7th Place Finish

Last week at Michigan Jr finished 7th. His best finish in 3 months. Only 83 points out of the top-12 his hopes for the chase are still alive for now. He needs to continue to maintain this momentum. Road course racing this week probably means another 30 something finish (He has never been good at road courses).

Gillette Fusion Proglide 500 Presented By Target: Pocono Raceway: Qualifiying Results

POS	CAR	DRIVER	MAKE	SPONSOR
1	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota	M&M's Pretzel
2	33	Clint Bowyer	Chevrolet	Cheerios / Hamburger Helper
3	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet	National Guard / Amp Energy
4	2	Kurt Busch	Dodge	Miller Lite
5	11	Denny Hamlin	Toyota	FedEx Freight
6	14	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet	Old Spice / Office Depot
7	42	Juan Montoya	Chevrolet	Target
8	9	Kasey Kahne	Ford	Budweiser
9	39	Ryan Newman	Chevrolet	Haas Automation
10	24	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet	DuPont
11	12	Brad Keselowski	Dodge	Penske Racing
12	20	Joey Logano	Toyota	The Home Depot
13	31	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet	Caterpillar
14	5	Mark Martin	Chevrolet	HendrickCars.com / GoDaddy.com
15	17	Matt Kenseth	Ford	Crown Royal Black
16	47	Marcos Ambrose	Toyota	Little Debbie
17	43	A.J. Allmendinger	Ford	Coleman Natural Foods
18	1	Jamie McMurray	Chevrolet	McDonald's
19	77	Sam Hornish Jr.	Dodge	Mobil 1
20	13	Max Papis	Toyota	GEICO
21	19	Elliott Sadler	Ford	Stanley
22	29	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	Shell / Pennzoil
23	83	Casey Mears	Toyota	Red Bull
24	78	Regan Smith	Chevrolet	Furniture Row Companies
25	99	Carl Edwards	Ford	Kellogg's
26	48	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet	Lowe's
27	56	Martin Truex Jr.	Toyota	NAPA Auto Parts
28	16	Greg Biffle	Ford	3M
29	00	David Reutimann	Toyota	Aaron's Dream Machine
30	87	Joe Nemechek	Toyota	FrontRowJoe.com
31	82	Scott Speed	Toyota	Red Bull
32	55	Michael McDowell	Toyota	Prism Motorsports
33	98	Paul Menard	Ford	Pittsburgh Paints / Menards
34	66	Dave Blaney	Toyota	Prism Motorsports
35	6	David Ragan	Ford	UPS
36	46	J.J. Yeley	Dodge	Whitney Motorsports
37	37	David Gilliland	Ford	Taco Bell
38	38	Travis Kvapil	Ford	Long John Silver's Ice Flow Lemonade
39	164	Chad McCumbee	Toyota	Gunselman Motorsports
40	36	Tony Raines	Chevrolet	Tommy Baldwin Racing
41	26	David Stremme	Ford	Air National Guard
42	71	Bobby Labonte	Chevrolet	TRG Motorsports
43	09	Terry Cook*	Chevrolet	Phoenix Racing
44	7	Robby Gordon	Toyota	Robby Gordon Motorsports
45	34	Kevin Conway*	Ford	Extenze

Coca-Cola 600 Race Line Up:

