Blogginisracin

Who has the edge in the Chase? Champs or challengers

The 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship is like a season within a season. Unfortunately it comes after a 26-race schedule over a sometimes grueling 29 weeks. Only the driver, crew chief and team with the best preparation, stamina and luck can survive the Chase and be crowned Cup champion.

This season, eight drivers who have never won a Cup title are challenging four former or current champions. Only one of those champs, Tony Stewart , has won a title under the Chase format (2005) and before it (2002).

So who has the edge in the Chase? A past champion like Jeff Gordon, who has won four Cup titles, or two-time defending champ Jimmie Johnson? How about those who have never hoisted a Cup trophy, a veteran like Jeff Burton or young gun like Clint Bowyer? We take a look at www.star-telegram.com/sports. And while you're there vote for who you think has the edge.

-- Michele Vincze

TMS number of the day

Counting down to the triple-header NASCAR weekend at Texas Motor Speedway:

1,656 Women's restroom facilities at TMS, compared to only 843 for the men. And the lines for the ladies room are still longer. Go figure.

-- Michele Vincze

TMS number of the day

Counting down to the triple-header NASCAR weekend at Texas Motor Speedway:

3 Consecutive years the winner of the Atlanta Chase race has won the next week at Texas Motor Speedway. Carl Edwards, who won last week at Atlanta, won both races in 2005. Tony Stewart won both in 2006, and Jimmie Johnson did it last year as part of a four-race winning streak.  Texas was not a Chase track in 2004, the first year the Chase format was used to determine the champion.

-- Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

Fourteen drivers scheduled for double duty at TMS

Cup drivers working a double-duty schedule on any given weekend is nothing new. However, the Nationwide Series O'Reilly Challenge has attracted quite a cast of double-duty drivers -- 14 to be exact -- and the 51-car entry list (for 43 spots) is one of the largest of the season.
Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Ragan, David Reutimann, Brian Vickers, Marcos Ambrose and three-time defending O'Reilly Challenge winner Kevin Harvick, above, are scheduled to race in Saturday's and Sunday's races at Texas Motor Speedway. No driver has won both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races at TMS in one weekend. Busch is also scheduled to drive in the Craftsman Truck Series Silverado 350 on Friday. Find a Nationwide entry list here.

-- Michele Vincze
Photo: Star-Telegram/Sharon M. Steinman

Hauler fire damages Billy Ballew Motorsports trucks

A Billy Ballew Motorsports hauler caught fire late Tuesday outside Shreveport, La., damaging the Toyota trucks inside and other equipment valued at $1 million. Billy Ballew Motorsports fields the Nos. 51 and 15 Toyotas in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Kyle Busch is scheduled to drive the No. 51 truck on Friday in the Silverado 350 at Texas Motor Speedway and Ryan Lawler of Colleyville is scheduled to drive the No. 15. Read more here. Find a CTS entry list here.

-- Michele Vincze

TMS driver, celebrity appearance, show car event schedule, update 6

Updated with a Jimmie Johnson autograph opportunity on Friday morning at TMS. Check www.texasmotorspeedway.com for more info.

Celebrity events
Friday, Oct. 31
Country singer and Texas native Trent Willmon live in concert, Chevrolet Live Stage at Texas Motor Speedway, 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 1
Chefs Rachael Ray and Mario Batali, Sprint Experience Display outside Gate 7 at TMS, 12:30 p.m.-1 p.m.

Driver appearances
Note: Autographs may or may not be available at all appearances.
Thursday, Oct. 30
Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart, Home Depot, 5280 South Hwy 360, Grand Prairie, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., 700 wristbands will be handed out three hours before the scheduled appearances.

Carl Edwards, Office Depot, 7608 Denton Hwy. (Watauga Pavilion shopping center), Watauga, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Wristbands are required; 350 wristbands with be distributed at the store at 8 a.m. on Thursday.

David Ragan, Discount Tire, 2045 Grapevine Mills Circle, Grapevine, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Joey Logano, GameStop, Grapevine Mills Mall, Grapevine, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Eric McClure, Wal-Mart, 1515 South Loop 288, Denton, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; also at Wal-Mart, 800 US Hwy 81/287, Decatur, 2-4 p.m.

Scott Lagasse Jr., America's Incredible Pizza Co., 1202 W. Airport Freeway Suite 400, Euless, 5 p.m.-8 p.m.

Rusty Wallace and David Stremme, Loan Star Title Loans, 1340 E. Belt Line Road, Richardson, 6-7 p.m.

Friday Oct. 31
Jimmie Johnson, Team Lowe's Racing Fan Experience between Gates 6 and 7 on the TMS midway, 10:30 a.m. Wristbands will be available to the first 200 people beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday.

Casey Mears, Chevrolet display on the TMS souvenir midway, 10 a.m.-11 a.m.

