EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

CNNSI.com GROUP
 Sports Illustrated
 Life of Reilly
 SI Women
 SI for Kids
 Press Room
 TBS/TNT Sports
 CNN Languages

COMMERCE
 SI Customer Service
 SI Media Kits
 Get into College
 Sports Memorabilia
 TeamStore

Flat-out effective

Remainder of Cup schedule favors charging Stewart

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

From CNNSI.com

"Go west, young man, go west," might not carry the same weight today as it did when Horace Greeley first said it back in the mid-1800s, but Sunday's race at Phoenix International Raceway does hold a certain allure.

No, there's no chance whatsoever that Jeff Gordon and his 395-point lead in the standings will be threatened, but, as it was back in Greeley's day, the West, as represented by the Checker Auto Parts 500, will likely prove fertile ground for some.

The gap between Gordon in first and Ricky Rudd in second is greater than the gap between Rudd and Bobby Labonte, who is ninth (Rudd is 318 points ahead of Labonte). Also, when you consider that Tony Stewart, who won this race in his rookie year of 1999, has proved himself an expert on flat tracks like PIR, the likelihood is far greater that he, not Rudd, will finish second to Gordon. Remember, too, that three of the final five races of the year are run on flat tracks. After Phoenix, the circuit goes to Homestead, Fla., and New Hampshire next month.

Stewart, who has finished second in two of the past three races, is just 74 points behind Rudd, who has finished 21st, 39th and 26th over the same span. Time will tell, of course, and maybe Stewart won't win this battle in the West. However, count on him winning the war.

Mark Martin Martin has seven top-five finishes and 11 top-10 finishes in 13 career starts at Phoenix, including a win in 1993 and five second-place finishes. Martin is also coming off a ninth-place finish last week at Talladega. Jeff Burton Burton has finished in the top five in each of the past three Winston Cup races at the Phoenix mile. He finished fourth in 1998 and 1999. In 2000, Burton won the Busch race Saturday and the Winston Cup race Sunday. Rusty Wallace In 13 career starts at Phoenix, Wallace has six top-five finishes, including a win in 1998 and a fourth in 2000. He also has won the pole three times at PIR, including last year. Jeff Gordon Gordon has yet to win a Winston Cup race at PIR. His best finish was fourth in 1994. Last season, he finished seventh. In eight career Phoenix starts, Gordon has six top-10 efforts.

Flattery NASCAR's decision to require drivers to wear an approved head-and-neck device paid big dividends last week at Talladega. Amazingly, no serious injuries came from the scary multi-car crash in Sunday's EA Sports 500. Flag Larry Carter, crew chief for Todd Bodine's No. 66 car, deserved the $10,000 fine NASCAR hit him with after he stormed into Kevin Harvick's pit stall to confront Harvick after an on-track incident Sunday. Flattery Matt Kenseth tied his best Winston Cup finish of the season Sunday when he finished fourth. His other fourth-place finish came at the Pepsi 400 at Michigan in August. Flag While many drivers might happy that both Talladega races this season are over, likely none are happier than Todd Bodine: Bodine was 41st in both the Talladega 500 in April and the EA Sports 500 last week.

Hut Stricklin was let go from his ride in the No. 90 Ford on Tuesday, with Rick Mast getting the nod to drive this weekend at Phoenix. In 21 starts this season, Stricklin's average finish was 28th. Steven Lane, who has been the car chief for the No. 12 Ford, driven for most of the year by Jeremy Mayfield and now by Mike Wallace, will become crew chief on Kyle Petty's No. 45 Dodge this week in Phoenix. The battle for the Truck series title is coming down to the wire. With two races remaining, Jack Sprague leads Joe Ruttman by 97 points. Scott Riggs is third, 101 points back. In the Busch series, Kevin Harvick holds a 203-point advantage over second-place Jeff Green in the standings. After a week off, the series returns to action this week at Phoenix.

Chevy Silverado 150 -- 6:30 p.m. Friday (ESPN2): 150 miles, 150 laps. 2000 pole winner: Joe Ruttman. 2000 race winner: Joe Ruttman. Outback Steakhouse 200 -- 3 p.m. Saturday (TNT): 200 miles, 200 laps. 2000 pole winner: Jason Leffler. 2000 race winner: Jeff Burton. Checker Auto Parts 500 -- 2:30 p.m. Sunday (NBC): 312 miles, 312 laps. 2000 pole winner: Rusty Wallace. 2000 race winner: Jeff Burton.

I can't believe Jeremy Mayfield is not driving RCR's No. 31 car. What is Richard Childress thinking? After Robby Gordon did not qualify two races ago I would have given Robby the boot and Jeremy would be driving now. -- Bob, Zanesville, Ohio. Rough riding is going to kill someone. NASCAR has got to put a stop to it and the way to do that is take away car points. Forget the fines. The teams consider the fines nothing more than coffee money! -- Dave, Glastonbury, Conn. Ford, Pontiac and Dodge should quit crying about their race cars and just race. -- Mark, Sioux City, Iowa I am so sick of hearing about Ricky Rudd. He is all NBC cares about. -- Jeff, Louisville, Tenn.

Got something to say? Tell us.

Your name: Your e-mail address: Your hometown: Comment or question -- or whatever: (in 25 words or less)

Copyright © 2001 CNN/Sports Illustrated An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.