Weird qualifying session on Friday saw the likes of Mike Skinner and Todd Bodine actually qualify on the second row. We also all thought that Jamie McMurray would finally be humbled (with qualifying NOT rained out) and would actually have to start back towards the decrepits for once. WRONG � JamieMac was sitting on the pole for much of the session, with only a monster Ryan Newman run knocking him to the outside of Row 1. Meanwhile, points leader Tony Stewart qualifies 25th � not a biggie considering the #20 typically does not qualify strong. However, points leader Mark Martin appears dialed in during practice and is starting fifth, alongside Jeff Green. Furthermore, the Martin pit crew � and all pit crews of Rosch Racing flexed their muscle big-time in the annual pit-crew competition with Matt Kenseth�s team finishing first, with Martin�s team second, Kurt Busch�s crew third, and the crew of Jeff Burton sixth. And this is a track where pit strategy always is key. Among those not qualifying were Hideo Fukuyama (who actually may get a full ride with Travis Carter next year) and Carl Long (here�s a clue: cars sponsored by pay-day advance outfits typically do not fare well).

To the surprise of no one, Newman checks out at the start and quickly builds a four-second advantage over Kurt Busch. The #30 of Green appears strong and is running fourth. Green also appeared to have the Busch race on Saturday locked up before a late-race tangle with Michael Waltrip. Meanwhile, unlike last week when stuck back in the field after a lug-nut problem, Tony Stewart appears to be making no headway whatsoever, but fellow points contender Jimmie Johnson is running alongside him � so the #48 has much ground to make up as well. Bobby Hamilton spins and collects Mike Wallace to bring out the first caution on Lap 22. A/p adjustment on Busch, who briefly holds up Waltrip. Stewart gets a track bar and other adjustments, the #20 also runs into the rear of the #28 of Ricky Rudd � possibly leaving a small hole in the grill.

This would turn out to be the final caution for the first half of the race, bad news for Stewart as the #20�s setup is still way off. Jeff Green restarts second and this time is keeping right up with Newman, as the #12 suddenly appears not nearly as dominant. Green, then eventually Mark Martin would take over the race lead. Meanwhile, Tony Stewart and Dale Jr. are now running outside the top 30, running with the likes of the #91 of Hank Parker Jr. (Evernham Dodge entry) � and is in fast danger of falling a lap down. Green and Martin start putting cars a lap down on Lap 65. Newman starts dropping back in the field, and eventually out of the top ten. Teammate Rusty Wallace�s setup is off as well and is back in 15th. Jeff Gordon is running well, making a run at the top five while Johnny Benson runs 18th (ho-hum). On lap 93, the unthinkable happens � Martin puts Tony Stewart a lap down. Green flag stops commence soon after, with many of the drivers not running well short-pitting to gain an advantage on the rough Rockingham surface. Junior 17.1, Watrip 16.3, Newman 15.3 (track bar/wedge), Stewart short-pits with major changes, Rusty 14.7 (track bar/chassis/a-p), Jarrett 16.5 (wedge) before making brief contact with Greg Biffle (this week�s#44 Petty Dodge entrant), a-p/wedge on Mike Skinner, still flirting with the top five. Martin 15.2 (no changes), minor changes for JimmieJohn, Green 15.7 (wedge), Todd (you wouldn�t think I�d be reporting on Brett) Bodine 16.6, McMurray 14.7, LaBonte 14.1 (a-p/wedge).

Lead recycles to Martin, the short-pit strategy has Stewart back on the lead lap in the 22nd position � but would fall back again as the run continues. Martin continues to dominate, putting more cars a lap down including Tony Stewart for good (Lap 150). Trailing the #6 are Busch, Green, Jeff Gordon, and Skinner. Junior (still running 31st) short-pits again. Busch gets stronger towards the end of the run and passes teammate Martin on Lap 158, Ryan Newman goes a lap down on Lap 163. Stewart 14.8 (again/major changes), Newman now down to 20th � and is delayed on pit road due to a spring rubber. Johnson 14.5, Skinner 14.8, Rusty 17.2 (chassis/wedge/pound off all tires), Kenseth 16.0 (�laundry-list� of changes), Benson 15.6, Green 14.9 (a/p), J. Burton 15.1 (small wedge), Busch 15.0 (pitting at exactly halfway), Martin 14.7, B. LaBonte 13.8. Note the great gas mileage on the Rosch cars. Cycle is complete on Lap 203. Rusty goes a lap down by Lap 213. Meanwhile an even bigger development occurs with Jimmie Johnson reporting a vibration (lug-nut problem) and having to return to pit road. Debris finally brings out a caution on Lap 228, with just 16 cars on the lead lap. Green allows Robbie Gordon and two others to get a lap back. That would bode very well for the #31 at the end of the day. Stewart, Johnson, Newman and Dale Jr. remain a lap down however. Pound right front on Green, small adjustment for Busch, three-turn adjustment on Martin. Finally, network can go into commercial with that old Starship number (�We Built This City on ROCK and Roll� � get it???) How original.

