIVE HIM THE SPOT. NO REASON TO RUN REALLY, REALLY HARD WITH EACH OTHER ESPECIALLY EARLY IN THE RACE AND YOU KNOW A CAUTION IS COMING OUT HERE. >> AND THAT WAS LAP 30, SO I WOULD EXPECT AS SOON AS ALL THE CARS CROSS THE START/FINISH LINE, HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE THE CAUTION FLAG BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU THESE GUYS NEED TO CHECK EVERYTHING AUTION EARLIER IN THE RACE, SO THAT LAP 30 NUMBER CAN FLUCTUATE A LITTLE BIT. AND THAT IS OUT. IT'S A COMPETITION CAUTION PUT OUT BY NASCAR SO TEAMS CAN INSPECT THEIR TIRES AND MAKE CHANGES. DALE EARNHARDT JR. HAS RACED HIS WAY FORWARD FROM 28th TO 10th. RYAN NEWMAN, WHO WAS ON PIT ROAD UNDER GREEN IS THE LUCKY DOG. FIRST CAR SCORED OFF THE LEAD LAP. HE WILL BE ALLOWED TO MAKE UP H. >> MIKE WALLACE IN THE 4 CAR HAS GONE TO THE GARAGE AREA, SO HE COULD BE THE FIRST CAR OUT TONIGHT. >> THERE'S RYAN NEWMAN. HE GETS THE BALLPARK LUCKY DOG AWARD. GETS TO MAKE UP A LAP. HUGE BREAK FOR RYAN. >> BUT A SMART MOVE ON HIS PART TO MAKE THAT PIT STOP AND GET THAT BAD TIRE OFF, TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE 300-MILE BUSCH RACE HELD HERE LAST NIGHT, 500 MILES TONIGHT FOR THE NEXTEL CUP SERIES. >> PIT ROAD IS GOING TO BE OPEN, AND, FOLKS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE ABOUT 40 CARS ON PIT ROAD CHANGING TIRES, GETTING FUEL. >> MATT YOCUM? >> KURT BUSCH KNOWS TONIGHT IS A HUGE NIGHT, HAS TO HAVE A BIG MAXIMUM POINTS NIGHT. HE WANTS TO LOOK AHEAD LATER. TO SNIDER. E THIS RACE CAR UP. >> MATT KENSETH, 17 CAR, BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN RUNNING 11th. SAID THE BALANCE IS PERFECT. MAKE NO CHANGES TO THE CAR. >> TONY STEWART WHO LED A LAP COLLECTED BONUS THE S, A FOUR-TIRE CHANGE AND MADE AN ADJUSTMENT TO TEND. >> ELLIOTT SADLER SAID HIS CAR WAS TOUGH TO TURN, SLIGHT AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT ON ONE OF THE TIRES PUSHING OUT A LITTLE WATER FROM THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE UNDER THE WINDOW FOR THE 38. WINS THE RACE OFF PIT ROAD. >> VERY CLOSE. ELLIOTT TONY STEWART RACING OFF OF PIT ROAD. CREW CAM. >> D.J. RICHARDSON REAR TIRE CHANGER, TIRES OFF. FIVE LUG NUTS, TIGHT. GO AROUND THE LEFT SIDE. THEY'RE ALL OFF. VE,j.#kñ LET'S GO! NASCAR NEXTEL CUP. >> NOW, THIS WEEK'S BANK OF AMERICA HIGHER STANDARDS MOMENT. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON SIDE BY SIDE AND DOWN TOÑV.,x THE STRIPE, JI JOHNSON WILL WIN BY A HALF A CAR LENGTH. >> THAT'S RIGHT.♪ OUR HOUSE IN OF OUR STREET ♪ ♪ OUR HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR STREET ♪ ♪ OUR HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR STREET ♪ ♪ OUR HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR THE LENGTH OF THE FOOTBALL GAME DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO BRING YOU THE "BANK OF AMERICA COUNTDOWN TO GREEN" BUT WE'LL BE BACK WITH THAT NEXT WEEK WHEN WE HEAD TO MARTINSVILLE AND THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS AT BANK OF AMERICA. ON BOARD JIMMIE JOHNSON WON THE LAST THREE RACES, FOUR OF THE LAST ?/ <u>■FIVE. </u> WIN UP TO $48,000 IN THE WHEN JIMMIE WINS YOU WIN SWEEPSTAKES. VISIT LOWE'SRACING.COM FOR MORE DETAILS. >> A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE . ELLIOTT SADLER, WHEN HE CAME OUT OF THE PITS, HE WAS PUSHING DAVE MENTIONED, AS WELL. WHICH MEANS OBVIOUSLY HE WAS HOT. NOW, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING HOTç THAT'S PRETTY EARLY TO BE RUNNING HOT, DAVE. >> I'M STILL SCRAMBLING FOR ANSWERS, WALLY. POSSIBLE WHEN YOU OVERFILL THAT THAT IT CAN OVERFLOW LIKE THATC THAT'S THE FIRSTTHEY MAY BE BEI. I DON'T KNOW. >> THAT IS POSSIBLE. >> YEAH. >> YES, I MEAN, WATER IS GOING TO EXPAND AND GET SO HOT AND IF THE OVERFLOW. >> RYAN NEWMAN, WHO WAS THE LUCKY DOG, RESTARTED 40D ONE OF CHASERS BACK IN 39th. JIMMIE JOHNSON, 18th AFTER STARTING 41st. >> THIS IS A TENSE STOP ON THE RESTARTS CARS ARE SIDE BY SIDE AND THESE GUYS ARE REALLY HAVING TO BE CAREFUL.I17 <font color="#00FF00">x> JUNIOR IN THE 8.■Hh</font> KYLE BUSCH IN THAT 5 CAR. UPDATE FROM MATT. >> LEARNED A LOT LAST NIGHT BUT HIM TO RUN ALL THE WAY TO THE CONCLUSION SO HE DIDN'T LEARN ALL HE WANTED. HE DID LEARN HOW HARD YOU CAN PUSH YOUR TIRES EARLY ON. HE IS FLYING, AS YOU CAN SEE. HE HAS MOVED UP ABOUT A LANE AND A HALF PREFERRING TO RUN THE HIGH SIDE RIGHT NOW. >> AND LOOKED LIKE EARNHARDT JR. WAS PUSHING THE BACK OF THE 16. >> HE COULD HAVE A FAST CAR AND CAN'T MAKE 9 PASS ON THE BOTTOM. NOW JUNIOR WILL LOSE A COUPLE SPOTS BECAUSE HE IS DOWN ON THE. >> DAVE BLANEY GOING BY, JAMIE McMURRAY IN THE 42 CAR. BLANEY IN THE 07 ON BOARD WITH DALE EARNHARDT JR. >> AND JUNIOR IS STILL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE RACETRACK. YOU JUST SIMPLY CAN'T GO UP AND RUN INTO SOMEONE AND KNOCK THEM E WAY BECAUSE THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO CRASH YOU. >> JUNIOR LOST ABOUT THREE OR FOUR SPOTS AND WAS ACTUALLY TRYING TO MAKE A PASS ON BUSCH OR BIFFLE. >> SIXTH POSITION BETWEEN JOE NEMECHEK, 01 AND JEFF 24. GORDON IS LOOKING REAL RACY TONIGHT. >> JUST DOESN'T -- HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO PULL OUT THE PASS DOWN AT THE BOTTOM UNLESS THE GUY ON THE HIGH SIDE GIVES HIM A BREAK LIKE NEMECHEK JUST DID GETTING INTO TURN)Rqc TH. >> LOOK AT NEMECHEK COME BACK ON THE HIGH >> ALLEN? >> WELL, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE THAT JUST CAME OFF NEMECHEK'S CAR, BLISTERS ON IT AS WE SEE A CHANGE FOR SECOND PLACE, KURT BUSCH BY TONY STEWART. JOE TOLD ME BEFORE THE RACE HE WOULD BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS TONIGHT. HE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A SURVIVRIGHT, ALLEN. WE'LL SEE AS THIS PLAYS OUT. LONG WAY TO GO. MATT ON MARK. >> LOST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, BILL, ON HIS PIT STOP. SOME LUGS FELL OFF WHEN THEY WERE CHANGING THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. MARK WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE B HIM, WE HAD ONE SMAL BLISTER ON OUR CAR, THE 97 OF BUSCH, THEY HAD A BLISTER BUT AS YOU CAN SEE THE CAR BEHIND, 16, THAT'S WHAT MARK WAS CONCERNED ABOUT, WHAT DO THEIR TIRES LOOK LIKE? >> SIX LAPS BEFORE THE MANDATORY AND SAID WE HAVE A TIRE GOING DOWN ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THEY SAID BACK OFF AND SAVE IT TILL THE MANDATORY CAUTION. INDEED, IT WAS CHUNKED AND BLISTERED AND LOSING AIR PRESSURE, WELL-TIMED MANDATORY CAUTION FOR GREG BIFFLE IN THE 16 CAR. >> I TELL YOU WHAT, 5 LAPS IF W DON'T HAVE A CAUTION WE'LL SEE GUYS HAVE TIRE PROBLEMS AND GO INTO THE WALL. >> THESE CARS CAN RUN 60, 70 LAPS ON FUEL SO FUEL IS NOT AN ISSUE, BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO SEE SO MANY CAUTION FLAGS TONIGHT BECAUSE OF THE TIRE PROBLEM. MATT? MARK MARTIN'S BIG CONCERN, AS WELL, BECAUSE DURING FINAL PRACTICE TIRE ISSUES, THEY DIDN'T SURFACE. THEY WERE PLANNING ON MAKING THIS CAR A GOOD, LONG RUN CAR. IT WAS VERY STOUT BUT MARK IS CONCERNED IF WE HAVE A LOT OF CAUTIONS HE COULD BE AT A HIE FRONT. >> ELLIOTT SADLER UP FRONT, GOT THE BUDWEISER POLE AWARD. HIS FOURTH POLE OF 2005. WE'LL SEE HIM IN THE BUD SHOOTOUT IN 2006. >>> SEASON CONTINUES FOR FORMER SERIES CHAMPION JEFF GORDON. JUST GOT HARD INTO THE WALL AND IS BEING PUSHED BACK TO THE GARAGE. >> THESE GUYS ARE RACING OFF OF FOUR AND, BP, WE TALKED ABOUT IT. THEY'RE RACING CLOSE. THEY LOST -- THEY LOSE THE AIR OFF THEIR HAPPENED TO GORDON. HE STARTED SLIDING UP THE RACETRACK, NO DOWNFORCE RUNNING CLOSE TO BOBBY LABONTE. CON TURN IT. >> YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR. ALSO BROKE THE BRAKE ROTOR. ANY TIME THA THE WALL THAT HARD BROKES THE ROTOR SO HE HAD NO BRAKES. >> HAS THREE WINS THIS SEASON BUT STRUGGLED SINCE THE 1st OF MAY, TENTH PLACE FINISH LAST WEEK BUT A DISAPPOINTING SEASON FOR HIM, CONTINUES TONIGHT HERE AT LOWE'S WHEREWINNER. ELLIOTT SADLER UP FRONT. STARTED ON THE POLE. HAS LED 26 OF THE 51 LAPS. HE RAN THE BUSCH RACE HERE LAST NIGHT AND HAD A VERY STRONG CAR IN THAT RACE. >> YOU KNOW, CREW CHIEF TODD PARROTT, THREE OR FOUR RACES AGO, THE OWNERS DECIDED TO TAKE HIM AND PUT HIM WITH DALE JARRETT AND UPGRADE THE ENGINEER TO CREW CHIEF, INTERIM CREW CHIEF FOR THIS 38 CAR. I KEEP TELLING KEVIN YOU'LL WORT BE CAREFUL. HE SAID I'M NOT A CREW CHIEF. HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB FILLING IN. >> OUR AUTOZONE IN THE ZONE DRIVERS THIS SEASON, RUSTY WALLACE, GREG BIFFLE, CARL CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP. EDWARDS HAS HAD A SPECTACULAR SEASON IN HIS FIRST FULL YEAR IN THE NEXTEL CUP SERIES. JOIN THIS RACE IN PROGRESS A YEAR AGO AFTER RUNNING THE TRUCK RACE IN TEXAS, GOT HERE LATE. HAD TO IT STARTED. LET'S GET A REPORT FROM DAVE BURNS BACK IN THE GARAGE. >> 24 CAR HAS BEEN PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE GARAGE AREA. WILL ON THE RIGHT SIDE. BRAKE ROTOR WAS BROKEN. ASKED IF THEY WANT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY, MAY GET THAT AS WELL. THEY WERE DISCUSSING HOW THE CAR WAS HANDLING AND CREW STEVE STEVEN SAID THIS IS GREAT INFORMATION. WE WILL BE FAST AT TEXAS. WELL, TRY TO GET A WORD FROM JEFF WHEN CARS. >> THANKS, DAVE. GORDON NOT IN THE RACE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP BUT IS IN THE POINTLE TO TRY TO FINISH 11th IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS, GET BACK OUT AND GET MORE POINTS. THIS WILL HURT. >> EVERY POSITION HE CAN GAIN FROM WHERE HE IS NOW TILL THE END OF THE ITION. HE CAN PICK UP TEN POSITION, THAT'S 30 POINTS AND WITH ALL WE SAW LAST NIGHT, TEN SPOTS COULD BE EASY. >> THOSE GUYS WILL WORK HARD IN THE GARAGE TO TRY TO GET JEFF BACK OUT ON THE TRACK, WILL HAVE TO MEET THE MINIMUM SPEED. 48 OF JIMMIE JOHNSON STARTED W, NOW 12th. >> WOW. >> MARTY, HOW ABOUT THOSE GUYS? >> WELL, AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE CAR, IT WAS TIGHT AND MEANING IT DOESN'T WANT TO TURN. CAME DOWN PIT ROAD PULLED A SPRING RUBBER FROM THE LEFT REAR SPRING TH UP. TOOK ON FOUR TIRES BUT WHEN THEY PULLED HIM OFF RIGHT REAR WAS SEVERELY BLISTERED. RADIOED THAT TO JIMMIE. HE SAID, I WANT TO GO UP ON ALL THE AIR PRESSURES IF WE CAN DO THAT. AND KEEPING MORE PRESSURE IN THE TIRES THAN NORMAL. TO DO THAT OE NEXT STOP. >> HE'S STARTING TO FEEL SOMETHING IN THE CAR. HE'S STARTING TO BACK UP. WAVED MICHAEL WALTRIP BY. >> IF YOU'RE ALREADY LOOSE WHEN A CAR GETS UP BEHIND YOU IT MAKES IT TEN TIMESOSITION TO PO BY, LET HIM GO, YOU GET MORE CLEAN AIR TO PUSH IT ON THE RACETRACK. >> HE HAD A REALLY HARD HIT HERE LAST NIGHT, SO IF HE FEELS SOMETHING IN THAT CAR HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO THINK TWICE ABOUT IT A LITTLE, DON'T YOU THINK? >> YEAH, I DON'T THINK HE'SIT. I THINK DEFINITELY -- >> I CAN RUN HARDER BUT WAIT TILL I GET MY NEXT REPORT HERE. >> THERE YOU GO. I COULD GO HARDER, BUT LET'S CHECK THE TIRES ONE PORE TIME SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING BEFORE I TRY THAT. >> GOT TO LISTEN TO YOUR BUD, BILL. >> YES, YOU DO. >> ES YOU'RE GOING SO FAST, IF YOU FEEL SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT AT THESE SPEEDS, YOU KNOW IT'S TELLING YOU SOMETHING. YOU DON'T SECOND-GUESS IT. >> I TELL YOU WHAT, TONY STEWART AFTER THEY RUN ABOUT 25 LAPS, HE IS JUST SO MUCH FASTER, HIS CAR JUST AND FASTER VERSUS THE COMPETITION. >> TONY STEWART, TO THE LEAD, FIVE BONUS POINTS FOR TONY. SADLER TO SECOND. FORMER WINNER AT THIS STARTS HERE FOR TONY STEWART, A WIN, NINE TOP TENS, BACK TO DAVE. >> WITH JEFF GORDON RIGHT NOW, JEFF, I HEARD YOU TALKING ABOUT I CAN'T PASS UP THERE. WAS IT THE HIGH LINE THAT GOT YOU? >> WELL, ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENED WAS CASEY MEARS MADE A PASS OR WAS TRYAND I WON -- YOU GOT TO ADVANTAGE OF THE HIGH LINE BECAUSE USUALLY GUYS GET SLOWED DOWN ON THE BOTTOM AND THE MOMENTUM IS ON THE OUTSIDE, AND SO I TRIED TO GET AS CLOSE AS BOBBY LABONTE AS I COULD COMING OFF FOUR AND WHEN THOSE TWO CARS CAME TOGETHER, IT TOOK EVERY BIT OF AIR OFF MY CAR THE WALL, AND, YOU KNOW, THE SPEEDS ARE REALLY FAST OUT THERE OBVIOUSLY, AND IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO PASS, SO, YOU KNOW, WE GOT IN THE WALL. WE'LL TRY TO FIX IT AND GET BACK OUT BUT WON'T BE A GOOD NIGHT FOR THE DuPONT CHEVROLET. IT WAS AWESOME BEFORE THAT. >> THANKS, JEFF. WE TALKED AROU THESE GUYS WOULD HAVE PROBLEMS. IT'S ABOUT 30 LAPS SINCE WE HAVE'S GONE GREEN AND JUNIOR BLOWS A RIGHT TIRE. >> DIDN'T EVEN GET TO 30. UNDER 30. DEGREE BRINGING OUTR. >> HE IS THE CROWD FAVORITE HERE. HOMETOWN JUST A FEW MILES AWAY. BIFFLE ON THE INSIDE. GOES INTO TURN ONE, AND THE -- OH, MY GOODNESS, THAT TIRE JUST EXPLODED. >> YEP, AND LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ALONG FOR THE RIDE WHEN THAT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BLOW GOING INTO THE CORNERS, TOO. >> ROBBY GORDON BLEW A TIRE HERE LAST NIGHT THAT SOUNDED LIKE A -- >> CANNON WENT OFF. >> YES, EXACTLY RIGHT. >> GREG BIFFLE IS LUCKY HE CHOSE THAT MOMENT TO BE ON THE INSIDE. >> JUNIOR HAD A VERY GOOD RACE CAR TONIGHT. HE WAS REALLY CUTTING HIS WAY THROUGH TRAFFIC. >> ON BOARD WITH DALE EARNHARDT JR. AS THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLOWS. >> JUST TAKE A LISTEN. >> INSIDE, INSIDE. >> HAPPENS PRETTY FAST. >> OKAY, GUYS, WE BLEW A RIGHT FRONT. ARE YOU OKAY? >> MARTY SNIDER? >> WELL, YOURONT FENDER FOR MATT KENSETH, HE WAS RUNNING FIFTH. HE SAID I GOT A FLAT TIRE RIGHT WHEN JUNIOR DID. THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT THIS, EXACTLY RIGHT HERE TEARING UP THE FENDER WELL. MATT IS GOING AS SLOW AS HE CAN BUT IT STILL TORE IT UP ANYWAY. HE'S COMING INTO PIT ROAD AND I DAMAGED RIGHT FRONT FENDER THEY'LL HAVE TO FIX WITH TAPE AND MAYBE SHEET METAL. >> THIRD IN THE STANDINGS. >> HE DIDN'T TEAR IT UP TOO BAD, MARTY. THEY CAN FIX IT WITH TAPE UNLESS IT STARTS TAKING OFF YOUR BRAKE BECAUSE I THINK THEY CAN FIX THAT. >> OVER THE ROAR OF THE CROWD AND THE ROAR OF THE CARS WHEN ROBBY GORDON'S TIRE BLEW LAST NIGHT, THE THREE OF US JUMPED. THAT'S HOW LOUD THE SOUND WAS AND YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW -- WHAT IT W CAR. >> ROBBY WAS LUCKY. IT BLEW ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY. >> ROBBIE REISER AGREES AND SAYS IT'S NOT AS BAD AS YOU THINK OVER THE RADIO TO MATT SAYING WE CAN FIX IT WITH WHAT WE HAVE. FOUR BRAND-NEW TIRES. AS YOU SAID, BILL, THIRD IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP. THEY HAD A VERY FAST CAR FOR TONIGHT AND THEY WERE ONE OF THE ONES BEING PATIENT AND THEY STILL HAD A RIGHT FRONT GO DOWN. >> FINISHED FIFTH LAST WEEK AT KANSAS. >> THIS IS JUST A BAD PATTERN BECAUSE WE'RE AND WE HAVE A LO OF RACING TO GO, AND NOW EVERY DRIVER IN THE FIELD IS THINKING ABOUT BLOWING A RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THEY JUST HOPE IT'S NOT THEIR TURN. >> WITH 28 LAPS OF GREEN FLAG RACING, THE FIELD COMING TO PIT ROAD. >> WHY DID TONY STEWART STAY ON THE >> MATT? >> AT A CLOSE CALL FOR THE TIRE CARRIER FOR THE 97, MARK MARTIN WENT BY. THEY'LL MAKE A SLIGHT CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT. HE IS CONCERNED OF GETTING IT TOO FREE OVER THIS NEXT RUN. TO SNIDER. >> GREG BIFFLE SAID, I LOVE THE CHASSIS BUT I AM SO WORRIED ABOUT TIRES, GUYS AND LIKE MANY OF THE TEAMS ON PIT ROAD GO UP ON AIR PRESSURE ON ALL THE TIRES. DAVE? >> ELLIOTT SADLER BEING BASHTD. NO TIRE ISSUES ON THE LAST RUN. THEY WILL MAKE A FOUR-TIRE CHANGE. NO CHASSIS ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE AND HE DOES, ALLEN. >> MISCOMMUNICATION FOR TONY STEWART. THEY WERE HAVING A DISCUSSION ON THE RADIO ABOUT THE HANDLING OF THE CAR WHEN HE CAME TO THE SPOT ON PIT ROAD WHERE HE HAD TO PIT. THE SPOTTER MARK ROBERTSON WAS TRYING TO TELL TONY TO PIT NEWM FUEL CAN WITH HIM BUT TONY COULD NOT HEAR HIM BECAUSE HE WAS TALKING. THAT'S WHY HE DID NOT PIT. >> THEY'LL COME IN, AREN'T THEY, ALLEN? >> I TOOK MY EARS OFF THAT TO WATCH RYAN NEWMAN WITH THE FUEL CAN BUT I BELIEVE THEY . >> THEY GOT TO COME IN. >> THERE'S GREG HIS CREW CHIEF AND JIMMY MAKAR. THE 12 WILL HAVE TO COME TO PIT ROAD. STOP AND GO PENALTY FOR RYAN. TIRE. >>> HEY, EVERYBODY, JUNIOR IS ON THE POLE. >> WELL, IT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE THINKING. SEE, HE'S ACTUALLY ON THE SOUTH POLE THANKS TO OUR NEWEST N WEE SPRINT, RANDY BUCKNER. WHY WAS IT FLYING OVER THE SOUTH POLE? >> EVERY TIME I DEPLOY I TAKE A PIECE OF NASCAR WITH ME. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE SOUTH POLE AND TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLY THIS FLAG THERE. >> SO HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE LOGON TO NASCAR.COM/NEXTEL. >> THE FIELD COVERED IN THE GREEN AND RANDY WILL BE PLEASED TO FIND OUT DALE EARNHARDT JR. IS OKAY. DID YOU FEEL A TIRE PROBLEM BUILDING OR DID IT GO INSTANTANEOUSLY. OUD BUT I'M OK. