Miller’s Lap Around NASCAR

In the Rear Window:
Bristol

There’s nothing in racing that a good, old-fashioned rivalry can’t fix and NASCAR got one last Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Kyle Busch, the Sprint Cup Series point leader with eight wins in 2008, appeared to be cruising his way to yet another victory by leading 415 of 500 laps in the Sharpie 500 at the half-mile high-banked short track until Carl Edwards decided it was time for a little payback.

Following a late caution, Edwards got his No. 99 Ford to the back bumper of Busch’s No. 18 Toyota and on lap 470 shoved him up the track to take the lead. Edwards pulled away and won his sixth race of the season – but not without drawing ire from Busch.

Busch slammed Edwards in the door on the cool-down lap, causing Edwards to respond by spinning out Busch to add insult to injury. In victory lane, Edwards wasn’t apologetic and instead said the bump was just a returned favor from earlier in the season when Busch bumped Edwards out of the way during a Nationwide Series race.
Busch ultimately pledged to return the favor again.

Busch and Edwards have combined to win 14 times in 2008 and are looking like the favorites for the upcoming Chase to the Championship. Needless to say, things will only get more interesting from here.

Tony Stewart’s Seat Filled at Joe Gibbs Racing

It was only a matter of time, and a matter of formally announcing it, before the NASCAR world would know the successor of Tony Stewart’s current ride in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota.

Joey Logano, an 18-year-old from Connecticut, will pilot the No. 20 in 2009 with Home Depot as the sponsor, the team announced Monday to confirm weeks of rumors. Logano started racing in NASCAR back in June and has one win in the minor league Nationwide Series in 2008.

Stewart announced last month that he’s going to be a driver-owner in 2009 with Stewart-Haas Racing with fellow Indiana native Ryan Newman as teammate.

Dropping the Green Flag:
California

The Sprint Cup Series heads to southern California on Sunday evening for the second-to-last event before the field for the playoff-style Chase for the Championship begins.

The details:
Race: Pepsi 500
When: Sunday, 8 p.m.
TV/Radio: ESPN/105.1 FM
Location: Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, Calif.
Distance: 500 miles (250 laps)
Track Layout: D-Shaped, 2-mile oval
2007 Winner: Jimmie Johnson

Miller’s Preview: The Busch-Edwards rivalry isn’t likely to blow up much this weekend at the fast track outside of Los Angeles, but drivers who aren’t locked in to the 12-team Chase to the Championship will be jockeying for positions all night long. Two weeks ago, Roush Fenway Racing’s teams took four of the top five spots at the similar track in Michigan, so look for that success to continue. Four-time champion Jeff Gordon, winless in 2008, is poised to find victory lane, though.

Miller’s Pick: Matt Kenseth