By Sam Atwell 

So far this season we have seen the end of dominance of Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series.  Dodge and Ford have been to victory lane so far this season.  The Chevrolet’s of Gordon and Johnson were strong in California, but they had nothing for the #99 team of Carl Edwards.   Two races do not make a trend, but time will tell.  What we have seen develop is very good racing at the front of the pack.  We have seen record or near record lead changes in both races so far this season, so the new car is doing what NASCAR wanted it to do.  The new car has leveled the playing field for teams that seemed to be so far behind the Hendrick teams. 

The week we move to another new track for the new car and one driver, who has been dominating at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and is good in the new car, reigning series champ Jimmie Johnson. 

Jimmie Johnson has won the last three races at Las Vegas and has a driver rating of 133.7 with an average finish of sixth with four top ten finishes.  If there is one driver that is ready to take the 48 team down it is teammate Jeff Gordon.  Gordon has the second best driver rating of 114.1 and he finished second to Johnson last season.  Gordon has one win, five top fives in ten races, with an average finish of 12.9.  Another driver you need to keep an eye on is Johnson’s former teammate and current point’s leader Kurt Busch.  Kurt Busch has had to consecutive fourth place finishes to lead the Sprint Cup Series.  Busch does not have a win yet in Vegas, he does have two top five finishes, and three top tens in just four races at his home track in Vegas. 

Other drivers to watch this weekend are Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton.  Kenseth has two wins, four top fives, and six top tens and Burton has two wins, three top fives, and six top tens.  Among the drivers without a win in Vegas, but always a threat to get a win, is Tony Stewart.  Stewart has four top fives and six top tens with an average finish of 9.7.  You also need to watch for the number 9 Budweiser Dodge of Kasey Khane.  Khane was the pole winner last season, setting the track qualifying record.  In four races at Vegas Khane has two top fives and two poles and may just make it back to victory lane at Las Vegas. 

The teams are coming in to Las Vegas on a short week, after the rain delayed races in California.  The strong teams will be able to deal with those challenges better than the smaller teams, so look for one of the larger teams in victory lane at the UAW Dodge Dealers 400 on Sunday in Las Vegas.

By Sam Atwell 

Finally able to get a race run in California!!  I have never seen anything like this last weekend.  No practice, no qualifying and no race for a long time.  I kept waiting and waiting for the race to start, and I must confess I bailed at midnight, set the DVR and would watch it later.  No need to use the DVR, NASCAR decided they couldn’t get it in about 2 AM eastern time.  So the Nationwide and Cup races would be run Monday.  When the broadcast came on I was amazed to see the sun!!!!  

When the racing got underway it was a good race.  Lot’s of lead changes, good side by side racing and long green flag runs.   Carl Edwards was the car to beat, he was bad fast!!

When he got by Jimmie Johnson for the last time it was over.  It was amazing the lead that Edwards was able to build.  Johnson and Gordon were strong all day long, but just not enough to deal with the 99 car.  I began to think that my pick, Kasey Khane, was going to make me look brilliant, but he didn’t have anything for Edwards either, but a 9^th place run looked good for Khane.  I really felt sorry for Junior having to stick around overnight and make laps in a damaged car, but you have to pick up all the points you can.  Ryan Newman backs up his Daytona win with a top ten and Kyle Busch appears to not have lost anything from last year, he is now the point’s leader after two races.

In the rain delayed Nationwide Series race Tony Stewart started, and won again and won by a large margin over his teammate Kyle Busch.  The long day and previous 500 miles didn’t appear to hinder the two or any of the other cup series drivers who hung around for another 300 mile drive. 

Kyle Busch was able to pick up the truck series win on Saturday in California, the only race to run on time.  With the win in the truck series Kyle Busch leads both the truck series and the Sprint Cup series as the Sprint and Nationwide guys face a short week as they head for Las Vegas next weekend.

By Sam Atwell 

Race weekend number two is set to kick off in California.  It seems like just yesterday I was whining about the off-season being so long and here we are looking at the second race in the cup series.  Some interesting stuff coming out of Daytona with the penalty to the #7 team of Robby Gordon.  It is amazing how this penalty was unfair, it wasn’t his teams fault, someone not associated with the team did this, blah, blah, blah.  Gordon is now going to appeal the fine and point loss; it is not going to change.  A word to Robby Gordon Motorsports, you have to know what parts are and are not approved by NASCAR.  I think most everyone learned last year that NASCAR was not going to fool with teams messing around with the new car.  It happened, take it like a man, and move on. The 100-point penalty only sped up the reality of the #7 team falling from the top ten.

Matt Kenseth is the hot hand at California; he is looking to repeat his victory from last season.  The other Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are looking to re-direct their path on Sunday with a better run in California.  Unusual for both of those teams to have trouble in the same race.  Be on the look out for Toyota to do well this weekend.  If they follow up their performance from Daytona with a strong performance in California, look out, it will be a long season for the other manufacturers’.  My pick to win this week in California?  Kasey Khane.  I am going out on a limb, but hey, its fun being out here alone.  I think that Evernham/Gillett motorsports has righted the ship and Khane will be the one to take them to victory lane first this season. 

The Sprint Cup Series is not the only action in California this weekend.  The Craftsman Truck Series will kick off the race action on Saturday afternoon, followed by the Nationwide Series on Saturday evening. 

Let me know what you think, and everyone have a great weekend.