NASCAR NNCS (RICHMOND) - SERIES NOTES

Longshot Chase Chances Not Affecting Earnhardt’s Focus

This Week It’s All About Winning – And Chase Seeding

ABC Returns To NASCAR, Broadcasting RIR & Chase Races

On The Line: ‘Competition Update’ Teleconference Theme

Below The Radar But No Less Intense: Battle For Top 35 Spots

Long-Time NASCAR Scorer Morris Metcalfe Remembered

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet) still has a shot to qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. A longshot, granted. And so he rolls into Richmond International Raceway this week on a wing, a prayer – and a vow.

“I want [our fans and sponsors] to know that no matter what, me and the team are giving everything we got,” Earnhardt said. “We're not going to lose focus or give up or pack it in.”

Earnhardt is 13th in series points coming into Saturday night’s Chevy Rock & Roll 400, 128 behind 12th-place Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Pennzoil Platinum Chevrolet).

The top eight drivers in the current points have clinched Chase spots. Drivers in ninth and 10th place must only start on Saturday night to clinch.

The lowest Earnhardt can finish at Richmond is fifth to still have a chance at making the Chase. The two caveats to that scenario: He must also lead the most laps and Harvick has to finish 43rd.

He can also finish fourth and lead one lap, or finish third and lead no laps and still qualify – as long as Harvick finishes last.

On the other end of the spectrum, if Earnhardt wins Saturday night and leads the most laps, he’ll clinch a spot if Harvick finishes 33rd or worse OR if Kurt Busch finishes 37th or worse. If Earnhardt wins but doesn’t lead the most laps, he’ll need a Harvick finish of 34th or lower OR a Busch finish of 39th or lower.

“Even though we have a mathematical chance to get into the Chase, we're going to worry about things within our own control,” Earnhardt said. “Let's lead all the laps and win the thing.”

Race To The Chase, Round 10: It’s All About The Seedings

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) has the potential top seed for the 2007 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, by virtue of his series-high fifth victory of the year this past Sunday at California Speedway. Johnson is thus poised to be the poster boy for this season’s altered Chase format that has placed extra emphasis on race victories.

Drivers who qualify for the Chase have their point totals reset to 5,000. They then get 10 bonus points for each victory during the 26 events pre-Chase. Those adjusted point totals determine “seedings” to start the Chase.

Johnson is sixth in the series points this week. But he’ll jump to first in the standings when the Chase starts provided Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont-Nicorette Chevrolet), who has four race wins, doesn’t get a fifth at Richmond. If Gordon wins at RIR, the traditional tiebreak method (comparing drivers’ finishes beyond first place) will give him the top Chase seed and bump Johnson to second.

Seed spotlight: Six drivers in the top 12 go into RIR with one win each. If someone in that group wins Saturday, they’ll be seeded no worse than sixth.

Top 13 Total 13 Wins At RIR

Chances are you’ll be familiar with whoever wins this week at Richmond International Raceway. Coming into Saturday night, the top-13 drivers in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings have racked up a total of 13 wins at RIR. With so much on the line, figure the trend to continue.

First, there’s the battle among the “bubble” drivers: Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge). Undoubtedly, all three will be vying for the win and lap-leading bonus points. There are five RIR wins among that group, with Earnhardt leading the pack with three.

Then there’s the seeding battle.

Jimmie Johnson, though sixth in the series standings, launched himself to the top of the potential bonus points standings with his win at California this past weekend. He now has five wins on the season, which translates to 50 bonus points.

Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon, the only driver who can catch Johnson, has 40 bonus points. If Gordon wins, he’d grab the top seed in the Chase. Though he would have an equal amount of bonus points as Johnson, Gordon has more second-place finishes (four to zero). Johnson won at Richmond in May, while Gordon has two career Richmond wins.

Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet) also could be in the mix. A Richmond winner three times, another win would put Stewart in a tie with Gordon for bonus points. Stewart, with three wins, has 30 bonus points.