Well as we all know, cautions breed cautions � so we should be seeing some yellow flying now. Lap 235 restart order is Green, Busch, Gordon, Bill Elliott, and Martin. Busch (trying for that elusive �three-peat�) scampers away, while Green is dealing with Rusty Wallace (without his regular spotter, among other things), who is running strong but not enough to get back on the lead lap. Jimmie Johnson�s fate gets even worse, as he has to return to pit road (and eventually behind the wall for ten laps) again. Turns out that there is leaking from a gear related to the earlier lug-nut problem. A huge break for Tony Stewart. Todd Bodine sees his strong run come to an end by cutting a tire and smacking the Turn 1 wall on Lap 257. Well, at least he didn�t get the opportunity to wreck ten cars this week. No changes for Busch, while Jeff Gordon hits a tire of Bill Elliott � but with no apparent damage. Jeff Green gets delayed on pit road, and now falls back to 11th, with a restart order of Busch (trying for a �three-peat�), Martin, Gordon, Mike Skinner, and Jeff Burton.

Dale Jr. is now three laps down at this point. Green manages to gain three positions up to eighth, before Ward Burton brushes Brett Bodine before wrecking in Turn 3 (Lap 290). Then comes one of my favorite moments in NASCAR, when Ward is interviewed after a crash. To translate, WB seems more upset about his car�s performance than with Brett letting him out of his misery. I will say one thing about Ward � for a man with few words he sure gets his money�s worth. Everyone pits with hopes of making it to the end, a/p adjustment for Green, a/p for Busch, track bar on Martin, wedge adj. for Gordon. Restart order is Martin, Busch, Bobby LaBonte, Gordon, Skinner, and Johnny Benson suddenly lurking in sixth. In the name of team strategy, Busch elects to remain in second to allow Martin to collect five additional points for leading the most laps. Further back, Rusty (lap down) and Gordon start to engage in a bump-fest, described as a �spirited and physical battle� on Rusty�s website. To Gordon it is something else, and Jeff is going ballistic on the radio � what else is new. Meanwhile, Elliott blows up with a waterpump problem and is done for the day. Again, what else is new. Busch eventually does overtake Martin for the lead, but Benson is becoming the story, as he gets fifth from Skinner on Lap 310 (82 to go), then up to third on Lap 330. Benson then overtakes Martin for second with 43 to go, and then alongside and eventually past Busch to take the lead for good with 25 laps remaining, while Martin also gets past Busch. KB gamely dogs Benson, and appeared to have the #10 on a couple of occasions in the closing laps, but it is Benson who hangs on for his first Cup victory � as several cars had to either pit or ran out of fuel late. That was of great benefit for Tony Stewart, whose car is finally dialed in late, allowing for a late rally to 14th.

Kurt Busch hangs on for third, followed by Jeff Burton and Jeff Gordon. Rounding out the top ten was Mike Skinner, Bobby LaBonte, Matt Kenseth, Ricky Craven, and Jeff Green. Robby Gordon (with the help of Green earlier on) finishes 11th as the final car on the lead lap. Other notables include Dale Jarrett (12th), Jamie McMurray (15th), Ricky Rudd (20th), Ryan Newman (23th), Greg Biffle (25th), Kevin Harvick (26th), Rusty Wallace (27th), Dale Jr. (34th), Jimmie Johnson (37th), and Bill Elliott (39th). Hank Parker Jr. places 33rd in his Cup debut. As far as the big picture is concerned, Tony Stewart dodges a huge bullet � not only by climbing up to 14th, but by the misfortunes of Newman and Johnson � who effectively saw their chances of winning the title in their rookie year end. The day ends with Stewart holding a 87 point lead over Martin, followed by Johnson (-219), Newman (-225), and Kurt Busch (-238). The #40 car is now third in owners points, 186 points behind the #20 car.