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY. AND I HAD A GREAT CAR, THOUGH, MAN, THAT THING WAS FLYING. WE WAS GOING TO HAVE A GREAT NIGHT AND I'M JUST EXCINOW, BUT CAR WAS FLYING. IT'S A SHAME. BRAND-NEW CAR AND WE WAS GOING TO TEST IT IN ATLANTA, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A GREAT CAR. IT'S TOO BAD. >> YOU CAN SEE THE POSITIVE SMILE ON HIS FACE. HE KNOWS THINGS ARE STARTING TO . ELLIOTT SADLER LEADS ON THE RESTART. JUST UPDATE A COUPLE DRIVERS, TONY STEWART CAME TO PIT ROAD, RESTARTED 35th. RYAN NEWMAN HAD TO COME BACK. RESTARTED 38th. >> TELL YOU WHAT, 97 KYLE BUSCH IS LOOSE. THAT'S TWICE IN THE LAST COUPLE CORNERS THAT THAT IN THERE. >> SORRY. >> I'M LOOSE. >> YEAH. >> MATT KENSETH IN THE 17 CAR, ANOTHER ONE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP CHASERS, ONE LAP DOWN. BACK IN 40th. MARTY ON BIFFLE. >> WE ABOUT GREG BIFFLE'S PIT STOP. WHEN HE CAME TO PIT ROAD CURRENTLY IN SECOND PLACE, THE CHASSIS IS FINE. WHEN THEY PULLED OFF THE TIRE ANOTHER REAR THAT IS BLISTERED. HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. >> IT RUNS OVER SOMETHING ON TH. THE NOSE WILL JUST TAKE OFF LIKE I GOT A FLAT LIKE A CHUNK CAME OUT OF THE TIRE AND I GOT A FLAT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND. >> GUYS, WE'RE NOT RACING TO WIN HERE. WE'RE RACING TO FINISH. THAT'S IT. JUST WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO SURVIVE TONIGHT. THAT'S ALL WE'REUSE A LOT OF GU GOING TO GET TO FINISH. >> AND THAT'S A SHAME BUT WHAT ELSE CAN THESE GUYS DO? IF THEY GO OUT AND RUN AS HARD AS THEY CAN THEY'LL BLOW A LAP. IF THEIR COMPETITORS DON'T AND STAY UP THERE THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE. >> ALL YOU HOPE IS A COMPETITOR, CAUTION COMES OUT IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE BEFORE IT HAPPENS TO YOU BECAUSE EVERY DRIVER IS THINKING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW. THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT -- YOU CAN BACK OFF A LITTLE BIT BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE GUYS THAT AREN'T GOING TO THAT START LOSING THE SLOTS. >> THEY'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT NOT FOR HOURS OR DAYS BUT TR AMOUNT OF CONCERN ABOUT THIS RACING SURFACE GOING BACK TO TESTING AND EVEN BEFORE THAT, BENNY. >> TESTING BECAUSE WHEN THEY FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF PROBLEM THEY HAD, THEY COME IN HERE. TONY STEWART, GREG BIFFLE, THE 20 AND 16, BOTH THOSE CARS WRECKED TWO CARS DURING PRACTICE. FOUND OUT JUST HOW SLICK THE RACETRACK WAS. >> THEY KNEW HOW SLICK AND HOW MUCH GRIP BUT DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A TIRE ISSUE. >> THEY DIDN'T FIND THAT OUT UNTIL LAST NIGHT REALLY. >> YEAH. >> ALLEN ON TONY STEWART? >> YEAH, BILL, JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON TONY STEWART, YOU KNOW, REPU FOR BEING, OH, LET'S SAY JUST TEMPERED WHERE SOMETHING LIKE WHAT JUST HAPPENED ON THE RACETRACK WOULD UPSET HIM. TONY HAS BEEN THE ONE ON THE RADIO CHEERING UP HIS PIT CREW SAYING, OKAY, LOOK AT IT THIS WAY, WE CAN GO A LAP OTHER GUYS. >> YOU CAN DO THAT AND HELPS YOU DO THAT WHEN YOU HAVE AS GOOD A RACE CAR AS TONY DOES. HE HAS A VERY FAST RACE CAR, PICKED HIS WAY THROUGH TRAFFIC AND UP TO THE 28 SPOT AND HE HAS TIME ON HIS SIDE ANDR. >> ONE CONCERN, THOUGH, IS BEING BACK IN THE FIELD WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE GUYS IN FRONT OF YOU. >> LOOK AT ALL THIS. HE'S BACK IN ALL THIS HEAVY, HEAVY TRAFFIC THAT YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. >> HEY, THEY WERE WRECKING AT THE FRONT OF THE BUSCH RACE LAST NIGHT. >> THAT'S AD. >> YEAH. >> IN FACT, THAT WAS TONY HIMSELF. AGAIN, THIS TRACK WAS LEFF GATED OR BASICALLY THEY GRIND THE TRACK DOWN, IT IS MUCH SMOOTHER AND FASTER THAN IT'S BEEN IN THE PAST. STEWART BEHIND MEANWHILE, MATT KENSETH, ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER BACK TO PIT ROAD. MARTY? >> BILL, THE PROBLEMS ARE NOTE CURED FOR THE EIGHTH PLACE MAN IN CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS. MATT KENSETH, COMING BACK TO PIT ROAD, AS YOU SAID. THE FIX THEY DID TO THE RIGHT FRONT DIDN'T WORK.@s THERE IS A FENDER RUBT. WE HAVE GOT TO GET THIS FIXED SO THEY'LL COME IN, KNOCK IT UP ACTUALLY AWAY FROM THE TIRE AND THEN TRY TO PUT A PIECE OF TAPE ON TOP OF THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER AS WELL. A LOT OF FIXES. THEY'LL GO DOWN MORE LAPS FOR THE 17 TEAM. >> MARTY, IT WAS CUT. CAME INTO THE PIT BOX. >> YEP, YOU SEE IT RIGHT THERE, WALLY, IT WAS CUT. BIG CUT. >> AND RYAN NEWMAN, REMEMBER, HE DRUG HIS GAS CAN AROUND THE RACETRACK. ALLEN, HE'S BACK IN 34th. FOR T ANOTHER MISCOMMUNICATION, IT WAS A TWO-TIRE SPIRIT STOP. RYAN TOOK OFF, THE FUEL MAN COULDN'T GET THE KANDICE ENGAGED, HAD TO COME BACK IN FOR THE PENALTY AND CHANGED THE OTHER TIRES, AS WELL. HE HAS A LOT OF TRACK POSITION TO MAKE UP AGAIN TONIGHT.h. MAYFIELD, 35th. KENSETH STRUGGLING. ELLIOTT SADLER STRONG LAST NIGHT, STRONG TONIGHT TRYING TO GET A WIN. >>> A RACE LIKE NEVER BEFORE IN 360 DEGREESSOUND. GET READY TO HEAR THE BIG PICTURE. ONLY WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE FULL IMPACT OF HD IS WITH NBC SPORTS AND SONY HD AUDIO. ELLIOTT SADLER UP FRONT AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY, NASCAR NEXTEL CUP RACING PRES >> WE SEE MATT KENSETH HAS JUST NOW COME BACK ON THE RACETRACK. HE IS BEING SHOWN 12 LAPS BEHIND. >> BIFFLE IN SECOND. KURT BUSCH RUNS THIRD.OW ON THE TICKER AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN, THE TEN DRIVERS IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP. >> AND JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS BROUGHT THAT 48 CAR BACK TO THE FIFTH POSITION. >> MARK MARTIN IS BEHIND THIS GROUP IN THAT 6 CAR. JOHNSON LEADING THAT PACK. >> SEE, MICHAEL WALTRIP, THE 15 CAR, GOOD RUN FOR HIM TONIGHT. DRIVERS TO WATCH FOR BEST CHARLOTTE FINISHES, THEY'LL -- A COUPLE OF THOSE ARE OFF THE LIST ALREADY. >> YES. >> JEFF GORDON AND DALE EARNHARDT JR. >> THIS IS WHERE THESE GUYS ARE -- WITHIN THE NEXT 10 OR 15 LAPS WE'LL KEEP OUR FINGERSOSSE GREEN FLAG -- WILL GET TO THAT 30 MARK. THAT'S THE NUMBER WE'RE ALL WORRIED ABOUT. >> WE'RE LOOKING -- YOU CAN SEE THE LAPS AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN, 88. WE'RE LOOKING FOR 97. >> THE GREAT RUN FOR STERLING MARLIN. ON THE OUTSIDE OF MICHAEL WALTRIP. STARTED 30th. CURRENTLY IN THE NINTH POSITION CAR HANDLING WELL. ON THE LAST TWO STOPS NO CHANGES TO THE CHASSIS AND ALL FOUR TIRES LOOK JUST PERFECT. >> ON BOARD WITH STERLING. THAT COORS LIGHT DODGE. DAVE BLANEY IN THE 07. THESE GUYS ARE GIVING EACH OTHER A LOT OF SPACE ON THE RACETRACK. YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT -- IT'S LIKE A DARLINGTONN EACH OTHER SO HARD UNTIL THINGS SETTLE DOWN AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OKAY. EVERYBODY IS GIVING A LOT OF RESPECT TO EACH OTHER RIGHT NOW. >> THIS IS THE PATTERN THAT WE'VE SEEN THE LAST -- EVERY TIME. ELLIOTT SADLER GETS OUT TO ABOUT A THREE OR FOUR-SECOND LEAD THEN COMING BACK TO THE FIELD. DAVE, WHAT IS HE SAYING, ANYTHING? >> TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT ELLIOTT SADLER. LAST NIGHT ON HIS PIT BOX IN THE BUSCH RACE WERE TWO GENTLEMEN, THE FIRST GUY ON THE RIGHT KEVIN TEAM ENGINEER AND RAYMOND FOX WHO WAS THE CREW CHIEF. TONIGHT THEIR ROLES ARE REVERRY FIRST PIT STOP THEY HAD A BLISTERED RIGHT REAR TIRE. THEY TOGETHER DECIDED ON AN ADJUSTMENT TO TAKE CARE OF THAT. THEY HAD NO TIRE PROBLEMS THE REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT AND THAT WAS USED ON THIS PARTICULAR CAR TONIGHT. THEY KNOW HOW TO KEEP THE TIRES UNDER THE 38 TONIGHT. >> I HOPE YOU'RE >> ELLIOTT SADLER HAS LED 59 OF THE 90 LAPS SO FAR. GET TO 30 LAPS AT ABOUT LAP 97. >>> NASCAR NEXTEL CUP RACING FROM LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY PRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP. @ >>> WE TALKED ABOUT TROUBLE COMING OUT AS WE CLOSED IN ON LAP 97, DIDN'T GET THERE. 28 L AND BOBBY HAMILTON JR. IN THAT 32 CAR. >> ONE GUY TOOK THE HIT AND 32 GUYS TOOK A SIGH OF RELIEF. HERE YOU GO, ON THE RIGHT. TIRE GOES DOWN AND HARD. INTO THE WALL. >> THAT'S WHAT DALE EARNHARDT ú TIRE EXPLODED IT DID IT ON THE y STRAIGHTAWAY SO HE DIDN'T HAVE FAR TO GO. HERE THEY COME DOWN PIT ROAD WITH HAMILTON IN THE MIDDLE OF PIT ROAD. >> TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. MATT YOCUM? >> HE GOES INTO THE GARAGE. KURT BUSCH CONCERNED ABOUT THE G MORE WEAR ON THE RIGHT REAR. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. THEY'LL TIGHTEN IT UP. FOUR NEW TIRES ON THE CAR AGAIN. >> ON THE LAST RUN GREG BIFFLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCREEN HAD BRAND-NEW TIRES. THAT'S WHATWELL. NO CHANGES TO THE CHASSIS. HAPPY ABOUT ITS HANDLING. >> ELLIOTT SADLER SAID I WOULDN'T CHANGE IT THIS TIME EVEN THOUGH HE8 REPORTED IT WASA LITTLE TIGHTER ON THIS RUN. FOUR TIRES. ALLEN? >> TONY STEWART RACED FROM 35th UP TO 16th IN THAT LAST LAP. THEY'RE MAKING A FOUR-TIRE CH A LITTLE BIT OF A LONG STOP. WON'T GAIN HIM ANY TRACK POSITION NOW. >> BIFFLE GOT HIM. >> GREG BIFFLE LEADING THE PARADE OFF OF PIT ROAD. >> STUART KIRBY WILL BE THE LUCKY DOG. TAKE A LOOK AT THE RACE OFF OF 16. ELLIOTT SADLER IN THE 38. THEN KURT BUSCH. WHILE WE WERE IN THE LAST COMMERCIAL BREAK, BIFFLE GOT A WAVE-BY BY ELLIOTT SADLER FOR THE LEAD. GOT HIS FIVE BONUS POINTS AND SETTLED BACK IN BEHIND SADLER SO UNDER THE FOU >>> STILL UNDER CAUTION IN THE UAW-GM QUALITY 500. LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. TAKE A LOOK AT OUR COKE FAMILY OF RACE OFF OF PIT ROAD. ELLIOTT SADLER RIGHT BEHIND HIM. KURT BUSCH, ANOTHER ONE OF THE CHASERS. >> NOT TOO BAD FOR THE COKE FAMILY. >> NOPE. >> MARTY? TIRES.L, BILL, WE'VE BEEN THIS IS THE THIRD SET OF BLISTERED RIGHT REAR TIRE THAT IS HAVE COME OFF BIFFLE'S CAR. CHECK IT OUT. ALL THE WAY ON THE OUTSIDE AROUND ON THE REAR TIRE. THEY TOOK IT OFF. DOUG RICHARD AND HIS CRUSADE THIS IS BLISTERED AS WELL. HE SAID I W I COULD. OTHER THAN ONE I'VE BEEN TAKING IT EASY AND STILL COMING OFF BLISTERED. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I CAN DO DIFFERENTLY. >> MARTY, DO YOU HAVE THE LAP COUNT? 28 GREEN FLAG -- >> 28 ON THIS TIRE, EXACTLY CORRECT GREEN WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR THE 28th GREEN FLAG LAP. THAT'S WHEN WE RAN BOTH TIMES. JEREMY MAYFIELD, ONE OF THE CHASERS STAYED OUT -- ROBBY GORDON BROUGHT OUT THE FIRST CAUTION ON 4. RYAN NEWMAN HAD R. HIT THE WALLT KENSETH AND BOBBY HAMILTON JR. BRINGING OUT THE LAST ONE. >> I TALKED TO THE GOODYEAR ENGINEER AND SAID, WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THAT? AND THERE IS VERY LITTLE THEY CAN DO EXCEPT PUT A REAR, ONE T LAPS AND IT'S COOL. >> OUR CRAFTSMAN PIT SUMMARY. KURT CAME OUT THIRD, SAME POSITION HE ENTERED IT. >> PUT A HEAT CYCLE ON THE TITI THAT MAKES THE TIRE LIKE IT CURES IT AND MORE DURABLE. >> THE TIRES OFF THE 97 WERE GOOD. ONE SMALL BLISTER ON THE TIRES OFF OF MARK MARTIN'S CAR. >> TELL YOU -- >> GO AHEAD. >> THE GUY IN FOURTH SPOT, JERUSALEM, STARTED SO IT'S LIKE HE'S GOT SOMETHING GOOD GOING FOR HIM. >> THAT'S JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> YEAH, HE GOT OUT OF THE WAY QUICK LIKE. >> DID HE STEER -- >> RESTART IN THE SEVENTH POSITION IN THE 48 CAR AFTER WORKIst STARTING SPOT. DID NOT GET A GOOD RESTART AT ALL BUT HE JUMPED OUT OF THE WAY PRETTY QUICK. >> SADLER, BIFFLE. >> WE SEE ALL NIGHT SADLER'S CAR IS PRETTY GOOD OFF THE GET-GO.O. >> KURT BUSCH. >> YEP. THAT'S JUST MOVING OVER AND LETTING THESE GUYS GO TRYING TOñ SAVE THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WOULD BE MY GUESS. >> MARTY ON JIMMIE JOHNSON, A DEVELOPING PROBLEM FOR THE 48. >> SAME PROBLEM WITH TONY RADIO, SAID, GUYERS WE HAVE AN ALTERNATOR PROBLEM THAT I'VE HAD TO SWITCH TO THE SECOND BATTERY. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED ON THE RESTART TO JIMMIE JOHNSON. HE'S FALLING BACK THROUGH THE FIELD. CHAD HAS CALLED FOR A BACKUP BATTERY TO THE 48 THAT HOPEFULLY THIS ONE WILL LAST FOR THE R TH. >> REALLY BALMY OUT IN THE CORNERS. >> WELL, WHAT HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS TURN ALL HIS FANS OFF. WHATEVER HE HAS IN THE CAR HE'LL HAVE TO TURN OFF. THE PROBLEM WITH RUN THE BLOWERS ON THE RIGHT FRONT AND REAR TIRE TO KEEP THEM COOL. THAT WOULD BE TOUGH TO TURN THOSE OFF. >> YOU SAID SOME GUYS HAD SOME EXTRAS GOING TO IT RIGHT REAR TONIGHT. >> NORMALLY AT THIS RACETRACK YOU WOULD NOT HAVE ANY TIRES BU KNOWING THE TIRE PROBLEMS THEY STARTED INSTALLING HOSES TO THE REAR TIRE, TO THE FRONT TIRE TRYING TO GET SOME COOL AIR ON THOSE TIRES TO KEEP THEM AS COOL AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN. >> MARTY ON BIFFLE. >> WE SAW BIFFLE START WITH THEE FIELD. SAID IT'S SO LOOSE I CAN'T DRIVE IT. ONLY CHANGE THEY PUT ON STICKER TIRES ON THIS RUN FOR BIFFLE. MATT? >> MARK MARTIN RUNS BACK IN THE TENTH POSITION. A TOUGH NIGHT FOR MARK ON PIT ROAD. TWO STOPS AGO, A VERY CLOSE CALL WITH HISAMMATE AND THE 19 OF JEREMY MAYFIELD AND BUSCH NOW ON THE LAST STOP, HE WAS NOT HAPPY WHEN HE LEFT PIT ROAD. THIS IS WHAT HE SAID TO PAT TRYSON. >> ALWAYS BEHIND THESE HOGS. ALL THESE GUYS ARE IN MY WAY. >> I DON'T KNOW TO PASS 01. >> 40 TIMES I GUESS. >> AND WHAT HAPPENED ON THE LAST STOP FOR MARK MARTIN, DREW THE REAR TIRE CHANGER CAME AROUND THE CAR WHEN HE PLANTED HIS FOOT, HE SLIPPED IN THE SPILLED FUEL THAT CAME OUT OF THE é OVE SECOND, TWO SECONDS THERE. GUY BACKED UP, GET THE LUGS BUT COST MARK SOME TIME ON PIT ROAD TRACK POSITION CRUCIAL TONIGHT AT LOWE'S. >> IT'S HARD TO PASS GUYS, MAN AND EVERY TIME YOU COME IN THE PITS IF THEY PASS YOU BACK ON PIT LANE THERE IS NOTHING THAT FRU THAT. >> YOU COULD SEE HOW INTENT THESE DRIVERS ARE INSIDE THE RACE CARS. >> HE IS ABOUT THE MOST INTENSE. MARK MARTIN, A DEDICATED RACER, FOUR TIMES HE'S FINISHED SECOND IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS, HAS NEVER WON THE TITLE. RIGHT NOW AS THEY RUN, MARK FOURTH IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP. GOT THE WIN AT KANSAS LAST SUNDAY. >> HE HAD A REALLY GOOD CAR, WAS OUT FRONT FOR A LONG TIME. TALKED TO HIM ON THURSDAY. HE SAID THAT'S A LONG TIME TO BE OUT FRONT AND A GOOD CAR. MARK IS JUST WAITING FOR SOMETHING BAD TO HAPPEN. THE FRONT. >> NOW, THESE GUYS WERE SIDE BY SIDE. THEY ALL FILED INTO SINGLE FILE BUT ONE AND TWO THEY WERE GOING AT IT. YOU TALKED ABOUT GUYS BEING PATIENT. THOSE ARE THE GUYS THAT ARE UP IN THE FRONT HALF OF THE FIELD. WON'T HAVE NEARLY AS MUCH PATIENCE. >> THEY CAN'T HAVE BECAUSE THEY'RE RUNNING BACK IN 25th, 30th, AND NO ONE WANTS TO BE BACK THERE. >> THAT'S CARL EDWARDS IN THE 9. 33rd. >> WOW. >> NOT IN THE 51 CAR TRYING TO GO BY HIM ON THE OUTSIDE. ALLEN, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE 99 CAR? >> A COUPLE THINGS, BENNY. STARTED A PLAN NOT TO RACE THAT HARD UNTIL IT GOT THREE-QUARTER DISTANCE IN AND TALKED ABOUT THE SURVIVAL STRATEGY BUT AS HAS GO COMPLAINED MORE AND MORE ABOUT THE HANDLING AND GOT MORE AND MORE VOCAL ABOUT IT, TRY TO ENCOURAGED HIM BUT HE'S STARTING TO SLIDE BACK. >> HE CAN ONLY STAY POSITIVE SO LONG AT THIS SPEED. YOU KNOW, IF YOUR HANDLING, YOU'RE WANTING TO MAKE SOME CHANGES OR YOU WANT THE CREW TO KNOW THAT, HEY, GUYS, I GOT MY HANDS FULL. >> I MEAN, IT GETS SCARY AROUND THIS PLACE WHEN YOU'RE AS FAST AS THESE GUYS ARE GOING SIDE BY SIDE YOU WANT THE CAR TO HANDLE. >> JEREMY MAYFIELD, ANOTHER CHASER AROUND THE >> IT HAS BEEN A WEEKEND OF STRUGGLES FOR MAYFIELD. THEY CHASED THE ENTIRE SESSION, A BAD VIBRATION, CHANGED EVERYTHING IN THE DRIVETRAIN, EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE ENGINE. STARTED DEEP IN THE FIELD BECAUSE HE HAD TO GO TO THE BACK WHEN HE QUALIFIED 37th. VIBRATION IS GONE. THE BAD NEWS, THE BALANCE HAS JUST JUMPED GONE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN LOOSE AND TIGHT. >> RESTARTED ON LAP 101. NOW ON LAP 111 HEADING FOR 112. 28 LAPS OF GREEN FLAG RACING TWICE BEFORE SOMEBODY LO >> AND TONY STEWART, THAT 20 CAR, JUST GOES BY JIMMIE JOHNSON TO MOVE IN THE 12th POSITION. >> JOHNSON AND THE 48, JOHNSON IN THE 48 CHASING THE 20th STEWART UP FRONT. >>> STILL UNDER GREEN IN THE UAW-GM QUALITY 500. TAKE A LOOK AT THE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS SERIES RACE, RYAN NEWMAN EDGED ELLIOTT SADLER TO WIN IT, ONE-THIRD OF THE RACE RUN UNDER THE CAUTION AND WITH FOUR TO GO THE CHAMPIONSHI STANDINGS, CLINT BOWYER, STILL MUCH GROUND. TRUEX LEADS BY 128 POINTS. TIME TO GO THROUGH THE FIELD PRESENTED BY SPEEDPASS FROM EXXON AND MOBIL. DAVE BURNS BATS LEADOFF. >> ELLIOTT SADLER'S TEAM RADIOED HIM ABOUT THE TIRES THEY CHECKED CAREFULLY AT THE LAST PIT STOP AND SAID, WE DO THE RIGHT REAR . DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. THAT WAS A SET OF TIRES YOU DIDN'T LIKE ANYWAY. THEY SCUFFED EVERYTHING SO HAVE SEEN EVERY SET OF TIRES. >> ONE OF THE FASTEST, JAMIE McMURRAY IN THE SECOND POSITION SCORED HIS ONLY CAREER WIN RIGHT HERE IN HIS SECONDGOOD. THEY'RE NOW ON SCUFF TIRES, WERE ON STICKERS BEFORE. >> BIG WEEKEND LAST WEEK, ROUSH HAD FOUR OF THE TOP FIVE AT THE FINISH. KURT BUSCH IS THE LEADING ROUSH CAR RUNNING IN THIRD. STICKER TIRES THE LAST STOP. HE SAYS THE CAR, THOUGH, MEANWHILE, HIS BROTHER, KYLE BUSCH, HIS CAR IS ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SPECTRUM. HE CAME ON THE RADIO AND SAID, THIS THING IS BEAUTIFUL. A LITTLE FREE. WE MAY WANT TO THINK ABOUT TIGHTENING IT UP ON THE NEXT STOP. DAVE. >> RUNNING FIFTH WALTRIP STARTED 32nd. FOUR-TIRE STOPS EVERY TIME AND DESCRIBED THE CAR AS EXCELLENT. I GUESS SO. >> AFTER SAYING IT WAS SO LOOSE HE COULDN'T DRIVE IT GREG BIFFLE HAS SAID IT SETTLED IN. SAID IT WASN'T WORTH PUSHING IT VERY EARLY IN THE RUN HAS FALLEN BAABLE PACE. >> FOR THE 41st TIME MARK MARTIN HAS GOT BACK AROUND THE 01 OF JOE NEMECHEK. HAD A SLIGHT BLISTER ON THE RIGHT FRONT. WHEN THEY PULLED THE TIRES OFF ON THE LAST TOP PAT SAID WE WILL FREE YOU UP ON THE NEXT STOP SO WE DON'TAGAIN. >> JOE NEMECHEK CALMED INTO HIS CREW AND SAID I'M HAPPY TO RUN EIGHTH. HIS CAR HANDLING OKAY. THEY HAVE HAD REGULAR RIGHT REAR BLISTERS ON EACH PIT STOP. MARTY? >> ALLEN, THIS AFTERNOON DAVE BLANEY FOUND OUT HE WILL NOT BE IN THE 07 CAR IN HIS RIDE. HAVING A TERRIFIC RUN RIGHT NOW IN THE NINTH POSITION, CAR IS A LITTLE BIT LOOSE BUT THEY'VE BEEN FAST FOR MOST OF THE AFTERNOON. >> OPERATION RECOVERY CONTINUES FOR TONY STEWART AFTER THE PIT STOP MISCOMMUNICATION THAT DROPPED HIM BACK TO 35th PLACE. YOU SEE TONY HAS CRACKED THE TOP TEN TALKING E TRYING TO LEAD TH LAPS TO GET THOSE EXTRA CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS. NOW I THINK HE'D JUST LIKE TO LEAD AGAIN. >> STERLING MARLIN WON IT IN 2001. CURRENTLY HE IS IN THE 11th POSITION, ALLEN, WITH A FAST RACE CAR. LOOKS LIKE HE COULD FINISH IN THE TOP TEN. A LITTLE LOOSE ON THE LAST STOP. FRONT TIRE TRYING TO TIGHTEN IT UP. JIMMIE JOHNSON RIDING AROUND THE VOLTAGE ISSUE. TALKED IT OUT WHAT THEY'LL DO, HAVE A BACKUP BATTERY IN THE BACK OF THE