Then there’s hometown hero Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet). While teammate Stewart has always called Indianapolis Motor Speedway his “Holy Grail” race, Hamlin, from nearby Chesterfield, says the same about Richmond. He has a 111.3 Driver Rating and an average finish of 6.7 at the .75-mile track.

Finally, in what shouldn’t be a forgotten storyline, Kyle Busch (No. 5 Kellogg’s/Cheez-It Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet) look for their first career Richmond wins. Busch has finished in the top five in all five of his RIR starts, averaging a finish of 3.4.

Bowyer actually looks for much more than his first Richmond win – he’s aiming for his first career win. His Richmond numbers are encouraging; in three RIR starts he has an average finish of 10.3.

On The Air: Old Friends Reunite As NASCAR Returns to ABC Network

The years may have passed, but the memories remain classic.

In the 1960s, the ABC television network helped introduce a then-fledgling sport known as NASCAR to a curious American public. So colorful when viewed live, NASCAR turned out to be just as entertaining in black-and-white – which is what many TVs provided in the ’60s.

Starting in 1961, ABC, via selected live race broadcasts and portions of other events shown on its popular “Wide World of Sports” program, helped introduce NASCAR overall and its stars specifically. Richard Petty and Fireball Roberts, David Pearson and Bobby Isaac – just a few of the names who streaked across America’s screens in those days.

As the years passed, NASCAR’s popularity grew and ABC remained in the mix, with several selected race broadcasts each season. ABC’s last NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series broadcast was the 2000 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.

Saturday night marks a reunion.

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing returns to the ABC network, with the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway – the final event in the “Race to the Chase.” ABC will also broadcast all 10 races of the “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup” starting with the Sept. 16 event at New Hampshire International Speedway and ending with the season finale Nov. 18 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

In the old days – which were definitely good ones – fans got lap-by-lap descriptions from Jim McKay, Bill Fleming and inimitable racer-turned-commentator Jackie Stewart.

In 2007, at a time when NASCAR racing is better than ever, ABC is rolling out a broadcast team led by former NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion Rusty Wallace; the long-respected announcer Dr. Jerry Punch; former team owner and crew chief Andy Petree; veteran mainstream TV sports broadcaster Brent Musberger, who will serve as show host; and Suzy Kolber, heading the pre-race show. This is the same group who have been bringing NASCAR action to fans all season on ESPN.

Sports programming on ABC is officially called “ESPN on ABC.” It’s a blend of tradition and new talent/technology – and will be on full display starting Saturday night at Richmond.

Take Ownership: Another Battle Brews Outside the Chase

While the obvious focus over the next 11 weeks will be on the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, for many teams a battle just as intense will be waged, in the neighborhood of a position 23 spots below the Chase cut-off point.

We’re talking about 35th place in the series’ car owner standings – something highly significant. Each week, the top 35 teams in those standings are guaranteed starting spots. Teams outside the top 35 must rely on qualifying speeds to make the race.

Wood Brothers/JTG Racing enlisted the skills of future Hall of Famer Bill Elliott this year, to keep their No. 21 Ford entry among the top 35. The plan has worked nicely. Elliott’s 26th-place finish this past Sunday at California Speedway nudged the No. 21 into 35th. Nonetheless, it’s a precarious place; the 36th-place team – the No. 22 Toyota of Bill Davis Racing (with Dave Blaney driving) is only four points behind.

“Getting back into the top 35 was a real blessing to us,” said Elliott. “To the fans, it might mean to them that we’re guaranteed that spot we need to start the race, but for the team, it pays a whole lot more benefits than that. First, we’ll get to use our Friday practice session to work on the race setup, instead of focusing on qualifying. Before, we’d have to divide our time and hope for the best. We’ll have more of an advantage this week than we usually do so I’m hoping we can make the most of it.”