MARTIN BUSTED

At least we thought Martin had pulled to within 87 points. The #6 car ends up failing post-race inspection to having a 3/8 spring v. a � spring. In what the Rosch camp compares to getting the death penalty for shoplifting, 25 driver/owner points were docked � leaving Martin 112 points behind Stewart. There is talk of the team appealing the penalty, and the crew chief insists that this was a approved spring unaltered from �the time it left the box�. The chances of the deduction being overturned range from slim to none, as NASCAR decided earlier in the season that there would be no more tolerance to failing inspection, no matter how small the violation. Jeff Green was docked for the same violation after a third place finish in Richmond, which got little play due to the #30 not being a championship contender. Also, Jimmie Johnson, Rusty Wallace, and Dale Jarrett have also been docked 25 points due to various infractions since mid-season. At least no one can accuse NASCAR of trying to manufacture a dramatic points race, as would had been the case if it were the #20 who�d been busted. Still, one has to wonder � should Martin pull within 25 points of Stewart in the final two weeks, could the battle for the Cup Championship be headed to a circuit court near you???

Speaking of Stewart, some thought that he would be in line for a point deduction as well, but for a completely different reason. In a post-race interview NOT interviewed live since network knows better (as in trying to interview Mike Tyson after a bad day), Stewart said (para-phrasing) that the car ran like �crap�. Normally not a big deal (though NASCAR recently took some cash from crew chief Chad Knaus for a similar act) except Stewart is on probation, and NASCAR is on record as saying they would take driver points away from a driver for misconduct -�even if it is well after a race. Tony should just bite his tongue for two weeks, and he should know better since he�s done TV commentary himself (and done quite well in fact). I think Tony should know George Carlins� seven words by now. Yes, Ward Burton cussed too � but he�s not in contention and not on probation. Don�t give the red jackets anything to bust you on at this point. Other than that, Stewart did a great job avoiding major point disaster on a bad car day � especially when compared to the likes of Newman and Johnson. In fact that is usually the type of performance that often differentiates the champion from the contenders.

SPENCER WHACKED

You can tell we�re getting down to the tail end of the season with drivers beginning to fall left and right. In a semi-surprise, only because he was in the first year of a three-year contract � Jimmy Spencer was let go (effective end of season) by Chip Ganassi from the #41 car. Candidates to replace Spencer include Bobby Hamilton and Jimmy Vasser, who is sponsored by Target in the CART series. This news should also bode well for Jamie McMurray � who now appears at the very least to be the #2 dog in the Ganassi stable in �03. Speaking of JamieMac, his incredible month continued by winning the Rockingham Busch race for his second straight win in that series � following the late-race tangle of Jeff Green and Michael Waltrip.

The options for Spencer now appear limited. One option could be the #7 car, where the divorce between embattled driver Casey Atwood and car owner Jim Smith became official this week. Not long after that the divorce between co-owner Ray Evernham (who provided Atwood as a driver) and Smith became final. There were many fascinating angles to this breakup. One report had Smith parting with Evernham after discovering just this weekend that the #7 engine �was significantly short on horsepower� � compared to the other two Evernham entries (Bill Elliott #9/Jeremy Mayfield #19). And then there was Smith�s dissatisifaction with the 22-year old Atwood, which culminated with bringing veteran Kevin LePage to drive test laps with the #7, to provide a baseline on where the car should be performing. LePage�s laps reportedly turned out to be faster than the laps Atwood was turning. Frustrated by the attempts to light a fire under Atwood, Crew Chief Tony Furr reportedly told Atwood midway through the Rockingham race �that if he didn�t start racing�, that he was going to �head to the house� � and then supposedly did leave his post a short time later.

Truck Series driver Jason Leffler (formely of the Ganassi #01 car) is now slated to drive the #7 for the final two weeks. Jim Smith has retained sponsorship for the �03 season, so that car will be filled by someone. Meanwhile, Evernham will be in the #91 �research and development� car that was driven by Hank Parker this past weekend. As far as next season is concerned, Atwood appears relegated to the Busch series in the #27 currently piloted by Jamie McMurray. This marks the culmination of a huge slide in Atwood�s stock, who was considered a �rising star� when Evernham hired him to drive the #19 before the �01 season. But again, keep in mind Casey is still 22 � and although considered shy by many insiders, has plenty of time and opportunity to yet become a quality Cup driver.

Finally, sponsorship will not be renewed on the Travis Carter #26 currently be driven by Todd Bodine. Todd appears resigned to riding the Excedrin Headache #92 special in the Busch circuit next year. Should a sponsor be found for the #26, Spencer could be a possible candidate to return there.

