Your news snippets from the NASCAR world from yours truly, the Race Kitten.

With only eight races to go before the chase is officially underway, Kyle Busch is in the lead points standings with 6 wins this season. If there were twelve Kyle Busch’s, he’d probably be in all top twelve spots.

 At last weekend’s race, Martin Truex Jr. got dicked…I mean docked 150 driver and 150 owner points for bringing an illegal car to Daytona. Truex’s car failed an initial inspection at Daytona when its roof did not conform to the approved template. This most likely ruined any chances for him to make the chase, putting him 18th in the standings.

In other Dale Earnhardt Inc. happenings, Aric Armorola signed with DEI to drive the #8 car full-time while Mark Martin will drive for Hendrick Motorsports. Didn’t Mark Martin say he was going to retire in 1995? “It’s hard to step away from it,” he says.

Tony Stewart will end his contract with Joe Gibbs racing a year early. He will announce at the end of this week what his future plans entail. Maybe world domination?

 This weekend’s Nationwide and Sprint Cup Races at Chicago Land Speedway will be the first nighttime race of the season with their new lights installed. This is the 10th track on the NASCAR schedule with the ability to host night races. Get your nighttime JLo sunglasses on!

 At this weekends Chicago Land race, Carl Edwards will showcase a special paint scheme of at least 8,000 Office Depot associates signatures from around the world.  “I’m excited to have so many Office Depot associates represented on the race car in such a creative and personal way,” said Edwards. I’m sure those signatures will be just as readable as the 70,000 fan signatures that Dale Jr. will try and squeeze on his car for the Talladega race.

Former NASCAR driver, Hermie Sadler signed a contract to commentate for TNA (Total Non-stop Action) Wrestling. “I am a longtime pro wrestling fan and a true supporter of TNA Wrestling; I really believe in the product. It has been a lot of fun, truly an enjoyable experience working with the superstars of TNA Wrestling,” he says. How about he just commentates the “Kyle Busch vs. Whomever Kyle Busch Pisses Off That Week” matches every week?

 Denny Hamlin says he and is team is just not performing up to potential. “It’s kind of the place where I thought we would be or maybe a little bit worse than where we’d be. We’re in the Top 10 in points, which is important for us. Right now we’ve just got to try to get a little bit more secure.” “I think we have a C-plus,” he said. “A lot of guys would love to be where we’re at right now, but I feel as a team I expect a little bit more from myself and from the team. They’re doing everything they can. If you throw luck and everything in it we get a C-plus. Based on performance I feel like we’re a B-plus or so.”

Way to boost the confidence of your team Denny! Maybe you should ask Dario Franchitti how he feels about it?

“Not to take anything away from (Joe Gibbs Racing), but a monkey could win in that car.” - Clint Bowyer, reacting to Denny Hamlin’s win in the Nationwide race.

Bitter much Clint?

 Chip Ganassi wants a “Chase or Bust” from driver Juan Pablo Montoya.

Maybe that monkey that Clint Bowyer was talking about could drive for Montoya?

Jimmie Johnson is leaning towards McCain for President. “I have to think McCain. I think our core fan base being strong Republicans like they are, that’s going to be the first choice. I also think his credits in history and what he’s done for our country, certainly for our country, a lot of those things will be fully noticed by our fan base,” said Johnson at a reception before addressing the National Press Club. “My wife and I have an apartment in New York City, and there are plenty of Democrats running around the city who are junkies for NASCAR. It’s a big sport, it really is.”

Ironically enough, Barack Obama is suddenly interested in NASCAR and will supposedly be campaigning at a future event because that’s where the “white working-class votes are.”

In the words of Austin Powers…”Riiiiiiiiiiiiight“

On this day..

• Tony Stewart's Contract With JGR Will End Early - 2008