NASCAR Cup Series

Homestead-Miami Speedway today announced its Refer A Fan program where ticket purchasers receive benefits when they refer an individual who also purchases tickets to the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship race, the Ford EcoBoost 400 (Nov. 17). Track President Matthew Becherer made the announcement.

Four races into the 2013 season and Jeff Gordon has only one finish better than 20th. Yet he is still ahead of last year's pace when he earned a coveted "Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup" spot.

And then there were two. Dale Earnhardt Jr., the only driver in the history of Talladega Superspeedway to capture four consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race victories at the 2.66-mile venue, will join defending Series Champion Brad Keselowski in the driver lineup for the Talladega Experience during the upcoming Aaron’s Dream Weekend, May 3-5.

For Aric Almirola and the No. 43 Farmland Ford team, it's time for them to show their mettle. After falling in the point standings following an incident in Bristol, Almirola and the No. 43 team are determined to climb back up the point standings.

At any time that David Gilliland isn't in his No. 38 Ford at Auto Club Speedway this weekend, he'll probably be busy visiting with an old friend or family member. The Riverside, Ca

Auto Club Speedway is rough, worn out and abrasive, but David Ragan is looking forward to racing on the two-mile oval in Fontana, Calif. The character-filled track will be a good test of Front Row Motorsports' new Ford Fusions and how they handle on an intermediate track.

Auto Club Speedway will be a perfect stage for Josh Wise to perform for the hometown crowd. The Riverside, Calif., native says the wide and weathered two-mile track puts a lot more racing in the driver's hands than other tracks, and he'll be eager to put on a good show in the No. 35 MDS Transport Ford for family and friends.

Okay, it is time to start whining. Bristol usually gives us a good show, and last Sunday it was great. Fontana usually does not, and it is next on our dance card. Maybe it is best to dwell on what was than on what could soon be.

Stars of the upcoming film G.I. Joe: Retaliation, D.J. Cotrona and Adrianne Palicki, will serve as Grand Marshals for the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, March 24 at 12:00 p.m. PT.

Ed Coombs, Mary Jo Buchanon and Brad Keppel of SpeedwayMedia.com will join Greg to recap the weekend in NASCAR.