Mark Martin is hoping that will be the case.

Martin, who will leave Hendrick Motorsports after his contract runs out at the end of this season, proved again Sunday that there is plenty of gas left in the tank with a solid second-place finish at Dover. - Full Story by John Close at CloseFinishes.com

No longer did a heavy hand come down on a driver who retaliated against another; a slap on the wrist a good talking to became the extent of NASCAR’s punishments. Drivers such as Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski learned this first hand after they tangled on the track last season; a tangle that ended with a scary upside down crash for Keselowski courtesy of Edwards. Edwards was given a token fine and placed on probation; a pretty meaningless ‘punishment’. - Full Story by Greg Engle

The Colorado-based team, with Regan Smith as its driver, recently promoted team member Ryan Coniam to the crew chief position. While he was already with the team, he hasn’t been with Furniture Row for very long. Coniam joined the team in November, coming from a race engineer position at Michael Waltrip Racing.

“I am both excited and humbled to have been offered a position that I have dreamed about,” Coniam said. “With the driving talent of Regan, plus the resources at Furniture Row Racing, I am full of confidence that we can achieve success in 2010.” - Full Story by Amanda Vincent – Louisville NASCAR Examiner

“When Lowe’s entered into this marketing relationship in 1999, it was during the time of our company’s rapid national expansion, and Lowe’s Motor Speedway gave us the platform to introduce the Lowe’s brand to millions of NASCAR fans and consumers across the country,” said Robert J. Gfeller, Lowe’s senior vice president of marketing and advertising in a press release.

The press release said that both companies continue to be in discussions about potential future marketing opportunities.
- Full Story by Greg Engle – NASCAR Examiner

But is the road course ringer route really the way to go? For some, maybe the answer is yes, especially if their regular driver is absolutely pitiful at getting around a road course. Yes, Ron Fellows has won a race here and there in both the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series, but a road course ringer hasn’t won a Cup-level event since 1973 when Mark Donohue won a Cup race at the old Riverside International Raceway.

Besides, NASCAR has more than a few road course aces on its regular roster. - Full Story by Amanda Vincent – Louisville NASCAR Examiner

Meanwhile it was one of Stewart’s former teammates, Denny Hamlin, who was experiencing a bittersweet moment in victory lane. Sweet because it was Hamlin’s first win in some 50 races. Bitter because he lost his 91 year-old grandmother, Thelma Clark, a few days ago. According to a teary-eyed Hamlin, his grandmother was his biggest fan.

The win was an emotional one all-around for the No. 11 team. Another member of the team lost his mother earlier in the week. - Full Story by Amanda Vincent – Louisville NASCAR Examiner

Also the points leader in the Truck Series, Hornaday looks to build on what is quickly becoming a substantial cushion atop the standings.

Through the 13 races that have been run so far, Hornaday already has five wins to his credit and has only failed to crack the top-10 twice, at Dover and Texas. - Full Story by Amanda Vincent – Louisville NASCAR Examiner

When NASCAR’s Nationwide Series rolls out a Car of Tomorrow for limited competition next year, the Ford model will be the 2010 Mustang.

“We’re excited about Mustang coming to NASCAR,” said Director of Ford North America Motorsports Brian Wolfe. “It’s the most successful product nameplate in racing history, and it seems only right that it should be coming to the most popular form of racing in North America.” - Full Story by Amanda Vincent – Louisville NASCAR Examiner

When a caution came out around lap 36, the pace car came out to pick up the field earlier than leader Trevor Bayne expected. When Bayne checked up to keep from passing the pace car, Steve Wallace got into him, sending them both into a spin.

Both drivers lost several positions due to the incident but stayed around to post top-10 finishes. Wallace still managed to post a top-five, finishing fifth. Bayne ended up seventh. - Full Story by Amanda Vincent – Louisville NASCAR Examiner

“I wanted that fourth one so bad,” Hornaday said.

It seemed that even the flagman up in the flag stand may have been a little anxious to see the historic event. The white flag came ever so close to being waved a lap early to bring an early conclusion to the race, but it was pulled back just in time and then waved for good a lap later. - Full Story by Amanda Vincent – Louisville NASCAR Examiner

The one-page decision by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stands until NASCAR’s full appeal can be heard.

NASCAR appealed to the Richmond, Va., court after a federal judge on July 1 lifted Mayfield’s suspension based on the argument that the drug testing system was flawed. - Full Story by the Associated Press – Sports Illustrated

With his Series-leading six wins this season, he seems to be on target to possibly breaking the record for most wins in a season. Busch currently shares the record of 10 wins in a season. His 2008 season, during which he posted 10 wins, ties Sam Ard’s number from 1983.

With his win last Saturday at Gateway International Raceway, Busch joined Jeff Buron in a tie for fourth on the Nationwide Series all-time win list, so he has a more immediate chance this weekend to claim the fourth-position for himself. - Full Story by Amanda Vincent – Louisville NASCAR Examiner

With the unknown factor of the car of tomorrow running at the Brickyard for the first time last year, Goodyear obviously dropped the ball during 2008 Indy testing. During the actual race, tire wear was so bad that NASCAR was throwing competition cautions right and left, usually only 10 to 12 laps apart.

The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has taken extra care this year to prevent a repeat of the 2008 Indy race. - Full Story by Amanda Vincent – Louisville NASCAR Examiner

NASCAR is asking a federal judge to stay the injunction granted Jeremy Mayfield and also has filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond.

NASCAR filed the paperwork Monday.

Judge Graham Mullen granted an injunction last week in federal district court in Charlotte, N.C., allowing Mayfield to compete in NASCAR events for the first time since May 9 when he was indefinitely suspended for a failed drug test.

Mayfield filed suit after the suspension, challenging the drug testing procedures and claiming in an affidavit he’s never taken methamphetamine. - Full Story by Dustin Long – The Roanoke Times

Mayfield has said that he would definitely be in Daytona this weekend, but he didn’t know whether or not he would be fielding a car. That would all depend on whether or not he could come up with the money to get a car and crew there.

“We are disappointed, but we respect the judge’s ruling,” NASCAR said in a written statement. “This is only a temporary injunction. The legal case continues beyond this point, and we will continue to make our case.” - Full Story by Amanda Vincent – Louisville NASCAR Examiner