Sponsor weighs in on Villeneuve/Patrick incident

      Discount Tire, the sponsor of Jacques Villeneuve's No. 22 Dodge in last Saturday's Nationwide race at Road America, issued the following statement about the late-race incident between Villeneuve and driver Danica Patrick:

   "Together Penske and Discount Tire have achieved great success in the Nationwide Series, including a championship, and have maintained the highest levels of integrity and sportsmanship throughout that relationship. Although we believe the contact between Villeneuve and Patrick to be unfortunate, it is a part of professional racing. However, Villeneuve’s post-race comments did not reflect our ideals regarding sportsmanship. Having said that, we continue to be very proud of our relationship with the Penske organization."

   To read more about what happened in the race, click here.

A wild ride to the NASCAR Chase

   The addition of two "wild card" berths to the Chase for the Sprint Cup field last season brought an unexpected level of anticipation and excitement as the weeks wound down to the start of the final 10 races of the season.

   At the time it seemed hard to imagine the battle gettting any better in the future.

   Wrong.

   So far anyway, the chase for the two wild card berths this season has risen to a whole new level.

   Entering Saturday night's race at Kentucky Speedway, four drivers – all with one win – are vying for the two wild card spots.

   It's yet another sign the level of competition has increased this year. Already there are eight drivers in the Top 10 in points with wins and drivers from seven different teams have won races – and we're not yet at the halfway point of the season.

   The list of drivers who haven't won yet this season is just as distinguished as the list of who has. Among the 2011 winners yet to visit Victory Lane this season: Kevin Harvick, who finished third in points the bast two seasons, and four-time series champion Jeff Gordon.

   Last season showed the increased importance of winning, particularly in getting into the  Chase, and even in the determination of the series champion. Tony Stewart won his third series title in a tiebreaker over Carl Edwards decided by victories in the season.

   A win alone this year may not be good enough to make the Chase and there's nothing wrong with that.

   In fact, the more winning becomes a dominant part in who is eligible to compete for the championship and who ultimately wins it, the better for NASCAR.

Ford statement on Matt Kenseth's departure from Roush

   Statement from Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing on the Matt Kenseth announcement by Roush Fenway Racing:

   JAMIE ALLISON -- "All of us at Ford are certainly disappointed to hear that Matt will be leaving, and he will be certainly missed by us and the Ford Racing fans. We are thankful for Matt's winning efforts and championship-caliber success with the Roush and Ford racing programs these past 16 years, both on and off the track. We will focus on this year and look forward to more success on the track in his No. 17 Ford Fusion this season."

Nationwide and Truck awards banquet returns to South Beach

   The combined NASCAR Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series Awards will return to South Florida for 2012 and be held at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, located in the heart of South Beach. The event is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 19, following the Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

   Similar to past award shows, this year’s event will honor the Nationwide and Camping World Truck series champions, as determined during the Homestead-Miami Speedway race weekend, November 16-18.

   “Celebrating the champions of the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in Miami Beach enables us to continue the wave of excitement out of championship weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “The backdrop makes for an ideal location to honor those champions — and their teams and sponsors — after their great seasons.”

   As previously announced, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards will return to Las Vegas, and take place Friday, Nov. 30, at the Wynn Las Vegas. A full lineup of activities for Champion's Week will be announced at a later date.

Time again for the Legends Big Money 100 at CMS

   Legends Big Money 100

   What: The largest grassroots racing event in the country, the third annual Legends Big Money 100, returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway July 2-3. The event boasts a total purse of $100,000, with the Legends Big Money 100 A-Feature winner guaranteed to take home $25,000. The two-day racing spectacular will feature fierce competition among the nation's best Legend Car and Bandolero racers.

   Action on Monday will include qualifying and heat races for the Young Lions/Semi-Pro, Masters and Legends Big Money 100 divisions. Tuesday will include Young Lions/Semi-Pro, Masters and Legends Big Money division feature racing, concluding with the Legends Big Money 100 A-Feature that night.

   Bandolero Bandit and Outlaw drivers will also have the opportunity to compete in a Bandolero championship event, with qualifying sessions and heat races on Monday and feature races on Tuesday.

   Sunday, July 1, all divisions will practice.

   When: The event will take place Monday, July 2 – Tuesday, July 3, with practice on Sunday, July 1.

   Where: Charlotte Motor Speedway, on the quarter-mile oval located on the speedway's front straightaway.

   Ticket info: (704) 455-3200.

Rick Hendrick talks about Dale Junior's win at Michigan

SPEED Interview with Rick Hendrick

Q. Rick, first of all, we're sorry you couldn't be here to actually witness this thing. Logistics kept you away from it. How satisfying is this and how well is the season going for you guys?

RICK HENDRICK: Well, you know, a little bit of a slow start, but we had a lot of speed. Then we get the 200th win and then the All-Star race, and Kasey gets a win, Jimmie gets another one, and I thought Dale had a real shot last week at Pocono. But to get it this weekend, that's outstanding. It's like ahuge load off our backs.

Q. Rick, everybody has been looking to this team, and again, you never lost your focus and the confidence in this group as a whole. Steve Letarte as well as Dale Earnhardt Jr. … what kind of advice have you given these two?

RICK HENDRICK: You know, they just get along so good. I think the chemistry is the best I've seen with any crew chief and driver. And you just look at the way they've been running and had a lot of speed, you knew it was going to come. And just try to say, Dale, don't worry about that, man. You're almost leading the points here. You've got more top tens than anybody. When you run second, third and fourth, you're going to win races. And we hated Pocono, took a chance, but there was too much on the line. I can tell you that's the longest 18 laps I've ever spent, at the end of this race.

Q. Rick, we're having fun with this victory. You know where you were at when you got married, what church. On this day where were you exactly when you saw Junior cross the start/finish line and win this race?

RICK HENDRICK: I was doing laps around my couch, trying to end this race, man. Batman was in a hurry. I was too nervous to stand still. Linda and I were just watching it, come on, no problems. I was so afraid there was going to be a caution, or something was going to happen.

Q. What do you think about the championship potential for the number 88 team?

RICK HENDRICK: Well, you know, when you see a car, and a driver get momentum, and all of the cars are running real well, they're sharing a lot of information, and Dale is just -- he's just switched on. He's got the confidence, Stevie has got the touch and every week they're the best by far. I think he's sitting in the cat bird seat to win his first championship.

Q. Well, Rick, when you -- what will you guys do to celebrate this?

RICK HENDRICK: Well, we had Brad Paisley come down and play for our 200th win. No telling what we might do for this one, I don't know, but we're going to do something. We do like to celebrate together, because the organization just works so hard, and they want to see Junior do so well. So stay tuned.

What Tony Stewart taught Jeff Gordon

   Jeff Gordon said he views the Chase for the Sprint Cup and the series standings in a whole new way following Tony Stewart's run last season to his third series championship.

   "(Points) mean nothing other than you're in (the Chase). And to me, I've not seen one standout team or driver to this point in the season yet," Gordon said. "I don't think we will because Tony was nowhere in sight and just got on fire, you know?"

   Entering the Chase last season Stewart had no wins. He won five times in the 10-race Chase, including the season finale, and won the championship in a tiebreaker over Carl Edwards.

   "Who knows who that team could be when the Chase starts. Matt Kenseth is such a great driver and a consistent driver with a great team, why would you not put him down as a real threat?" Gordon said.

   "I think there's a handful of guys out there right now that you can say that about."