PIT CHECKING TO MAKE SURE IT'S UP TO THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF VOLTS AND MAY PUT IT IN THE CAR. >> AROUND THE TOP TEN ALL NIGHT. LAST STOP HIS CAR WOULDN'T TURN. MADE AN ADJUSTMENT FOR THAT. NOW IT TURNS WAY TOO WELL. VERY LOOSE FOR CASEY MEARS. >> HERE WE GO. STERLING MARLIN, 24 LAPS. >> JUST, I MEAN, UNREAL. >> YOU KNOW IT'S COMING. HE HAD PASS THE LEADER WAS IN FRONT OF THE LEADER. MADE AN UNSCHEDULED STOP WITH ANOTHER FLAT TIRE, RIGHT FRONT TIRE. >> OUR GUYS FROM PIT ROAD TOLD US CARL EDWARDS WAS APPROACHING THE SITUATION WHERE HE MIGHT HAVE TO PIT UNDER GREEN. HE'S RIGHT CAR ON THE LEAD LAP. >> HE WAS ONLY A FEW SECONDS IN FRONT OF THE LEADER, ELLIOTT SADLER. >> NORMALLY WHEN THEY DO THAT, THEY DON'T GIVE YOU ANY WARNING, YOU DON'T FEEL IT COMING MOST OF MARTY?ME. >> AND, WALLY, NOT IN THIS CASE. HE SAID I HAD NO CLUE THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, SAID STERLING. >> ON BOARD STERLING MARLIN. >> BOY, HE WAS DOWN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE RACETRACK SO HE WENT ALL THE WAY UP THE TRACK. THAT'S WHERE YOU HIT THE WALL THE HARDEST. WE TALKED ABOUT JUNIOR DOING IT RIGHT OUT -- ALMOST ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY. SO HE DIDN'T HAVE AS FAR TO GO BUT STERLING HIT HARD AS YOU COULD HIT IT. >> LOOKS LIKE HE'S OKAY DRIVING THE CAR BACK. >> DROPPED THE WINDOW, THE INDICATION HE IS OKAY. >> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, YOU KEEP HITTING THE WALL AT 160, 70 MILES AN HOUR, ONE OF THESE DAYS, YOUR IN THE WAY OF SOMETH. >> PIT ROAD IS CLOSED. A HARD HIT STERLING HAD AT KANSAS THAT TOOK HIM OUT OF CONTENTION FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. >> RUNNING GOOD, TOO. IN THE TOP TEN WHEN THIS HAPPENED. >> IN FACT, PERHAPS PREDICTED HE WAS GOING TO HAVE A TOP TEN FINISH? >> OH, YOU HAD TO BRING THAT UP, DIDN'T YOU? >> JUST WANTED MARTY TO KNOW THAT WE WERE LISTENING. TRANSFORM THE WAY YOU WATCH NASCAR, IN HI-DEFINITION. PIT ROAD STILL CLOSED. >> CONCERNED THAT STERLING MARLIN MAY BE ON PIT ROAD AND CHOSE NOT TO OPEN IT. IT WILL BE OPEN NEXT TIME BY AND EVERYONE CAN DASH IN AND GET FOUR MORE TIRES. >> OPENEDAMILTON WAS IN THE MID GOT OUT OF THE WAY. >> I THINK I'D THROW ONE IN MY TRUNK JUST FOR LUCK. >> WHO ARE YOU GOING TO GET TO CHANGE IT OUT THERE IF IT HAPPENS? AAA? >> NOT A PERSON. >> 35 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP ALL GETTING READY TO COME TO PIT ROAD. HERE'S OUR TEAM TYLENOL SAFETY FACT, IN THE FALL OF 2001 NASCAR MANDATED USE OF HEAD AND NECK RESTRAINT TO REDUCE EXTREME HEAD MOTION DURING CRASHES AND SUDDE ADD TO THE SAFETY FEATURES IN AND AROUND THESE RACE CARS. THE GUYS ARE GLAD THEY HAVE IT TONIGHT. ALL RIGHT. BIG PARADE COMING TO PIT ROAD LED BY ELLIOTT SADLER. MATT? >> KURT BUSCH ROUGH CHASE. WE JUST NEED SOME LUCK. HE HAS A GOOD RUN GOING NOW LOOKING FOR HIS BEST FINISH HERE AT LOWE'S. THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE AN AIR PRESSURE CHANGE IN RIGHT REAR AND LEFT SIDE, MARTY. HE SAID HE DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY THE CAR FELT EARLY ON. >> GREG BIFFLE RUNNING IN MIDDL SAID I WAS TOO LOOSE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RUN. WEDGE AND AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT. >> TONY STEWART WAS SO HAPPY WITH HIS RACE CAR THE LAST RUN, THEY WILL MAKE NO CHANGES THIS TIME BY. JUST FOUR TIRES AND SEND HIM ON HIS WAY WITH A FULL TANK. >> LATER ELLIOTT SADLEOWN ON TH RIGHT REAR JACK, THE CAR WAS A LITTLE TIGHT AT THE END OF THE RUN, FOUR TIRES FOR THE LEADER. HE LEAVES AS THE LEADER, AS WELL. >> WOW. >> THAT WAS COOL. >> THAT WAS. >> BIG RACE OFF OF PIT ROAD. WE'LL SORT IT OUT FOR YOU WHEN WE COME BACK. >>> WHY ARE THE CHART RACES AT NIGHT? BECAUSE THE FANS NEED THE NEXT DAY TO RECOVER. >> STAY LOW, STAY LOW. >> THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY HAS MANY. TURNING VICTORY INTO DEFEAT AND DEFEAT INTO DISGUST. >> BE HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THESE GUYS CAN PASS A DRIVER'S TEST. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON, A SWEEP OF THE SEASON'S RACES. >> BUT FOR ONE DRIVER THERE IS NO GREATER HIGH THAN LOWE'S. THREE IN A ROW. BUT HERE HE IS REMEMBERED FOR FINISHING SECOND. IN MAY, MARK MARTIN WAS THE STAR IN THE ALL-STAR RACE. LAST WEEK THIS CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER WAS BACK IN VICTORY S TO WIN HERE. AND THE REST WANT TO FIND OUT. THE BATTLE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP IS UNDER WAY AT CHARLOTTE WHERE EVERYONE WONDERS IF THIS SATURDAY NIGHT SHOW WILL FEATURE ANOTHER CHEVY CHASE. AND THE FI TO GET THE GRIND THIS TIME BY. COMPLETING LAP 130 WITH ELLIOTT SADLER AND KURT BUSCH IN FORDS UP FRONT. >> THE FIRST CHEVY IS BACK IN FOURTH POSITION, KYLE BUSCH. EI. TWOp TIRES STOP ON THE 12 CAR T GET HIM BACK UP FRONT. WE'LL SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT. >> THE LEFT SIDE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN ANY KIND OF ISSUEALITY ALL. I GUESS THAT'S WHY RYAN DECIDED AGAIN. >>. >> KURT BUSCH'S CAR HAS BEEN REALLY LOOSE LOOKING LIKE HE STILL IS HAVING TROUBLE. DOWN ON THE BOTTOM WILL LOSE A COUPLE MOREMARLIN BACK BEHIND IN THE GARAGE HERE SAID ON THE RADIO GAVE NO INDICATION IT WAS GOING TO LET GO, STERLING? >> NO, BY THE RUB BEFORE IT WASN'T REAL BAD, GOOD LOOSE TOOz A HALF A POUND OUT OF THE RIGHT REAR, WAS TIGHT, RUNNING NO WARNING AND, YOU KNOW, JUST BLEW A TIRE OUT. YOU KNOW, I WISH THESE OWNERS OF THESE TRACKS WOULD TALK TO US BEFORE THEY GRIND TRACKS AND DO STUFF. WE HAD A GOOD RACETRACK AND THEY MESSED IT UP. >> YOU SAID YOU WERE BEING PATIENT. IS THERE ANYTHING DIFFERENT THE DRIVERS CAN >> NO, I MEAN YOU DROP A RAG, YOU GOT TO GO AS FAST AS YOU CAN. YOU KNOW, WE WERE HAVING TROUBLE BACK IN THE LATE '80s WITH GOODYEARS, WE AIN'T GOING TO SLOW DOWN. WE'RE GOING TO GO AS FAST AS WE CAN. THIS IS A NEW CAR WE HAD RUN GOOD AND RUN GOOD HERE. THE MOTOR RAN GREAT AND WE GET BACK TO WHERE WE USED TO BE. CAN'T GET ANY LUCK. >> TOUGH SITUATION FOR THE DRIVERS, HAVE TO@ñ GO FAST TO KP UP WITH EVERYBODY ELSE. THE KEY TO SAVING THE TIRES IS SLOWING DOWN A HALF A SECOND. YOU CAN'T DO THAT. GRINDING PROCESS ON THIS RACETRACK AND MADE IT SMOOTHER AND FASTER BUT HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. THE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY CONFIRMED THIS MORNING OR THIS EVENING AT THE DRIVERS' MEETI RESURFACED BEFORE THE TRACK COMES BACK IN MAY. >> HE APOLOGIZED FOR THE RACETRACK AND SAID HE APPRECIATED THESE DRIVERS WORKING WITH HIM. >> THERE WAS A LOT OF RACING GOING ON. THAT PATIENCE THINGS, BENNY, STARTING TO WEAR OUT A LITTLE BIT. >> WELL, YOU KNOW, SO FAR THEY HAVE BEEN PATIENT. THEY'RE JUST WAITING F AS THIS RACE PROGRESSES, THE DRIVERS WILL START TRYING TO PICK UP POSITIONS, AND THAT'S WHEN THEY START RUNNING INTO EACH OTHER. >> BE A LOT LESS GIVE AND MORE TAKE. >> UH-HUH. >> WENT BACK TO GREEN ON LAP 131. 155 FOR TROUBLE TO BREAK OUT AGAIN. TONY STEWART IN THE 20 WITH DAVE BLANEY ON HIS HIP. >> STEWART GOES BY THE 07, TAKES THAT SPOT AWAY AS KURT BUSCH, 97, TRYING TO GET BY JOE NEMECHEK. KURT BUSCH RESTARTED THIS THING IN SECOND SPOT ALL THE. MAKE THAT NINTH. >> LOOSE, LOOSE, LOOSE IT LOOKS LIKE. >> THAT CAR WANTS TO SPIN OUT IN THE CORNERS SO IT CAN'T GET ON THE GAS AND JUST GOT TO BE CAREFUL. >> ON BOARD WITH JCK AT TONY ST. THERE'S SOME RACY GUYS BEHIND THIS PACK, AS WELL. THERE'S JEFF BURTON IN THE 31 CAR. 17th LAST TIME BY. THE CINGULAR TO 191. TALKING ABOUT PUTTING A HARD CAP ON TOWEL TEAMS AN OWNER CAN HAVE. WHAT DO YOU THINK? NO LIMIT, LIMIT OF THREE. TO VOTE YOU CAN TEXT THE WORD O PHONE OR GO TO NASCAR.COM AND HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN 1 MILLION 31 DOLLARS. LOOKING FORWARD AT RUSTY WALLACE WHILE WE WERE ON BURTON'S CAR, RUSTY BACK INSPOT. SADLER UP FRONT AND 14 RACES @ HERE, ELLIOTT SADLER HAD LED A TOTAL OF 71 LAPS PRIOR TO TONIGHT. ALREADY 101 UP FRONT FOR SADLER IN THAT 38 M&M'S FORD. >> KYLE BUSH WAS ABLEN 42 AND TE SECOND SPOT SO NOW THE CHEVY IS CHASING THAT FORD. >> IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO WHEN YOU PREDICTED HOW WELL KYLE WOULD RUN IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON. HE ALREADY HAS A WIN, EIGHT TOP FIVES IN THE LAST SIX GOOD TO S RUNNING GOOD HERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE SHOCK THING THAT HAPPENED, EVERYBODY WAS LIKE NO WONDER HE RAN SO WELL, BECAUSE OF THE SHOCKS. CAN'T SAY THAT TONIGHT. >> FINISHED SECOND AT DOVER AND NASCAR TOOK THE SHOCKS FROM THE 5 CAR AND ALSO BOTH CARS WEREN'T LEGAL IN POST-RACE INSPECTION BUT NASCAR WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE INTENT OF WHAT THEY DID WITH THE SHOCKS AND IMPLEMENTED A NEW RULE BEFORE KANSAS. SOME OF THE TEAMS HERE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT RULE WAS IN EFFECT FOR TO ADJUST THEIR SHOCKS BEFORE THEY WENT OUT TO PRACTICE. JEFF GORDON INVOLVED IN AN EARLY WRECK, SHOWED YOU THAT GUYS BACK IN THE GARAGE WORKING HARD ON THAT CAR TO GET JEFF BACK OUT TO SEE IF HE CAN PICK UP SOME POSITIONS, RIGHT NOW94 LAPS DOW POSSIBLY PASS DALE EARNHARDT JR., BOBBY HAMILTON AND STERLING MARLIN IF HE CAN MEET THE MINIMUM SPEED AND STAY ON THE TRACK AND UNDER THESE CONDITIONS THAT WILL NOT BE ANY FUN. KASEY BUSCH RIGHT BEHIND HIM. ON BOARD WITH NEMECHEK. ELLIOTT SADLER UP FRONT BY SECONDS OVER KYLE BUSH. >> AND THE LAST TIME BY, KYLE BUSH WENT 28.81, UNBELIEVABLY FAST. >> MATT? >> BILL, HE HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE MONTH OF MAY, WON THE AT LOWE'S. NOW TRYING TO COMPLETE THE CYCLE AND GET A CUP WIN HERE ON THIS MILE AND A HALF. YOUR, THE CAR HE SAYS IS FREE ON THE BOTTOM ESPECIALLY WHEN HE OVERDRIVES INTO THE CORNERS DOWN IN THREE AND FOUR. BUT HE IS REALLY REELING IN THE 38 CAR GETTING READY LEAD. DAVE BURNS? >> THAT 38 CAR IS NOT TURNING AS WELL AS IT WAS BEFORE AND ELLIOTT BLAMES IT A LITTLE ON THE TRACK AS IF WE WEREN'T BLAMING ENOUGH ON THE TRACK TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE TRACK AS IT COOLS TIGHTENS UP A BIT. TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THAT. LOOK AT HIM MOVE OVER, LCH FAST >> PATIENCE THERE. AND THIS GROOVE IS STARTING TO GET WIDER. WATCH THE CARS IN THREE AND FOUR AND THE GROOVE IS MOVING UP THE RACETRACK SO THEY'RE USING MORE OF THE RACETRACK WHICH IS A GOO >> SO KYLETO THE FRONT. NASCAR NEXTEL CUP RACING FROM THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. >>> CAUTION HAS JUST COME OUT FOR KYLE BUSCH, THE RACE LEADER. >> YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHY. >> TIRE ISSUE? >> PRETTY OBVIOUS, HUH? MAN, THIS IS BRUTAL. >> NO WARNING, BOYS. NO WARNING. >> RUSSIAN ROULETTE. TO BE WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN. >> THAT WAS 19 GREEN FLAG LAPS. >> SO WE'RE GETTING LESS AND LESS LAPS. >> BUT HE RAN THE CAR HARDER THAN MOST OF THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN RUNNING THE CAR. >> RAN HIS FASTEST SPEED ON LAP. WOW. >> ALMOST THE SAME SPOT THAT JUNIOR HIT THE WALL BUT NOW BACK IN THE WALL AGAIN. >> COMING AT YOU. >> OH, BOY. >> THEY'LL BE BUSY THIS WEEK. >> YES.HUMPY'S PHONE. TAKE A LOOK AT THE WENDY'S RACE MENU. NEXT SUNDAY, MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA. LAST SHORT TRACK RACE OF THE SEASON, THE HALF MILE UP THERE. 12:30 EASTERN TIME. THEN ON TOJOHNSON WON THERE, BO RACES A YEAR AGO. THEN TEXAS, OUR FIRST VISIT THERE. >> FINALLY GOT A TRACK AT HOME. >> YEAH. >> LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT ONE. >> OF COURSE, OUR COVERAGE BEGINS EACH WEEK WITH THE "BANK OF AMERICA COUNTDOWN TO GRE FORE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP. 35 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. >> WELL, PIT ROAD IS OPEN AND GUESS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? >> 35 CARS WILL GO TO PIT ROAD. >> THERE YOU G ONLY BECAUSE THE ON THE LEAD LAP. >> MATT YOCUM? >> THEY'RE GOING TO PUT A SET OF STICKER TIRES ON MARK MARTIN'S FORD ON THIS STOP. HE SAID IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY TIME WE TIGHTEN THE CAR UP, WE GO SLOWER. HE LIKED THE BALANCE ON THE WED. LET'S HEAD IT TO THE TRIPLE WITH SNIDER. >> GREG BIFFLE IS PLEASED WITH HIS RACE CAR RUNNING IN THE THIRD POSITION, FOUR NEW STICKER TIRES, CAME ON THE RADIO AND SAID, GUYS, THE CAR IS PER FIDGET. OBVIOUSLY NO CHANGES, 14.0 ON THE STOP. I FEEL LIKE I CAN RUN SOLID LAPS THIS WAY. NO CHANGES, DAVE. >> NEW LEADER ELLIOTT SADLER TOP OF YOUR SCREEN AND LOOKS LIKE VERY CLOSE GOING OFF PIT ROAD. CHANGE FOUR TIRES MADE ANOTHER WEDGE ADJUSTMENT IN THE RIGHT REAR OF THE CAR TO KEEP THE CAR A LITTLE BIT FREER TURNING. >> A LE. WE MIGHT SEE A SPEEDING PENALTY HERE. WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. >> YEAH. >> CASEY MEARS LOOKED LIKE HE CHANGED TWO TIRES TO GET OUT FRONT. I KNOW HE CAME OUT FRONT. >> JUST 19 GREEN FLAG LAPS ON THAT SET. WE'LL SORT THE FIELD. >>> FIELD COMING TO GET THE GREEN. WINDOW. >> MIKE LINGERFELT, FRONT TIRE CHANGER, ROLL IT. WATCH AS HE COMES AROUND THE FRONT, RYAN HAS TO CHASE THE TIRE DOWN. OH, MIKE, HE TRIPS. HE SLIDES ON HIS HANDS AND KNEES BUT HE JUST CRAWLS OVER TO THE LEFT FRONT AND STILL ALMOST IRE. >> 14.4 SECONDS. CASEY MEARS TOOK TWO TIRES. >> PROBABLY HAD A BLISTERED RIGHT SNEAKER. ON THAT DEAL. >> AND THERE WERE NO SPEEDING PENALTIES SO EVERYBODY MINDING DAVE BURNS?D LAWS HERE. >> MIKE'S SHOE WAS OKAY. HE WAS UNINJURED, AS WELL, I CHECKED WITH HIM. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> MIKE MISSED LAST WEEK'S RACE IN KANSAS BECAUSE HE WAS INJURED IN TALLADEGA TRYING TO FIX ONE OF THE WRECKED RACE CARS. >> CASEY BEFORE PIT STOPS, TOOK TWO TIRES, LEADS THE FIELD TO THE GREEN. >> ELLIOTT SADLER I THINK MAY HAVE SPUN THE TIRES HERE ON THAT RESTART. HE'S GOING TO LOSE A SPOT, MAYBE. >> WE CHECK WHO IS IN FOURTH RT. >> THEY MAY ALL LOSE SPOTS HERE. >> YES. >> WITHIN THE NEXT TEN LAPS. >> MATT KENSETH IN THAT 17 CAR, TEN LAPS DOWN RUNNING ALONGSIDE THE RACE LEADER. >> ALLEN BESTWICK, IS TONY STEWART HAVING ANY TIRE TROUBLE TONIGHT? >> NOT A SPOT ON ANY OF THE TIRES THAT HAVE COME OFF HIS CAR. THEY HAVE THEIR FINGERS CROSSED DOWN HERE BUT NOT A SPOT AND THAT'S BAD NEWS FOR THE COMPETITION. >> I AGREE WITH YOU. I WAS WONDERING ABOUTHE 24 CAR GORDON ON THE APRON. APPARENTLY HE'S HELPING OUT HIS TEAMMATE, JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> SCUFFING TIRES FOR THOSE GUYS. YOU PUT A HEAT CYCLE ON THEM AND KIND OF SCRUB THEM IN AND CURE THEM AND THAT DOES HELP THESE TIRES. THE MOST RECENT CAUTION, DONE FOR THE NIGHT. OUT OF THE RACE. JOINS STERLING MARLIN, DALE EARNHARDT JR. AND MIKE WALLACE. >> AND ELLIOTT SADLER HAS GOTTEN DOWN THE 38 CAR ON THE BOTTOM OF THE RACETRACK AND JUST CAN'T GET BACK TO THE TOP. BY. HE HAS FAILEN BA HE HAD GONE BACK TO THE SEVENTH POSITION AND LOSING EVEN MORE SPOTS. HERE COMES TONY STEWART. >> LOOKING INSIDE OF BIFFLE. NOW FALLS IN BEHIND. WE'LL WATCH THE RACETRACK WITH MARTY. >> KYLE BUSCH, THE SAME THING ANY INDICATION IT WAS GOING OUT ON YOU? >> NO, I HAD NO INDICATION. FIRST OFF I WANT TO THANK MY DELPHI GUYS. DID AN AWESOME JOB, GAVE ME A GREAT RACE CAR AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE TIRES, IT'S NOT THE RACETRACK, IT'S JUST THE CONDITIONS WE'RE UNDER AND, YOU CAR AROUND 85%, 90% AND JUST SCARED TO DEATH OF PUSHING IT THAT FINAL 10% BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. IT'S HARD TO RACE IN THESE CONDITIONS AND SEEING IT EVERY 30 LAPS SO UNLESS NASCAR WANTS TO THROW A CAUT LAPS THAT'S WHAT WE'LL SEE HAPPEN SO THEY'LL PAY SOMEBODY TO WIN TONIGHT. IT AIN'T GOING TO BE THE NUMBER 5 CAR WHO DESERVED IT. >> ARE ALL THE DRIVERS DRIVING LESS THAN 100%? >> I GUARANTEE IT. ASK THEM HOW HARD THEY RAN THROUGH THE BRT OF THE RACE. >> GLAD TO SEE YOU'RE OKAY. >> MATT KENSETH SLIPPED UP. >> STEWART TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT. >> AND HE IS ON A MISSION. I GUARANTEE YOU HE'S NOT GOING 100% RIGHT NOW. >> STEWART HAS A GOOD RACE CAR. WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT HIS THE BOT NOT GET LOOSE. >> AND HE MIGHT BE RUNNING 100% BECAUSE HE HASN'T HAD ANY TIRE PROBLEMS TO WORRY ABOUT SO HE CAN GO OUT THERE AND MASH THAT ACCELERATOR DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. ALL THE OTHER THEY HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS AND HAVE TO BE CAREFUL AND KEEP THAT CAR AROUND TILL THE END OF THE RACE. >> TONY STEWART TO THE FRONT. I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS NOT TO GO 100% IN THESE CARS. >> IT'S PRETTY DIFFICULT ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK I MIRROR AND HAVE GUYS THAT WANT TO PASS YOU. DRIVER'S NATURE TO STAND ON THE GAS AND PASS PEOPLE. SO REALLY HARD TO FIND A BALANCE TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, RUN HARD ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN OR STAY IN A POSITION AND NOT ABUSE YOUR RIGHT FRONT WHEN THE 42 CAR, JAMIE McMURRAY, GOT ALONGSIDE THE 16, BIFFLE, 16, BACKED OFF AND LET HIM GO BECAUSE NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO RACE. YOU JUST SIMPLY CANNOT TAKE A CHANCE AND USE YOUR CAR TOO HARD NOW. >> YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE SECOND HALF OF THIS RACE AS WE APPROACH THE HALFWAY MARK. >> I THINK THE GUYS THEN WILL START TRYING TO RACE EACH OTHER AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE BLOWN TIRES PLUS GUYS MAKING CONTACT AND RUNNING INTO EACH OTHER. >> WELL, IF RYAN NEWMAN WINS YEAR, ALLEN, HE WILL REMEMBER THIS NIGHT, ISN'T HE? >> I THINK HE'S CONCERNED THERE'S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO IN THE RACE, BILL. HE'LL REMEMBER THIS ANYWAY. HE CALLED ON THE RADIO, I HAVE A VIBRATION. CREW CHIEF AND HE DISCUSSING IT. HE QUESTIONED WHETHER HEHIS WAY. MATT TOLD HIM TO FEEL IT OUT AS GOOD AS HE COULD. HE HASN'T COME TO PIT ROAD AND HASN'T SAID ANY MORE ABOUT IT. >> WELL, HE'S GOT THE BACK RIGHT NOW. YOU GOT TO LISTEN TO WHAT THAT RACE CAR IS TELLING YOU. IF IT'S A VIBRATION, IT DOESN'T. >> WHAT IS HE DOING NOW? >> LISTENING. IT'S ALWAYS RIGHT ESPECIALLY ON A RACETRACK LIKE THIS. >> YOU SEE McMURRAY HAS GONE BY MEARS TO TAKE OVER THE SECOND POSITION. BIFFLE GOES BY TO TAKE OVER THIRD BUT ALL THESE GUYSRT. >> AGAIN, MEARS JUST WITH TWO TIRES ON THE MOST RECENT PIT STOP. TONY TRYING TO PULL AWAY. JAMIE McMURRAY'S ONLY WIN CAME AT THIS TRACK TONY STEWART IS A PAST WINNER HERE. FORMER SERIES CHAMPION AND THE LEADER IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP. >>> NASCAR NEXTEL CUP RACING FROM LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY PRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP. >>> MORE THAN 130,000 FANS HERE AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY ON A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT FOR RACING. CAUTION IS TURN FOUR. >> HARVICK. RIGHT FRONT. HOW MANY LAPS WAS THAT, BILL? >> 17. >> NOW WE'RE JUST WORKING LESS AND LESS LAPS WHEN TIRE TROUBLE. STARTED 28, 28, 19, 17. >> SEE HIM FIRING THE ENGINE UP. HE'S GOING TO TRY TO DRIVE THIS THING BACK IN. >> THAT'S TWO IN TWO NIGHTS FOR POINT, WALLY. >> YEP. >> ALREADY UP ON THE WALL. HAPPENS IN A HURRY, THOUGH. SEVENTH CAUTION OF THE NIGHT. 