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NASCAR Natalie
Turn 4 Transitions
by Natalie Anthony
9/24/2008
Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman
September 28, 2008 (Sunday) - 2:15 pm (ET) - ABC
Chase Watch - Report #3
Most drivers will tell you that they can't predict the chase for the Sprint cup championship until half the races of the chase are completed. And it's not just because of the unpredictability of each lap of every race that leads them to this hypothesis. It is the uncertainty of the performance of their stock cars. Kyle Busch is a prime example of this theory. Kyle can driver anything on wheels as long as it doesn't break or blow up and look at where he is in the chase. Drivers in the chase can not afford these drawbacks and expect to be competitive with the other twelve drivers; which is the main focus of NASCAR's chase championship.
Front Line Chasers
Jimmie Johnson
Hendrick Motorsports - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 2nd
Jimmie is working towards his third consecutive win in the chase for the Sprint cup championship, but Jimmie has never won a race at Kansas. Jimmie might not be in contention for the win this weekend, but a Top 10 isn't too much to ask for this Sunday. Jimmie placed third last season at Kansas marking his first Top 5, but with 4 Top 10's out of six attempts, Jimmie is likely to leave the celebration for some other driver.
Jeff Gordon
Hendrick Motorsports - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 8th
Does Jeff Gordon actually have a chance of winning a race this season? Why yes. Jeff finished last season in 5th place and has won Kansas's 400 lap race twice.
It may just be the #24 Hendrick Motorsports' hot rod in victory lane on Sunday.
Greg Biffle
Roush Fenway Racing - Ford
Point Standings: 3rd
I thought Greg's first win of the chase at New Hampshire was a real shocker, but he completely knocked my socks off by winning again at Dover last Sunday. Could he make it three in a row? Oh yeah. Greg is the defending race winner of last season's race at Kansas.
Tony Stewart
Joe Gibbs Racing - Toyota
Point Standings: 7th
I am starting to sound like a broken record by saying Tony is the come back driver to win races late in the season and he has yet to prove me right. Perhaps this Sunday he can make a believer out of me again and take home the checkered flag. Tony lost his chance last season at Kansas by finishing in the garage because of an accident that took him out early.
Last Lap Challenge Chasers
Clint Bowyer
Richard Childress Racing - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 6th
A second place finish last year at Kansas gives Clint some confidence for finishing this weekend in the Top 5, but his chase standing is going to remain 6th. He might even loose a spot if he doesn't keep his Jack Daniel's Chevrolet in the Top 10.
Bottom 25 Chasers
Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing - Toyota
Point Standings: 11th
It was a toss up between Denny and teammate Kyle Busch to be speculated as coming in the back of the pack of the chase drivers. I really don't think Kyle could have that much bad luck three weeks in a row. Joe Gibbs Racing is experiencing a lot of negative results since the beginning of the chase, because two of his drivers are rounding out the bottom of the chase ladder and not climbing fast. Denny will most likely change spots with Kyle and be the last driver in the chase since Kansas is a track that Denny hasn't scored better than 18th in his three attempts.
Track Stats
Kansas Speedway (Kansas City, KS) - KS
Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman
(Sister Tracks - Chicagoland, Michigan, Darlington, & Texas)
LifeLock400
(September 30, 2007)
Top 10 Results
1. Greg Biffle
2. Clint Bowyer
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Casey Mears
5. Jeff Gordon
6. Kevin Harvick
7. Reed Sorenson
8. Elliott Sadler
9. Kasey Kahne
10.Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Post questions & comments to:
NASCARNATALIEANTHONY@yahoo.com
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Our latest Cheat Sheets updated constantly through September.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr1')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Kyle Orton Likely To Remain Denver's Starting QB
(3/14 5:59 PM PT)
The Facts:
With former first-round pick Brady Quinn now shipped from Cleveland to Denver, there's a question as to whether Quinn or Orton will be the starting quarterback for the Broncos. Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports that the new guy won't supplant the holdover; per Klis, Orton will start.
Diehards Line:
Though Orton's status could change, PFT's Mike Florio points out the decision makes sense, for a couple of reasons. First, Orton is a restricted free agent, tendered at the first-round level. His base salary is $2.62 million, nearly four times greater than Quinn's $700,000 compensation. Then there's the fact that Quinn will unlock $5.9 million in 2011 escalators if he takes 70 percent or more of the snaps on offense this season. By making him the backup, the Broncos are guaranteed to get two seasons out of him at a total payout of a paltry, relatively speaking, $1.4 million.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr2')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Matthew Stafford Ready For Off-Season Work
(3/14 4:50 PM PT)
The Facts:
The Lions begin their off-season conditioning program next week and HC Jim Schwartz said Stafford, who is coming off December knee surgery, should be ready to go. "There's probably some things that he'll take maybe a little slower, but I don't think he'll have a whole lot of restrictions," Schwartz said.
Diehards Line:
The Lions will bring Stafford along slowly and build his workload as he goes along. "He's had some rehab time where he hasn't been able to do as much maybe as other players," Schwartz explained. "But there is nothing he can't do, it's just a matter of getting him back up to speed and back into the shape he needs to be in. ..." With Daunte Culpepper an unrestricted free agent, the arrival of QB Shaun Hill, acquired in a trade with San Francisco, will provide the team with another arm to help keep receivers busy as Stafford works his way up to speed.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr3')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">LaDainian Tomlinson Agrees To Terms With Jets
(3/14 3:18 PM PT)
The Facts:
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, it's official: Tomlinson is a Jet. He reached agreement on a two-year contract. Done.
