Buzzmaster

  (1:31 PM)

We've got Randy!

Pete C (Newark DE)

Any chance that Kyle Busch even wins one more race down the stretch? What happen to that car?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:32 PM)

That team was so strong at the beginning of the year. At the tracks coming up, I would be surprised if they don't come back and win another one. Maybe overconfidence has played something in this.

Andy (Denver)

How long will the Hamlin injuries hold him back? Is Charlotte a tough track to tackle not feeling 100%? Could he be lifted for a replacement driver at the first caution during the race - if so who would that relief driver be?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:33 PM)

Any track is a tough track, competing at the Cup level. They released him from the hospital. I hear he has rib soreness, ankle soreness. I'm sure he'll take some headache medicine. NASCAR doesn't make you take a week off for a concussion. He would feel better if he had a week off, that's for sure.

becka,va

what do you miss most about racing

Randy LaJoie

  (1:34 PM)

Any time you win a championship and you win races, you miss the competition that you want to beat up on. And also, you do miss the paycheck.

Chad (Cascade,MD)

Will jeff win a race this year?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:35 PM)

I'm sure there's a lot of Dupont fans. Jeff has been in position a few times this year. That team has competed well. Charlotte coming up is one of his favorite tracks and some of the other tracks he's done well on. I do think he'll win one.

justin (durham nc)

wwith scott riggs wrappign a deal up for the 09 season,....who in your best opinion do yuou see him driving for in the 09 season

Randy LaJoie

  (1:35 PM)

That I don't know. You look at the teams, DEI is out there. They lost Manard and his money. Ganassi is there. There is a place. Scott is a great little shoot.

Mike (nashua,nh )

Who do you think is going to win the championship?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:36 PM)

With JJ's prior two championships and the guys behind him not winning one yet, the ball is definitely in his court, because they've been there and done that.

Dale (Louisville)

tony, a big relief?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:38 PM)

Any time you go on a winless streak, whether it's because you usually win 8-10 races and you go 9 races without a win, it's devastating. After going over a year like Tony did, we all saw how crazy he went. That just goes to show you how happy he was to get to Victory Lane.

Craig (Toronto)

Logano's future?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:39 PM)

I am a fan of Joey's. The family is wonderful. Joey has done it right growing up. His lack of mistakes in race cars is impressive. He has some huge shoes to fill getting into that 20 car. With some seat time, he's going to be very very good for the sport.

Nick (New York)

what's the best track left?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:40 PM)

Phoenix is a great driver's track. Charlotte's a wonderful facility. Atlanta, too. There are a handful of great race tracks and I think we'll continue to see some more great races.

Erik (LA)

I guess I missed it...what was the controversy at the end on Sunday?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:41 PM)

The '01 of Regan Smith passed underneath of the yellow line which is out of bounds at Talladega. It's similar to the out of bounds line in football or baseball. He went below it and improved his position, you can't do that. So Tony Stewart won the race.

Gerald (Chicago)

how do you assess Junior?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:42 PM)

I'm sure that Junior and that team want to win in that final six. He runs very well in this series. There's nothing that eases you more than getting a win in the final six, that's for sure.

Chris (MD)

have you heard what's been going on with the Busch car? mechanical? Poor team work?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:43 PM)

That's what this sport does to you. It is a science project. These race cars are science projects. When you have as much success as they had in the first races, to not have that in the next handful, is it fair? Probably not. But that's just a part of the luck of this game. Sometimes bad luck will find you.

Scott (Riverdale)

which team has it put together the best right now, from best car to worst?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:45 PM)

Well, you have to look at where they are in the points. The Rousch-Fenway group is one of them. Their team on and off pit row. They've been fast out of the box. The cream does ride to the top. The guys that are there have it going pretty good.

Dan (Detroit)

do you think we'll see the economy problems hit NASCAR?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:46 PM)

Hopefully not. Hopefully the race tracks don't increase any of their ticket prices, camping prices. NASCAR doesn't control the hotels in the area. This is a sponsor-driven sport and we haven't seen any of the 43 cars in the field pulling out because they can't find a sponsor. The return for sponsors is still pretty good for NASCAR.

eli (waww)

tony stewart is the best when he wants to be. am i right?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:47 PM)

You can say that about 80% of the drivers. It's a huge difference if the driver's attitude is where it needs to be when he gets in the race car. He's the computer chip to that race car. The computer chip that can relay information back to the team the best will have the advantage.

tim (cocoa)

Hi Randy...Nice run by Joe Nemechek yesterday. What does the future look like for Joe and Furniture Row? Solid for next year?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:49 PM)

The gentleman that owns that, they have done an exceptional job with that operation. They aligned themselves with Hendricks Motorsports and getting Hendricks motors. As long as that man continues to spend his own money, they're not going to be one of the elite teams because they won't have what other teams have.

Glenn (NJ)

tires have been talked about a lot this year? more so?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:51 PM)

Goodyear has done a great job with the tires. They have to keep up with this new car. The car is a science project. They might have to come up with a totally new tire package for this car. They're at Indy today testing tires. Goodyear has taken hits on the down side, but we don't see anyone else jumping up here to do this.

Henry (Buffalo)

with the tire issues, why not have another company come in and compete?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:52 PM)

They did years ago and it hurt a lot of guys because speed was more important than reliability. Any time you open it up for speed over reliability, you get crashes and hurt drivers. I think the exclusiveness to Goodyear, they have the contract and they do a darn good job.

tim (cocoa)

any chance furniture row moves operations to NC?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:53 PM)

That I don't know. A lot of this, when it's funded by the gentleman who likes it in his backyard, it's proobably something that stays there a while. I don't see them moving to the area, just because everyone else is there. They're competing and he's paying the bills, so he's going to do it his way.

Ken (Trenton, NJ)

Does it seem like less crashes this yeaR?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:55 PM)

You would have to do a survey. I'm sure after Talladega, they brought that number back up to par. On the short tracks one of the things the COT cars has done is not have as many crashes. The front bumpers and rear bumpers are about the same height. Before, you could get your bumper under the guy in front of you and if you did, that's not a fun ride.

James (Texas City, TX)

Do you think the final races set up better for JR to win?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:55 PM)

Between Martinsville and Phoenix, he runs best at those two facilities.

fran (alabama)

Aside from Kyle, which driver do you think has had the most disppointing chase?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:56 PM)

I'm sure if you talked to anybody from 5th to 12th, they would say they've had the most disappointing Chase. But no one would have thought that the 18 would have bombed as badly as it did in the Chase. The top 12 guys are occupying the majority of the top 15 spots. Once again, the cream rises to the top.

Larry (Charlotte)

best place to eat near a track?

Randy LaJoie

  (1:58 PM)

Depends on where you are. At every race track, in every city has wonderful race tracks that you enjoy. St. Elmo's in Indy. In Dover, there's a place for crab. Every facility has wonderful restaurants. In Charlotte, you've got dozens to go to.

Randy LaJoie

  (1:58 PM)

Keep your eyes open on the next six races. If you thought the first five were exciting, watch out for the next six.