Phoenix "News" and Notes

--To be fair, that wasn't the first time that two guys influenced by beer (companies) wound up in an argument with an AARP member.

--Last week's race at Texas started with 400 miles of dullness, followed by 100 miles of drama.  Would shortening the total race distance just get rid of the dullness, or would the drama suffer too?  I dunno, but it couldn't hurt to try!

--The oddity of this round of the Chase (so far) has been having both races won by drivers who have already been eliminated.  It wasn't surprising that they both race for Hendrick Motorsports--that's pretty much par for the course.  As is Nascar messing with something and getting terrible results.

--Roush Fenway Racing has made some significant front-office changes headed into the offseason.  This as opposed to, you know, trying to make changes headed into the ACTUAL season.

--Nice to know that Hendrick is paying its crew members' fines.  I'm guessing they'll just have to work a little "voluntary overtime" to pay them back.

Spade Racing presents Nascar Survivor Series

Click here for the ORIGINAL post-race recap

Nascar's Chase Grid format is all about survival.  Unfortunately, it tends to come off as manufactured as pro-wrestling.  To make the best out of a bad situation, let's get ready to wrap up the season with a Nascar Pay-Per-View blowout, Survivor Series-style!

Dark Match

Brian Keselowski vs. Brad Keselowski--Brother-vs.-Brother match with special guest referee Bob Keselowski

Sunday Night Tepidity

Dale Earnhardt Jr. vs. Brad Keselowski--Mentor vs. Student Showdown

Carl Edwards vs. Brad Keselowski--The Old Battle Rages Anew

Main Event Matches

Matt Kenseth vs. Brad Keselowski--Trailer Lot Brawl

Kyle Busch vs. Brad Keselowski--Winner gets a lifetime supply of Skittlebrau

Michael McDowell vs. Brad Keselowski--(Brad cut ahead of Michael in the line for the bathroom)

Kevin Harvick vs. Brad Keselowski--Battle of the Beers

Jeff Gordon vs. Brad Keselowski--with Kevin Harvick as the Special Enforcer

Kyle Busch "Does The Double" of Texas Cup Race and New York Marathon

Fulfilling what he called "another personal goal of (his)", Nascar driver Kyle Busch was able to "Do The Double", running in the AAA Texas 500 as well as the New York Marathon on the same day.

Kyle pre-race with Tony Stewart

"When I came into Nascar, I knew I wanted to win in anything I could", said a noticeably winded Busch post-Nascar-race, "and that meant winning in Cup, Nationwide, Trucks, K&N Pro Series, Slim Jim All Pro, Winter Heat, and yes, even marathons.  Even though I couldn't finish in first today up in New York, I'm proud of the effort we put in to at least get a decent finish."

Busch deflected criticism that running more than one race a weekend (or day, for that matter) detracted from his focus on the Sprint Cup Series.

"Hey, I'm here to race, and to learn as much about every track as I can", Busch said.  "So if in the future, Nascar decides to run a race on the streets of New York City, and I'm the only one who knows how to get the fastest lane for a restart on the Verrazano Bridge, well, you'll know why!"

Busch had driver Parker Kligerman on standby in Texas in case he was not able to fly-in in time for the start of the Cup race.  Furthermore, he had runner Steve Clayton, the "Greg Sacks of marathons", on hand to relieve him in New York if he needed to leave early.

"As far as I'm concerned, it's all about competing", Busch stated shortly before leaving Texas Motor Speedway to compete in a unicycle race in Duluth.  "Be it at the top level of the sport, to the bottom level, or to another sport completely, I'll be there."

Marathon officials noted that they were unable to interview Busch, as he did not win the race.