22 CAUTION FLAGS HERE IN THE 600-MILE RACE OVER 100 LAPS, A QUARTER OF THE RACE RUN UNDER THE YELLOW. LAST NIGHT A THIRD OF THE RACE FOR THE BUSCH SERIES. RAN UNDER THE YELLOW. >> NOW THE GUYS -- THAT HIT LAST NIGHT WHO WEREN'T HAPPY, REALLY NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY TON >> LET'S PAY OFF OUR CINGULAR RACE TALK POLL. HOW MANY TEAMS SHOULD CAR OWNERS BE ALLOWED TO >> THAT'S 50/50 ALMOST. >> WITHIN OUR MARGIN OF ERROR, WOULDN'T YOU SAY? >> OF COURSE, IT IS. OF COURSE, IT IS. >> I THINK WE HAVE A LARGE MARGIN OF ERROR. >> 15%, RIGHT? I'M ONLY KIDDING, FOLKS. WELL -- >> A LOT OF FOLKS THINK THHING. >> PIT ROAD IS CLOSED. >> OH. >> I'M NOT SURE EVERYBODY KNEW THAT. LET'S CHECK IN WITH "WALLY'S W JUST ABOUT THE SURFACE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST THE RACETRACK. ♪ WALLY'S WORLD WALLY'S WORLD NASCAR ♪ >> WELCOME TO "WALLY'S WORLD." MY SPECIAL GUEST, "SURFACE." WELCOME ABOARD. >> "SURFACE" IS LIKE ABOUT THESE THREE STRANGERS THAT HAVE A CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH AN ALIEN SPECIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN. >> THE PROMOS, THEY SAY THE FATE OF THE WORLD IS IN YOUR HANDS. THAT'S HOW YOU SHOULD FEEL ABOU. >> RIGHT. I -- OH, MY GOD. I AM NOT DREAMING. >> WATCH THIS. WHOA! HE WALL. >> I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THIS IS A VERY SAFE RACETRACK. THEY DON'T WRECK ON THIS PLACE. >> WHAT? I FEEL INCREDIBLY SAFE AND IN GOOD HANDS. >> GO AHEAD. FINISH YOUR THOUGHTS. >> OH, GOD. HANG ON. >> NOW, LAKE, IS THIS WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE LIKE? >> YES. NO. NO. NO, IT'S NOT WHAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE LIKE, SIR, NO, NOT AT ALL. >> YOU DON'T GET OUTSAY, I LOVE WORLD." >> I LOVE THE "WALLY'S WORLD." >> IT'S MONDAY NIGHTS. WALLY, KEEP YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL. CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT, TE, MARK MA TWO TO SNIDER. >> BIFFLE RUNNING THIRD ON THE RACETRACK AND SAYS THE CAR IS SO GOOD NO CHANGES FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT TIME. ALLEN? >> TONY STEWART GONE, TWO TIRE, WANT TO SEE WHAT IT'LL DO IN CASE THEY NEED TO DO THE OF THE. >> CASEY MEARS, LOOSE AT THE START BUT SAID IT GETS BETTER. >> SO NOW PIT STRATEGY COMING INTO PLAY. >> OH, YEAH. >> AND RUSTY WALLACE, I THINK IN THE 2 CAR, LET'S SEE HOW MANY D.J. RICHARDSON, HE CHANGES THE RIGHT. FIVE LUG NUTS. JUST TWO. TWO TIRES FOR RUSTY. ■@■@■@■ñññÑñ >>> STILL UNDER CAUTION AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY, SO YOU HAVE A TOUGH JOB, LAKE BELL, HUH? >> YES, I DO. IT WAS TOUGH. SHE WAS FUN. SHE TALKED A LOT. >> DURING HER LAPS. MAKES MY JOB EASY, AS YOU KNOW, BEING CARRIED IS WHAT I LIKE. >> TONY STEWART SCORED AS THE RACE LEADER. FOR MORE NASCAR INFORMATION LOGON TO NBCSPORTS.COM. BENNY HAS ABESTWICK LOOKS AT THF CARL EDWARDS BECOMING THE NEXT NEXTEL CUP CHAMPION. FANS VISIT LOWE'S FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN UP TO $48,000 IN THE WHEN JIMMIE WINS, YOU WIN SWEEPSLOWE'SRACING.COM FOR MORE DETAILS. MARTY? >> WELL, CURRENTLY JIMMIE JOHNSON IN 16th. LET'S TALK TO CHAD ABOUT THE VOLTAGE ISSUE. HOW BAD IS IT? >> IT'S A BIT OF AN ISSUE AT THIS POINT. GOING ON. STARTING TO CHARGE BACK UP AGAIN SO WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS JUST AN OVERDRAW. TRIED TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS WITH THE LOWE'S CHEVROLET AND PUT TIRE BLOWERS ON TO PREVENT SOME TIRE PROBLEMS AND WE DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. IT'S STARTING TO JIMMIE IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE CAR. WE HAVE A FAST RACE CAR JUST BEING CAUTION AND MAKE SURE WE'RE THERE AT THE END. NO NEED TO TRY TO LEAD LAPS. OBVIOUSLY WE SEE PEOPLE RUN UP FRONT AND HIT THE WALL. WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW. >> WALL. YOU PREDICTED IT LAST NIGHT. >> PRETTY OBVIOUS TO SEE AFTER THE TEST AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED DOWN HERE WITH I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS, TIRE, RACETRACKS, SPEEDS, YOU NAME IT, BUT JUST PRETTY BAD THATARY'S PUTTING THE COMPETITORS IN THIS RUNNING 75%, 0%, IT'S REALLY BAD AND REALLY EMBARRASSING. >> UNBELIEVABLE, YOU SAID. >> YEAH, IT IS UNBELIEVABLE. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST EVERY 30 LAPS THE TIRES BLOW OUT SO I HOPE EVERYBODY IS PROUD OF THE POSITION THEY PUT ALL THE DRIVERS AND THE SPONSORS IN TONIGHT. WITH A ONE-POINT CUSHION OVER 12th PLACE GOING FOR THAT MILLION DOLLAR BONUS FOR THE DRIVER WHO FINISHES 11th IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS ON HIS WAY BACK TO SEE HOW BAD THE CAR IS AND IF THEY CAN GET IT BACK OUT. >> TONY STEWART BRINGS THE FIELD TO THE GREEN FOR THE UAW-GM QUALITY 500. >> YOU KNOW, AS WE WATCH THIS RESTART, DRIVERS DON'T LIKE CRASHING WHEN IT'S NOT -- THEY DON'T LIKE CRASHING AT AND IT'S OTHER ISSUES AND EVERYBODY IS HAVING THOSE SAME ISSUES BLOWING RIGHT FRONT TIRES, NOTHING YOU CAN DO AS A DRIVER. >> YOU'RE ON BOARD AN UNGUIDED MISSILE WHEN A TIRE BLOWS AND TELL YOU WHAT, ESPECIALLY WITH HAPPENS. >> THE THING ABOUT IT IS THAT THE FEELING WAS THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. >> WELL, AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT IT. WE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE VERY TOP OF THE SHOW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE 4 THE SPEED THESE CARS PICKED UP FROM LAST YEAR, THE CRUCIAL THING, BUT ONE OTHER THING, THE RACETRACK, THEY SMOOTHED IT OUT AND IT'S NOT DROPPING OFF. USUALLY THESE CARS WILL RUN AROUND 185, 186 MILES PER HOUR THE FIRST FEW LAPS THEN SLOW HE. RUNNING 18 OF THE WHOLE TIME FOR 20, 30 LAPS AND THE TIRES WILL NOT TAKE THAT. NEXT YEAR GOODYEAR WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT TIRE AND THEY'LL TIRE TEST IT WITH A DIFFERENT TIRE. >> AFTER CRASHING SERIES HARVICK CAME OUT OF THE INFIELD CARE SINTER SAYING THE CREW WORKING THERE WOULD BE THE MOST VALUABLE CREW. >>@ SOMETIMES REPAVING A RACETRACK, BP, YOU KNOW, IT NEEDS TO HAVE SOME WEATHER ON IT. THEN IT'LL BE A RACETRACK. HOPEFULLY PAVE IT SOON ENOUGH WHERE THERE WILL BE WEATHER AND THE TRACK WILL GET SOME TIME ON IT. >> CERTAINLY CONCERNS COMING IN HERE TONIGHT AS THERE WERE IN MAY, THERE WILL DEFINITELY BE CONCERNS WHEN THE SERIES COMES BACK HERE NEXT WONDERING HOW TH SURFACE WILL PERFORM WITH WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO IT BEFORE THEN. >> A LOT OF RUMORS FLOATING AROUND ABOUT WHAT THEY'LL DO AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. SOME OF THE RUMORS YOU HEAR -- I HAVE NOT TALKED TO HUMPY ABOUT THIS BUT VARIABLE BANK IN THE REPAVE IT YOU END UP WITH ONE-GROOVE RACING. THEY ARE ETALKING ABOUT VARIABLE BANKING LIKE THE HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY HAS AND EVEN THE NEW PAVEMENT WOULD LEND ITSELF TO COMPETITIVE RACING. >> LET'S GET AN UPDATE FROM PIT ROAD. >> SPOKEN WITH A COUPLE OF CREW CHIEFS AND NOTICED A NASCAR OFFICIAL COMING INTO THE PITS FROM TIME TO TIME WITH AN AIR PRESSURE GAUGE.HAVE CONFIRMED THEY HAVE DISCUSSED AIR PRESSURES WITH THEM. THERE WERE NO MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT THE DISCUSSION WAS OTHER THAN THAT, BUT THERE ARE OFFICIALS DOWN HERE CHECKING TIRE PRESSURES RIGHT NOW AND HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT WITH THE TEAMS, TRYING TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS TIRE ISSUE. >> YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY'RE DOING INTERSTATE AND SEE ALL THE TRUCK TIRES LAYING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THAT'S CAUSED FROM THE TIRES GOING FLATTER p UNDER-INFLATION. THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING WITH THESE CARS, IF YOU UNDER-INFLATE THEM THEY'LL START COMING APART AS THEY'RE DOING. >> THEY'RE FASTER THAT WAYAPART CREW'S GOT TO MAKE A DECISION, WELL, WHAT DO WE DO HERE? THEY MAKE IT SAFE AND SLOW OR DANGEROUS AND FAST? >> JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE 48 INSIDE OF CASEY MEARS. >> OH. 99 CAR, CARL EDWARDS GOES TO THE CORNER AND DRIFTED UP ALMOST IN THE SIDE OF THE 39 CAR OF DAVIDx STREMME. >> WALLACE, ONE OF THE DRIVERS THAT TOOK TWO TIRES ON THAT MOST RECENT STOP. >> STEVE PETERSON, THE NASCAR TIRES, CHECKING AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES. >> MARTY? >> AND, GUYS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BUSIER, THE ACTION ON THE RACETRACK OR BEHIND PIT WALL. THE HOTTEST COMMODITY, STICKER TIRES FROM ANY THE RACE LIKE KE. HE SENT A SET OF STICKER TIRES TO HIS TEAMMATE. THOSE ARE SCUFFS RIGHT NOW. DEPENDS ON HOW IT'S HANDLING, MOST OF THE CARS RIGHT NOW WANT@ STICKER TIRES, THOSE SEEM TO BE THEM ON THE RACE CAR. >> MORE FROM PIT ROAD, DAVE? >> HEY, BILL, WE TALKED ABOUT THE 24 OF JEFF GORDON SCUFFING TIRES FOR HIS TEAMMATE, THE 48 OF JIMMIE JOHNSON, RIGHT? >> YES. >> I CHECKED WITH JEFF GORDON'S CREW CHIEF AND SAID, OKAY, YOUE YOU'RE SCUFFING FOR YOUR TEAMMATE. DO YOU THINK SCUFFING WOULD HAVE BEEN THE WAY TO GO? STEVE TOLD ME, NO, I THINK STICKERS IS THE WAY TO GO BECAUSE I THINK THEY DISSIPATE THE HEAT BETTER. >> INTERESTING. >> AND THAT'S THE MENTALITY THAT TLITTLE BIT. SEE, THESE TIRES NEED TO WEAR. THEY'RE NOT WEARING GRIPPING THE RACETRACK AND RUBBER IS NOT COMING OFF. IF A TIRE WEARS, THE RUBBER COMES OFF AND DISSIPATES HEAT. >> MATT YOCUM ON MARK MARTIN. >> TOOK TWO TIRES IN THE LAST STOP, BILL, BUT TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE SCUFF TIRES. MARK FEELS MORE COMFORTABLE ON SCUFFS THAN NEXT STOP THEY ARE PROBABLY TO GO STICKERS BUT THEN AFTER THAT MARK SAYS HE WANTS TO RUN SCUFFS THE REST OF THE NIGHT. THE COMFORT LEVEL IS MUCH BETTER ON SCUFF TIRES. TEAMMATE, 97 OF THEY HAVE FIVE OR SIX SETS OF STICKER TIRES SO HE CAN RUN THEM ALL NIGHT. MARK HAS AT LEAST FIVE SETS OF SCUFFS AND A COUPLE STICKERS SO TIRES UP AT THIS END ON TURN FOUR GOOD SHAPE FOR BOTH CHASERS WHAT THE CAR IS TELLING YOU AND WHAT THE DRIVER FEELS, YOU KNOW, WHAT HE'S COMFORTABLE WITH. >> LISTEN TO YOUR -- >> YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION COMING THROUGH THE SEAT AT THESE SPEEDS. >> DALE JARRETT IN THE KURT BUSCH JUST GOT BY HIM. TONY STEWART LEADS AND IT'S ELLIOTT SADLER, MICHAEL WALTRIP. RYAN NEWMAN AND MARK MARTIN, THE TOP FIVE. ♪ IT'S BAD NEWS BABY I'M BAD NEWS I'M JUST BAD NEWS BAD NEWS BAD NEWS ♪ THOSE GUYS TONIGHT, TIRES HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE ON THIS GRIND -- ON THIS TRACK, CAUTION HAS JUST COME OUT. SEE THE CAUTION FLAG. >> I CARS AROUND THE SPEEDWAY SO I GUESS IT'S JUST A SIMPLE MATTER OF SOME DEGREE ON THE SURFACE x SOMEPLACE. >> HEARING IT COULD BE A COMPETITION CAUTION BY NASCAR. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, WE WERE JUST GETTING TO THAT POINT, THAT 18, 19-LAP POINT UNDER GREEN. SO GOOD CALL IF NASCAR MADE IT. >> TONY STEWART THE LEADER, ELLIOTT SADLER, MICHAEL WALTRIP, GREG BIFFLE AND RYAN NEWMAN. CO IS A COMPETITION CAUTION FROM NASCAR, FOUR TIRES. >> MAN. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A CAUTION FLAG EVERY 20 LAPS LET THESE GUYS CHANGE TIRES, IT DOES BECOME A BATTLE ON 134 LAPS TO . >> ONE THING IT WILL DO, WALLY, LET THESE GUYS RACE A LITTLE HARDER IN THESE 20 LAPS. >> IF THEY KNOW THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO. >> IF, THAT'S RIGHT. >> ALLEN? >> YEAH, BILL, JUST MONITORING TRANSMISSION FROM GREG ZIPADELLI TO TONY STEWART, GREG TOLD TONY, NASCAR IS GOING TO A MINIMUM TIRE INFLATION FOR THE REST OF ñ THIS RACE SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO) ADJUST WHAT THEY'RE DOING ONLY ONE OF IN QUESTION BR IS APPARENTLY GOING TO STEP UP AND MAKE A MINIMUM INFLATION FOR THIS RACE AND WE'LL TRY TO GET MORE DETAILS AFTER THE PIT STOPS. >> ALLEN, PIT ROAD IS GOING TO REMAIN CLOSED THIS TIME BY SO INFLATION RECOMMENDATIONS PASSED OUT FROM NASCAR. SO WE'LL TAKE A BREAK. V].>@>8@>■ >>> PIT STOPS ARE UNDER WAY HERE AT LOWE'S. MARK MARTIN'S TEAM MAKES A CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT. HE SAID AND WENT DRASTICALLY TO THE TIGHT SIDE. SNIDER. >> GREG BIFFLE SAID I CAN PASS THE 20 CAR IF I WANT TO. NO CHANGES. >> FOUR-TIRE CHANGE FOR TONY STEWART. AIR PRESSURE CHANGES I TALKED ABOUT A MINUTE AGO. HE'S GONE. >> ELLIOTT SADLER, TOUGH TO TURN THE ON THE TRACK BAR, FOUR TIRES FOR ELLIOTT. HE LEAVES PIT ROAD. >> TONY STEWART WILL WIN THE RACE OFF OF PIT ROAD AND WHAT NASCAR HAS TOLD THESE TEAMS IS THEY MUST STICK TO THE RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE THATGS HANDED OUT PRIOR TO EVERY RACE SO NASCAR WANTS TEAMS TO MEET THE MINIMUM TIRE PRESSURE THAT IS PROVIDED TO THEM FROM ú GOODYEAR BEFORE THE RACE. 132 LAPS TO GO. DUCK CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND HERE. WHY DON'T WE CUE HIM? >> QUITE AN OUTFIT RIGHT THERE. >> IT IS. >> THAT IS A LAME DUCK. >> HE'S GOING TO BEAT THE TRAFFIC, THOUGH. TIME FOR OUR AFLAC TRIVIA QUESTION. THE FIRST DRIVER TO WIN FOUR STRAIGHT RACES AT ONE TRACK? >> HMM. MAN. THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW. I SURRENDER. >> BILL ELLIOTT AT HE'S BEEN VE. >> I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION. >> I'LL EXPLAIN IT TO YOU AFTER THE RACE. MARTY? >> WELL, BILL, BASICALLY LIKE ALLEN SAID NASCAR'S MANDATED AIR PRESSURES AND 16 TEAM NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT. EXPLAIN WHY YOU WERE UPSETWELL, SAW -- HEARD THEM SAY THEY NEEDED 50 POUNDS WHICH IS RECOMMEND ON THE RIGHT FRONT. IN MY WORLD I'VE BEEN 50 POUNDS ALL YEAR AT THIS RACETRACK BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN PLAYING IT CONSERVATIVE. WHAT IT WAS WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR GAUGE AND THE NASC 0.6 OO I HAD TO INCREASE MY AIR PRESSURE SO I WOULDN'T TAKE A CHANCE OF LOSING POINTS IF I DID EVER BLOW A TIRE. NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO BUT HE'S HAPPY WITH THE CAR. ON A GOOD NOTE THE GUYS ARE PERFORMING GREAT IN THE DON'T RUN. WE GOT TO GET TO THE END OF THE RACE AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE POINTS, SO LOOKING TO THE END. >> IT'S A SAFETY MEASURE BUT IS IT A FAIR STEP TO YOU RACE TEAMS? >> WELL, WHATEVER IS FAIR, I MEAN, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ANYH I GUESS. WE DON'T LIKE THE RACE LIKE THIS. I'D RATHER TELL HIM RUN AS HARD AS YOU CAN -- HE SAYS HE CAN RUN A HALF A SECOND FASTER ANY TIME HE WANTS, SO MAYBE WE CAN SAVE THAT FOR THE END OF THE RACE AND MAYBE BE OKAY.ABOUT THE TIMING OF THIS CAUTION EITHER AND REALLY UPSET ABOUT THAT WITH NASCAR. >> BIFFLE RUNS SEVENTH. HE ALLUDED TO THE FACT HE COULD LOSE POINTS. NASCAR HAS NOT PUT THAT OUT THERE, THAT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. WE'LL STAY ON TOP OF THAT, AS WELL. AIR PRESSURE.■ I'M SURE YOU FOLKS HAVE SEEN THAT LITTLE SILVER AIR GAUGE AND SAY, HOW CAN THAT POSSIBLY BE? BUT THESE GUYS USE GAUGES THAT COST $500, $600 AND IT IS POSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE AIR PRESSURE A TENTH OF A POUND AT SO IT DID COST HIM THE LEAD. >> COMING OFF THE TWO -- GO BACK TO THE FACT ELLIOTT SADLER WAS VERY STRONG IN THE BUSCH RACE LAST NIGHT AND HAS BEEN STRONG SO FAR TONIGHT. hX■ñú TONY STEWART, ELLIOTT SADLER AND A PACK BEHIND HIM. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP IN THE THIRD SPOT WEAVING HIS WAY A LAP OR T DOWN. >> MICHAEL HAS HAD A GOOD RUN HERE TONIGHT. DAVE ON MICHAEL WALTRIP. >> STILL THE SAME GOOD STORY. MICHAEL RADIOED HIS CREW, HEY, THE CAR IS STILL GREAT, GIVE ME FOUR FRESH TIRES, DON'T MAKE ANY >> ON BOARD THE NAPA CHEVY. MATT KENSETH RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM, THAT 17 CAR, HAS PROBLEMS ALL NIGHT. HE'S TEN LAPS DOWN. >> KENSETH IN THE 17 CAR IS ABOUT AS FAST AS ANYONE OF -- E SMOKE OFF -- HE'S GETTING WHEN THE TIRE IS HITTING THE FENDER. HE CONTINUES TO HAVE RIGHT FRONT TIRE PROBLEMS. >> RYAN NEWMAN IN THE 12, MARK MARTIN IN THE 6, JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE@ 48 RIGHT BEHIND FOR THE CHANCE. >> OOH. >> BOY, BLANEY BOTTOMED OUT GOING INTO TURN ONE UNLESS HE'S GOT BIGGER PROBLEMS, BUT -- ALMOST PUTS THAT CAR IN THE WALL. NOW, HE'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF HE HAS A TIRE GOING DOWN OR MADE A MISTAKE OR WHAT BUT IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET YOUR NERVE BACK UP. >> HOW QUICK DO YOU GET YOUR CONFIDENCE? >> UNTIL A QUARTER UNTIL YOU FEEL IT OUT. IF IT FEELS OKAY THEN YOU GET BACK ON IT. >> GREG BIFFLE IN THE 16 CAR, HE RESTARTED THIS RACE IN ABOUT SIT FOLLOWED BACK TO 11th. >> BOY, RUSTY WALLACE TOOK UP THE RACETRACK AND WON IT, TOO. DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS AN ISSUE. I WAS WATCHING JUST AS HE -- HE JUST SLID UP THE RACETRACK LIKE HE DID HAVE A TIRE PROBLEM. >> VERY SLOW. HE SURE THINKS HE'S GOT A TIRE ó PROBLEM. >> AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF HE CAN GET TO PIT ROAD OR NOT. RUSTY WALLACE HEADS TO PIT ROAD UNDER GREEN. ANOTHER CONTENDER IN THE CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. >> TRYING TO GET THAT CAR SLOWED DOWN TO 45 MILES PER HOUR,ROAD. ALLEN, COMING TO YOU. >> LOOK AT THE RIGHT REAR AS RUSTY IS COMING DOWN PIT ROAD. HE THINKS THE RIGHT REAR IS FLAT. >> DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT FROM HERE. >> THEY'LL CHECK IT. >> LEFT SIDES LOOK GOOD. TWO RIGHT SIDE TIRES. >> HEAR THE CREW CHIEF TELLING LOOK GOOD. CHANGE THE TWO RIGHTS. I HAD LEFT HIS PIT A MINUTE AGO ASKING ABOUT THE CAR. THEY KIND OF BASICALLY HAD JUST BEEN CRUISING TRYING TO GET TO THE FINISH WITHOUT A PROBLEM. >> AND A PROBLEM FOUND THEM. I'LL FOLLOW UP IN A MINUTE. >> THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO FIND OUT. IS IT LOOKED LIKEE WANTED TO CO PIT ROAD. >> ONE OF THOSE THINGS, TOO, WHEN A CAR GETS -- >> WE WATCH THE 07, TO THE LEFT OF OUR SCREEN. SEE ALL THOSE SPARKS. HE MAY HAVE HIT THE APRON. I CAN'T SEE FROM THAT ANGLE. IF YOU GET YOUR LEFT SIDE TIRES ON THE THAT WHITE LINE IN THE CORNER, THE CAR WILL BOTTOM OUT AND SHOOTS UP THE RACETRACK. >> RUSTY WALLACE'S INDECISION TO COME TO PIT ROAD, TOO FAST ENTERING, SPEEDING PENALTY, HAS TO DO A PASS-THROUGH, COME DOWN PIT ROAD, PASS THROUGH PIT ROAD UNDER GREEN. >> YOU SAW HIM LOCK IT UP TRYING TO GET IT SLOWED DOWN. HE'S GOING TO LOSE ANOTHER LAP BECAUSE OF THAT. SOMETIMES WHAT I WAS SAYING, THE CAR WILL GET LOOSE AFTER A RESTART AND A DRIVER THINKS HE'S GOT A TIRE GOING DOWN BECAUSE IT REALLY G JUST A LITTLE BIT LOOSE LIKE IN RACE CONDITIONS. SEEN A LOT OF GUYS STRUGGLING AFTER THE RESTART, LOOSE RACE CARS UNTIL FIVE, SIX, SEVEN LAPS INTO A RUN. >> THAT'S DALE JARRETT IN THE 8 U.P.S. FORD. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP, THAT 15 CAR ELLIOTT SADLER. ELLIOTT LOVE MOVES OVER AND LETS HIM GO. GO OVER AND CHASE THAT 20 CAR, BIG BOY. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP'S BEST FINISH HERE, SECOND. ALLEN, YOU GOTYEAH, AIR PRESSUR THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, IT WAS LOSING AIR -- TONY STEWART INTO THE WALL. BLEW A RIGHT REAR TIRE GOING INTO THREE. >> CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER BROUGHT >> THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE.LOTTE. >> YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WAS WORRIED ABOUT TALLADEGA AND THE POINTS RACE. >> ANOTHER JOKER THROWN IN THE DECK. RIGHT REAR TIRE IS FLAT AS WALLY SAID. >> TONY STEWART C A 75-POINT LEE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP. RIGHT NOW THAT LEAD IS 95 POINTS BUT THAT'S ABOUT TO START SHRINKING. >> VERY, VERY FRUSTRATED. >> ZIPADELLI IS JUST -- >> OH, HE'S SO FRUST >> ALL RIGHT. LET'S TAKE A LOOK. >> HE'S GOING IN THE CORNER. WALLY JUST MINDING HIS BUSINESS. >> YEP. HE'LL WATCH THE CAR. IT'LL GO SIDEWAYS. HE FEELS IT BUT THE RIGHT REAR IS DOWN AT >> NOW, HE HASN'T HURT THIS CAR TOO BAD. BUT IT'S HARD TO VISUALIZE HIM OUTRUNNING MANY PEOPLE. HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO STAY ON THE LEAD LAP. >> NO, HE'S NOT GOING TO STRAY ON THE LEAD LAP. >> DON'T THINK SO? WALTRIP LOOKING AT TONY STEWART. >> SEE THAT, A LITTLE BIT OF A WIGGLE WHEN HE FIRST TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. >> CAUTION IS OUT HERE. >> MATT? >> MARK MARTIN IS IN. THEY'RE GOING TOIDE TIRES ON TH. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE DOING FOUR BUT MARK CALLED IT OFF. HE'S AWAY, MARTY.B >> JIMMIE JOHNSON RUNNING SEVENTH. MAYBE A TWO-TIRE STOP. LITTLE TIGHTER IN THE MIDDLE.p IT IS TWO TIRES FOR THE 48, ALLEN. >> GOING TO CHANGE THE TIRES ON THE BACK CUTTING AWAY THE REAR BUMPER COVER, HAVE TO BEND THE LEFT REAR FENDER CORNERBACK IN TO KEEP THAT FROM STICKING OUT IN THE AIR. PROBABLY HAVE TO COME BACK A FEW TIMES TO SPRUCE THE 20 UP. >> YEAH, AS FAST AS YOU'RE GOING HERE, YOU NEED ALL THAT WORKING FOR YOU. HE DOESN'T HDOWNFORCE-WISE IN T BACK OF THAT CAR, SO HE IS GOING TO BE STRUGGLING FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT. >> TONY STEWART, THE CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER. BRINGING OUT THE CAUTION AT THE 117 TO GO. THIS FALL THAT EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE TALKING ABOUT. NBC'S NEW TUESDAY COMEDY "MY NAME IS EARL." JOIN EARL ON HIS MISSION TO REDO ALL THE WRONGS HE'S DONE, TUESDAYS, THE:00, 8:00 CENTRAL ON NBC. -- >> STOP AND GO PENALTY FOR THE 20 CAR OF TONY STEWART FOR REMOVING EQUIPMENT FROM THE PIT STALL. TAKE A LOOK. THEY WERE WORKING ON IT. >> YOU'LL SEE IT FLY OUT THE BACK. SEE IT >> I DON'T THINK HE KNEW -- >> IT'S HARD TO SEE BACK THERE IF YOU'RE THE DRIVER. >> I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE JOB THEY DID WITH THAT CAR. IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD TO HAVE BACKED IN THE WALL HARD JUST A FEW LAPS AGO. >> WELL, STEWART CAME IN LEADING BY 75 POINTS. YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY RUN NOW. WE'LL CHECK IN WITH ALLEN. >> THERE IS THE CULPRIT, BILL. THIS IS NOT LIKE A LOT OF THE SEEN TONIGHT, TONY STEWART RAN SOMETHING OVER THE RACETRACK AND CUT THIS TIRE. >> WOW. >> BOY, SURE LOOKS LIKE THE EDGES WERE ABOUT GONE ON THAT REAR TIRE. >> YEAH, BUT, WALLY,THAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED WITH IT RUNNING PUT THE SIDEWALL ONTO THE TRACK. HE HAS NOT HAD A PROBLEM WITH A TIRE THIS WHOLE RACE AND I'VE LOOKED AT ALL OF THEM THAT HAVE COME OFF HIS CAR. >> HE GOT BIGGER PROBLEMS NOW. >> THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE FUN TO DRIVE. >> NO, TELL YOU W VERY LOOSE. >> FIELD IS COMING TO THE GREEN. TAKE A LOOK AT THE NAPA FIELD SUMMARY. NINE CAUTIONS FOR 44 LAPS. KURT BUSCH, STERLING MARLIN, BOBBY HAMILTON, DALE EARNHARDT JR., MIKE WALLACE OUT OF THE RACE. THE TOP NINE CARS DID NOT PIT. CASEY MEARS, KASEY KAHNE, DAVID STREMME, RICKY RUDD, DENNY HAMLIN, MARK MARTIN, TWO TIRES RESTARTS, TENTH. 114 TO GO. EVERYBODY, HANG ON TIGHT. SADLER LOOK INSIDE MICHAEL AS THEY HEAD FOR ONE. >> BOY, TOOK THAT WITH AUTHORITY. >> LOOK AT THAT 38 CAR GO. >> RIGHT NOW SCORED IN 31st. RUSTY WALLACE IN THE 2 CAR IS TWO LAPS DOWN. >> 17 CAR, KENSETH IS TEN LAPS DOWN. >> HE HAD TIRE ISSUES EARLY IN THE RACE. ú■÷■ñ÷÷÷x@ú@8pñ >> KASEY KAHNE THERE IN THE 9,S. OFF THE POSITION THERE. RICKY RUDD IN THE 21. ROBBY GORDON IN THE SEVEN SPOT. >> WE SAW HIM HAVE A FLAT TIRE THE FIRST OR SECOND LAP OF THE RACE. >> ROBBY IN THAT 7 >> KURT BUSCH NOW THE FIRST OF THE CARS THAT DID PIT ON THAT LAST CAUTION FLAG WHEN TONY STEWART BACKED THE 20 CAR IN THE FENCE. >> SECOND CHASING ELLIOTT SADLER. ELLIOTT HAS LED 11 OF THE 223 LAPS. HERE COMES MICHAEL. >> YOU SEEN IT. STILL THAT POINT OF THE RACE GI ROOM TO EACH OTHER. ELLIOTT JUST PRETTY MUCH GOT OUT OF THE WAY. >> PLAYING IT SAFE AND SMART RIGHT NOW. >> WELL, AND EVERYTHING ELSE ASIDE, YOU KNOW THOSE GUYS AT D.E.I. WOULD LOVE TO GIVEEASON IS OVER. MICHAEL LEAVING D.E.I. AT THE END OF 2005 TO GO OVER TO BILL DAVIS RACING LOOKING FOR TONY STEWART. >> YOU HAVE TO LOOK A LONG WAY. THAT CAR WILL NOT BE FAST THE WAY IT IS.>> BOY, JEFF GORDON W A BAD NIGHT, TOO AND THERE IS TONY. ALLEN? >> WELL OFF THE PACE RIGHT NOW, BILL, AS FAR AS BACK FROM THE PACK. YOU SEE THE OPENING OF THE BACK END OF THAT CAR, THE REAR SPOILER BLADE -- WALLY WAS TALKING ABOUT IT UPSTAIRS. THAT'S THEIR CONCER SPOILER UP AIR AND WITH ENOUGH SUPPORT TO PROVIDE PRESSURE ON THE REAR TIRES OF THE CAR. RIGHT NOW HE DOESN'T HAVE IT. THAT MEANS HE CAN'T GO AS FAST AS THE OTHER GUYS. >> YEAH, HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY AT ALL. I MEAN, THAT CAR, HE CANNOT GO THROUGH THE CORNERS STAY CAR IS SO LOOSE, IT WANTS TO SPIN OUT. >> AND THAT IS JUST GOING TO BE A TOUGH FIX. HE'LL BE LAPPED HERE IN NO TIME. JUST LIKE I SAID -- THIS TRACK IS TOO FAST. YOU CAN'T EVEN REALLY BEND A FENDER ON A RACETRACK LIKE THIS OR IT WILL AFFECT THE CAR. >> MIC ON THAT LAST CAUTION FLAG AND LAST LAP HE RAN HIS FASTEST LAP OF THE DAY. >> THAT'S A HUNGRY RACE CAR DRIVER IN THAT 15 MACHINE. >> WITH A VERY FAST MACHINE. >> YES. BY THE WAY, STEWART IS MEETING THE MINIMUM SPEED, IT'S TONY LAST TIME BY, 3172. >> THAT'S A PRETTY GENEROUS MINIMUM SPEED, I BELIEVE. YOU SEE MICHAEL WORKING THE WHEEL AND YOU SEE HOW HIS HEAD GETS PUSHED IA LOT OF FORCES TH CORNERS, THESE GUYS GOING SO FAST THROUGH THE CORNERS, YOU JUST GET THROWN TO THE RIGHT. FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO THROW YOU OUT THE PASSENGER DOOR. SEE HOW MICHAEL IS LOOKING AROUND. HIS HEAD WEIGHS ABOUT 300 POUNDS RIGHT THERE THROUGH THEG-FORCES PULLING THROUGH THE CORNERS. >> A LOT OF WORK AROUND THIS PLACE. DAVE, HE'S GOT HIS EYEBALLS ARE PRETTY BIG, TOO. >> RUNS VERY REMEMBER LAST YEAR HE STARTED SIX. ON THE OPENING LAP GOT AROUND SCOTT RIGGS WHO MISSED HIS SHIFT AND CALLED IT MAGIC, RUNNING IN THE TOP TEN ALL NIGHT UNTIL LAP 319 ACCIDENT IN TURN TWO SO MICHAEL HAS BEEN DOING WELL HERE. UNFORTUNAT TEAMMATE. IF HE CAN KEEP IT UP FRONT, HE COULD BE A FACTOR. >> THAT HAD PEOPLE TALKING. >> OH, YEAH, THE WRONG SORT OF WAY. >> AND THERE IS THE FIELD THAT IS GOING TO LAP STEWART. STEWART IS GOING TO COME INTO THE PITS. HE'S PROBABLY H A REPORT HE WIL BEHIND THE WALL AND THE TEAM WILL TRY TO WORK ON THAT CAR. >> AN UPDATE. TOLD HIM TO BRING IT TO THE PIT BOX. ASKED HIM FOR A COUPLE MORE LAPS. GREG ZIPADELLI TALKING TO DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF HIS TEAM. TONY SAIDHERE ANYMORE. THEY'LL BRING IT TO THE PIT BOX. >> IN THE LAST 16 RISES ONLY ONE FINISH OUTSIDE THE TOP TEN FOR TONY STEWART. THAT WAS 18th AT DOVER. HAS HAD A REMARKABLE SEASON. BUT A DISAPPOINTING NIGHT HERE. MARK MARTIN, ANOTHER CONTENDER IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP. >> NOW, MARK MARTIN CLOSED 20 POINTS ON TONY STEWART, LOOKING TO DO THAT AGAIN TONIGHT NOW THAT THE 20 TEAM HAS HAD ISSUES. NOW, WHEN MARK WAS ON HIS WAY DOWN PIT ROAD THE GAME PLAN WAS TO GO WITH FOUR AND DEBRISED BACK AND FORTH. WHEN THE THE STALL THEY TOOK TWO TIRES. THIS WAS THE DISCUSSION BETWEEN MARK AND PAT ABOUT WHAT THEIR GAME PLAN WOULD BE FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT. >> HALF A POUND TO THE RIGHT REAR. ALL THE GUYS BEHIND US DID, TOO. >> OKAY, BUDDY, DON'T GET ME INVOLVED IN T FROM NOW ON. YOU DO YOURS, I'LL DO MINE. >> TEN MORE. >> SO FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT, MARK MARTIN WILL HAVE PAT MAKE 9 DECISION OF TWO VERSUS FOUR. THE TIRES THEY TOOK OFF HAD TEN LAPS ON THEM. THEY WERE RIGHT SIDE USE THOSE LATER AFTER THEY HAVE ANOTHER HEAT CYCLE ON THEM. GOOD TIRES FOR LATER. >> AND THE GOODYEAR ENGINEER TOLD ME THAT PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THEY COULD DO IS TAKE THE RIGHT FRONT AND MAKE A RIGHT REAR OUT OF IT. BECAUSE THAT RIGHT REARS ARE THE >> GETTING BACK TO MARK'S CONVERSATION WITH PAT, MARK DOES NOT WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE AND WANTS PAT HIS CREW CHIEF AND THE GUYS ON THE SPIRIT BOX TO MAKE THE DECISIONS.s WHAT MARKS WANT TO DO IS DRIVE THE RACE CAR. AND LET CONSEQUENCES HAPPEN. TONY STEWART FORMER WINNER HERE, FORMER SERIES CHAMPION CAME IN WITH A 75-POINT LEAD IN THE CHASE. @ >>> 241 LAPS ARE COMPLETE IN THE MICHAEL WALTRIP IS THE RACE LEADER. NOW, HERE ARE THE GUYS IN THE TOP TEN IN THIS THE STANDINGS. TEN DRIVERS ELIGIBLE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP, TONY STEWART BROUGHT OUT THE MOST RECENT CAUTION, RYAN NEWMAN HAD EARLY TROUBLE, GREG BIFFLE HAS LED TONIGHT AND BIFFLE CURRENTLY RUNS AD A TIRE PROBLEM, JIMMIE JOHNSON STARTED 41st, CURRENTLY RUNS 11th. CARL EDWARDS HAS BEEN AS HIGH AS THIRD. AND YOU SEE MATT KENSETH ALSO HAD A TIRE ISSUE, EDWARDS IS CURRENTLY 13th. AND WE TALK ABOUT IT LAST NIGHT IN THE BUSCH RACE, TOP TEN GUYS IN THE BUSCH SERIES MANY HAD ISSUES LAST NIGHT. >> OH, ANOTHER ONE IN THE WALL. ANOTHER RIGHT FRONT TIRE. >> THOSE GUYS WERE JUST IN, I STOP, DAVID STREMME. >> HE PITTED ON LAP 2 -- >> YEAH. >> HE WAS IN THE TOP FIVE. >> YEAH, OKAY. >> HE'S TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. BOY, TON. >> WAS COMING OFF OF TURN FOUR. HE'S GOING HOME. >> DAVID STREMME WILL BE DRIVING THE 40 CAR THAT STERLING MARLIN IS DRIVING IN 2006. >> HE DID NOT PIT. >> FIRST CAR -- >> STREMM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CORNER AND FOR A TIRE TO BLOW LIKE THAT WENT ALL THE WAY UP THE TRACK AND GOT ONE HECK OF A -- >> TURNED AT A SHARP ANGLE AND HIT THE WALL. >> ONE OF THE NINE THAT DIDN'T PIT ON LAP WASN'T FOR THE SAFE BARRIERS THE GUYS WOULD BE GETTING OUT A LOT SLOWER. >> THE ENERGY ABSORBING WALL INSIDE OF THE OUTSIDE CONCRETE WALL. >> THERE YOU GET A LOOK AT IT. LIKE A BIG SPRING. IT'S LIKE A YOU SEE THIS RIGHT HERE, SO WHEN THE CAR HITS THE WALL, THIS KIND OF WORKS LIKE A SPRING AND THAT CUSHIONS THE BLOW AND, MAN, I TELL YOU WHAT, IT HELPS A LOT. SEE HOW HARD THEY'RE HITTING NOW. JUST IMAGINE IF THEY'RE HITTING JUST BLOCKS ARE STYROFOAM. >> CURTIS DAVIS HAD A CRASH HERE DURING BUSCH QUALIFYING AND HE HAD TO GO BACK AND WORK ON THAT SAFER BARRIER. THAT WAS COMING OFF OF TWO. >> WELD IT BACK UP. >> YES, SIR. >> OKAY. GO. MICHAEL WALTRIP LEADS. WAITING TO SEE -- YEAH, PIT ROAD WILL BE OPEN THIS TIME.P >> CHARGE. >> RUNNING FIFTH. NOW, BILL, RIGHT BEFORE THE CAUTION HE WAS CONCERNED HE WAS RUNNING TOO FAST. HE'LL KEEP IT ON HIS LAP TIMES NEXT RUN, A SLIGHT AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS JUST A TICK ON THE TIGHT SIDE. SNIDER IN THE MIDDLE, 16 CAR SITTING JUST A LITTLE TIGHT AT THE END OF THE RUN. FEEL LIKE THAT WAS A PRODUCT OF TAKING TWO TIRES ON THE LAST STOP SO NO CHANGES. >> NO CHANGES FOR MICHAEL WALTRIP THE LEADER COMING IN, FOUR TIRES, ALLEN? >> CARL EDWARDS, HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT MUCHGY OF RUNNING AT A SAVE THEIR TIRES, STAY OUT OF TROUBLE. FOUR-TIRE CHANGE AND HE'S GOING BACK OUT. >> YOUR, HERE'S A RACE. LOOKS LIKE NEWMAN MAY HAVE GOTTEN IT. WHAT DO YOU THINK? >> I DON'T KNOW. THAT WAS AWFULLY CLOSE. >> HAVE TO GO TO THE HE VIDEO. >> I THINK NEWMAN'S GOT IT. >> YOU DO, HUH? >> I DO. >> OKAY. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP, NOW WATCH BIFFLE. AND THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH DAMAGE WILL THAT DO? THEN HE ALMOST GOT HIS TEAMMATE KURT BUSCH. >> THEY DID HIT A LITTLE BIT. z >>> STILL UNDER CAUTION HERE AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. TAKE A LOOK AT OUR LITTLE DEBBIE LAP LEADERS. 12 DRIVERS, FOUR OF THE CHASERS HAVE LED TONIGHT, ELLIOTT SADLER. 112 LAPS LED. HE'S SEVEN TO GO. CLEANUP. >> THREE MORE CAUTIONS, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT. >> BIG DEVELOPMENT, JIMMIE JOHNSON CAME ONTO PIT ROAD THEN CAME OFF PIT ROAD ANDAD A FLAT TIRE AND SURE ENOUGH, HE DID SO HE HAS BEEN BACK TO PIT ROAD FOR SERVICE. WE'LL UPDATE THE 48 SITUATION FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON. HE'S WON THE LAST THREEE LAST F HAS CURRENTLY SCORED 29th. >>> 250 LAPS IN THE B RYAN NEWMAN LEADING THE FIELD HERE UNDER CAUTION. THIS IS THE TIRE OFF JIMMIE JOHNSON'S CAR, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. IT'S ABOUT A TWO-INCH CUT IN THE TIRE OBVIOUSLY LOST AIR PRESSURE. JIMMIE CAUGHT IT UNDER CAUTION. VERY GOOD CATCH BY HIM. THE SUSPICION, THEY RAN OVER SOME STREMME'S WRECK AND JIMMIE CAUGHT IT, CAME TO PIT ROAD AND CHANGED IT. GOOD CATCH BY JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> IT'S AMAZING WHEN THESE CARS LEAD PIT ROAD AND DRIVE TO THE APRON THEY DON'T ALL HAVE FLAT TIRES BECAUSE OF TODAY. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON IS NOW 29th, THE LAST CAR ON THE LEAD LAP ACCORDING TO THE NASCAR SCORING. RYAN NEWMAN IS THE RACE LEADER. TWO TIRES ON HIS PIT STOP WAS 15th BEFORE THE CAUTION. JOE NEMECHEK IN THE 01, THE LUCKY D COMING UP TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT, THE FINAL STOP OF THE DEW TOUR. UP FOR GRABS IN ATLANTA. THE PLAYSTATION PRO, MIDNIGHT ON USA AND 4:00 EASTERN, NBC. THOSE GUYS ARE WILD. >> THEY ARE NUTS. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW THE FIRST GUY EVER DID THOSE JUMPS. WHO STARTED ALL THAT MESS? >> THE FIRST GUY THAT TRIED PROBABLY WASN'T THE FIRST GUY THAT MADE IT. >> THAT FINISHED. >> YES. >> ALL RIGHT. HERE WE GO. 84 TO RYAN NEWMAN LEADS AT CHARLOTTE. >> AND RYAN NEWMAN TAKING THE HE IS THE NEW NASCAR NEXTEL CUP POINT LEADER. >> BEHIND HIM IS PRETTY FAST. THAT'S RUSTY WALLACE. >> RUSTY SLIDES UP THE RACETRACK. HE'S GOT TO GET ON THE GAS OR HE'LL RUN INTO THE 38. >> THREE WIDERETCH. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP IN THE 15 TRYING TO GET PAST SADLER FOR SECOND. >> SEE HOW THAT CAR JUST TOOK OFF? >> NASCAR -- LOOK AT THAT. DRIVS INCLUDING WALTRIP AND JARRETT NOT TO HANG BACK ON RESTARTS. OH. THAT'S SADLER -- >> LED 112 LAPS, BACKED INTO THE WALL, ALMOST EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO TONY STEWART. >> COME ON. >> G >> YOU JUST DO NOT WANT TO BE UP FRONT TONIGHT. >> I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO BE RACING TONIGHT. >> THAT'S TRUE. >> DAVE BURNS? >> HE DID SHOUT TO HIS CREW I'VE GOT A FLAT JUST BEFORE THAT, GUYS. >> >> WE'LL GET IT FIXED AND FINISH THIS THING. >> BRING THE BLOWS OUT. THEY NEED TO BLOW THE APRON. BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF DEBRIS DOWN SO THEY'LL NEED TO BLOW THIS PLACE OFF REALLY GOOD. HERE WE GO. >> AND, BOY, IF YOU KNOW A TIRE IS GOING DOWN AND YOU'RE AT THE FRONT OF THE PACK, NOT A WHOLE LOT YOU CAN DO. >> YOU GET OUT LIKE THAT YOU'RE PRETTY FORTUNATE. >> YEAH, EVERYBODY DID A GOOD JOB. >> THE BEST YES. >> ALTHOUGH I THINK HE PROBABLY GOT RAN INTO BY SOMEBODY. >> TOO BAD FOR MIKE BLISS. >> LOOKS LIKE SCOTT RIGGS IS >> OKAY, THERE, RED FLAGGED THIS RACE SO THEY CAN CLEAN THE TRACK. WE HAD TWO RED FLAGS LAST NIGHT FOR CLEANOUR FIRST TONIGHT. 