PHOENIX PREVIEW

Last year�s race here was held in Late October, and summer heat had yet to vacate the desert. Air-temperatures ran in the high-90�s, and the upshot was right-fronts going down on several competitors within 30-40 laps of a run. By mid-race a Goodyear representative was being grilled on TV, pinning the problem on the unseasonably late heat as well as teams running below recommended PSI�s. Jeff Burton would win that race, seizing the lead from Mike Wallace (#12 car) in the latter stages. The forecast calls for much cooler temps this time around. For the first time, I will list the drivers in my predicted order of finish, with comments to follow. Hope you enjoy the new format, now the rundown�

1. Jeff Burton � You may remember an edition of the Racing Vortex earlier this season (8/28) where I attributed a statement to Jeff regarding statements allegedly made regarding crewman and salary caps. This was a story I got from a single source at that time. According to a representative of Jeff recently, those comments were in fact never made. Thus, I take this opportunity to retract that story. Now as far as the race is concerned, Burton has gone fourth, fourth, first, and first the past four years. Of course the #99 has had great track records at New Hampshire and Las Vegas as well, and it hasn�t seemed to help this year. Still, this team is coming on as of late and I look for the #99 to get off the �02 schnide with what I dare say � a three-peat.

2. Tony Stewart � 1999 winner of this event and fifth place finisher last year. Before thinking that the #20 will just be point racing, be aware of a bonus now up to $300,000 to the point leader should he win a race. Clinching this sucker before Homestead provides even more motivation.

3. Ryan Newman � In case you need any other, the #12 has finished second the past two years with Jeremy Mayfield and Mike Wallace.

4. Kurt Busch � Is there anyone hotter right now??? Expect another huge Rosch weekend.

5. Mark Martin � Team comes in po�d, and MM finished second in �98 and �99, expect another strong finish here.

6. Matt Kenseth � Keeping with the Rosch theme, the #17 is coming off a fourth place here last year.

7. Jimmie Johnson � Lack of momentum may be an issue here.

8. Jeff Gordon � If you�re looking for a bad track for the #24, this is it. Has never won, and his last top five here was in 1996. Was the fatest car in testing here last week, impressive until finding out the other drivers were Johnny Benson, Christian Fittipaldi, Derrick Cope, and P.J. Jones.

9. Rusty Wallace � 1998 winner, along with a fourth in 2000. PIR has some of the short-track characteristics Rusty excels in, and along with J. Burton is the highest profile driver not to win this year.

10. Jamie McMurray � If 15th is crashing back to earth, it is a soft landing.

11. Johnny Benson � Top ten finisher last year, just roll out that Martinsville/Rockingham/New Hampshire special.

12. Jeff Green � Had a strong chance to win at the Rock, should be the best of the RCR drivers.

13. Bill Elliott � Believe in buying low??? Bill is coming off Atwood-like finishes of 35th, 42nd, 33rd, and 39th. However, Phoenix and Homestead are the flat-tracks Elliott excels in, and is sure to pull out his Pocono/Indy special.

14. Robby Gordon � Finished seventh last year and is looking at another one of his patented end-of-season runs.

15. Bobby LaBonte � NASCARODDS has him as the third favorite this week. The first week of the Fatback McSwain association went well with a seventh � and Bobby has an average finish of 8.5 over the past four weeks.

16. Dale Jarrett � Another driver with not a good track record here, even when he was a Cup contender. DJ tends to use late-season races as an extended testing session.

17. Dale Earnhardt Jr. � Streak of five top-ten finishes ended with a 34th in Rockingham. Career finishes of 27th and 37th at PIR.

18. Ricky Craven � Eighth place finish here in �01.

19. Ricky Rudd � Lame Duck only makes the top twenty based on a third place finish last year.

20. Steve Park � Has something to prove, don�t be surprised to see a contending run either here or in Homestead.

21 Kevin Harvick � Except for a strong eight-week mid season stretch, season has been a total bust.

22. Jeremy Mayfield � As mentioned before, has seen success here in the #12 car.

23. Dave Blaney � Has kind of plateaued.

24. Ward Burton � Hope the #22 ain�t manure this week.

25. Michael Waltrip � Only cause he qualifies well.

Also � Fresh off the Busch invasion if Indy veteran Roberto Guerrero a few weeks back. Open-wheel veteran Christian Fittipaldi makes his Cup debut this week, getting a head-start on the ABC (combination of ARCA, Busch, and Cup races) Program next year, with an eye towards a full-time ride with Petty Enterprises in 2004. Would NASCAR go over in Brasil if he makes it???

ANDY HOUSTON AWARD

Make it a clean sweep for the #14 car at the Rock this year, as Mike Wallace was only able to last 120 laps after his early run-in with Bobby Hamilton.