NASCAR Cup Series

Kenseth on racing at Charlotte: “Charlotte this weekend is really about car set-up and being able to get your car through the corner along with great race strategy. We’re taking this Chase one race at a time right now, and we’re going to go out and win some races to hopefully start climbing our way up in the points. Charlotte has been a pretty good track for us lately. I'm looking forward to getting in there this weekend and seeing how our stuff performs compared to the competition. I'm really curious to get there and look at how we'll be competitive because typically it’s been a great track for us in the past.”

Richard Childress Racing at Charlotte ... In 128 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Richard Childress Racing teams have earned six points-paying victories. Four wins were claimed by Dale Earnhardt, while Jeff Burton added to that total with a win in the October 2008 race and, most recently, Kevin Harvick took home the trophy in one of NASCAR's marquee events - the Coca-Cola 600 - in May 2011.

An Olympic gold medalist, a Hall of Fame quarterback and a retiring Kansas politician will all be in the spotlight on Oct. 19 and 20 as they take part in the Kansas Lottery 300 and Kansas Lottery 98.9.

Gordon, who will drive the No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet with a special paint scheme featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, has promised to break dance in Victory Lane at Charlotte Motor Speedway if he wins the Bank of America 500 this weekend. He ran well here in May in an event won by Hendrick Motorsports teammate - and shopmate - Kasey Kahne.

THE NUMBERS for the Bank of America 500, Charlotte Motor Speedway (all 107 Sprint Cup races) 1 – fewest cars on the lead lap at finish (13 times, most recent 5/24/87)

Everyone agrees that Rutledge Wood is one funny, interesting and cool talent for the SPEED Channel. Rutledge has had an incredible and interesting journey to working for SPEED and he now is able to enjoy his passion, racing.

With this having been the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, there are a number of things I am thankful for. Among them is the track in Talladega, Alabama and a race that lived up to expectations. A race where I watched lap after lap and did not feel compelled to wander away to find a ball game of some sort to break the monotony.

Kenseth held off, blocked and/or kept himself were he needed to be on Sunday and won the Good Sam 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Kenseth was out in front just enough not to be involved in a huge pileup on the final turn that collected over 20 drivers.

As Charlotte Motor Speedway begins final preparations for a thrilling Bank of America 500 race week, officials have added even more star power to a weekend headlined by Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, singer/actress Victoria Justice, country rockers Big & Rich, world-famous tightrope walker Nik Wallenda and NASCAR’s best drivers.

SpeedwayMedia.com editor, Ed Coombs, will recap the weekend in NASCAR and update the latest Chase Standings after Talladega.