11 CAUTION PERIODS UNDER THE RED FLAG AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. ■nn >>> TIME FOR OUR WRANGLER FIVFI. HOW ABOUT JIMMIE JOHNSON, A LOT OF SUCCESS HERE, LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY, COCA-COLA 600, MAY, 2005. AT THE COKE 600, JIMMIE JOHNSON BATTLED BOBBY LABONTE DOWN THE STRETCH. JOHNSON MADE THE PASS TO TAKE THE CHECKERED FLAG. ANOTHER CLOSE FINISH, JIMMIE'S THIRD CONSECUTIVE VICTORY HERE. WON FOUR OF THE LAST FIVE. FOR M LOGON TO NASCAR.COM. RIGHT NOW JIMMIE JOHNSON SITTING THERE, 28th. >> WE SEE HIM WITH A WATER BOTTLE IN HIS HAND. NASCAR, REMEMBER AT DAYTONA WHEN THEY STOPPED THE CARS AND EVERYONE SAID THEY SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT WATER. NOW THEY HAVE STARTED TA ON THE RED FLAG SITUATIONS. >> DID IT IN THE BUSCH RACE AS WELL. MICHAEL WALTRIP CURRENTLY SECOND. >> LET'S TRY TO TALK TO -- MICHAEL WALTRIP, BENNY PARSONS, YOU GOT ME? >> I GOT TO PART TO GET PARTS, OREO COOKIE, CLAUSER FURNITURE, TONY GIBSON IS THE MAN. HE'S PUT A SETUP IN HIS CAR I LOVE AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE, DON'T EVER DOUBT GOODYEAR. RUNNING WAY FASTER THAN WE SHOULD. THAT COMMERCIAL IS OVER. CAN I HELP YOU WITH ANYTHING? >> DID YOU SAY COKE? >> DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT COCA-COLA. >> TELL HIM HE'S ON CAMERA. >> THIS GUY WANTS TO TALKING ON TV. >> MICHAEL, TELL ME ABOUT THE CAR. IT'S UNBELIEVABLY FAST TONIGHT. >> KEEP HAVING A BLISTER ON MY RIGHT REAR. COULD BLOW THAT OUT AND CRASH BUT ALSO COULD WIN THE RACE. KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT. >> IS THAT WHERE YOU ARE, MICHAEL? YOU HAVE TO TAKE BLOWING A TIRE TO WIN THE RACE? >> I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY AROUND IT. WE'VE BEEN AS CONSERVATIVE AS WE CAN. WE GOT WHAT AMOUNTS TO A COUPLE OF 38, 39-LAP RUNS. WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE WE CAN GET TO THE FINISH, S A DN YOUR MIND AS TO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THIS CAR, THOUGH, BENNY, SO GOOD ON THE TIRES. I HAVEN'T PUSHED THEM. I JUST HAVE TO GUARD AGAINST BEING A LITTLE LOOSE ON THE RESTARTS FOR A COUPLE OF LAPS. I KNOW THAT'S THE SMART WAY TO BE AND I'VEI CAN BE. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT MY CREW PLUS, ARE YOU LOOKING -- >> I'M WATCHING. >> THE BEST I'VE HAD ALL YEAR LONG AND A GREAT TEAM AND I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT. >> MICHAEL, WHAT PERCENT ARE YOU DRIVING THE DRIVING 100%, 95, ? >> SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE. WE'LL SEE HOW HARD I CAN GO IF I GOT TO. WHEN I HAD THE LEAD I WAS CERTAINLY TAKING CARE OF MY TIRES AND ELLIOTT SEEMED TO BE DOING THE SAME AND HE FELL OFF. THAT HELPED US AND THE BOYS ARG OVER THE TIRES SAYING WE HAVEN'T HAD A RIGHT FRONT PROBLEM YET. YOU TELL ME, BENNY. HAS EVERYBODY BEEN BLOWING THOSE OR RIGHT REARS, TOO? >> BLOWING FRONT TIRES BUT MOST EVERYONE IS BLISTERING THE RIGHT REARS JUST A TEN-FOUR. HOW ABOUT THAT USC/NOTRE DAME GAME? >> UNBELIEVABLE. MICHAEL, GOOD LUCK TO YOU. >> BYE-BYE. >> ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO TALK TO MICHAEL WALTRIP. TIME FOR A STATION BREAK. >>> THEY'VE JUST GIVEN THE COMMAND TO REFIRE THE ENGINE AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. THE IRISH WITH A HEARTBREAKING LOSS TO USC EARLIER TODAY ON NBC. NEXT SATURDAY, NINTH RANKED NOTRE DAME TAKES ON THE OFFENSE OFBYU. PRESENTED BY ADT NEXT SATURDAY, 2:30 EASTERN, 11:30 PACIFIC ON NBC. UPDATE FROM DAVE BURNS ON ELLIOTT SADLER. >> THEY GO TO WORK ON IT, BILL, NOW THAT THE RED FLAG HAS BEEN PULLED. DID COME TO PIT LANE ON THE PEG THAT TWO LAPS SITTING HERE WHEN THEY'RE DONE. KEEP THAT IN PLACE. >> ELLIOTT PASSED THE PACE CAR. HE WILL BE HELD FOR TWO LAPS ONE FOR PASSING AND ONE THAT HE GOT BY >> HE'LL BE RACING STEWART AND WON'T HAVE ANY FUN EITHER. >> PIT ROAD IS STILL CLOSED SO LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST 254 LAPS. WE CAME ON RIGHT WHEN THE GREEN FLAG CAME ON THE FRONT ROW, ROBBY GORDON, BROUGHT OUTS FIRST CAUTION AND GUESS WHAT IT WAS? >> A TIRE, LEFT REAR TIRE. >> THAT WAS AN INDICATION OF WHAT WAS TO COME. >> JEFF GORDON ON LAP 46 IN THE OUTSIDE RETAINING WALL. RUINED HIS DAY. THE CAR. GORDON IS OUT OF THE RACE. DALE EARNHARDT JR., LISTEN. >> HE COULD FEEL THAT ONE. >> MATT KENSETH, ONE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPONT TIRE ISSUE. TONY STEWART, EVERYBODY ELSE COMES TO PIT ROAD. TONY COMMUNICATION ERROR BETWEEN DRIVER AND CREW. HAD TO COME IN LATER, RESTARTED DEEP IN THE FIELD. RYAN NEWMAN, WANTED TO HE HAD ENOUGH GAS SO TOOK THE FILLER CAN WITH HIM. THAT WAS A PASSING PENALTY. BOBBY HAMILTON JR. WITH A RIGHT FRONT FLAT. AT 125. >> STERLING MARLIN. RIGHT FRONT FLAT. >> GET THE PICTURE SO FAR? GUESS WHAT THIS IS? RIGHT FRONT FLAT. KYLE BUSCH WAS LEADINGth RACE. >> BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE. >> THEN THAT HAPPENED. >> KEVIN HARVICK, HARD HIT LAST NIGHT, HARD HIT TONIGHT. RUSTY WALLACE, RIGHT REAR. >> FLAT TIRE. >> YEP. >> AND THEN TONY STEWART LEADING THE RACE. CUTS A RIGHT REAR TIRE. >> RAN OVER SOMETHING ON THE TRACK. STEWART CAME IN AS THE CHAMPIONSD A 75-POINT LEAD COMI THIS RACE. DAVID STREMME. OFF OF TURN FOUR. ANOTHER RIGHT FRONT FLAT. >> AND THEN ELLIOTT SADLER, GUY AND ALSO MIKE BLISS INVOLVED IN THE 0 CAR. >> SO THAT'S 255 LAPS IN AND HERE ARE THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS WITH 79 TOTHE LOWE'S . RYAN NEWMAN, NOW THE CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER. >>> STILL UNDER CAUTION HERE AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. >> I DIDN'T KNOW YOU RODE AROUND IN THE TRUCK EARLIER TONIGHT. >> NO, THAT'S THE CANDIDATE TO IN THE LEFT-HAND SEAT. NO MONKEYING AROUND HERE TONIGHT. >> I'M TELLING YOU. >> BOY, YOU'RE TOUGH. YOU KNOW, DALLENB TOUGH. >> BUSCH RACING FROM MEMPHIS, NEXT SUNDAY THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP HEADS TO MARTINSVILLE FOR THE SUBWAY 500 AT 12:30 EASTERN BEGINNING WITH THE "BANK OF AMERICA COUNTDOWN TO GREEN" ON NBC. >> AND, GUYS, VERY METHODICALLY DURING TWO LAPS JIMMIE JOHNSON'S TEAM CHANGED THE BATTERY IN THE 48 CAR, TOOK HIM TWO LAPS TO GET IT OUT. PULLED THIS BATTERY OUT AND THEY'RE IN THAT CASING ARE TWO BATTERIES, PUT A NEW CASING IN WITH TWO BRAND-NEW BA REPORTED MUCH BETTER, CHANGED RIGHT SIDE TIRES WHEN THEY CAME DOWN PIT ROADc ALSO. EVERYTHING GOOD FOR THE 48 CAR AND SHOULD HOLD OUT FOR THE REST OF THE RACE. >> MARK THOSE WORDS. >> RICK MONROE IS GETTING READY, ONE LAP GOING TO THROW THE GREEN FLAG, GET RID OF THE YELLOW FLAG, THAT-A-BOY, RICK. >> CAUTION PERIOD, DID HAVE A RED FLAG HERE JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO. TRACK CLEANUP. GOT 28 CARS ON THE THE FIRST CAR OFF THE LEAD LAP IS RUSTY WALLACE. HE'S THREE LAPS DOWN. TWO LAPS DOWN NOW. >> UH-OH. WE CUED THE DUCK ALREADY BUT HE'S THAT IS SO FUNNY. >> COULDN'T BE THE SAME GUY BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO WEAR THAT TWICE, WOULD YOU? >> HE HAD A WIFE OR A GIRLFRIEND WITH HIM. I DON'T THINK I'D WANT TO BE @ SEEN >> BE CAREFUL. JUST AFTER 11:00 EASTERN TIME. NBC SPORTS LIVE AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY OUTSIDE OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA. NASCAR NEXTEL CUP RACING PRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL WIL KINDS OF TIRE ISSUES, SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE SPORTS OUT OF THE RACE INCLUDING DALE EARNHARDT JR., JEFF GORDON, THESE DRIVERS HAVE BEEN IN THE SEAT FOR THREE HOURS AND 41 MINUTES AND CHANGE. MANY OF THEM THAT NOTRE DAME GAME JUST BEFORE THEY CLIMBED ABOARD. COMING AROUND TO COMPLETE 259, RYAN NEWMAN, THE RACE LEADER. >> OKAY, WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO IT. ABOUT 70 LAPS TO GO BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE STILL IN A SITUATION THESE GUYS CAN PUSH THE ENVELOPE. IF THEY DO THERE COULD BE TROUBLE WAITING FOR THEM. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON NEEDS TO PUSH THE ENVE >> HE STARTED 27th. BACK 27, AND -- >> GOT A LOT MORE TO GO. HE NEEDS TO BE PASSING A LOT OF CARS NOW. >> THAT 17 CAR RUNNING ALONGSIDE OF MICHAEL WALTRIP AND CASEY MEARS, THAT'S MATT KENSET TIRE ISSUES EARLY IN THE RACE. NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE ANYTHING UP. >> FAST RACE CAR, THOUGH. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP LOOKING AT ALLEN BESTWICK ON RYAN NEWMAN. >> BILL, I THINK I JUST HEARD BP SAY, YOU CAN'T GO TOO HARD QUITE YET. YOU CAN'T PUSH THE CAR. THAT IS WHAT RYAN NE RESTART AT THE END OF AN EXTENSION DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THEIR STRATEGY WILL BE IF THEY PIT WITH 50 TO GO AND 25 TO GO, HE REMINDED HIM, YOU STILL HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE TIRES. >> BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMEONE BEHIND HIM THAT'S NOT. >> LIKE MAYBE DRIVI>> AND MICHAT HE REALLY HASN'T HAD ANY TIRE PROBLEMS TODAY ON THIS 15 CAR. >> WE HAVE CONFIRMED FROM PIT ROAD THAT THE TIRE ISSUE ON ELLIOTT SADLER'S CAR WAS A PUNCTURE, RAN OVER SOMETHING ON THE TRACK, A PUNC >> RIDING ABOARD MICHAEL'S CAR. THERE'S KASEY KAHNE DOWN ON THE BOTTOM OF THAT, NUMBER 9 CAR, PRETTY FAST THE LAST COUPLE OF LAPS, GOING TO TRY TO TAKE THIRD AWAY FROM CASEY M HOW STRONG WA, HOW STRONG WAS KASEY KAHNE HERE A YEAR AGO? >> YEAH, HE WAS VERY STRONG EARLIER TONIGHT, IN FACT, SO MUCH SO AND THEY'VE DONE SO WELL IN THE TIRE DEPARTMENT THAT CREW STEVE TONY BALL WIN SAID, BUDDY, GET UP ON THE WHEEL. TELLING HIM TO DRIVE HARD. >> MARK MARTIN, HE'S HAD THREE ISSUES ON PIT ROAD TONIGHT. OVERCOME -- >> OH. >> MAN, MICHAEL HAD IT SIDEWAYS. >> MICHAEL GOT A GREAT RUN OFF OF FOUR. >> SO GOOD, IN FACT, HE RAN IN >> YES. >> HERE IS KASEY KAHNE HE'S IN HIS GROOVE UP ON THE -- >> HE'LL TAKE THAT SPOT NOW. >> AND MICHAEL HAD RYAN PRETTY TO LET HIM GET OUT OF THAT RACE CAR -- MICHAEL KNEW HE DID THE WRONG THING BUT TRIED TO MAKE UP FOR IT. >> MATT? >> BILL, LOOKED LIKE NEWMAN WAS AT TERRE HAUTE THE WAY HE KEEP AN EYE ON THE 6, KEEP IT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND, BACK ON LAP 245 WHEN MARK MARTIN WENT TO ENTER PIT ROAD HE COULDN'T GET THE CAR OUT OF FOURTH GEAR. HE DIDN'T WANT TO STRONG-ARM IT TO GET IT OUT BUT HE DID, HE SAID, SEEMS LIKE THE TRANLS MI ONE OF THOSE CHASERS THAT HAS MADE UP A LOT OF GROUND IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE HERE TONIGHT. HE DOESN'T WANT TO THROW IT AWAY AND HAVE A BAD NIGHT. >> THANKS, MATT. SORRY WE INTERRUPTED YOU OR MICHAEL ACTUALLY INTERRUPTED YOU. LONGER WE GO, THE SHORTER YOUR PATIENCE GETS. >> AND IT'S GETTING DOWN TO RACE TIME. WE'VE GOT 68 LAPS TO GO BUT MICHAEL'S GOT A GOOD RACE CAR. HE'S GOING TO TAKE A LOOK. HE'S GOING TO GET IT. >> OF THE FANS, YEP. >> KASEY KAHNE IS GOING TO DIVE UNDERNEATH AND TAKE A SPOT AWAY FROM RYAN NEWMAN, SO HE GOES TO SECOND. >> SO RYAN SHOWING SOME PATIENCE. MICHAEL LEADS. LET'S GO BACK AND LOOK AT 15 AND THE 12, A COUPLE OF LAPS AGO. >> MICHAEL IS UP ON THE HIGH SIDE. HE'S GOT A GOOD RUN AND NEWMAN MANY COULDS UP AND NEWMAN GOT HIM LOOSE FIRST. MICHAEL WAS RIGHT THERE. LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE 12 CAR, IT GETS SIDEWAYS RIGHT THERE. HIT THE WALL NOW. >> SCOTT RIGGS LOOKS LIKE -- YEP. >> AND TOLD RYAN NEWMAN TO STILL TAKE CARE OF THOSE TIRES. >> AND RIGGS HAD SOME EARLIER DAMAGE FROM RUNNING IN THE BACK OF MIKE BLISS WHEN ELLIOTT SADLER BACKED INTO THE WALL. THAT WILL TIE THE CAUTIONS FOR THIS RACE. THE RECORD IS 22 AT THIS TRACK. THAT WAS FROM THE 600 HERE IN MAY. OKAY, SOTHE YEAR, CAUTION MAGAZINES HERE. >> SO FAR. >> AT THE VERY TOP WE SEE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE GO FLAT ON THE 10 CAR AND THAT WALL HE GOES. >> RUSTY WALLACE IS THE LUCKY DOG. >> PIT ROAD REMAINS CLOSED. WE'LL TAKE A BREAK. >>> PIT ROAD, JUST OPENED. MICHAEL WALTRIP COMES DOWN PIT ROAD BUT A NUMBER OF CARS DO NOT INCLUDING KASEY KAHNE AND RYAN NEWMAN. MARTY? >> BILL, GREG BIFFLE RUNNING SEVENTH SAYING IT'S HAIR TIGHT QUARTER TURN OF WEDGE. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP TAKES ON TWO RIGHT SIDE TIRES AND FUEL AND JUST MISSES SCOTT WIMMER COMING IN. >> NICE MOVE BY HIM. SLOWED DOWN, SAW MICHAEL WAS LEAVING. >> BP, THEY MAYPOSITION BUT I THINK THAT WAS A SAFE MOVE TO MAKE. >> WE'VE SEEN ALL THE TIRE PROBLEMS TONIGHT. I THINK YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THEM. >> KASEY KAHNE, RYAN NEWMAN, M THE GUYS THAT DID NOT STOP. WELL, THIS IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING. 63 LAPS TO GO. WHO CAN GOING TO SEE A PAYOFF BIGGER? >>> NASCAR NEXTEL CUP PRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP. NBC SPORTS LIVE AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY JUST OUTSIDE OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA. TEMPERATURE HEADED FOR A LOW O ABOUT 54. CLEAR SKIES, 130,000 PLUS, BENNY PARSONS' CLOSEST FRIENDS ARE R S AFTER THE RACE. >> GOOD. COME ON OVER. ALL YOU FOLKS. I'M ONLY KIDDING. I'M ONLY KIDDING BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE KNOW WHERE I LIVE. >> TOP NINE GUYS DIDN'T PIT, DAVE. >> THE 15 CAR OF MICHAEL WALTRIP, DID, TONY. DON'T WANT TO PIT. I HEARD YOU SAY YOU HAVE TO. WHY? >> NASCAR ISx LOOKING OUT FOR EVERYBODY MAKING SURE EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT PRESSURES THAT GOODYEAR WANTS US TO RUN. WE WERE DOWN TWO POUNDS FROM WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE US RUN. SO, YOU KNOW, ING AND COME IN A PUT THE RIGHT PRESSURES IN THE RIGHT SIDE TIRES AND GET THEM ON THERE. WE GAVE UP SOME SPOTS. WE GOT A REALLY GOOD CAR. WE'RE GOING TO BE FINE. YOU KNOW, I DON'T BLAME NASCAR DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING, DOING THE RIGHT THING TO MAKE SURE THE DRIVERS ARE SAFE, SOIN, GAVE UP POSITION JUST TO SHOW THEM WE PUT THE RIGHT TIRES ON WITH THE RIGHT AIR PRESSURES THAT THEY WANTED, SO, YOU KNOW, IT MAY HURT US, IT MAY NOT, BUT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING. WE'RE DOING WHAT THEY WANT US TO DO. SO THAT'S WHAT THAT STOP WAS THERE FOR. WE WANTEHAD THE RIGHT AIR PRESS THE TIRES AND THEY WERE HAPPY AND NASCAR IS HAPPY WITH IT AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE NOT MAD AT ANYBODY. WE JUST WANTED -- WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE STOOD FOR A WHILE. WE KNOW RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE AND WE'LL GO THING. >> THANKS, TONY. MATT? >> PAT, YOUR TEAM HAS FOUGHT BLISTERS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. DID YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR GAME PLAN IS FOR THE FINAL STOP? >> THERE MIGHT BE TWO MORE STOPS THE WAY THE NIGHT IS GOING. FOUR TIRESFTER THEM HARD AND TRY TO WIN THE RACE. >> STICKER TIRES READY TO GO UP ON THE WALL. RESTARTS FROM FOURTH. >> KASEY KAHNE, RYAN NEWMAN, CASEY MEARS, MARK MARTIN, RICKY RUDD, KURT BUSCH, JIMMIE JOHNSON, DAVEMECHEK DID NOT PIT. THOSE ARE THE FRONT NINE GUYS. >> I DON'T BLAME THESE GUYS BECAUSE ALL THESE CARS ARE GOING TO STOP AT LEAST ONE MORE TIME. >> GREEN FLAG. GREEN FLAG. >> SINGLE FILE RESTART. RU CAR ONE LAP DOWN. >> ONLY THING, BP, OUT OF THOSE CARS YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONE THAT BRINGS OUT THE NEXT CAUTION. >> WELL,p THAT'S TRUE. >> KASEY KAHNE LED MORE THAN 200 LAPS A YEAR AGO, ENDED UP IN THE WALL. >> TELL YOU WHAT, CASEY MEARS IS RUNNING GOOD TONIGHT. >> HE IS. >> HE RAN AWFULLY GOOD AT KANSAS LAST WEEK TALKING ABOUT THE 41. >> ALLEN, HOW ABOUT RYAN NEWMAN IN TTO PIT OR NOT PIT UNDER THAT CAUTION, BILL I JUST TALKED TO THE CREW CHIEF AND SAID WHY DID YOU NOT PIT?x" HE THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR A SECOND AND LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. >> DAVE? >> CASEY MEARS HAS TO BE CAREFUL WITH THE 41. HAVE A BADLY BLIST RIGHT REAR EARLY ON AND HAD TO TAKE CARE OF THAT 41 CAR. CAREFUL ABOUT HOW HE'S RACING IT. >> I'M TOLD THAT MICHAEL WALTRIP JUST SCRAPED THE WALL. >> AH, THAT'S OKAY. >> JUST KEEP GOING? >> THAT'S NOTHING. >> I GUESS THAT'S TURN FOUR. >> NEED AIR PRESSURE. >> TALKING ABOUT THE AIR PRESSURE THAT NASCAR MANDATES I. >> WHOA. >> SLOWING UP BEHIND YOU. >> JAMIE McMURRAY, MICHAEL WALTRIP. GOT DALE JARRETT. CARL EDWARDS SLIDES BY. >> OH, MAN! RUN. >> SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ROBBY GORDON. HE JUST WENT THROUGH THE GRASS. HE'S HEADED FOR PIT ROAD. >> I DON'T THINK HE HAS ANY BRAKES. >> THERE'S ROBBY, WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE INFIELDLL. >> I THINK SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THE 7 CAR. SOMEONE BLEW UP UP IN THREE AND FOUR. >> WELL, THERE'S A COUPLE OF GUYS THAT -- I MEAN, MICHAEL AND -- THOSE GUYS WERE SIDE BY SIDE AND McMURRAY GOT LOOSE UNDERNEATH THE 15 CAR. SO TWO DIFFERENT THINGS I THINK HAPPENED. >> LIKE WE SAW WITH STEWART AND RYAN NEWMAN LAST NIGHT. >> YEP. >> DALE JARRETT, TALLADEGA WINNER FROM A COUPLE OF WEEKS . JAMIE IS ON THE LOW SIDE, LOOSE ON THE BOTTOM WHEN YOU'RE THAT CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. McMURRAY JUST GETS UP INTO MICHAEL AND THEY BOTH SPIN OUT. THERE'S JARRETT GETS RIGHT INTO IT. >> I'M NOT SURE WHAT H HE'S BAC CORNER. THERE YOU SEE, THE VERY TOP OF THE SCREEN SMOKING. >> YEAH. >> I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S BLOWN A FRONT TIRE OR JUST BLEW UP. >> NOW ON BOARD WITH MICHAEL WALTRIP. >> BLOWN UP BEHIND YOU. BLOWING UP BEHIND YOU. >> AND MORE WRECKING. >> ON BOARD THE U.P.S. >> THIS WILL BE UGLY. >> KEEP COMING. STAY HIGH. KEEP COMING. >> THAT IS A TERRIBLE FEELING WHEN YOU SEE THIS BIG GAP IN FRONT OF YOU AND YOU'RE LIKE, I'M GOING FOR IT THEN A CLOSES FRONT OF YOU. >> CARL EDWARDS DID A FANTASTIC JOB HANGING ON TO THAT CAR GOING THROUGH THE GRASS. >> THERE'S ROBBY GORDON. >> GET IT DOWN, GET IT DOWN. GET IT DOWN. COME ON. YOU GOT A SPINNER. BACKING DOWN. ROBBY BLEW UP AND THEN GOT INTO THE WALL. >> OKAY, ALLEN