Diehards Line:
Stay tuned on this one. ... It will be very interesting to see how Tomlinson's contract compares with the one Thomas Jones signed in Kansas City (two years, $5 million). It's widely believed Jones, a very popular figure in New York's locker room, gave the Jets an opportunity to match the Chiefs' offer. It's not clear how the arrival of an aging running back on the decline (LT) will go over given the departure of a more popular -- and still very productive veteran -- might go over. ... Meanwhile, it's safe to say Tomlinson will open the season behind second-year man Shonn Greene. ... Again: More to come.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr4')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Browns Trade QB Brady Quinn To Denver
(3/14 2:17 PM PT)
The Facts:
Jay Glazer of Fox Sports is reporting that Quinn was just traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Peyton Hillis and two conditional draft picks.
Diehards Line:
As PFT's Michael David Smith points out, we've known since the Browns acquired QBs Seneca Wallace and Jake Delhomme that Quinn was available. Now he'll battle Kyle Orton for the starting job in Denver. Orton has to be considered the favorite based on experience in HC Josh McDaniels' scheme. But there are those who believe Quinn was never given a fair shake in Cleveland and he's capable of more than we've seen. Either way, the Broncos' QB competition just became more interesting.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr5')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Surprise: LT Pitting Vikings, Jets Against Each Other
(3/14 12:54 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... ESPN's John Clayton reports Tomlinson's agent is planning to negotiate with both the Vikings and Jets on Sunday to see if a deal can be finalized. Tomlinson visited the Vikings and Jets this past week.
Diehards Line:
There are two reports that say Tomlinson is poised to sign with the New York Jets. The San Diego Union Tribune and Sports Illustrated say that it will happen. Both reports point out that the deal is not signed. However, Union-Tribune staffer Kevin Acee later reported that Tomlinson said his mind is not made up. ... We'll go ahead and suggest the obvious: LT won't make up his mind until the the bidding plays out. Stay tuned.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr6')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Charlie Whitehurst Mulling Offers From Cardinals, Seahawks
(3/14 11:49 AM PT)
The Facts:
The Cardinals and Seahawks have extended contract offers to Whitehurst, the Chargers restricted free-agent QB. according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
Diehards Line:
Whitehurst, San Diego’s No. 3 QB behind Philip Rivers and Billy Volek, will make a decision on which offer sheet to sign within the next 48 hours, according to NFL.com's Steve Wyche. Once Whitehurst signs a contract, San Diego has seven days to match the offer. The fact that the Cardinals and the Seahawks have extended offers to the fourth-year veteran who has yet to throw an NFL pass means, at the very least, that they plan to add depth behind Matt Leinart and Matt Hasselbeck, respectively. It is more likely that Whitehurst could get an opportunity to compete with both QBs, who aren’t locks to start for their teams in 2010.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr7')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">49ers Trade QB Shaun Hill To Detroit
(3/14 11:31 AM PT)
The Facts:
The 49ers have agreed to trade Hill to the Detroit Lions for a seventh-round draft pick in 2011, according to a league source.
Diehards Line:
Hill, who was 10-6 as the 49ers starter, finished the season behind Alex Smith on the depth chart. The 49ers recently signed a new backup quarterback in David Carr. As Bee staffer Matthew Barrows notes, the Lions OC, Scott Linehan, is familiar with Hill having coached him in Minnesota. Linehan also was the Rams head coach in 2008. Hill and the 49ers swept the Rams that season.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr8')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Report: Signs Point Toward LT Joining Jets
(3/14 11:10 AM PT)
The Facts:
According to three people with knowledge of the process, Tomlinson has decided to become a New York Jet. "It's 100 percent," one source said. "Done deal." Tomlinson is expected to announce the decision today or tomorrow.
Diehards Line:
Union-Tribune staffer Kevin Acee stressed, however, that a decision has not yet been officialy made. Tomlinson also visited the Minnesota Vikings last week, spending two days in Minneapolis before going to New York. He returned to San Diego on Saturday. ... Stay tuned.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr9')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Browns, Jake Delhomme Agree To 2-Year Deal
(3/13 2:54 PM PT)
The Facts:
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Cleveland landed its second QB of the week, this time Delhomme.
Diehards Line:
Per Schefter, the two sides agreed to a two-year deal. The next question is what becomes of Brady Quinn? Browns President Mike Holmgren said on Friday that Quinn's future with the club depended on the acquisition of another QB. Now they have one -- although Delhomme won't be handed the starting job. So the bigger question, it seems, is whether Quinn will be in the mix with Delhomme and fellow newcomer Seneca Wallace. ... No matter the final field, Holmgren said he hoped that a starter would be named some time before training camp. "I'm going to kind of set the table, and then it's really Coach (Eric) Mangini's call," Holmgen said.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr10')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Seahawks Add Veteran TE Chris Baker
(3/13 1:26 PM PT)
The Facts:
Having lost out on former Patriots TE Benjamin Watson on Friday, the Seahawks reached agreement with another former Patriots TE, Baker on Saturday, a league source said.
Diehards Line:
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Baker will sign a two-year, $4.75 million deal that includes $2.75 million in the first year with the Seahawks, according to the source. Seattle was anxious to upgrade its tight ends behind talented youngster John Carlson. Now that it has, New England doesn't have a proven TE on its roster.
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