Biffle Wins At Kansas
It was a strange day at the track. It was a race that was cut from 267 laps to 210 laps and then it was so dark in the Kansas City area that the race ended under a yellow flag, no green-white-checkers. It was a race that ended in controversy. Greg Biffle was the leader when the final caution came out with four laps to go, yet he ran out of fuel before he got to the start-finish line. Biffle eventually crossed the line but didn't maintain pace car speed. The live leaderboard on NASCAR.com showed Clint Bowyer as the winner but NASCAR had other ideas. None-the-less, Biffle was awarded the victory in the LifeLock 400 at Kansas Speedway on Sunday. NASCAR said the field was frozen at the yellow -- but in the past a driver had to keep up with the pace car and if he ran out of fuel, then the second place runner was normally declared the winner. Barring any revisions in the outcome it will be the first win this year for Biffle and the 12th victory in his 179 career races.

Hometown favorite Clint Bowyer finished the race in the runner-up spot and Jimmie Johnson, who drove from the 42nd starting position, was third. Johnson's teammates Casey Mears and Jeff Gordon were fourth and fifth respectively. Kevin Harvick brought his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet home in sixth followed by Reed Sorenson, Elliott Sadler, Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to round out the top ten. Johnson moved into the NASCAR points lead by six over Jeff Gordon and nine over Clint Bowyer. The Nextel Cup Series moves to Talladega Superspeedway next Sunday, October 7, 2007 -- for the UAW-Ford 500. Television coverage is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time.
Race details to follow...
For full final race results...     (Insider Racing News)
For top-40 Nextel Cup drivers points...     (Insider Racing News)

Stewart Skates Again
Championship contender Tony Stewart will not be penalized for cursing on live TV following practice at Kansas Speedway. The two-time series champion was talking to Robby Gordon on pit road following a Saturday practice when he was approached by an ESPN cameraman. Unaware the camera was live, Stewart said: “What? Get ... away from me,” with an obscenity underlining his remark.

NASCAR traditionally fines drivers and docks points for cursing on TV, and series officials spent Sunday reviewing the footage to determine if Stewart should be penalized. After talking with ESPN officials, Stewart and his Joe Gibbs Racing team, NASCAR decided not to punish him.

“It’s unfortunate, but there’s a lot of other noise when you see the tape,” said spokesman Jim Hunter. “If you run it over and over, you get it. But if our viewers and ESPN’s viewers are sitting at home watching it, there’s a chance they might not have heard that.”

NASCAR justified its decision by arguing that Stewart was not in a formal interview and didn’t know the camera was on, unlike when he cursed on ESPN following his July win at Indianapolis. That incident cost Stewart 25 points and $25,000.

Juan Pablo Montoya used a similar defense when he was caught on live television flashing his middle finger, but unlike Stewart, he was penalized.(thatsracin.com)

Yates Losing Both Sponsors
Yates needs two sponsors for next season for drivers David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil. Yates acknowledged Friday for the first time that M&M's and Snickers will not return for next season. "M&M's is moving on, and we wish them well," Yates said. "It's been a great opportunity/partnership for us. "The family (MARS) is just great people. I want to thank them, and it looks like they've got some good opportunities in front of them and I wish them the best. This sport is about relationships and taking care of people who took care of you, so I can't say anything but great things about them."

Sponsorship is in the works for both teams next year, Yates said. In July, RYR announced a partnership with the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Champ Car team, but then Robert Yates opted instead to have his son take over the team and solicit Roush's help for sponsorship.

"I feel good about the stuff that is going on," Doug Yates said. "I feel a lot more optimistic today than I did when we were going down a different path." (scenedaily.com)

Yates Will Move Shop
Robert Yates Racing is planning to move from its shop in Mooresville, N.C., to Concord, N.C., next to the Roush Fenway Racing shop, likely in the building that Boris Said's No Fear Racing team currently occupies.

"We are looking to move to Concord [N.C.] - we're looking at the possibilities right now," said team co-owner Doug Yates, who will take over ownership of the team from his father at the end of the season. "We're going to get closer to over there so that we can have better communications. We're working with Boris and his guys on the possibility of [his shop]."

Yates said the move will allow better technology flow. Yates Racing will purchase chassis and bodies from Roush Fenway, which also will provide marketing and sponsorship help. He said it's about getting the team stronger and hopes to keep his strongest employees. The move won't be the only change for the team that will be known as Yates Racing. It has released the No. 88 to Hendrick Motorsports and is expected to resurrect the No. 28 it used in its early years.

"We haven't decided exactly yet [on the number]," Yates said. "That's definitely a good possibility."

Addressing rumors that Roush Fenway general manager Max Jones will move to Yates, Doug Yates said: "We're trying to sort out who the general manager is going to be. Max and his organization are trying to win a championship right now. We're working through that process. We're going to have a general manager that will run it day-to-day."(scenedaily.com)

Jarrett Leaves Future To UPS
About two months ago, Nextel Cup veteran Dale Jarrett approached officials from his sponsor, UPS, and essentially put his racing future in their hands. Together, they are mulling a number of options, including running a limited schedule next season or, perhaps, leaving the ride.

Jarrett, with one year left on his contract to drive the No. 44 Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing, has had a difficult season, to say the least. He has qualified for only 10 of 29 races, but has raced in 18 thanks to six provisionals and two qualifying rainouts.

"There's so many [scenarios], we couldn't get into it," Jarrett said Saturday at Kansas Speedway. "The only thing I can tell you, it can be anywhere from one to 36 races. The biggest factor, obviously we want to make Michael Waltrip Racing better, [but] the biggest thing, mainly, is what's best for UPS.

"It would be totally unfair to say they're forcing me to do something because that's not the case whatsoever. I want them to be able to do what's best, and they want me to do what's best. I have a tremendous relationship there. I feel fortunate to have the best sponsor in the business at the end of my career, and I want to do and give them what is best for them and what they deserve."(espn.go.com)