NASCAR Cup Series

In Our Thoughts: The tornadoes that affected parts of Oklahoma (Monday, May 20), happened just two days shy of the two-year anniversary of the tornado that destroyed much of Jamie McMurray’s hometown of Joplin, MO. Our thoughts and prayers are with family and friends affected by this tragic event.

No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. might not have visited victory lane Saturday night in the All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but raising $80,000 for a children’s hospital had to make him feel pretty good.

Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle anchor the Roush Fenway Racing team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and while both drivers are still seeking their first victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway, they have combined to win 38 races. Both men took part in this week’s national teleconference previewing Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600.

Kurt Busch will be a 2x NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) champion; it's simply a matter of when it will happen. Although he and Furniture Row Racing are fast this year, I doubt his second championship will come in 2013 but I will be very surprised if they don't make the chase and win at least one race. Kurt has matured so much as a driver in the last year and has shocked me with his abrupt attitude change.

I hate to quote the Beatles, because it dates me and after watching the Billboard Awards, I get the feeling that no one knows what’s good music is anymore, but all I can say is the first line of a great Beatle song. I heard the news today, but oh boy. The latest news is Bruton Smith, billionaire CEO of Speedway Motorsports is considering moving the fall Charlotte race to Las Vegas.

Almost daily, Kyle Busch and members of his No. 18 M&M’S® Toyota team practice to improve their efficiency changing tires and adding fuel, to ensure they can save precious seconds necessary to maintain track position. Yesterday, the team banded together with colleagues from Joe Gibbs Racing and M&M’S to make improvements of a different kind.

Reflect back to the early to mid 2000’s. The All-Star Races during those years were action-packed and go for broke events. Team owners told their drivers to only bring back the steering wheel.

My friend Monte Dutton, who is one of the best or probably was one of the best writers on the NASCAR beat, tweeted Saturday night that unlike normal races, the format actually seems to encourage all hell breaking loose UNTIL the end.

No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota driver Clint Bowyer visited victory lane at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the first time in October. The Michael Waltrip Racing driver enjoyed the experience so much he’d like to do it again Sunday after 400-laps around the 1.5-mile track. The tradition and importance of the 600-mile annual Memorial Day weekend race isn’t lost on the 33-year-old Emporia, Kansas native.

In Jeff Gordon's 700th career start at Darlington a few weeks ago, the 87-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner notched his 300th career top-five. But what does he remember about his third career top-five - a runner-up finish to Dale Earnhardt - in Gordon's first attempt in the 600-miler at Charlotte Motor Speedway?