Lightning Delay for the NCTS race in West Allis. The rain missed them by a couple of blocks, but the lightning is a bit too close for comfort.

It’s snowing in Bristol – and let the snowball fights begin. Busch qualifiying is in a snow delay – and it is coming down and accumlating. Where’s the NASCAR snowplow? And the snow tires?

Let’s start at the beginning. So I turn on Fox to watch the Crosstown Series (Cubs/White Sox) expecting it to be in High Definition. However, the game was not in HD, just widescreen Standard Definition. I was a little disappointed, espically because it was advertised to be in HD. Grr… Later on, I was watching the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge last nignt of FX in SD. No big deal, as far as I’m aware of, there is no FX HD. Well, this morning on SportsCenter, the highlights were in HD for the All-Star Challenge (but not the NEXTEL Open). That means there must be a HD feed coming from the track when it is on FX and therte will be a race on Fox at the track that weekend/the next weekend.

Alan Gustafson (Crew Chief #5) and Chad Knaus (Crew Chief #48) have had their suspensions stemming from the Las Vegas race recinded by the National Stock Car Racing Commission (who hears the appeals). In their place, they have been placed on probation for 90 days.

No word on if the appeal onTodd Berrier’s suspension was heard or not, RCR is trying to get the suspension shortened. Berrier sat out last weekend in Atlanta.

And an FYI – Bruce Pearl’s interview on PTI today was recorded yesterday but got bumped to today because of Barry Freakin’ Bonds.

Carl Edwards won his first Busch race Saturday, and then, in true Atlanta fashion, won his first NEXTEL Cup race by 0.028 seconds. And in true Carl Edwards fashion, did a back flip after the races. He is the 11th driver ever to have won in each of the top 3 NASCAR series. Tony Stewart and Steve Park also accomplished that feat this year.

Now don’t get flippy with me…

NASCAR has suspended 3 NEXTEL Cup crew chiefs and fined 3 more for rules infractions this weekend in Las Vegas. Here are the penalities from Vegas:

• #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy (Finished 5th)
  Todd Berrier, Crew Chief: Fined $25,000, Suspened 4 races
  Kevin Harvick, Driver: Docked 25 Driver Points (dropped from 8th to 10th in standings)
  Richard Childress, Owner: Docked 25 Owner Points (dropped from 8th to 10th in standings)
  Reason: Unapproved Fuel Filler and Fuel Cell Vent found in post-qualifying inspection; Car was supposed to have 22 gallons of fuel pre-qualifing – made it look like there was but really had 4.
• #5 Kellogs Chevy (Finished 2nd)
  Alan Gustafson, Crew Chief: Fined $25,000, Suspended 2 races
  Kyle Busch, Driver: Docked 25 Driver Points (dropped from 18th to 22nd in standings)
  Rick Hendrick, Owner: Docked 25 Owner Points (dropped from 18th to 22nd in standings)
  Reason: Quarter-panels too high in post-race inspection; on Inside NEXTEL Cup, Kyle said the left front spring collasped and the adjustments to correct the handle of the car after that may have caused it – but I guess NASCAR didn’t think so.
• #48 Lowe’s Chevy (Finished 1st)
  Chad Knaus, Crew Chief: Fined $35,000, Suspended 2 races
  Jimmie Johnson, Driver: Docked 25 Driver Points (dropped from 1st to 2nd in standings)
  Jeff Gordon, Listed Owner: Docked 25 Owner Points (dropped from 1st to 2nd in standings)
  Reason: Roof too low in post-race inspection
• #32 Tide Chevy (Finished 11th)
  Harold Holly, Crew Chief: Fined $5,000
  Reason: Unapproved deck lid in opening-day inspection
• #89 Dodge (Finished 40th)
  John Latchford, Crew Chief: Fined $1,000
  Reason: Unapproved fire-supression agent in opening-day inspection
• #2 Miller Lite Dodge (Finished 12th)
  Larry Carter, Crew Chief: Fined $1,000
  Reason: The car’s shoulder harness did not have a date tag displayed in opening-day inspection

So the suspension of Todd Berrier was not a suprise (everyone saw that coming), but the suspensions of Chad Knaus and Alan Gustafson are. NASCAR is trying to send a message here. For the low roof, NASCAR has gone from just a fine of $25,000 to points and now suspensions. Those last three aren’t too much – but I won’t be suprised if the saftey ones go up eventually. Owner points are different than driver points (owners get credit for attempting a race whild drivers do not and if a driver changes teams, the owner points stay with the car number) but are important because starting with the 6th race of the season, 2005 owner points are used to detirme who is locked in the field for a race.

UPDATE: According to Jayski , Rick Hendrick, owner of the #5 and #48 Chevy’s will appeal the penalites.

Kurt Busch, driver of the #97 Sharpie/Irwin Tools Ford for Roush Racing

Final Top 3:
1. Kurt Busch …… 6506
2. Jimmie Johnson …… -8
3. Jeff Gordon …… – 16

It was the smallest margin of victory ever for what is now the NEXTEL Cup Championship.

Kurt also gets $5.2 Million. Not bad for driving in circles…

Because either you did something bad, or as the Hendrick drivers found out – something bad has happened. A plane carring Hendrick team members crashed killing all on board. For info, go to Jayski’s Cup News Page

Thoughts and prayers are sent out to the Hendrick’s and all involved.

As a result of Dale Jr swearing in a post race interview , NBC has decided to insitute a 5-second delay in their broadcasts. NBC thought Mike Helton’s warning would have been enough to prevent foul language from being said. The remaining NEXTEL Cup races are on NBC.

I’m suprised this didn’t happen earlier – just to sync up with the PitCommand feature on NASCAR.com. Which I use. I haven’t measured the delay but I think this will cover it.

The Top 10 NASCAR drivers went to NYC and made the TV rounds. After a Regis visit, 7 of the 10 (not Gordon, Jr, and Newman) went to TRL. They gave away NASCAR 2005 Chase For The Cup to the audience (for which Tony says that “We can wreck and not get hurt”) and had the TRL Race for the cup between Matt Kenseth and Tony. Matt won. And none of them were wearing shirts with sponsor logos! Wow!

And Barry Bonds didn’t hit #700 in Milwaukee.