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Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:02 PM)

Let's rock and roll.

Coach Jay (Curry, MA)

Do NASCAR drivers have training programs (endurance or whatever it may be) in the offseason to endure the racing season?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:04 PM)

I have never heard of one. The conditioning of drivers varies pretty widely from Carl Edwards down to...well, I don't want to kill Tony so let's just say it varies. They all are gifted in some ways but they have different body types. Think of it like golf. You can look like Tiger Woods or you can look like Tim Herron and still get the job done -- just not at Tiger's level.

Jake (VA)

What are your thoughts on Ragan and his chances of making the Chase? I think he will make it if he has a good showing this weekend. He heads to california which is a good track for him and then to Richmond where he could have won that race last year if he would've had about 10 more laps. Your thoughts...

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:05 PM)

I like Ragan's chances better than Bowyer's, Jake. I think I am talking about that on "Nascar Now'' in a couple of hours. Ragan has been moving up the charts, Bowyer down. Still not a done deal but it will be something if four Roush Fenway drivers make the Chase.

BJ (Des Moines, IA)

Gordon, in or out of the chase? Is this year a one year aberration, or an indication of the future for the 24 team?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:09 PM)

In the chase. He has too far to tumble,unless he just keeps finishing 42nd. I can't just call it an aberration, though. Not when he has gone 23 races into the season without a win since 2002 when he didn't win til Bristol. That year he won three of the last 13 to finish fourth. Don't see that happening for the 24.

molly pontes (crying)

whats teh deal with the 24, does he turn it around at bristol?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:11 PM)

I will finish up on the Gordon question since I hate to see Molly crying. Please stop, dear. He's still Jeff Gordon. He's in the Chase (I think). He has a great team behind him (or at least he did). It's not all dark (just cloudy). Any better?

Ted Curley (Cooperstown, NY)

Do you think there will be olympic racing any time in the future? The sport is popular worldwide, you'd think it would be an olympic sport!

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:12 PM)

I don't think you mean NASCAR, Ted, because it isn't big world-wide. And I don't see F1 drivers going for gold any time soon. My feeling: Don't they have enough (as in WAY TOO MANY) events in the Olympic Games already?

William (Kyle Busch Nation)

In every other sport there are articles written about what might be happening in free agency during the NEXT offseason but whenever your Nascar colleagues are asked a question about NEXT year's silly season they act like its crazy to talk about that. Why are Nascar analysts and writers so unwilling or incapable of talking about the 2009 silly season?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:13 PM)

William, I don't know exactly where you are going with this because it seems on Nascar Now last year and this year sometimes that ALL we talk about is where Dale Jr. is going, where Tony is going, where Kyle is going, who wants Mears, who wants Newman. I think we talk it to death, maybe I am missing something.

Jenna Lazer (Les Beaux, LA)

Hey there Tim I was wondering how is NASCAR going to stay affordable for the fans when the gas is so expensive?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:15 PM)

Not sure where Les Beaux is, but I love the names of towns in Louisiana. Jenna, the average fan already has been priced out. Put it this way. I picked up two Nationwide tickets (good seats, but not suite or anything) and a parking pass for friends. Retail value $300. That doesn't include gas to get there, food, drinks, etc. Make that a family of four (again we're talking Nationwide, not Cup) and how many "average'' fans can deal that unless they set money aside like it's Christmas or something.

Tom (Danbury,CT)

I seem to disagree, Bowyer has three pretty solid tracks for him coming up and if anyone Hamlin is the one that can be in big danger of missing out.

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:16 PM)

Tom, Bowyer won at Richmond earlier this year and I was at the Bristol night race and remember talking to him afterwards so he must have been top five. So he has a shot for sure. I just think Ragan's momentum is a little better so I have Ragan moving into the Chase and Hamlin moving out. Kahne could move out, too, that's for sure.

John (TN)

Tim,Thanks for your weekly program. Any early picks for Bristol? Thanks

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:17 PM)

As kind of a dark horse, I like Kasey Kahne who had the pole there a year ago but couldn't do anything with it.

mr chan (square)

who do you see running better this week: HMS, JGR, or RCR?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:18 PM)

I think the Roush cars will be better than all of them. To answer your specific question I would go with JGR. Kyle and Tony have been good and Hamlin needs it badly.

Jerry Ernst (Lether, ON)

Who is the most hated man in NASCAR? I say Kurt Busch....what do you think?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:23 PM)

I get this a lot but it's impossible to answer. It fluctuates. When Kurt was a big factor, maybe, but he's down around 20th. What's the point in hating him? His brother gets booed a lot but I am seeing more and more Kyle Busch fans out there. And hearing from them, too.

molly mccarthy (and she heard me)

tim do you see nascar ever awarding points for getting the pole..this would give a little more importance to qualifying.

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:25 PM)

I don't think there is any point in that really. You already get to start up front. You get the best pit stall. If you can't capitalize on it, why get 10 points just for running fast in qualifying?

Greg (Richmond, VA)

Why can't a case be made for Hamlin? I don't like the bad mojo and all surrounding him, but you gotta admit he was darn good at Bristol and Richmond earlier in the year. He had a chance to win both races, but lost due to a fuel cell problem and a flat tire. Bowyer only won at Richmond because of Hamlin's flat and the Junior and Kyle fiasco.

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:30 PM)

Greg, a case can definitely be made. Out of the four guys going for the last two spots -- Hamlin, Kahne, Bowyer and Ragan -- I think he has the most talent and drives for the best team. But he's had a rollercoaster season that he will tell you was largely unnecessary. They can still right the ship (or the roller coaster car I guess) and get in. I am just picking Ragan to get in and Kahne to stay.

