2,147 Passes Made At Bristol
NASCAR’s Loop Data shows green flag passing during Saturday night’s Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway more than doubled that of the spring race at Bristol – from 991 passes in the spring to 2,147 passes Saturday night. The consensus opinion held by the drivers at the conclusion of the race rang loud and clear: the new surface at Bristol Motor Speedway met – and exceeded – expectations, as the addition of a second and third racing groove greatly increased the number of passes – and thusly, the competition.

Take a look at the total passing numbers from the spring and this past weekend:

The individual numbers also grew. Below is a look at the top five in Green Flag Passes at the spring race and the top five this past Saturday night.

"Guys were running over each other to pass each other," said Stewart. "It’s the most fun I've had at Bristol in my career. I can't give it a better grade than an A-plus."

Besides the clear chasm in the actual numbers, it’s also interesting to note the names in the top five in Green Flag Passes from this weekend’s race. The evolution of the Car of Tomorrow continues, as fresh faces have launched themselves into the top of the Green Flag Passes category.

Earnhardt May Use No. 38
Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 38? Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com on Monday that Robert Yates Racing and Hendrick Motorsports are discussing a transfer of that number for 2008. The No. 38 currently is being used by David Gilliland. No formal request has been made to the NASCAR, which has to ultimately approve the transfer.

The number would allow Earnhardt, who learned last week that the No. 8 he has driven his entire Nextel Cup career at Dale Earnhardt Inc. would not go with him to HMS, to link his past with the present. Earnhardt's father, Dale Earnhardt, won six of his seven championships in the No. 3 for Richard Childress Racing. Should RYR give up No. 38, it still has the rights to the No. 28 that was last used in 2002 with Ricky Rudd.(espn.go.com)

Rudd Will Make 900th Start At California
From his start in go-karts at the age of nine to his current status as driver of the #88 SNICKERS Generation Max® Ford Fusion, NASCAR driver Ricky Rudd has a resume to rival many of stock car’s legendary figures. When the NEXTEL Cup Series returns to California Speedway on Labor Day weekend, Rudd will add another item to his lengthy list of accomplishments as he is scheduled to take the green flag for his 900th career NEXTEL Cup Series start.

“This is a record that just kind of sneaks up on you,” Rudd said regarding his milestone career start. “I started out as one of the youngest guys in this sport and now I’m one of the oldest guys out there still racing. It’s a real honor to be able to have this kind of longevity with a long and fruitful career. I’ve been so lucky to have remained healthy and competitive to have made it to 900 starts, come Labor Day weekend in my SNICKERS Generation Max Ford Fusion.”

“On behalf of Mars Snackfood US, we would like to congratulate Ricky on an outstanding career. Ricky provided veteran leadership for the SNICKERS Team and has been an excellent ambassador for our brands, allowing Mars US to reinforce our commitment to NASCAR and its fans,” said William Clements, vice president, sponsorships and sports marketing, Mars Snackfood US.

Rudd, a 31-year veteran of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, returned to full-time competition for the 2007 season as the driver of the #88 SNICKERS Ford Fusion for Robert Yates Racing. His successful stock car racing career began after the Virginia native took home “Rookie of the Year” honors following the 1977 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. Rudd went on to win races in 16 consecutive seasons, which is a record he shares only with Rusty Wallace.

Perhaps Rudd is best known as NASCAR’s “Iron Man” as he currently holds the record for the most consecutive starts at 788. This accomplishment as well as others resulted in Rudd being chosen as one of NASCAR’s Top 50 Drivers of all-time. Rudd was also named the 2006 Virginian of the Year and in 2007 he was inducted into the Virginia Motorsports Hall of Fame.

“I have been lucky to have had wonderful sponsors, teams, and fans supporting me throughout these years,” Rudd continued. “I look back at my career and I still am amazed at the opportunities that I have been able to enjoy. My 900th career start is honestly a record that I hadn’t kept track of, but it is a great honor to solidify myself in the record books as the driver with the second-most all-time career starts.”