POS	CAR	DRIVER	MAKE	SPONSOR	SPEED
1	39	Ryan Newman	Chevrolet	U.S. Army	187.546
2	2	Kurt Busch	Dodge	Miller Lite / Vortex	187.292
3	56	Martin Truex Jr.	Toyota	NAPA Batteries	187.188
4	9	Kasey Kahne	Ford	Budweiser Armed Forces Tribute	187.169
5	48	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet	Lowe's Memorial Day Tribute	186.974
6	00	David Reutimann	Toyota	Aaron's Dream Machine / Armed Forces Foundation	186.825
7	11	Denny Hamlin	Toyota	FedEx Office	186.767
8	20	Joey Logano	Toyota	The Home Depot	186.728
9	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota	M&M's Pretzel	186.529
10	33	Clint Bowyer	Chevrolet	Cheerios / Hamburger Helper	186.053
11	5	Mark Martin	Chevrolet	Carquest / Go Daddy.com	186.021
12	31	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet	Caterpillar	185.803
13	83	Casey Mears	Toyota	Red Bull	185.535
14	77	Sam Hornish Jr.	Dodge	Mobil 1	185.459
15	24	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet	DuPont Stars & Stripes	185.452
16	17	Matt Kenseth	Ford	Jeremiah Weed Southern Style Sweet Tea Vodka	185.052
17	66	Dave Blaney	Toyota	Prism Motorsports	184.932
18	43	A.J. Allmendinger	Ford	Best Buy Credit Card	184.906
19	87	Joe Nemechek	Toyota	FrontRowJoe.com	184.855
20	42	Juan Montoya	Chevrolet	Target	184.634
21	82	Scott Speed	Toyota	Red Bull	184.609
22	36	Johnny Sauter	Chevrolet	Tommy Baldwin Racing	184.464
23	29	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	Shell / Pennzoil	184.407
24	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet	National Guard Honoring Our Soldiers / Amp Energy	184.344
25	21	Bill Elliott	Ford	Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center	184.344
26	14	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet	Office Depot / Old Spice	184.326
27	1	Jamie McMurray	Chevrolet	Bass Pro Shops / Tracker	184.181
28	37	David Gilliland	Ford	Taco Bell	184.093
29	164	Todd Bodine	Toyota	Gunselman Motorsports	184.049
30	55	Michael McDowell	Toyota	Prism Motorsports	184.036
31	99	Carl Edwards	Ford	Scotts Grub	183.949
32	78	Regan Smith	Chevrolet	Furniture Row Companies	183.855
33	98	Paul Menard	Ford	Serta / Menards	183.586
34	47	Marcos Ambrose	Toyota	Kingsford / Bush's Beans	183.542
35	6	David Ragan	Ford	UPS	183.306
36	7	Robby Gordon	Toyota	Robby Gordon Motorsports	183.281
37	12	Brad Keselowski	Dodge	Penske Racing	182.599
38	71	Bobby Labonte	Chevrolet	TRG Motorsports	182.562
39	19	Elliott Sadler+	Ford	U.S. Air Force	181.977
40	16	Greg Biffle+	Ford	3M Nexcare	181.690
41	38	Travis Kvapil+	Ford	Long John Silver's Baja Fish Tacos	180.590
42	34	Kevin Conway+*	Ford	Extenze	179.838
43	46	J.J. Yeley	Dodge	Whitney Motorsports	183.243
Did Not Qualify
44	132	Reed Sorenson	Toyota	Braun Racing	183.125
45	13	Max Papis	Toyota	GEICO	182.902
46	26	David Stremme	Ford	Air National Guard	182.673
47	09	Mike Bliss	Chevrolet	Phoenix Construction / GracewayPharm- aceuticals	182.469

Brian Vickers Update**

Nascar.com and other sources are reporting that Brian Vickers driver of the number 83 Red Bull Toyota will be out for the remainder of the season. It is unknown yet if Casey Mears will remain in the car for the duration of the season or another driver will be placed in there.

No Break For Earnhardt, Just Lost Laps

Dale Earnhardt Jr. pitted under green and lost seven laps, but the crew found nothing wrong.

Notebook: No break for Earnhardt, just lost laps

By Sporting News Wire Service
May 17, 2010
01:08 PM EDT

DOVER, Del. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. thought something on his car was broken shortly before the halfway point of Sunday's race at Dover.

But when his team took a look on pit road, there was nothing broken, and about seven laps clicked away while he was on pit road on the green flag.

There was nothing to be fixed. Nothing.

”

-- LANCE MCGREW

Earnhardt told his crew the car wouldn't turn in Turns 1 and 2 and that it felt like something in the steering was broken. He told his crew he was coming in to pit right away.

But after going under the hood, the team couldn't find anything wrong with the car, and several laps later, Earnhardt was running consistently fast laps.

"There was nothing to be fixed," a dejected crew chief Lance McGrew said afterward. "Nothing."

Earnhardt ended up 10 laps down in 30th, dropping four positions to 16th in the standings.

"There's a bunch of marbles on the race track down there, and I was on the inside," Earnhardt told SBNation.com. "We got the green, and I hit those [marbles] and the car went straight. We'd been dragging the splitter all day in the corner coming off of [Turn] 4, and the car just went straight like it had a flat tire.

"We'd been so loose before that, I figured something must be [messed] up and broke on it. That thing drove like it was ... broke in half."

*Not my article, this is from Nascar.com

Another disappointing day for Junior Nation

Dale Earnhardt Jr started the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International speedway in the 27th position. During the race he simply lost ground and by the time the checkered flag began to wave he was in 30th position already 10 laps down. At the beginning of the race Dale Jr was in "Chase Contention" sitting 12th in points, now he is 16th a downfall of 4 positions in one race.

Dupont And Gordon Done?

