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Rubbin' is racin'

Gordon, Stewart to resume battle at Watkins Glen

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	• Lugnuts • On the track • In the pits • Stop 'n' Go • Finish Line

From CNNSI.com

A dash to the checkered flag between Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart could be the most interesting finish of the NASCAR season. And it could happen Sunday at Watkins Glen.

Although they say the bitterness of the past will be forgotten when they strap themselves into their cars for the Global Crossing, that might not be so easy.

Gordon went into the wall at Watkins Glen last year after Stewart crowded and hit him, ruining Gordon's chance to set a record. Then Stewart spun from contact with Gordon in Bristol, Tenn., in March, banged into his car on pit road after the race and was placed on probation.

But Stewart is a force on the track, and Sunday, he and Gordon, two of the best road-course racers in Winston Cup, figure to be competing side by side. They say they'll hardly notice.

Gordon, a three-time Winston Cup champion, left Indianapolis five days ago with his fourth win of the season and a 160-point lead over Dale Jarrett in the standings. So, he has a greater need to be conservative than Stewart, a two-time winner this season who stands fifth, 324 points back.

Mark Martin Martin has three wins and 11 top-5 finishes in 13 appearances at Watkins Glen. His three wins is tied with Jeff Gordon for the most of any driver and his 11 top-5 finishes are more than any other driver. Jeff Gordon Gordon -- who won last week at Indianapolis -- has won three times at Watkins Glen in just eight starts. What's more, he's finished in the top 10 six times. He was 23rd in this race a year ago. Ricky Rudd Rudd has won at The Glen twice and has finished in the top-5 there seven times. A year ago, he was 11th behind winner Steve Park. He could use a good finish here after finishing 39th last week at Indianapolis. Rusty Wallace Wallace has two wins at The Glen and nine top-10 finishes in 13 appearances there. A year ago, he finished 34th, a lap back. He was fifth at Winston Cup's other road course -- Sears Point -- in June.

Flattery Jeff Gordon overcame a dismal starting position and a balky car to win his third Brickyard 400 on Sunday. Ten laps in, crew chief Robbie Loomis said, "...we were looking for a razor blade 'cause it didn't look too good." Flag Ricky Rudd took a heavy hit in the points battle at Indianapolis. Of all things, a broken fan belt was his undoing, relegating him to 39th place and dropping him 179 points behind leader Jeff Gordon in the standings. Flattery Rusty Wallace overcame some misfortune of his own Sunday at Indianapolis. After qualifying 37th, Wallace finished fourth, his seventh top-10 finish in eight appearances at The Brickyard. Flag Despite the new rule allowing Dodge cars to extend their front air dam, Casey Atwood couldn't keep his car from overheating Sunday at The Brickyard. After qualifying third, he finished 41st.

Bobby Labonte took a six-seconds victory in Saturday's final race of the IROC series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The win also gave Labonte the IROC championship -- and $250,000. Points leader Kevin Harvick raced to his fourth Busch series victory of the year, holding off Greg Biffle in the the Kroger 200 on Saturday night. Only 19 of the 43 cars were on the lead lap when the race ended. Shawna Robinson failed to qualify for Sunday's Brickyard 400 on Friday. It was the third time in four tries that she failed to make the field. She'll try again at Kansas City in September.

Federated Auto Parts 200 -- 8 p.m. Friday (ESPN): 200 miles, 150 laps. 2000 pole winner: Jamie McMurray. 2000 winner: Randy Tolsma. Global Crossing at The Glen -- 1 p.m. Sunday (NBC): 220.5 miles, 90 laps. 2000 pole winner: Terry Labonte. 2000 winner: Steve Park.

We miss D.W.! When Kurt Busch's tire rolled down the track last week, we all started to sing, "You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel." -- Tammi, Largo, Fla. Kevin Harvick is showing the world the talent that Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt had spotted a couple of years ago. -- Kurt, Algonquin, Ill. People dogging Dodge for the air dam change seem to forget all the spoiler wars that have gone on between Ford and Chevy in the past. -- Jeff, Morrilton, Ark. It appears that Alan Bestwick needs to learn how to commentate neutrally. Sarcastic comments like, "Happy birthday, Jeff," after Jeff Gordon qualified 27th are uncalled for! -- Rick, Matthews, N.C. The NBC coverage is superb. They elevate NASCAR out of the deep South. NASCAR has become too mainstream for the antics displayed on FOX. -- Dawn, San Francisco, Calif.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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