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Racing Season Going Into Homestretch

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 15, 2008

SPRINT CUP PREVIEW

RACE NO. 23: MICHIGAN

The auto racing season is winding toward its homestretch. Scott Dixon has all but wrapped up the Indy Racing League title. Clint Bowyer, surprising Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards have separated themselves in the Nationwide Series. And the Sprint Cup Series has four races left before the cutoff for the Chase. Tribune motor sports writer Tony Fabrizio takes a look at who is still fighting for a Chase berth and other news heading into Sunday's 3M Performance 400 at Michigan:

Stewart-Haas Racing reportedly will name Ryan Newman as Tony Stewart's teammate for next season today. Is this a good move for Newman?

Stewart and Newman will attract resources and personnel, and the team formerly known at Haas CNC Racing will get better. But not overnight. Then again, Newman hasn't been tearing it up with Penske Racing. He has won once since 2005, and barring a late surge, he'll miss the Chase for a third consecutive year. All things considered, this isn't a bad move for Newman.

With Newman apparently out of the mix, who's going to drive Richard Childress Racing's new fourth car?

Childress reportedly is working out the final details of a contract with Casey Mears, who is being replaced by Mark Martin at Hendrick Motorsports. Mears reportedly would take Clint Bowyer's No. 07 number and Jack Daniel's sponsorship, while Bowyer would get the new No. 33 and General Mills sponsorship. Apparently, General Mills doesn't want a driver who is currently sponsored by Kellogg's.

Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth are holding onto the last transfer spot into the Chase (12th place). Who can knock any of them out?

Clint Bowyer is only 22 points out of 12th, and David Ragan, whose prospects were hurt by his performance on the two road courses, is only 89 points back. Ryan Newman can't be counted out at 164 points back, but he hasn't had a top-five finish since April 6 at Texas. Martin Truex Jr. and Brian Vickers are within six points of Newman. The largest deficit any driver has made up over the final four regular-season races to qualify for the Chase is 162 points by Kenseth in 2006. (Stewart lost a 122-point cushion and missed the Chase that year.)

Michael Waltrip Racing was high on rookie Michael McDowell earlier this season. Why has the team pulled him in favor of Mike Skinner in the No. 00 Toyota?

Owner Waltrip says the team "feels the same way about Michael McDowell that we did when we signed him" and that Skinner has been brought in to provide feedback about why the entire MWR organization is struggling. Skinner took a similar temporary stint earlier this year with Red Bull Racing, replacing A.J. Allmendinger, and that team has improved dramatically. The No. 00 car has fallen outside the top 35 in owners points.

Zephyrhills' David Reutimann has finished 30th, 30th and 33rd in the last three Sprint Cup races, so he's due for a decent run in the No. 44 Toyota. In three career Cup starts at Michigan, he has finished 15th, 23rd and 35th.

Reutimann also will run Saturday's Nationwide Series race at the two-mile oval. He'll need to start knocking out some top-five finishes if he is going to join Clint Bowyer, Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards in the championship hunt.

A rule change last month cutting the horsepower of the Toyota engines in the Nationwide Series could have a noticeable effect for the first time this weekend. The last three Nationwide races have been on road courses and a short track.

Tony Fabrizio

KEEPING UP WITH THE LOCALS

SPRINT CUP PREVIEW

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