BESTWICK? >> ROBBY GORDON HAS CLIMBED FROM HIS CAR BEHIND THE WALL. WHAT HAPPENED? >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN FRONT OF ME. I GUESS TIMING IS EVERYTHING. WE ENDED UP POPPING A MOTOR IT. THESE GUYS ARE GETTING BETTER WITH THEIR ENGINES, JUST MISSED IT A LITTLE TONIGHT. I THINK WE HAD A GOOD RACE CAR, EASILY A TOP TEN CAR AGAIN. JUST BIDING MY TIME WATCHING ALL THESE TIRES POP BUT THERE AT THE END, ANY TIME WE WANTED TO GO COULD PASS TWO CARS AND GET OUR INTO THE TOP TEN. DISAPPOINTING FINISH FOR US, BUT THE SPEED IS STILL THERE. >> THANKS FOR THE MINUTE, ROBBY. >> THE LUCKY DOG IS RUSTY WALLACE AND THAT PUTS HIM ON THE LEAD LAP.ew 13th CAUTION TONIGHT. RECORD WAS 12. WE TALKED ABOUT IT. >> AND MICHAEL WALTRIP, YOU KNOW, THEY MADE THE CHOICE TO PIT. GETS BACK IN THE TRAFFIC YEAH, HE WAS RACING WITH A GOOD CAR, THOUGH, BECAUSE McMURRAY HAD A GOOD CAR, JUST -- MARTY? >> HE DID HAVE A GREAT CAR TONIGHT, MADE VERY FEW CHANGES TO THE CHASSIS. >> WHAT HAPPENED? >> I'M >> THERE'S YOUR REPLAY. >> LET ME LOOK HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF WHEN I WENT INTO HIM IT CUT MY TIRE. I SAW THE CAUTION CAME OUT. THE WHOLE NIGHT IT WAS SOMEWHAT LIKE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE. YOU WOULD WAIT FOR A TIRE TO BLOW YOURS. TOTALLY DIFFERENT TYPE OF RACING THAN WHAT WE NORMALLY HAVE AND YOU GET ON THE INSIDE OF GUYS AND GET SO LOOSE. I DON'T KNOW. MICHAEL GOT INTO THE WALL AND I THINK HE GOT TIED OR LOOSE AND WAS KIND OF STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN THE SPEED. LOOSE. >> ARE ALL THE DRIVERS RUNNING AT LESS THAN 100%? >> YOU KNOW, WHEN WE STARTED OUT WE DIDN'T GO REAL HARD. MY CAR WAS FAST ON NEW TIRES, THOUGH, AND THEN I WOULD RUN HARD UNTIL I FELT LIKE I COULD FEEL ONE END LOSE GRIP. I WAS LOOSE KEPT BLISTERING THE RIGHT TIRE AND TIGHTENED IT UP. I GOT TIGHT. TOLD HIM I'D RATHER BE FREE -- YOU DIDN'T SEE ME BLOW THE RIGHT REAR SO VERY FRUSTRATING EVENING TO TRY TO RACE LIKE THAT. >> SUMS IT UP. VERY. >> THANKS, MARTY. THANK YOU, JAMIE. THEY ARE OFFICIALLY OUT OF THE RACE. >> WE LEFT. TO REPAIR THE CARS WOULD TAKE ABOUT 40, 50 LAPS. >> STERLING MARLIN, KYLE BUSCH, JEFF GORDON, STUART KIRBY, MIKE STREMME, KEN SCHRADER, SCOTT RIGGS, JAMIE McMURRAY AND ROBBY GORDON YOU CAN ADD TO TH >> AND DALE JARRETT. >> AND DALE JARRETT, THAT'S RIGHT. ALTHOUGH NOT OFFICIALLY OUT YET BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK TOO GOOD. >> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADD HIM TO THE LIST. >> SHOULD I COLOR THAT IN WITH MY SHARPIE? SO KADER. >> ALL RIGHT, PIT ROAD IS OPEN NOW. THOSE GUYS THE LAST TIME THEY CHOSE TO STAY OUT. ARE THEY GOING TO COME IN? I DENT SEE MUCH POINT TO IT, DO YOU? BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE TO STOP ONCE AGAIN. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON HITS PIT ROAD. >> HE GAVE UP THE SEVENTH POSITION TO COME IN. MARTY? >> WELL, JIMMIE WAS FAIRLY COMMITTED TO COMING TO PIT ROAD THIS TIME, WANTED FOUR FRESH TIRES, NOT TIME TO GO AS HARD AS HE CAN YET SO THEY'LL TAKE ON FOUR TIRES AND MAKE AN AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT. CAR HAS BEEN TIGHT. THE VOLTAGE RUNNING BELOW 12 VOLTS ON THE BRAND-NEW BATTERIES THEY PUT IN THERE. OF CONCERN BECAUSE THE ALTERNATOR NOT WORKING SO IT'S LIKE AN ORCHESTRATION. TURN OFF THE REAR FANS, TURN ON THE REAR FANS SO AN ORCHESTRATION OF HOW JIMMIE IS DOING IT INSIDE MANAGING THAT ALL EVENING LONG, FOUR FRESH TIRES FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> MICHAEL, INFIELD CARE CENTER. DESCRIBE WHAT TOOK PLACE COMING THROUGH THREE AND FOUR. >> I THINK I BLEW A LEFT REAR TIRE BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT BLEW UP AND THEN JAMIE RAN INTO THE BACK OF ME AND SPUN ME AROUND. WAS REVVING THE MOTOR UP. WELL, IT DIDN'T BLOW UP, I WAS LIKE. >> THERE YOU GO. THERE'S THE REPLAY. >> IT BLEW LEFT REAR RIGHT THERE. I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. LEFT REAR WAS TORE OFF IT. I DON'T JAMIE DID COULD HAVE CAUSED ALL THAT. I THINK I TURNED INTO HIM. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED I LOOKED AT THE NAPA AUTO MARTS CHEVY AND I DIDN'T TO GO DOWN TO NAPA AND GET ME A NEW TIRE. >> THE GOOD THING, YOU'RE OKAY. INCLUDING YOUR THIRD SIP. >> SO I GOT TO GO NOW? >> YOU GOT TO GO NOW. >> BYE. >> SEE YA, MICHAEL. >> GUESS WHAT, WE'RE UNDER CAUTION AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. KASEY KAHNE LEADS RYAN NEWMAN. >>> STILL WONIGHT. IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP, PROBABLY HAVEN'T HAD A VERY GOOD NIGHT. MATT KENSETH FRONT RIGHT TIRE ISSUE EARLY IN THE NIGHT. GOT HIM BACK OUT. TEN LAPS DOWN RIGHT NOW. WAIT, THERE'S MORE. FUEL CAN WI HIM. BUT HE HAS REBOUNDED AND CURRENTLY RUNS SECOND. RUSTY WALLACE, RIGHT REAR TIRE ISSUE. BUT TWICE HE'S BEEN THE LUCKY DOG. RUSTY WALLACE BACK ON THE LEAD LAP. >> THEN TONY STEWART LEADING THE RACE, RIGHT REAR TIRE IS FLAT, BACKS INTO TURN THREE WALL. >> TONY STEWART IS SIX LAPS DOWN. SCORED 25th. AND THERE ARE THERUN RIGHT NOW WITH 49 TO GO. AND AN INTERESTING POINT HERE IS THAT TONY STEWART JUST PICKED UP A NUMBER OF POSITIONS BECAUSE MICHAEL WALTRIP, DALE JARRETT, JAMIE McMURRAY AND ROBBY GORDON JUST FELL OUT OF THE RACE. >> YEAH, OF THIS THING OR EVEN BETTER PERHAPS. >> HE'S CURRENTLY RUNNING 25th AND THEY'RE NOT THROUGH WRECKING YET, I'M SURE. >> THERE'S TONY. CAME IN TONIGHT WITH A 75-POINT LEAD IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP WE'RE GOING TO TRY THIS AGAIN. SEND THE PACE CAR TO PIT ROAD. KASEY KAHNE IN THAT 9 CAR. LEADS NEWMAN, MEARS, MARTIN AND RUDD. RYAN NEWMAN UNDER KASEY KAHNE DOWN THE BACKSTRETCH. >> KASEY KAHNE IS GOING TO HANG TOUGH ON THE OUTSIDE, THOUGH. >> THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO SPOIL THE CHANCES OF RYAN NEWMAN TAKING THE LEAD. FOLKS ARE HAPPY. CURRENTLY THE TOP THREE CARS, ALL DODGES AND MARK MARTIN TRIES TO GO BY CASEY MEARS. >> THREE DODGES, THREE FORDS THEN TWO CHEVYS. >> RICKY RUDD SITTING THERE IN THE FIFTH SPOT, 21 CAR. >> KYLE BUSCH LOOKED UNDERNEATH RUDD BUT GOT BACK IN LINE. >> KURT BUSCH. >> AH, KURT BUSCH. >> THERE'S BIFFLE TRYING TO GET BY JOE NEMECHEK IN THE 01. LOOKS LIKE HE'LL BE SUCCESSFUL. >> ALLEN, HOW ABOUT NEMECHEK? >> HOW ABOUT THIS FOR A NIGHT, THAT TEAM HAS CHANGED BATTERIES TWICE ON THAT CAR. THEY'VE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND CHANGED THE BATTERY THE SECOND TIME TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD ENOUGH JUICE TO GET TO THE FINISH. ALTERNATOR I EARLIER ABOUT GUYS BEING PATIENT HOLDING THINGS BACK EARL WILL I IN THE RACE. GREG CAME ON THE RADIO AND SAID CAN I GO NOW, THE WORD CAME BACK, NO, CAN'T GO NOW. >> STILL LOOKS LIKE SOME OF THESE GUYS ARE DRIVING MORE GREEDY THAN THEY WERE EARLIER. >> BUSCH TRYING TO MAKE HIS WAY FORWARD, MATT. >> AND THE'S DOING IT VERY WELL. JUST MOVED INTO THE TOP FIVE. NOW HE IS LOOKING AHEAD TO HIS FINAL CAR PERFORMS MUCH BETTER WHEN HE JUST GOES WITH THE TWO-TIRE CHANGE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT SIDE TIRES ON HIS LAP STOP WHILE MARK MARTIN WHO HE IS CHASING DOWN IN FRONT OF HIM SAYS HE WANTS TO GO FOUR STICKER TIRES ON HIS FINAL CAR COMFORTABLE ON STICKERS. DAVE? >> MATT, RICKY RUDD LOST A POSITION ON THE RESTART BUT HAS BEEN RUNNING VERY WELL. LOOKS LIKE HURRICANE AND LIKED IT HAS BEEN COMING OUT OF HIS MOUTH. LOOKING AT A GREAT TOP RUN FOR . THESE GUYS IN FRONT OF HIM ARE PRETTY RACY. MARK REALLY WANTS PAST MEARS AND BIFFLE IS WATCHING BOTH OF THEM. KURT BUSCH, RATHER. >> I DON'T THINK MARK WANTS TO BE ON THE BOTTOM MAKING THE PASS BUT MEARS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RACETRACK SO HE'S NOT GIVING MARK MUCH OF A CHOICE. >> MEARS RYAN NEWMAN, NEWMAN RUNS SECOND. EVERYBODY CHASING KASEY KAHNE. NOW, NEWMAN EDGES AWAY. DOWN THE BACKSTRETCH. 42 TO GO. >> TELL YOU WHAT, MEARS IS GETTING A REALLY GOOD BITE OFF THE THERE, DAVE. >> BOY, JUST SCOOTED UP THERE HIGH, THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE HAD A PROBLEM. JIMMY TOLD US EARLIER THEY WANTED TO HANG AROUND JUST UNDER THE RADAR ALL DAY LONG KIND OF LIKE THE GUY PASSING HIM RIGHT NOW AND BE STRONG AT THE END. SO FAR THAT PLAN HAS 41. >> RUSTY WALLACE MAKING AN UNSCHEDULED STOP, ALLEN. >> YEAH, JUST RAN INTO THEIR PIT STOP. TIRES UP ON THE WALL LOOKING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE TROUBLE IS. RUSSIANTY HAD A FLAT EARLIER. THEY'LL MAKE A FOUR-TIRE CHANGE. HAD A FLAT EARLIER IN THE RACE. HE HAD JUST GOTTEN BACK ON THE LEAD LAP, MADE UP TWO LAPS BY THE LUCKY DOG RULE. NOW AGAIN UNDER THE GREEN. >> SCORED 24th. >> MARK PULLS OVER. BIFFLE TAKES A SPOT AND RUDD WANTS A TWO. >> MARK RACED HIM HARD THERECID HIM GO. >> WELL, LET'S SEE IF KURT BUSCH CAN DO ANYTHING WITH THE 41 CAR OF CASE MI SERIES. MARK TRIE >> THERE'S BUSCH. BEHIND THE 42 CAR. >> CASEY MEARS' BEST CAREER FINISH, FOURTH, TEXAS EARLIER THIS YEAR. WATKINS GLEN A YEAR AGO. HAD SO HEARTBREAKING RUNS RECENTLY. KURT BUSCH IS -- KIND OF WANTS TO TAKE A LOOK DOWN THERE BUT CASEY MEARS IS RUNNING A PRETTY GOOD LINE RIGHT NOW. >> KASEY KAH WALLACE. AND RUSTY IS, WHAT, A COUPLE LAPS DOWN NOW? >> RUSTY IS 24, TWO LAPS DOWN. NEXT CAR BEHIND HIM IS TONY STEWART, WHO IS SIX LAPS DOWN. >> NOW, KURT BUSCH ON THE INSID GOT IT, MATT. >> EARLIER IN THE RACE HE SAID IF YOU THINK I'M RUNNING TOO FAST, TOO HARD, YOU LET ME KNOWú THE LAST TIME BY, JIMMY SAID WE'VE GOT TEN MORE LAPS, WE WANT TO RUN ON THIS SET OF TIRES, YOU ARE WORKING THEM LETTING HIM KNOW HE'S NOT OVERABUSING THOSE TIRES YET BUT IS WORKING THEM A LITTLE TOO HARD. >> HAS MOVED INTO THE SECOND POSITION. >> CASEY MEARS WANTS BY NEWMAN. >> OR NOTE TO DO. WHEN YOU'RE 37 LAPS TO GO, YOU CAN SEE THE LEADERS IN FRO A GO RACE CAR, YOU WANT TO GET A LITTLE RACY RIGHT NOW. >> MARK MARTIN TRYING TO FOLLOW MEARS UNDER NEWMAN. MARK GETS DOWN THERE -- >> BUT HE CAN'T PULLIDES BACK A MIDDLE TO THE EXIT OF THE CORNER AND TAKE ANOTHER RUN AT HIM HERE. JUST DON'T THINK HE HAS ENOUGH RACE CAR UP ON HIM. >> RUDD IN THE 21 CAR, I THINK NEWMAN SLIPPED OFF THE CORNER THERE A LI BECAUSE MARK MARTIN IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO FINALLY GET BY THE 6 CAR. >> MARTIN IN THE 6 BY THE 12. NOW RUDD IS GOING TO TRY NEWMAN. BIFFLE WATCHES FROM BEHIND IN THE 16. >> AND AS NEWMAN IS SLIDING BACK AND LOSING THESE POSITIONS, TONY STEWART HAS REASSUMED THE LEAD IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR NEXTEL CUP. >> YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT'S ALSOI MAYFIELD AND BUSCH BACK INTO IT. >> BIFFLE BY RUDD. >> BIFFLE IN THE 6 SPOT RIGHT THERE IN THE 16 CAR. MEANWHILE, KASEY KAHNE HAS PULLED AWAY. BEATS BY 0.6 SECONDS. 2 OF WALLACE IS TWO LAPS DOWN. >> I WANT TO BACK IT DOWN >> KURT BUSCH TALKING ABOUT TAKING IT EASY BECAUSE HE MUST FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS GOING ON WITH HIS TIRES. >> MATT? >> WHAT YOU HEARD WAS RIGHT BEFORE THAT, JIMMY WAS TELLING THOUGHT THAT KURT MIGHT BE PUSHING A LITTLE TOO HARD AND THAT'S WHEN YOU HEARD KURT SAY, OKAY, I'VE ALREADY BACKED IT DOWN. I'LL BACK IT DOWN SOME MORE. ALLEN? >> JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON RUSTY WALLACE, ALL THE TIRES WERE UP AS FAR AS AIR PRESSURE IS CONCERNED. THEY THINK ONE OF THEM MIGHT RI VERY CAREFULLY BUT THEY THINK IT WAS A LOOSE WHEEL. >> THAT'S THE BATTLE FOR THE LEAD RIGHT THERE, KURT BUSCH LOOKING AT KASEY KAHNE. >> SO MUCH FOR THE BACKING IT OFF BY 10%. >> NO KIDDING. JUST GOT ON THE GAS AND MADE UP. >> THAT'S KURT. >> WELL, RUSTY GOT BY KASEY KAHNE SO NOW RUSTY IS ONLY ONE LAP DOWN. >> BUT KURT IS BACKING OFF. HE'S BACKING DOWN. BECAUSE HE CAUGHT HIM QUICKLY. BUT NOW HE'S JUST DECIDED TO FOLLOW KASEY KAHNE RATHER THAN TRYING TO PASS. >> KURT BUSCH IN A FORD RUNNING SECOND. KASEY KAHNE IN THE DODGE. RICKY RUDD FOUR POSITION NEWMAN FIGHTS HIM OFF THERE. RICKY IS GOING TO CHARGE BACK UNDERNEATH. >> RYAN NEWMAN IS REALLY HAVING TROUBLE GETTING OFF TURN FOUR. THAT'S WHERE ALL THESE CARS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PASS HIM. >> ALLEN? >> YEAH, BILL, NOT A LOT ON THE RADIO.@ >> KASEY KAHNE. >> HE'S GOT -- I'M SURE A RIGHT FRONT TIRE DOWN. >> CAUTION IS OUT, DAVE. >> HE HAD JUST REPORTED MOMENTS AGO GETTING TIGHTER AND TIGHTER. THE CAR REFUSED TO TURN AND THEY SAID JUST TAKE CARE OF WALL. >> I DON'T THINK HE'S HIT THE WALL. >> JUST BLEW A RIGHT FRONT, DAVE. >> HE MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE FENDER, BUT AT LEAST HE DID SAY BENDING A FRAMES BY MAKING CONTACT WITH THE WALL. >> THERE IT IS. >> LIKE KURT BUSCH MADE A WISE CHOICE IN BACKING OFF JUST A LITTLE BIT. >> GOES RIGHT THERE. SEE THE SPARKS. GOOD JOB OF CATCHING THAT. A LOT OF TIMES YOU DON'T GET TO CATCH IT. >> HE'S VERY FORTUNATE, WAS RIGHT BY THE ENTRANCE TO PIT ROAD. OUR 14th CAUTION PERIOD OF THE NIGHT. >> NOW THEN, I THINK THIS THAT' WHO WINS AND WHO LOSES BECAUSE I THINK THEY CAN PROBABLY MAKE IT THE REST OF THE WAY WITHOUT PITTING AGAIN. SOME CARS ONCE THEY MAKE THIS PIT STOP WILL NOT PIT AGAIN. >> WELL, MARK MARTIN AND NEWMAN LAST PITTED ON LAP 245. >> UNLESS THE YELLOW COMES OUT WITH 10 LAPS TO GO OR AROUND THAT AREA. >> WHAT ARE YOU THINKING, ALLEN? >> I WAS JUST LISTENING TO BENNY THERE AND LISTENING TO THE RADIO WITH THE CREW YOU'VE HAD RIGHT SIDE TIRE ISSUES ALL NIGHT. DO YOU TAKE FOUR HERE OR DO YOU TAKE TWO? >> I THINK GUYS THAT CHANGED FOUR LAST TIME, ALLEN, WILL CHANGE TWO. >> THERE IS A BIG DEBRIS RIGHT NOW. A LOT OF FUN WHO WHAT? >> I'D TAKE FOUR AND THEN -- >> YOU'RE PREDICTING ANOTHER CAUTION. >> OKAY, YES. >> WELL, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE GUYS PIT THIS TIME AND THIS WILL BE THEIR FINAL PIT STOP." NOW, KASEY KAHNE, YOU HIS PIT S. HE HAS TIRES, HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO STOP UP FRONT BECAUSE NONE OF THE OTHER CARS HAVE PITTED. UNDER NASCAR RULES YOU HAVE TO WAIT TILL PIT ROAD IS OPEN. HIS PENALTY FOR PITTING TOO SOON HE HAS TO TART AT THE END OF THE LONGEST LINE. RUSTY WALLACE AGAIN. THIRD TIME TONIGHT. >> THIS TIME, FOUR TIRES, GAS, QUARTER ROUND RIGHT DOWN REAR. >> PAT TRYSON TALKING TO MARK MARTIN. >> PIT ROAD IS OPEN. >> HERE THEY >> MATT? >> BILL, THE DEBATE FOR KURT BUSCH, EIGHT LAP SCUFFS OR STICKER TIRES. THEY'LL GO WITH THE STICKER TIRES. THAT WAY HE CAN RUN AS HARD AS HE WANTS TO THE FINISH. UP ON THE TRACK BAR TO FREE THE CAR UP SNIDER. >> GREG BIFFLE IN THE MIDDLE, THEY WANT FOUR TIRES, SAID THE CAR IS AWFULLY GOOD. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT CHANGES. HE SAID NONE. >> RYAN NEWMAN, BOTTOM OF THE PICTURE SAYS I WANT FOUR TIRES. THEY'LL GIVE THEM TO HIM RIGHT NOW. >> LUCKY BREAK CASE MI CASEY MEARS. HE COMES DOWN PIT ROAD, SLOW STOP, NO CHANGES. >> NOT EVERYBODY TOOK FOUR. >> JEREMY MAYFIELD, I KNOW, IS IN THE MIX SO HE TO CHANGE MY GUESS IS TWO. >> YEAH, TWO. >>> TUESDAYS ON NBC, MY FAVORITE SHOW, THE STORY OF A MAN NAMED EARL. NOW HE'S ON A MISSION TO REPAIR EVERYTHING HE'S EVER DONE WRONG. FIND OUT WHICH BAD DEED HE TACKLES CRITICALLY ACCLAIM THE "MY NAME IS EARL" ON NBC. >> VERY NICE. >> THANK YOU, WALLY. >> I THINK I'LL WATCH "EARL" AFTER WATCHING THAT. >> I LOVE THAT SHOW.24 LAPS TO . WHAT CAN POSSIBLY HAPPEN NEXT? >> LET ME GUESS. A CAUTION. >> YEAH. >> RICKY RUDD, JOE NEMECHEK, JIMMIE JOHNSON, DENNY HAMLIN, CARL EDWARDS, THE TOP FIVE CARS, TWO TIRES. THAT'S KURT BUSCH, JEREMY ÷ MAYFIELD, GREG BIFFLE, MARK MARTIN AND CASEY MEARS. >> JEREMY I'M SURE ALSO CHANGED TWO. OH, BOY. >> OH, BOY, IS RIGHT. >> OH, BOY. >> BUT, YOU KNOW, 23 LAPS TO GO. I THINK THE TIRES WILL LAST THIS LONG. HOPEFULLY. >> MARTY? >> WELL, BILL, I THINK THE 48 TONIGHT. B LET'S FIRST OF ALL TALK ABOUT THE DECISION TO TAKE TWO TIRES THERE, WHY, CHAD? >> WE CAME IN ON THE LAST STOP WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE STAYED OUT TAKING FOUR, NOT KNOWING BUT REALIZING THAT THE PATTERN FOR THE NIGHT HAS BEEN A CAUTION ABOUT EVERY 20 LAPS AND 40 SOME BE A WISE CHOICE TO COME IN, GET AS MUCH POSITION AS WE COULD AND TAKE TWO AND HOPEFULLY GET UP CLOSER TO THE FRONT WHICH THE GUYS DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB ON THAT TWO-TIRE STOP CHANGING THE BATTERY. SEE IF WE GET OUT WITH THE TNIS. >> THINKING IT MAY BE A GAUGE ALL ALONG SAYING THE BATTERY WAS GOING BAD. >> MICHAEL McSWAIN, TOOK ON TWO RIGHT SIDES. HAVE THE LEFTS BEEN OKAY? CAN THEY LAST? >> MINIMAL WEAR ALL DAY OR ALL . I HOPE WE FREE IT UP ENOUGH. WE HAVE SOME CLEAN AIR. THAT SHOULD HELP A LITTLE BIT. WE'LL SEE, HAD A GOOD CAR ALL NIGHT AND TAKE WHAT WE CAN GET. >> ALL RIGHT, RICKY RUDD IS THE LEADER. ALLEN? >> RYAN, CANYOU WORKED ALL NIGH BACK? >> A TRYING DAY. CHANGED A COUPLE BATTERIES. CAR HAS BEEN GREAT PACING OURSELVES EARLY IN THE DAY, DON'T WANT TO PUSH IT TOO MUCH. YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEMS THAT OURSELVES LIKE 22 TO GO WHEN WE GET HERE SO I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH TIRE LEFT TO MAKE IT TO THE END. >> PROBABLY HAS ALL HIS TOES CROSSED PLUS ALL HIS FINGERS. >> 15 CARS ARE OUT OF THE RACE.. HERE WE GO. PACE CAR ú■OFF. >> RICKY RUDD WILL BRING THEM TO THE GREEN. RUDD IN 58 RACES HERE. HE'S NEVER FINISHED IN THE TOP TWO. HIS BEST FINISH AT THIS TRACK, THIRD. >> CAN'T REALLY RUN >> GOT TO GO. >> RUDD AND NEMECHEK, JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> NEMECHEK TRYING TO GET THAT OUTSIDE POSITION. ON RUDD AND LOOKS LIKE HE MIGHT HAVE IT. HE'S GOT IT, BENNY, AND I THINK FOLLOW HIM THROUGH. UH-OH. >> RUDD IS SLOW. >> RICKY RUDD OFF THE PACE. >> OH, JIMMIE JOHNSON SMOKING. >> IS THAT TIRE SMOKE? >> YES, DRIVING THE CAR HARD. HE'S ALL NIGHT AND TIRES END UP HITTING THE FENDER. >> HE'S BURYING IT. >> WOW. >> MAYBE RAN THE 21 CAR. