Quick Laps

Lars Anderson

June 26, 2006

The most relieved men at Michigan were Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon. NASCAR's two most popular drivers have struggled recently at intermediate-length tracks, but both were smiling when the rain came. After dueling each other for the lead at one point, Earnhardt finished a respectable third, Gordon eighth.... On Sunday, Bill Lester (right) became the first African-American driver to finish on the lead lap of a Cup race since Wendell Scott won the Turkey Day 200 at Jacksonville Speedway on Dec. 1, 1963. Lester came in 32nd.... Don't expect Kasey Kahne to take the checkered flag again this Sunday at the road course in Sonoma, Calif. A Dodge driver has never won a Cup series event that features both left- and righthand turns.