So what, exactly, was that caution for?

   It was the final lap in Monday's rain-delayed race at Watkins Glen International. The white flag had flown. A caution now would freeze the field and ensure then-leader Marcos Ambrose would win the race, but without a race to the checkered flag.

   In Turn 2, Boris Said hit David Ragan and knocked him into the wall. Ragan's car bounced off the wall and back onto the track and collided with David Reutimann, sending Reutimann's car spinning wildly in the air.

  OK, obviously NASCAR has said in the past if there is no danger to the cars or drivers involved, they will hold the caution to get the green-flag finish.

   Yet, a couple turns later, Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer started a chain-reaction incident and suddenly NASCAR threw the caution flag. So, the field was frozen anyway and although it looked like Brad Keselowski could run down Ambrose for a try at a pass, Ambrose took the victory under caution.

   But there's a problem.

   In the official race report for Monday's race, it lists a caution for the final lap of the race. That's certainly correct. But NASCAR always cites a reason and here's the catch. The reason for the last lap caution is listed as "#00, 6, 51 Accident Turn 2."

   So, the official reason for a caution on the last lap according to NASCAR is the incident involving Ragan, Reutiumann and Said (when the flag didn't come out) and NOT the one involving Stewart, Bowyer and others (when the flag did come out).

   Either someone made a mistake, or NASCAR inadvertently admitted it should have thrown the caution flag earlier.

   Which is it, I wonder?


  

Boris Said said what???

   Boris Said and Greg Biffle already weren't buddy, but a run-in on the track in Monday's Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International added a new twist.

   Biffle confronted Said while he was still sitting in his No. 51 Chevrolet after the race, then Said tried to extend the confrontation after getting out of the car, but crew members broke up the incident.

   Biffle wasn't immediately available after the race to comment, but Said had plenty to say.

   Here is Said's take on the race: "It was crazy. I mean ... the last lap; the No. 6 car (David Ragan) was getting into me a lot. I didn't want to wreck him, but I had to stay on the track and he didn't give me any room. We both collided. That is the only thing I feel bad about.

   "I'm more upset with Greg Biffle. He is the most unprofessional little scaredy cat I've ever seen in my life. He wouldn't even fight me like a man after. So, if someone texts me his address, I'll go see him Wednesday at his house and show him what he really needs. He needs a...whooping and I'm going to give it to him. He was flipping me off, giving me the finger. Totally unprofessional. Two laps down. I mean he is a chump.

   "I went over there to go talk to him. He wouldn't even let me get out of the car. He comes over and throws a few little baby punches and then when I get out, he runs away and hides behind some big guys. But, he won't hide from me long. I'll find him. I won't settle it out on the track. It's not right to wreck cars, but, he'll show up at a race with a black eye one of these days. I'll see him somewhere."

   Said's crew chief, Nick Harrison, also chimed in.

   "Boris has had a problem, actually I think (Greg) Biffle has had a problem with Boris from a previous race so leading into this race, they already had some aggression toward each other. Early in the race, Biffle had run out of gas and was multiple laps down and was racing Boris. Boris thought dirty, so Boris relayed a message to the spotter he wanted to meet him after the race," he said.

 

   "And the deal with the No. 6 car (David Ragan). I think Boris just got into him and that was a really ugly wreck. I think that was just hard racing. But, Greg Biffle and Boris Said has some problems and Boris wanted to handle it with his fists. That is what was going on."

Montoya not concerned with loss of two crew members

   Juan Pablo Montoya said Friday he did not think the loss of two crew members - including one member of his pit crew - would adversely affect his race team.

   On Wednesday, Chip Ganassi Racing fired two employees - Trevor Lysne and Jerome "J.D." Frey - who were arrested on Tuesday by Huntersville (N.C.) Police in connection with the shipment of 10.5 pounds of marijuana from California.

   Lysne was the front tire changer for Montoya's pit crew while Frey was a mechanic who worked in the shop. Both have been indefinitely suspended by NASCAR.

   Asked if the loss of the crew members was a concern, Montoya said, "Not really. It is something that the team had to deal with it and NASCAR had to deal with it. We left it at that.

   "Personally, we made some changes in our crew. And that’s it. We get on with our business to try to win here and that’s it.”

   Lysne, 40, is charged with trafficking marijuana, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and maintaining a dwelling to distribute marijuana. Frey, 27, is also charged with trafficking marijuana and possession with intent to sell and deliver.
  

Two Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing employees arrested in drug bust

   Two employees of Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, including a pit crew member for Sprint Cup Series driver Juan Pablo Montoya's No. 42 team, were arrested this week on drug charges.

   On Tuesday, officers with the Huntersville (N.C.) Police Department arrested Trevor Lysne and Jerome "J.D." Frey in connection with a drug bust that netted 10.5 pounds of marijuana that had been shipped from California, the police report said.

   Lysne, 40, is the front tire changer for Montoya's pit crew. Frey, 27,  is a part-time racer and a mechanic who works in EGR's shop.

   Lysne is charged with trafficking marijuana, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and maintaining a dwelling to distribute marijuana. Frey, 27, is also charged with trafficking marijuana and possession with intent to sell and deliver.

   According to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Web site, Lysne was released on a $30,000 secured bond and Frey was released on a $25,000 secured bond. Both have court appearances scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

   A spokesman for EGR said the organization was still gathering facts about the incident and had no immediate comment.

   NASCAR officials were expected to address the matter later Wednesday afternoon.

It's time for Parade of Power

Charlotte Motor Speedway's Parade of Power is set for Tuesday at noon, beginning at Concord Mills Mall and traveling along Bruton Smith Boulevard to the track.

Vehicles from from every form of motorsports competing at CMS this fall will be in the parade.

Drivers scheduled to appear in the parade include NASCAR's Reed Sorenson, Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and David Ragan; and NHRA's Doug Foley, Doug Herbert, Matt Smith and Angie Smith. -- David Scott

Ryan Truex lands Nationwide ride

   Ryan Truex will have an opportunity to return to the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season, as he will drive six races in Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 20 Toyota beginning with the Sept. 3 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Observer has learned.

   Truex, the 19-year-old younger brother of Sprint Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr., competed in 10 races this season with Michael Waltrip Racing until a lack of sponsorship sidelined him.

   In addition to Atlanta, Ryan Truex will also drive the No. 20 for JGR in Nationwide races at Richmond, Va.; Chicagoland; Dover, Del.; Kansas and Phoenix.

   In 17 career Nationwide starts, Truex has one top-10 finish, an eighth at Richmond earlier this season. He won the 2009 and 2010 K&N Pro Series East championships driving for MWR.

Mary Hendrick, mother of HMS owner Rick Hendrick, died Monday

   Mary Hendrick, mother of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, passed away Monday afternoon at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Mrs. Hendrick, a native of Palmer Springs, Va., was 88.

 

   Fondly referred to as “Miss Mary,” Mrs. Hendrick was the car owner of the No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series from 2005 to 2007.

 

   In 2008, she became the owner of the No. 5 Chevrolet. She won seven races as a car owner, with Mark Martin notably recording five of those wins during the 2009 season. That year, Martin drove the No. 5 Chevrolet to a runner-up finish in the championship standings, giving Mrs. Hendrick her best season as a car owner.

 

   In June 2004, then-N.C. Gov. Mike Easley presented Joe and Mary Hendrick with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine -- the state of North Carolina’s highest honor bestowed on a citizen for dedication and extended length of service to his or her organization.

 

   The family requests privacy at this time as arrangements are being finalized. Details will be released when available.