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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
CUP: Stewart Says Bring ‘Em On/RIR Notebook
Tony Stewart has led the NASCAR Sprint Cup points since the Dover race on May 31st...
Tom Jensen  |  Posted September 11, 2009   Richmond, VA
Tony Stewart is looking forward to the Chevy Rock ‘N’ Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway to find out who will be in the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup. (Photo: Getty Images)

WIDE OPEN FIELD With 10 drivers separated by a mere 122 points for the final eight spots in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Saturday night’s Chevy Rock ‘N’ Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway ought to be a barnburner. Two-time Sprint Cup champ and current points leader Tony Stewart said Friday that he doesn’t much care who makes the Chase and who falls out.

“In all honestly, it doesn’t matter who gets in,” Stewart said. “The good thing is that the guys that make it in are the guys that deserve to be in the Chase. They earned their spots there and those are the guys that you want to race for the championship. It doesn’t matter who it is and what the scenarios are. Kyle (Busch) getting in would be just as deserving as somebody else that doesn’t get. It would be a shame for him to not after four wins. … The hard thing is that it doesn’t matter who those 12 guys are going to be, they are all going to be tough and there are guys that are already locked in that are tough. So It is just going to be fun to see who (gets in) … at the end of the night tomorrow night.”

NO ROOM TO MOVE While the subject of helping a teammate out was a timely one at Richmond International Raceway on Friday, three-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson said there was a definite limit to what he was willing to do, even to help teammate Mark Martin make the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

“I think if we threw something for Mark, I think Mark would get out of the car and whip some ass ,” Johnson said Friday at RIR. “He wants to go in there and earn it on his own. I don't think he'd tolerate something like that.”

Johnson said if he was running 20th, he might let a teammate pass him if the one position would help in a meaningful fashion. “But if you're leading the race, I'm not pulling out of the way to make sure Mark Martin makes the (Chase) if he's in second,” Johnson said firmly. “ … For the win, man it could be anybody. It could even be my mom back there, and she's not getting by.”

MIXED MESSAGE Not surprisingly, the Ford drivers at Richmond International Raceway welcomed the news that Richard Petty Motorsports was merging with Yates Racing and will run a four-car Ford team next year.

“Just based on performance the way that 9 car (RPM driver Kasey Kahne) has been running, that’s a big deal for us to gain them as quasi teammates,” said Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards. “That’s pretty cool. Kenny Francis (Kahne’s crew chief) is real smart. Kasey is a great driver. AJ (Allmendinger) is a great driver and Elliott (Sadler) has proven that he’s a great driver, so I think we’re gonna get some solid folks over there that can help us. It’s cool for Ford, too. I think that will make us more of a powerhouse and maybe be able to compete and stay on the upside with those guys at Hendrick.”


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