Team Chevy Craftsman Truck Series drivers, Chevy Display on the TMS souvenir midway (between Gates 6 and 7), 2 p.m.-3 p.m.

Bobby Labonte, Brookshire campground store at TMS, 6-8 p.m.

Rusty Wallace and Steve Wallace, RaceTrac, location at 2834 W. University Drive, Denton, 7:45-8:45 p.m.

Saturday
Kyle Petty, Don Davis Dodge, 1901 N. Collins, Arlington, 10 a.m.-noon

Sunday, Nov. 2
Jamie McMurray, IRWIN Tools display, TMS souvenir midway, time TBD

Chevrolet Live Stage (Q&A sessions only)
TMS souvenir midway between Gates 6 and 7
Friday, Oct. 31
Jeff Gordon, 10:45 a.m.-11 a.m.
Stephen Leight, 12:45 p.m.-1 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 1
Landon Cassill, 10:40 a.m.-10:55 a.m.

Sunday, Nov. 2
Jeff Burton, 10:20 a.m.-10:35 a.m.
Kevin Harvick, 10:45 a.m.-11 a.m. 
Aric Almirola, 11 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
Clint Bowyer, 11:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., 11:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
Jimmie Johnson, 11:45 a.m.-noon

Show car events
Monday, Oct. 27
No. 16 Citifinancial Ford (Sprint Cup), CitiFinancial, 4000 Retail Connection Way, Arlington, noon-6 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 28
No. 16 Citifinancial Ford (Sprint Cup), CitiFinancial, 3201 W. Airport Freeway, Irving, noon-6 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 29
No. 16 Citifinancial Ford (Sprint Cup), CitiFinancial, 1645 N. Town E Blvd., Mesquite, noon-6 p.m.
No. 24 Hefty Chevrolet (Nationwide Series), Kroger, 5665 Mockingbird, Dallas, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.
No. 24 Hefty Chevrolet (Nationwide Series), Kroger, 4142 Cedar Springs, Dallas, noon-3 p.m.
No. 99 Aaron's Toyota (Nationwide Series), Aaron's, 910 W. University Drive, Denton, time TBA

Thursday, Oct. 30
No. 16 Citifinancial Ford (Sprint Cup), CitiFinancial, 6460 Las Colinas Blvd., Las Colinas, noon-6 p.m.
No. 24 Hefty Chevrolet (Nationwide Series), Brookshire Tent, Texas Motor Speedway, time TBA
No. 24 Hefty Chevrolet (Nationwide Series), Wal-Mart, 800 US Hwy 81/287, Decatur, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet (Sprint Cup), Lowe's, 3000 Texas 121, Euless, noon-6 p.m.
No. 11 America's Incredible Pizza Co. Chevrolet (Nationwide Series), America's Incredible Pizza Co., 1201 W. Airport Freeway Suite 400, Euless, time TBA
No. 99 Aaron's Toyota (Nationwide Series), Aaron's, 5000 Main St., The Colony, time TBA
No. 64 Team LoanStar Title Loans Chevrolet, LoneStar Title Loans, 1340 E. Belt Line Road, Richardson, 6 p.m.-7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 31
No. 24 Hefty Chevrolet (Nationwide Series), Kroger, 160 N. Colt Rd., Richardson, 9 a.m.-noon
No. 24 Hefty Chevrolet (Nationwide Series), Kroger, 536 Centennial Blvd., Richardson, 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
No. 24 Hefty Chevrolet (Nationwide Series), Wal-Mart, 8520 N. Beach St., Fort Worth, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet (Sprint Cup), Texas Motor Speedway, time TBA
No. 11 America's Incredible Pizza Co. Chevrolet (Nationwide Series), America's Incredible Pizza Co., 1201 W. Airport Freeway Suite 400, Euless, time TBA
No. 99 Aaron's Toyota (Nationwide Series), Aaron's, 915 W. Parker Rd., Plano, time TBA
No. 66 Team 5-Hour Energy Chevrolet, RaceTrac, 2834 W. University Drive, Denton, 7:45 p.m.-8:45 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 1
No. 24 Hefty Chevrolet (Nationwide Series), Brookshire Tent, Texas Motor Speedway, time TBA
No. 24 Hefty Chevrolet (Nationwide Series), Wal-Mart, 1228 N. Hwy. 377, Roanoke, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet (Sprint Cup), Texas Motor Speedway, time TBA
No. 11 America's Incredible Pizza Co. Chevrolet (Nationwide Series), America's Incredible Pizza Co., 1201 W. Airport Freeway Suite 400, Euless, time TBA
No. 99 Aaron's Toyota (Nationwide Series), Aaron's, 2101 Hardwood Rd., Bedford, time TBA

Sunday, Nov. 2
No. 11 America's Incredible Pizza Co. Chevrolet (Nationwide Series), America's Incredible Pizza Co., 1201 W. Airport Freeway Suite 400, Euless, time TBA

