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His driver Tony Stewart on the bubble to make the Chase to the Nextel Cup, crew chief Greg Zipadelli is feeling the pressure to provide fast cars. He said he and his crew have put tremendous effort into preparing their car for this weekend's Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where they're the defending race winner.
 -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Recent published reports indicate that Robert Yates could sign unproven David Gilliland, who made a splash in June by becoming the first non-Cup regular to win a Busch race this season. An announcement could come today. The other open seat could be filled by 19-year-old development driver Stephen Leicht, who will try to qualify on speed for Sunday's race, which would be his second Cup start with Yates.
 -- Miami Herald

Reflecting on negotiations with Danica Patrick, Michael Andretti said her interest in NASCAR didn't concern him. He also said he isn't concerned Patrick may decide to defect for NASCAR in the near future, saying he expects her to stay in the Indy Racing League for a "long time."
 -- Miami Herald

Bill France effectively outlawed NASCAR rivalries two decades ago. NASCAR's founder invited feuding drivers Dale Earnhardt and Geoff Bodine out for dinner and gave them a lecture for dessert. Rivalries have gradually disappeared since. Sponsors frown on them. NASCAR fines over them. Technology and the dangerous speeds it produces discourages them.
 -- Florida Times-Union

For all the criticism directed his way after his bump-and-run win last month at Chicagoland Speedway, Jeff Gordon certainly halted, at least for a while, any talk that he has lost his focus and will to win.
 -- Indianapolis Star

Rusty Wallace deserves some praise for helping design the revolutionary Iowa track. There is no concrete barrier. The track has the SAFER barrier all the way around, but no concrete behind it. The SAFER barrier is bolted down into a concrete base. It's the only major oval speedway in the country that doesn't have concrete walls.
 -- Dallas Morning News

In the wake of continual Busch cheating, NASCAR president Mike Helton delivered a stern challenge to all series competitors in a prerace drivers' meeting at Chicagoland Speedway last month. Tough talk translated: This isn't last year, when crew chiefs decided it was worth the risk because slap-on-the-wrist fines and forfeiture of a few championship points were acceptable tradeoffs for a top-five run.
 -- Indianapolis Star

Mike Garvey is out of a Nextel Cup ride. His former team, Competitive Edge Motorsports, has been idled, and the sponsor, Marathon Oil has switched to Kyle Petty's No. 45 Dodge. But Garvey said Thursday that that's not all bad. Even though he qualified for four races this year he had grown weary of trying to race without enough funds, equipment, testing or crew members. He said he's talking to some teams about running some Busch races later this season, and he plans to run either Busch or Hooters Pro Cup next year.
 -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Defending NASCAR Craftsman Truck series champion Ted Musgrave will be back in a Busch series car this weekend when he races at O'Reilly Raceway Park. Musgrave will drive for FitzBradshaw Racing in the Kroger 200 benefiting Riley Hospital for Children.
 -- Kansas City Star

Jeff Green, who drives for Haas CNC Racing, has a unique sponsorship deal in which the likeness of Oakland Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss will be plastered on both sides of the No. 66 Chevrolet on Sunday. The sponsorship by Inta Juice, Moss' smoothie and juice bar franchise, will mark the first time images of an NFL player have been on a Cup car.
 -- Miami Herald

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