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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

NASCAR full of ups, downs

Plenty of intrigue as Sprint Cup takes a midsummer break

By Mike Brudenell Detroit Free Press

With NASCAR Sprint Cup on break, a few observations from the wacky world of stock car racing:

Breaks are good. Just ask Jeff Gordon, who can spend time with baby Ella.

Breaks are bad. Just ask Carl Edwards, who is single and can’t wait to get back into a race car.

When GM says it will scale back on its racing programs and announces it won’t renew contracts with New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway, you know times are tough.

Is Kyle Busch a robot sent from outer space to make fools of ordinary humans? Wild Thing is on a wild ride this year.

How much longer can Juan Pablo Montoya take it at Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates before blowing his top? The former Formula One star can’t be happy finishing 39th.

Can Dale Earnhardt Jr. win his first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship this year?

Oh, yeah, we forget about Kyle.

Wonder what Kurt Busch really thinks of his kid brother?

Are open-wheel racers out of their element in stock cars? Seems like a tough transition, but we think former Formula One driver Scott Speed, who is competing in ARCA and Craftsman Trucks this season, will make an impact in the next season or two.

Waiting on Jimmie Johnson to get on a roll – perhaps.

If you haven’t caught NASCAR’s silly season at a track near you, you may already have missed it.

Good luck, Tony Stewart, on your new gig as a NASCAR Sprint Cup owner/driver. It will be fun interviewing you in your twin roles in 2009.