Keith (Miami)

Is the 17 car a solid pick this weekend? He has a good history at Bristol and is way overdue for a win.

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:31 PM)

I like Kenseth's chances, I mentioned that in the power rankings I think. He seemed perturbed after coming in 5th a week ago. I think that's a good sign.

Mary Sheedy (St. Agathas, MA)

I love the New Hampshire race twice a year, but where do you think I should go besides Daytona if I'm looking to make a trip to a race?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:32 PM)

Mary, Daytona has to be the first choice. After that, to get the NASCAR experience, there are several choices but I would favor Bristol and Darlington.

Dave Walhgren (Cunningham, MA)

Does the new surface at Bristol the problems with the COT? The racing is no longer fun there, I am not looking forward to this weekend...

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:33 PM)

I don't think that's as big an issue as these cars not wanting to bang into each other. Hard to say, i was at last year's race and it wasn't great by Bristol standards. A second night race will tell us more.

Rob(NY)

Why doesent the regular season champ get any perks for winning? Maybe say 100 point lead in the chase. whats the diffence if your first in or last in?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:37 PM)

Rob, I have said I favor 25 points. But 100 points would be too many. Imagine giving Kyle Busch 180 points (including the 10 for each win). Call off the Chase. But some smaller reward would be fair. And it wouldn't have tilted things in Gordon's favor last year, Johnson still would have won.

Dave Bigwood (Quarries, Que.)

Do you think the chase will come down to the wire or is Kyle Buschleague going to run away with it?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:38 PM)

I can't say Kyle running away with it is out of the question, not with eight Cup wins. But i still see a three-man race. My weeklyl updated top five to win: 1. Jimmie; 2. Kyle; 3. Carl; 4. Harvick; 5. Tony.

Frank (Rochester)

From what I remember the Spring Race was probably the best race of the season thus far. Maybe other then the 400 at Daytona, So lets not throw dirt on Bristol yet.

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:38 PM)

That's true, Frank. Daytona 500 was good, too.

Ned (Wilmington NC)

How much will Car of Tomarrow racing be effected by the new surface on the track. I hope it will just as fun to watch. What do you think.

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:39 PM)

They ran them in the night race a year ago, Ned, and there wasn't as much action as you usually see at Bristol. Think it's bound to be better this Saturday night.

Big Mama (yazoo city, ole miss)

Kevin Harvick will win this week. Mark it down, baby. And tell J.A. Adande I said Heyyyyy.

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:43 PM)

I like the Harvick pick, he has been sneaking his way back through the rankings. Great job running from 38th to 8th at Michigan and he can drive a short track. Big Mama?

tracy ah cidlevich (milton, ma)

what are your thoughts on short track racing, do you like it more/less? why?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:44 PM)

I like it for sure but if I had to choose short track or super speedway, I would go with the speedways. That's sort of like Thom Yorke saying if he had to choose between making music with guitars or computers, he would have to go with computers. And if anyone can tell me what band that refers to, I will give them BIG PROPS.

Tom (Danbury,CT)

Has anything been announced on Zippy for next year? Is he going to go with Stewart or stay with Gibbs?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:45 PM)

Greg Zipadelli has made his loyalty to Gibbs very clear. Not sure what capacity he will return. Be a nice crew chief for 18-year-old Logano to start with, don't you think?

Tom (Danbury,CT)

David Newton still picks Harvick to miss the chase. How far off on that pick is he?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:46 PM)

I think this Mr. Newton got with that apple a little too hard. I will tell you how far off he is. He said in a chat this week if he and I had a lap to go on the track, he would lap me twice. Let's see him post a lap of 134 as I did at TMS last fall. Ha! Ball's in your court, Newt.

BB (Mpls)

Tim, please one more Gordon question. Based on where things have gotten to this year (I know he is still in top 12 in points but dreadfully unproductive in doing so) don't you think heads will role after this year? Or, has Jeff and Rick gotten comfortable with mediocrity?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:47 PM)

Not comfortable with mediocrity, but whose head? Letarte was crew chief in '07 when Gordon set a modern record with 30 top 10s. Just have to find a way to get Jeff more comfortable with the newer cars. He still seems to hate them.

Tyler (NC)

I have Kenseth, Burton, Ragan, and Allmendinger on my fantasy team... good week or do i need to pick up Waltrip?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:48 PM)

Any week in which you have to pick up Michael Waltrip is not a good week. Unless it's a commercial fantasy game.

Chris (VA)

Does NASCAR have to give out the Rookie of the Year award this year?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:49 PM)

Chris, this might be a good year to pretend it doesn't exist. Think a rookie should be in top 20 or just forget it.

Tim (Harrisburg, PA)

How does Jeff get more comfortable? More testing, what? He's driven lots of different cars in his career.

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:51 PM)

Tim, I don't have that answer. I would send it to Jeff if I did. But he's always hated loose cars and you have to loosen these cars up so much to get them to handle that he just seems to fight it on a weekly basis. Having said all that we have about Gordon in this chat, he's in the top 10 and could end up '08 champion for all we know. Two more and I'm going to have to run.

mr scroy (mole station, ut)

out of the 4 that can clinch this weekend, who do you think has the best chance of doing it (88,24,99,31)

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:54 PM)

The way things have gone and considering that Edwards won the Bristol night race last August, you have to go with the 99.

Elc $ (Cleary, TN)

Besides the crew chief, who is the most important guy in the garage?

Tim Cowlishaw

  (3:56 PM)

I think it has to be the engine builder. Guys like Mark Cronquist can definitely be difference makers. Great job this week, we will chat with you next week -- not sure what time yet because i am flying to LA Thursday for the race but we will let you know. Travel safe.Courage.