Hornish To Run Some Cup Races
Three-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. plans to run five to six of the final 10 races in the Nextel Cup season for Penske Racing, team owner Roger Penske said on Saturday. Penske said the 2006 Indianapolis 500 champion, who is considering a full-time ride in Cup next season, will turn his focus to stock cars as soon as the Indy season ends on Sept. 9. Hornish's first Cup race could come in the championship Chase opener at New Hampshire International Speedway.

"That's the game plan right now," Penske said before the start of the Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. "Obviously, he's got to qualify. But he did a good job at Michigan, and if there is a chance to run cars every week, we'll see."

Tony Stewart To Run Sprint Car Challenge
Two-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion Tony Stewart is set to return to Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash., to compete in the second annual Kasey Kahne Foundation Sprint Car Challenge. Stewart will join Kahne, a fellow sprint car and Nextel Cup driver, for the Aug. 29 event which will feature the pair going head-to-head in winged 360 sprint car competition.

“I’m looking forward to heading back to Skagit Speedway with the Kasey Kahne Foundation,” Stewart said. “The race not only gives me a chance to get back in my 360 sprint car, but it benefits a great organization at the same time. Kasey has always supported my charity events at Eldora Speedway, and it means a lot that he’s invited me to participate in this race alongside him. Hopefully, we’ll be able to put on a great show for the fans and help out a lot of deserving kids.”

In addition to competing on behalf of the Kasey Kahne Foundation, Stewart has donated an autographed Home Depot driving uniform to be auctioned on EBay immediately following the conclusion of the August 29 event. To bid on this item, please visit www.ebay.com/kaseykahnefoundation.

The non-profit Kasey Kahne Foundation was created by Kahne to raise and donate funds to charitable organizations that care for disadvantaged youths and chronically ill children and their families. Last year’s Kasey Kahne Foundation Sprint Car Challenge drew a sellout crowd, with all of proceeds benefiting the Kasey Kahne Foundation.

Stewart, who walked away from a hard crash during the 2006 event, is hoping to keep the No. 20 Tony Stewart Racing/Old Spice/Eagle on all four wheels this year to capture his first 360 winged sprint car victory of the season. With Washington’s top 360 drivers out in full force, Stewart knows the competition at Skagit will be stiff.

“Grassroots racing has always been like a reset button for me,” Stewart said. “It’s pure, and it reminds you why you got started in this business in the first place. To be in a position that allows me to compete in a sport that I love, and at the same time, help a great charity like the Kasey Kahne Foundation is a good feeling. Kasey and I will definitely have our hands full, though, as the guys that compete in the 360 division at Skagit each week are really tough.”

As an owner in both the World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Series and the U.S. Auto Club (USAC) via his Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) team, Stewart values the importance of returning to his short track roots. He currently fields the No. 20 TSR/Bass Pro Shops/Eagle entry driven by Paul McMahan in the WoO Sprint Series. He also owns the No. 20 and No. 21 TSR/Chevrolet/Maxim entries driven by Levi Jones and interim driver Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., in the USAC National Sprint and Midget Series. (Stenhouse is filling in for injured USAC driver Tracy Hines.) Beginning in 2008, TSR will field a two-car effort in the WoO Sprint Series with reigning series champion Donny Schatz.

Tickets for the second annual Kasey Kahne Foundation Sprint Car Challenge are available for purchase at the Skagit Speedway ticket office and the Kasey Kahne Store located in Enumclaw, Wash. Purchasing advanced tickets provides entry into a lottery that will allow 150 randomly chosen fans to participate in an autograph session with Stewart and Kahne. For more information regarding the Kasey Kahne Foundation Sprint Car Challenge, including a full event schedule, please visit www.kaseykahnefoundation.org. For more information regarding Skagit Speedway, the official track website is www.skagitspeedway.com.