Nascar.com is claiming that Jeff Gordon's primary sponsor Dupont will be leaving the car after this season. Dupont, Gordon, Hendrick Motorspots are the longest sponsorship with a team and driver and Nascar ever. People are starting to wonder if it could really happen? Could Gordon continue without the sponsor he obtained since his debut year back in 1992? Over 18 years ago? We will have to see the actual outcome. I wish the best for Gordon/Hendrick Motorsports

Happy Hour Results

FIN	CAR	DRIVER	MAKE	SPONSOR
1	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota	M&M's
2	11	Denny Hamlin	Toyota	FedEx Freight
3	99	Carl Edwards	Ford	Aflac
4	43	A.J. Allmendinger	Ford	Richard Petty / NASCAR Hall of Fame
5	33	Clint Bowyer	Chevrolet	Cheerios / Hamburger Helper
6	20	Joey Logano	Toyota	The Home Depot
7	42	Juan Montoya	Chevrolet	Target
8	1	Jamie McMurray	Chevrolet	Bass Pro Shops / Tracker
9	6	David Ragan	Ford	UPS
10	16	Greg Biffle	Ford	3M
11	56	Martin Truex Jr.	Toyota	NAPA Auto Parts
12	17	Matt Kenseth	Ford	Crown Royal Black
13	39	Ryan Newman	Chevrolet	U.S. Army
14	2	Kurt Busch	Dodge	Miller Lite
15	00	David Reutimann	Toyota	Aaron's Dream Machine
16	48	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet	Lowe's
17	9	Kasey Kahne	Ford	Budweiser
18	47	Marcos Ambrose	Toyota	A&P / MDA
19	5	Mark Martin	Chevrolet	GoDaddy.com
20	12	Brad Keselowski	Dodge	Penske Racing
21	24	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet	DuPont
22	31	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet	Caterpillar
23	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet	Amp Energy / National Guard
24	14	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet	Office Depot / Old Spice
25	29	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	Shell / Pennzoil
26	98	Paul Menard	Ford	Zecol / Menards
27	83	Casey Mears	Toyota	Red Bull
28	66	Dave Blaney	Toyota	Prism Motorsports
29	77	Sam Hornish Jr.	Dodge	Mobil 1
30	82	Scott Speed	Toyota	Red Bull
31	78	Regan Smith	Chevrolet	Furniture Row Companies
32	38	David Gilliland	Ford	Taco Bell
33	36	Johnny Sauter	Chevrolet	Tommy Baldwin Racing
34	34	Travis Kvapil	Ford	Long John Silver's Baja Fish Tacos
35	09	Mike Bliss	Chevrolet	Phoenix Construction / GracewayPharm- aceuticals
36	55	Michael McDowell	Toyota	Prism Motorsports
37	71	Bobby Labonte	Chevrolet	TRG Motorsports
38	26	David Stremme	Ford	Air National Guard
39	87	Joe Nemechek	Toyota	FrontRowJoe.com
40	7	Robby Gordon	Toyota	BAMVIP.com / James Otto - Whitney Duncan
41	19	Elliott Sadler	Ford	Stanley
42	46	J.J. Yeley	Dodge	Whitney Motorsports
43	37	Kevin Conway*	Ford	Extenze

Brian Vickers Hospitalized

Sources have claimed Brian Vickers driver of the #83 Red Bull Toyota has been hospitalized for blood clots. Vickers went to the hospital after two consecutive days of chest pain. Vickers has since been released however his return to Nascar is questionable, at least right now. Casey Mears will fill in for Vickers in the #83 card until Vickers' return.

Dover 2010

Dale Earnhardt Jr Qualified in the 27th position for Sundays Autism Speaks 400 (Presented by Hershey and Hershey Milkshakes) at Dover international Speedway.

The Top Ten Qualifiers :
Car # Driver Model Sponsor: Speed Lap Time

1	56	Martin Truex Jr.	Toyota	NAPA Auto Parts	157.315	22.884	Leader
2	9	Kasey Kahne	Ford	Budweiser	157.274	22.890	-0.006
3	5	Mark Martin	Chevrolet	GoDaddy.com	157.198	22.901	-0.017
4	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota	M&M's	157.006	22.929	-0.045
5	48	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet	Lowe's	156.904	22.944	-0.060
6	39	Ryan Newman	Chevrolet	U.S. Army	156.849	22.952	-0.068
7	33	Clint Bowyer	Chevrolet	Cheerios / Hamburger Helper	156.829	22.955	-0.071
8	43	A.J. Allmendinger	Ford	Richard Petty / NASCAR Hall of Fame	156.706	22.973	-0.089
9	99	Carl Edwards	Ford	Aflac	156.678	22.977	-0.093
10	77	Sam Hornish Jr.	Dodge	Mobil 1	156.597	22.989	-0.105