2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Owner Points – After 25 Races

Pos. Points Team Owner Driver

30th 2,109 No. 38 Ford Robert Yates David Gilliland 31st 2,105 No. 66 Chevrolet Joe Custer Jeff Green 32nd 2,017 No. 88 Ford Robert Yates Ricky Rudd 33rd 1,920 No. 45 Dodge Kyle Petty Kyle Petty 34th 1,920 No. 70 Chevrolet Joe Custer Johnny Sauter

35th 1,868 No. 21 Ford Glen Wood Bill Elliott

36th 1,864 No. 22 Toyota Bill Davis Dave Blaney 37th 1,700 No. 10 Dodge James Rocco Scott Riggs 38th 1,620 No. 83 Toyota Dietrich Mateschitz Brian Vickers 39th 1,547 No. 13 Chevrolet Jay Frye Joe Nemechek 40th 1,440 No. 00 Toyota Cal Wells David Reutimann

Keys To Victory

The “perfect” track.

It’s a label that at some point attached itself to Richmond International Raceway quite securely, a label that perhaps has much to do with atmosphere as asphalt.

Granted, the three-quarters-mile oval seems “just right.” It combines the short-track elements of a Bristol with the fast-track feel of a 1.5-mile layout. Bottom line: It’s the ultimate “tweener.”

As far as what’s required to handle such perfection, read on.

• Take care of your car. There is multi-lane racing, so don’t get caught up in a multi-car accident

• Aerodynamics will play a role at RIR. Richmond is a fast track for a short track

• Brakes are a real factor. Don’t abuse your brakes

• Track position is critical; you need to work that in your favor during the course of the race.

In The Loop: Data Bodes Well For Harvick at Richmond

The spotlight this weekend will mostly shine on three drivers in positions 11-13 in the standings – Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. as they battle for the final two spots in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.

And though Harvick is closer, Earnhardt just might want to think about training his sights on 11th-place Busch.

The reason: Harvick is a Richmond master.

Harvick, defending champion of the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, has amassed tremendous statistics at the .75-mile Virginia track. He holds top marks in Driver Rating (125.4), Average Running Position (4.6), Fastest Laps Run (250), average Green Flag Speed and Laps in the Top 15 (1,924). He need only to finish 32nd to clinch a spot in the Chase.

Busch, though 141 points ahead of Earnhardt, is closer statistically to Earnhardt at Richmond than Harvick is.

Consider this tale of the tape:

- Driver Rating: Busch (100.7) leads Earnhardt (89.9)

- Average Running Position: Earnhardt (13.7) leads Busch (14.1)

- Fastest Laps Run: Busch (184) leads Earnhardt (74)

- Laps in the Top 15: Busch (1,174) leads Earnhardt (1,057)

Busch needs a 36th-place finish to clinch a spot in the Chase.

But the two drivers who may steal the show might be Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. Both are winless at Richmond, but both have come close.

Busch has five top-five finishes in his five Richmond races. He has a Driver Rating of 115.2 (second-best), an Average Running Position of 6.5 (third-best), 1,862 Laps in the Top 15 (second-best) and 163 Fastest Laps Run (fourth-best).

Hometown hero Hamlin, who finished third in this race last year and second in the spring of 2006 at RIR, has a Driver Rating of 111.3 (third-best), an Average Running Position of 5.9 (second-best) and has run all but 15 of a possible 1,200 Laps in the Top 15 (99%).

NNCS, Etc. …

On The Line: ‘Competition Update’ The Theme For NASCAR Teleconference

This week’s NASCAR Teleconference is scheduled for Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET, with two extra-special guests – NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Director John Darby.

Pemberton and Darby will provide a “competition update” leading into the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.

Media wishing to participate should call (888) 699-8040 and ask for the NASCAR Teleconference. A full transcript of the teleconference will be available later Wednesday afternoon, on NASCARMedia.com.

The 500 Club:

Labonte To Reach Major Milestone

Bobby Labonte (No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge), the 2000 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion, is set to make his 500th career start in the series this week at Richmond. There are several reasons why Labonte’s achievement is extra special.

He will become only the seventh active driver to reach the 500-start mark;

He will be the youngest driver to do so, at the age of 43;

In addition to his 500 starts overall, Saturday will mark his 498th consecutive start. Which means it’ll be time for another milestone on Sept. 23 at Dover International Speedway.

“I guess I started to think about being able to make 500 starts when I saw my brother Terry do it,” Labonte said.