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY HE LOOKS LIKE HE GOT CONTACT RIGHT THERE ABOVE THE FENDER. MARTY, DID HE MAKE CONTACT WITH 21?S. MADE A LITTLE CONTACT WHEN HE WAS SWERVING BEHIND THE 21 CAR. THAT'S NOT THE LEFT FRONT FENDER IN ON THAT TIRE. >> THAT'S WHAT THE 21 THINKS, TOO, MARTY AND THEY'RE STILL DISCUSSING WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM OR NOT BUT THE 21 DEFINITELY MADE CONTACT WITH THE 48.p THE TRACK AND IN FACT, 11th THAT TIME BY. >> HITTING THAT THING PRETTY HARD, BENNY. >> SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE INSTEAD OF BETTER. >> ON BOARD.SON, SECOND ON THE TRACK AND SECOND IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS. WATCH FOR THE SMOKE. THE 48. 48 JUST SQUEEZING IN AND THEY JUST MADE CONTACT RIGHT THERE. AND IT JUST BENT THE FENDER ON TOP OF THE TIRE. OF THE GAS. MEANWHILE DENNY HAMLIN HANGS ON TO THE THIRD SPOT RIGHT BEHIND HIM. >> HE'LL EVENTUALLY EITHER WEAR ENOUGH RUBBER OFFERLL STOP SMOKT WILL CUT THE TIRE. >> WHAT HAPPENS THEN? >> CONTACT WITH THE WALL. >> NOTHING GOOD. >> YEAH. KURT BUSCH IN FOURTH. CHASING HAMLIN. CARL EDWARDS RUNS FIFTH. >> AND JIMMIE JOHNSON, THE LAST LAPTHE NIGHT. SO HE'S -- HE'S AFTER JOE NEMECHEK. >> DAVE? >> PRETTY GOOD RACE FOR DENNY HAMLIN AND IN THAT 11OND NEXTEL SMALL CHANGES TO THE CAR ALL NIGHT LONG, CAME DOWN PIT ROAD DURING THE LAST CAUTION, MADE AN AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT FOR A CAR WITH A LITTLE TROUBLE TURNING. >> 35th, 23rd, 8th AND 14th LAST WEEK AT KANSAS, GARAGE AND SAI ALL I NEED IS A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK AND MAYBE TONIGHT HIS HIS LUCK WILL START TO CHANGE SLOWLY REELING THE LEADERS IN. >> GETS BY DENNY HAMLIN MOVES INTO THAT THIRD POSITION. >> HAMLIN TOOK JIMMIE JOHNSON IS CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN HIM AND THE 01. MARTY? >> WELL, JIMMIE HAS BEEN ASKING HIS SPOTTER DOES IT LOOK ANY BETTER? I THINK WE'LL HAVE A BATTLE FOR THE LEAD QUICKLY. IT ISJIMMIE. HE'LL GO FOR THE LEAD ON THE FRONTSTRETCH. >> HE'S GOING TOSq GET THE LEAD. ON THE BOTTOM -- NEMECHEK HANGS TOUGH ON THE OUTSIDE. >> BUT -- I THINK JIMMIE'S GOT IT. >> I THINK JIMMIE WAS IN FRONT. HE JUST DIDN'T REALIZE HE WAS IN FRONT. >> THE GUY ON THE OUTSIDE CAN RUN A LITTLE BIT HARDER. HIS CAR IS STICKING PRETTY GOOD DOWN THERE BUT SIDE BY SIDE >> 14 TO GO. >> 97 CAR GETTING CLOSER TO THESE TWO GUYS. >> JOHNSON DOWN LOW. NEMECHEK UP HIGH. >> HOW ABOUT THREE WIDE DOWN THE FRONTSTRETCH NEXT TIME BY AS KURT BUSCH TRIES TO GET ON THE INSIDE. >> JOHNSON FALLS >> JIMMIE JOHNSON KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH KURT BUSCH. HE WAS GOING TO MAKE IT THREE WIDE. >> NEMECHEK IS HOLDING HIS LINE GOING TOSS HIM ON THE BOTTOM. >> THAT'S A HARD THING TO DO HERE TONIGHT. >> GETTING DOWN TO IT. 11 LAPS TO GO. I'M SORRY, 12 LAPS TO GO NEXT TIME BY. ON AHEAD AT NEMECHEK. BUSCH RIGHT BEHIND. JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THAT 48 CAR HAS WON THE LAST THREE RACES AT THIS TRACK. AND FOUR OF THE LAST FIVE. STARTED 41st TONIGHT. >> HE GOT A GOOD -- >> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THIS RACETRACK OWES JOE NEMECHEK HERE ONE. IN MAY, EIGHT LAPS TO GO IN THE SAME POSITION LEADING THE RACE AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE PUNCTURED AND BLEW. >> HERE COMES KURT BUSCH, TAKES A LOOK UNDERNEATH. KURT TRYING TO GET SECOND AWAY FROM JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> CAN'T DO IT. >> MARTY? THIS EVENING. THINK ABOUT WHAT THOUGHT THEY HAD A BATTERY PROBLEM EARLIER ON, ALTERNATOR ISSUE SWITCHING FANS ON AND OFF ALL NIGHT LONG WHILE DRIVING THE RACE CAR. THREE SETS OF TIRES THAT HAVE BLISTERED RIGHT REARS SO JIMMIE HAS BEEN PROCESSING ALL THAT IN HIS MIND SAVING HIS CAR 80% HE AND NOW GOING 100% AND GOINGC R ANOTHER WIN HERE AT WHAT HE CALLS "HIS HOUSE." >> DALE EARNHARDT JR. WON FOUR RACES IN A ROW AT TALLADEGA. JOHNSON TRYING TO MATCH THAT. S LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. >> AND BILL ELLIOTT WON FOUR IN A ROW AT MICHIGAN. >> THAT'S RIGHT, THE ONLY TWO TIMES IT'S HAPPENED ON THE TRACK. >> GOT TO RUN. >> MORE THAN A MILE. >> MARTHA NEMECHEK, JOE'S MOM SAID, COME ON JOE. >>GET AROUND NEMECHEK. JOHNSON TO THE LEAD. >> JIMMIE, CLEAR, CLEAR, CLEAR. >> THAT'S WHAT HE WANTED TO HEAR. >> MARTHA DID NOT WANT TO HEAR THAT. JOE'S NUMBER ONE FAN. >> YOU GOT A BIG LEAD. SAVE YOUR STUFF. NINE LAPS TO GO. >> CREW CHIEF CHAD KNAUS TALKING TO THING STAYS GREEN. >> SAVE YOUR STUFF. BEHIND THIS DENNY HAMLIN HAS FALLEN TO FIFTH. MARK MARTIN, SIXTH THEN MEARS, CARL EDWARDS, RYAN NEWMAN AND RUDD IS TENTH. SEVEN TO GO. THERE ARE THE STANDINGS RIGHT F NOW. >> STEWART AND JOHNSON, HIGH. IMAGINE THAT. BIFFLE ALL BUT TIED, 16 BACK. BUT IT ISN'T OVER. >> THIS RACE MARKS THE HALFWAY POINT, FIVE DOWN, FIVE TO GO WHEN THE CHECKERED FALLS SIX LAPS FROM NOW. KURT BUSCH TAKING A LOOK AGAIN. UNDERNEATH. HE'S THERE. >> TONY STEWART ON PIT ROAD. >> H TIRES. >> HE SLIDES UP IN FRONT OF NEMECHEK. NEMECHEK COMING RIGHT BACK AT HIM. THE CROSSOVER. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON IS LOVING THIS. TRYING TO PULL AWAY. >> BUT NOW KURT BUSCH HAS THE . >> GREG BIFFLE IN THE 16, THE NATIONAL GUARD TRYING TO GET PAST THE ARMY. TROUBLE ON THE BACKSTRETCH. CAR AROUND. UP ON THE BACK. >> RUSTY WALLACE. MORE TROUBLE FOR ANOTHER CONTENDER IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP. >> OH, JIMMIE JOHNSON DID NOT WANT TO SEE THIS. >> LEFT FRONT TIRE IS FLAT. AS HE SPUN AROUND BACK THERE. >> YEAH, CHAD, YOU DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THAT CAUSE A FLAG, DID YOU? >> LAST CALL FOR RUSTY WALLACE. HERE AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. TWO-TIME WINNER HERE. BRIAN VICKERS, YEP. >> JUST GOT BUSY BACK THERE. >> YEAH, HE DID. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY. >> JIMMIE -- 09 CAR PASSED HE AND THE 25 OF VICKERS AS OFF TU. 09 CAR -- LOOKS LIKE RUSTY HIT A BUNCH. >> I THINK HE GOT HIT BY JOHNNY WHEN HE MADE THAT PASS. LOOKED LIKE RUSTY AND VICKERS HAD TO CHECK UP.VE MADE A LITTL THAT JUST KNOCKED RUSTY'S CAR OUT OF SHAPE. >> RUSTY WALLACE. THAT WAS FOR -- 12th POSITION. THOSE GUYS RUNNING HARD. >> THIS IS AS HE IS TRYING TO GET TO PITS. >> RIGHT REAR BLOWS. TAKES THE FENDER WITH IT AND THE CONE. >> RUSTY HAS GONE ALL SEASON WITHOUT A DNF, A DID NOT FINISH. >> STILL STILL THERE. GETTING IN FRONT OF YOU. CLEAR, ALL CLEAR. >> WHAT'S THAT, BP? >> DIDN'T MAKE ANY CONTACT WITH RUSTY. >> LOOKED LIKE HE HAD CONTACT WITH VICKERS. >> HE AND VICKERS MIGHT HAVE MADE CONTACT. CE CAR OFF THE 25. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON THE RACE LEADER JUST A HANDFUL OF LAPS TO GO. SAUTER. >>> STILL UNDER CAUTION AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE NIGHT HAS GONE FOR THE GUYS IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP. >> RIGHT FRONT TIRE FLAT EARLY ■ ON. >> THAT'S MATT KENSETH, SORRY. >> PUTS TAPE ON IT. TRY TO KEEP IT TOGETHER. >> NEWMAN. >> NEWMAN HAS HAD ALL KINDS OF ISSUES TONIGHT. HE JUST NEEDED A LITTLE MORE FUEL. WASN'T GETTING THE MILEAGE EVERYBODY ELSE WAS. >> TONY STEWART PUNCTURES A REAR TIRE AND BACKS IT LEADING THE R. >> 25th SPOT. >> AND RUSTY WALLACE, THE LAST CAUTION FLAG. SPINS OFF TURN TWO AND THEN SPINS AGAIN TRYING TO GET TO PIT ROAD. >> HOW DO THE GUYS ON PIT ROAD FEELNOW? >> THE 48 CAR HAD THE RACE WON. BUT NOW HE HAS TO SURVIVE TWO MORE LAPS. >> A RESTART. THAT'S THE HARD THING. >> YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NOW, STEWART AND JOHNSON TIED FOR ITO KURT BUSCH. AND AS BENNY SAID, TWO MORE LAPS TO GO. ACTUALLY CLOSED UP FROM LAST WEEK OR AFTER LAST WEEK'S RACE. IN. NOW 115. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT TIME BY, GREEN FLAG. KURT BUSCH IS GOING TO TRY IT ON THE INSIDE. BIFFLE ON THE OUTSIDE AND NEMECHEK WIL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH WAY HE CAN GO. >> TWO LAPS TO TRY AND GET IT DONE HERE. SINGLE FILE RESTART. JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS WON THREE IN A ROW FOUR OF THE LAST FIVE. KURT BUSCH, GREG BIFFLE, A COUPLE OF ROUSH TEAMMATES BEHIND HIM. RIGHT NOW A CHEVY CHASE FOR TWO LAPS. KURT BUSCH TRIED TO GET THE MOMENTUM ON THE OUTSIDE. DIDN'T WORK. >> HE'S GOT A LOT OF SPEED GOING DOWN THE BACKSTRETCH ANYWAY. >> AND JIMMIE JOHNSON THAT CAR IN AND THAT CAR STARTED -- >> ONE MORE LAP. >> WHITE FLAG, FINAL LAP. >> DRIVING 110% NOW. >> YEAH, HE IS. >> TWO MORE TURNS. DOES NOT LOOK LIKE BUSCH CAN GET THERE. JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS HAD A WILD NIGHT, HE HIS CREW. HAD A BUNCH OF PROBLEMS BUT JIMMIE JOHNSON FOUR IN A ROW AT LOWE'S. >> UNBELIEVABLE, GUYS. YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST. WOO! >> STILL THERE, GUYS. >> JIMMIE, YOU DROVE YOUR HEART OUT, MAN. THAT'S ONE THING ABOUT THIS TEAM, THEY NEVER EVER MAKE IT EASY FOR US AND WE COME BACK FROM IT EVERY TIME. YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST. AWESOME. JIMMIE, INCREDIBLE, MAN. >> UNBE SO MUCH. NEVER QUIT, MAN. ALL THE ADVERSITY TONIGHT, THAT'S TRUE CHAMPIONSHIP FORM. >> DAVE? >> YEAH, CHAD JUST SAID, NOT BAD, HUH, CHASING BATTERY ISSUES, WATCHING TIRES FLYING ALL AROUND YOU AND YOU GOT TO VICTORY LANE. >> YEAH, I TELL YOU WHAT, THAT'S THE THITEAM, THEY NEVER EVER GIVE UP. IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY THIS TEAM FIGHTS SO STRONG. WE HAD A BAD WEEK AT TALLADEGA AND CAME TO -- OR WHERE DID WE GO AFTER TALLADEGA, KANSAS. WE HAD A GOOD RACE THERE. THAT'S WHAT WE NEEDED TO GET BACK INTO THE SO HARD. TIRE ISSUES BATTLING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN SCUFFS AND STICKERS. WHAT DO YOU SAY, THESE GUYS ARE THE BEST. BEST RACE CAR DRIVER AND BEST TEAM. GOT THE BEST EVERYTHING. WE'RE PRETTY FORTUNATE. >> IT CONTINUES TO BE WINNING IN HIS HOUSE. DAVE, CHEVROLET CONGRATULATES JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE 48 MONTE CARLO ON THE WIN, DEFENDER MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPION TAKES WIN 571 WIN OVERALL, CHEVY, THE REVOLUTION RACES ON. FOUR WINS IN A ROW AT THIS TRACK FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON, FIVE OF THE LAST SIX. WANTS THE FOUR IN A ROW. THAT IS SOMETHING ELSE. REMEMBE WAS BEGINNING WITH THIS RACE IN THE CHASE LAST YEAR, WON FOUR OF THE LAST SIX RACES, MATT YOCUM? >> AND HE MADE UP 82 POINTS TONIGHT, BILL. BACK IN THIS CHASE, KURT BUSCH, WAS THIS THE NIGHT YOU NEEDED TO TURN THIS AROUND? >> FEELS GOOD. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING REALLY OUT OF THE ORDINARY HAPPEN TO US. NICE SOLID DAY. WE LOST SOME SPOTS WHEN EVERYBODY DECIDED TO USE THE HIGH DROOF. I WAS LIKE WHERE IS EVERYBODY GOING? WE PLAYED OUR STRATEGYHEN WE HA. THAT WAS TOWARDS THE END TO GAIN THE TRACK POSITION AND TWO TIRES OF FOUR, WASN'T SURE BUT JIMMY FENNIG, I STICK WITH MY CREW CHIEF ALL THE TIME. RACE THE 48 LIKE THAT. HIS HOME TRACK, HE RUNS HARD AND, YOU OF GETTING THROUGH TECH. >> HE'LL FINISH HIS SECOND HERE TONIGHT. >> TONY STEWART LIMPS HIS DAMAGED RACE CAR HOME IN 25th. SUM UP THIS NIGHT. >> WHY DON'T YOU SUM IT UP, DAVE? YOU GOT THE TO WATCH THE WHOLE THINYOU GO. I MEAN, WE DID THE BEST WE COULD WITH WHAT WE HAD. WE WERE THE FASTEST CAR ALL NIGHT. I MEAN, I WAS LISTENING TO WHAT HE WAS TELLING US, 42 OUT OF 43 CARS HAVE TIRE PROBLEMS. WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF RACING HERE. I MEARD NIGHTS. >> TONY, WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO -- PROBABLY SHOULDN'T ASK THAT. I THINK I HAVE A FEELING WHAT FOUR THINGS -- BUT WHAT WOULD BE THE SOLUTION? >> I DON'T THINK IT WAS GOODYEAR'S FAULT. CAN'T BLAME THEMCHANGE. JUST A BAD SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT STARTED, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE MAY RACE AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY INVOLVED DID THEIR PART IN TRYING TO MAKE IT AS GOOD AS THEY COULD. SO I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW YOU CAN POINT THE FINGER AT ANYBODY. I MEAN, EVERYBODY TRIED TO MAKE IT BETTER. JUST THIS IS DEAL WITH TONIGHT SO, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE OUR LUMPS AND GO ON FROM HERE. SO EVERYBODY CAN POINT FINGERS ALL THEY WANT BUT EVERYBODY INVOLVED FROM NASCAR TO HUMPY TO GOODYEAR, EVERYBODY INVOLVED DID EVERYTHING THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD DO TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND MAKE IT BETTER OF US. CAN'T ASK THEM TO DO ANY MORE THAN THAT. >> TONY STEWART, THANK YOU AND TIED FOR THE POINTS LEAD AT THIS POINT. MARTY? >> RUSTY WALLACE HAD A FAIRLY CLEAN NIGHT UNTIL THE LAST COUPLE. WHAT HAPPENED? >> I DROVE UP UNDERNEATH THE 25 CAR. HAD A FLAT TIRE, HAD LOOSE LUG NUTS. KEPT FINALLY GOT EVERY ONE BACK AND AS I WAS GOING FOR, HAMMER DOWN, NOTHING TO LOSE. I WAS PASSING LIKE CRAZY. CAR HANDLING GREAT AND CAUGHT THE 25 CAR AND WENT TO GO TO THE OUTSIDE. HE WAS TAKING MY LINE BECAUSE HE KNEW I WAS GOING UP THERE. I CO TOP OF THE RACETRACK SO I SHOT TO THE BOTTOM. WHEN I SHOT TO THE BOTTOM I HAD IT MADE THROUGH ONE, TWO AND THROUGH THE EXIT GOT LOOSE AND THAT WAS IT. >> ALLEN BESTWICK IN VICTORY LANE. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON JUST GETTING UNSTRAPPED. HE'S HAVING A SHOULDER AT CAR OWNER RICK HENDRICK THAT STEPPED AROUND THE CORNER TO HAVE A WORD WITH JIMMIE. JIMMIE, CONGRATULATIONS. TELL ME NOW HOW REALISTIC D AT POINTS DURING THIS RACE? >> THE FIRST DRINK I'VE HAD IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. COULDN'T RUN THE GATORADE SYSTEM BECAUSE THE BATTERIES WERE DYING. ALTERNATOR HAD TROUBLES, FLAT TIRE. I CAN'T THANK MY GUYS ENOUGH FOR ALWAYS WORKING AS HARD GIVING M. BEEN BLESSED WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY. LOWE'S. TODAY WAS ABOUT TEAMWORK. WE THOUGHT WE WERE DONE A FEW TIMES BUT NEVER GAVE UP. FOUND OUR WAY TO VICTORY LANE. >> RACING WITH NEMECHEK AND RICKY RUDD, YOU WERE ABLE TO GET THE YOU THEN? >> I SAW JOE HAD A RUN ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE 21. WENT TO FOLLOW JOE THROUGH. 21 TRIED TO SQUEEZE IN. I TRIED BACKING OUT. WE HAD CONTACT AND GAVE THE -- CAVED THE FENDER IN. TOOK IT EASY AND CLEARANCED ITSELF THEN I WORKED ON AND HAD PREFERRED LINE FINALLY GOT BY HIM AND GOT IT INTO VICTORY LANE. >> A COUPLE QUICK THOUGHTS ON YOUR FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN TIED FOR TONY STEWART FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD. THOUGHTS THERE? >> WOW, INCREDIBLE FOR US. GOOD DAY AND WHAT WE NEEDED TO ALWAYS END UP SOMEHOW TOWARDS THE FRONT AT THE END OF A RACE, THE 600, THE LAST LAP WE GOT IT DONE, BEST ONE OF THE CLOSING LAPS AFTER A LONG NIGHT OF ADVERSETY, UNBELIEVABLE DAY. HAVE TO THANK ALL OUR ASSOCIATE SPONSORS ON BOARD, HENDRICK, ENGINE SHOP, CHASS AWESOME JOB PLUS WE STARTED AT THE BACK. ONE HECK OF A NIGHT. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. >> STARTING TO SINK IN. CONGRATULATIONS. JIMMIE JOHNSON WINNER TONIGHT. >> FROM 41st TO 1st. FOURTH WIN OF THE YEAR FOR JOHNSON. FIFTH WIN HERE IN NINE RACES. 18th CAREER FOR A LOT OF THESE GUYS. NEMECHEK, CASEY MEARS, SIXTH AND HOW ABOUT DENNY HAMLIN, SECOND CUP RACE, FINISHES EIGHTH. >> CARL EDWARDS FOLLOWED BACK TO FINISH IN THE TOP TEN.ED THAT STRATEGY AT THE END TO FINISH 11th. >> THE GREEN DOTS ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE SCREEN INDICATE DRIVERS THAT LED A LAP. ELLIOTT SADLER LED THE MOST LAPS. >> AND THERE YOU SEE ELLIOTT SADLER WILL FINISH 27t TONY STEWART, 25th TODAY. >> THAT'S A BIG 25th FINISHING SPOT FOR HIM, THOUGH. >> BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE BEEN 35th. >> YEAH. >> ALL THESE CARS OUT. >> A LOT OF OUTS. ON THE LEAD LAP. 15 CARS FAILED TO FINISH. TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AS THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP HITS THE HALFWAY MARK. FIVE TO GO. >> GETS BETTER AND BETTER. >> DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS. >> THEN BIFFLE, NEWMAN, MARTIN, JUST 142 POINTS BACK TO KURT BUSCH, THE MOST POINTS YOU CAN MAKE UP IN ONE RACE, 156. NEXT SATURDAY ON TNT, IT'S NASCAR BUSCH SERIES RACING FROM THEN NEXT SUNDAY THE SUBWAY 500 FROM THE MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY AS THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP CONTINUES COVERAGE, 12:30 EASTERN WITH THE "BANK OF AMERICA COUNTDOWN TO GREEN." TOMORROW AT 1:00 EASTERN, CONTINUING COVERAGE OF THE SAMSUNG WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FOLLOWED BY THE DEW PLAYSTATION PRO AT 4:00 EASTERN. NEXT IT'S YOUR LOCAL NEWS FOLLOWED BY "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE." THANKS FOR HAVING US. <font color="#FFFF00"> Captions by VITAC </font><font color="#00FFFF">
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Not sure what’s worse. How the Charlotte oval races now or how it raced back in 2005. Between this race and the Coke 600 that year, the track had 37 cautions in 1100 miles. The two races took a combined 9 1/2 hours to complete.
The last 14 had a great battle between Joe and Jimmie. I miss that racing.
Lol this was my first race ever attended. 10 year old me was excited for sure
Why was the tire wear so excessive in the fall vs the Coke 600? They actually had long green flag runs in the day portion of the race and green flag pit stops, is it because it was cooler in October leading to higher top speeds?
Throwback to when Jeff hit the wall and DNF’d on lap 46 and I cried like a baby for what felt like the millionth time that year.
Also I feel like I would’ve enjoyed 2005 & 2006 far more if Bill Weber wasn’t in the booth.
I watched this race out of the blue a month or so ago. I had completely forgotten about all the tire issues in this race.
Bill Weber LOL
I remember freaking out that they were going to miss the green because of the football game.
This was the race that solidified JJ48 as my driver, as I had just starting watching Nascar end of 2004.
I was in turn 4 at Vegas a few years later when he pulled the same move to beat Kenseth!
Watching Kyle Larson race so smoothly now, reminds me of JJ48 during his heyday. Chase has a little more Gordon in him (no complaints)