This week's racing schedule

Courtesy of the Associated Press
All times Central

NASCAR Sprint Cup
Dickies 500
Site: Fort Worth, Texas Motor Speedway (oval, 1.5 miles, 24 degrees banking in turns)
TV schedule: Friday, qualifying (ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.); Sunday, race (ABC, 2 p.m.)
Race distance: 501 miles/334 laps
2007 winner: Jimmie Johnson
Fast facts: Eastman Kodak Co. is ending its 22-year sponsorship in NASCAR and putting more sports marketing dollars into professional golf. ... Jimmie Johnson, who has a string of 12 consecutive top-10 finishes in Chase races, has a whopping 183-point lead over Carl Edwards with just three races left. ... Edwards has overcome an early 100-point penalty and six-week suspension to start the Chase. He has seven wins, including the Samsung 500 on April 6 at Texas Motor Speedway. ... Cale Yarborough (1976-78) is the last driver to win three consecutive championships.
www.nascar.com

NASCAR Nationwide
O'Reilly Challenge
Site: Fort Worth, Texas Motor Speedway (oval, 1.5 miles, 24 degrees banking in turns)
TV schedule: Friday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 5:30 p.m.); Saturday, race (ESPN2, 2:30 p.m.).
Race distance: 300 miles/200 laps
2007 winner: Kevin Harvick
Fast facts: Carl Edwards, with his fifth series win last week at Memphis, pulled within 116 points of series leader Clint Bowyer, who finished 16th. There are three races remaining on the schedule. ... The polesitter has never won any of the 15 Nationwide races at Texas. ... Kyle Busch, starting from pole position No. 31, took the O'Reilly 300 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 5.
www.nascar.com

NASCAR Craftsman Trucks
Chevy Silverado 350k
Site: Fort Worth, Texas Motor Speedway (oval, 1.5 miles, 24 degrees banking in turns)
TV schedule: Friday, race (Speed Channel, 8 p.m.)
Race distance: 219 miles/146 laps
2007 winner: Ted Musgrave
Fast facts: Camping World will replace Craftsman as the title sponsor for NASCAR's truck series in 2009. ... Ron Hornaday Jr.'s second-place finish last week at Atlanta moved him within 31 points of Johnny Benson's lead in the championship standings. ... Hornaday won the Sam's Town 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 6 and Benson finished third. ... Five of the 21 truck races at Texas have been won by the polesitter.
www.nascar.com

Formula One
Brazilian Grand Prix
Site: Sao Paulo, Interlagos, Jose Carlos Pace (road course, 2.677 miles)
TV schedule: Saturday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 11 a.m.); Sunday, race (Speed Channel, 10:30 a.m.)
Race distance: 190.067 miles/71 laps
2007 winner: Kimi Raikkonen
Fast facts: This is the last Formula One race using grooved tires, a feature of the sport for the past 11 seasons. Next year, new rule changes mean that teams will use slick rubber for the first time since 1997. ... Formula One's governing body is moving forward with its plan to have a sole engine and transmission supplier beginning in 2010. ... For the second straight year Lewis Hamilton takes a seven-point lead into the final race of the year. Hamilton, at 23, would be F1's youngest champion, eclipsing the mark set by Fernando Alonso, who was 24 years and 59 days when he won in 2004 for Renault. ... Felipe Massa is second in the standings and would need to win and have Hamilton finish no higher than seventh, or finish second while the Briton finishes out of the points to keep the drivers' title from going to McLaren for the first time since 1999.
www.formula1.com

NHRA
ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals
Site: Las Vegas, Nev., The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
TV schedule: Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 9 p.m., taped); Sunday, eliminations (ESPN2, 6 p.m., taped)
2007 winners: Rod Fuller (Top Fuel), Tony Pedregon (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle)
Fast facts: Rob Flynn will take over as crew chief on Kenny Bernstein Racing's Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster at the end of the season. Mike Guger has been named assistant crew chief. ... Don Prudhomme Racing has signed Fort Worth resident Spencer Massey to a multiyear agreement with plans to put him behind the wheel of a new Top Fuel dragster team beginning with the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle season.
www.nhra.com

Star-Telegram has the Dickies 500 covered

The Star-Telegram, star-telegram.com and Bloggin' is Racin' will be bringing fans plenty coverage this week during the triple-header NASCAR weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Check back daily for stories, schedules, photo slideshows and videos from the track. Today, check out our story about the four Sprint Cup owners in the Chase and how they "coach" their drivers. On Wednesday, check back for Anthony Andro's piece about teenager Joey Logano. And on Thursday, catch the Star-Telegram's TMS preview section in print and online for everything you need to know about the Chase, getting to and from the speedway and a full schedule of driver, celebrity and show car appearances. 

-- Michele Vincze