“I’ve been fortunate in my career, and it’s pretty special to have this opportunity this weekend. Terry has over 800 starts and Kyle (Petty Enterprises teammate Kyle Petty) has over 800 too. I’m going to try to catch them.”

Metcalfe Funeral Set for Wednesday

Funeral services for former longtime NASCAR official Morris Metcalfe will be held Wednesday (Sept. 5) at Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home on Silas Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem., N.C., at 7 p.m. Metcalfe died last Thursday in Winston-Salem at the age of 81 due to what his family called natural causes.

Metcalfe was one of NASCAR’s longest-serving officials. His work in the sanctioning body’s timing and scoring department spanned five decades; he retired as Chief of Timing and Scoring following the 2002 Daytona 500.

Some would joke that Metcalfe was a bit over-qualified for that position. After all, he held a Master’s Degree in biomedical engineering from Texas Tech University after also attending Tennessee Military Institute and the University of Miami.

Engineering aside, Metcalfe loved racing and began scoring NASCAR events in the 1950s. He became an assistant to then-NASCAR scoring chief Joe Epton a few years later.

A World War II veteran who served as a signalman on the USS Randolph and later a colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve, Metcalfe joined NASCAR on a fulltime basis after his retirement with 30 years of service with Western Electric (now Lucent Technology).

Metcalfe, born in Morristown, Tenn., is credited for founding NASCAR’s first fan club, in 1955 for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion Lee Petty.

Metcalfe was the recipient of many honors during his NASCAR service including the prestigious Buddy Shuman Award.

He is survived by two children, M. Lee Metcalfe Jr. and Laura Boblitz; five grandchildren and one great grandson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Wives Auxiliary.

Hendrick Motorsports Announces Changes

Casey Mears, driver of the No. 25 National Guard/GMAC Chevrolet, will switch to Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevrolet next year, it was announced this week. Alan Gustafson will remain as the No. 5 crew chief being driven this year by Kyle Busch, who is leaving to join Joe Gibbs Racing.

Also, new Hendrick Motorsports driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be joined by his current crew chief Tony Eury Jr.

Darian Grubb, currently crew chief for Mears, is slated for a senior competition role with the organization.

"With the resources we'll have at Hendrick Motorsports, it's an opportunity to consistently run up front and be in title contention every year,” Eury said. “The goals are winning races and winning championships."

Save This Date: ‘ESPN On ABC’ Pre-Chase Teleconference On Tuesday, Sept. 11

The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series’ heralded return to the ABC Network will be the topic of discussion, during a media teleconference set for Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 3 p.m. ET.

The scheduled lineup of guests: Rich Feinberg, ESPN Vice President, Motorsports ESPN Production; Dr. Jerry Punch, lead announcer; Rusty Wallace, analyst; Andy Petree, analyst.

To participate, media should call (800) 289-0572. The teleconference ID number is 7181234. The teleconference title is ESPN On ABC, the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.

On Deck: The Chase Begins

New Hampshire International Speedway has honors once again, serving as the opening site for the 10-event Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, hosting next week’s (Sunday, Sept. 16) Sylvania 300.

Kevin Harvick, who wears the bull’s eye (12th place) this week in the standings, is defending champion of the Sylvania 300.

The Race: Chevy Rock & Roll 400 The Place: Richmond International Raceway The Date: Saturday, Sept. 8 The Time: 7:30 p.m. (ET) TV: ABC, 7 p.m. (ET) The Track: .75-mile oval The Distance: 400 laps/300 miles The Purse: $5,057,510 2006 Winner: Kevin Harvick 2006 Pole: Denny Hamlin Series Standings Pos Driver Points 1 Gordon 3,679 2 Stewart 3,362 3 Hamlin 3,335 4 Edwards 3,330 5 Kenseth 3,309 6 Johnson 3,249 7 Burton 3,219 8 Kyle Busch 3,199 9 Bowyer 3,047 10 Truex 3,042 11 Kurt Busch 3,022 12 Harvick 3,009 Pre-Race Schedule (local/ET time): Friday—Practice, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Qualifying, 6:10 p.m.