After suffering a dreadful race at Talladega, Chris and George debate which racing movie is the best of all time. Plus, a preview of Texas Motor Speedway.

TALLADEGA, Ala.—Jamie McMurray was the unlikely winner of an uncharacteristically dull race at Talladega Superspeedway, where a ban on bump-drafting forced most competitors to treat the event as a slow Sunday drive. The day started with a stern warning from NASCAR President Mike Helton against the aggressive driving that has turned Talladega into the most exciting track on the circuit. What followed was an anesthetized first 450 miles, with long periods of single-file traffic and no driver willing to defy NASCAR’s order not to bump through the corners.

Chris and George debate how to improve racing at Talladega. Also, Tony Stewart is George’s pick to win this weekend, but Chris likes Dale Jr.‘s chances better.

Denny Hamlin passes Jimmie Johnson, ending the three-time defending series champion’s run of five trips to victory lane in the previous six races at the shortest circuit in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series.

1. Jimmie Johnson6,098 2. Mark Martin-118
3. Jeff Gordon-150
4. Tony Stewart-192
5. Juan Montoya-200
6. Kurt Busch-240
7. Ryan Newman-312
8. Greg Biffle-350
9. Denny Hamlin-352
10. Carl Edwards-413
11. Kasey Kahne-439
12. Brian Vickers-530
13. Kyle Busch-2,178
14. Matt Kenseth-2,203

Juan Pablo Montoya had had it with Jeff Gordon, and when he felt Gordon began crowding him in the turns yesterday at Martinsville Speedway, he got physical. And he made no apologies afterward. “It’s just every time we’ve been around racing against him, he runs the hell out of me,“ Montoya said. “He moved me out of the way before, and he was starting to do the same here today. I was running the outside of him, and every time he was just getting wider and wider.“

MARTINSVILLE - Ryan Newman edged Jeff Gordon in qualifying for tomorrow’s Tums Fast Relief 500, turning a lap of 96.795 mph yesterday to secure the pole position as the second half of NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup gets under way. “It’s the place to be, no doubt, and it’s the place to finish,“ said Newman, who is eighth in the championship points standings through the first five Chase races. “Obviously, that’s what we want.“

CONCORD, N.C. - Casey Mears didn’t expect to find himself looking for work so soon. The NASCAR veteran began the year as the newest driver at Richard Childress Racing, taking over the wheel of the No. 07 Chevrolet and hoping to revive a career that couldn’t get out of neutral at Hendrick Motorsports. Mears has done that, putting himself 18th in points entering tomorrow night’s race at Martinsville, ahead of established RCR stars Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick. But the final five races still could be another audition for Mears after Jack Daniels, the primary sponsor on his car, chose not to return in 2010.

Cohost George hates the Chase format because Jimmie Johnson’s practically destined to win. Where’s the drama? Also, a preview of Martinsville.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. Forgive Denny Hamlin if he’s a bit frustrated these days. He thought he had a chance this year to win his first NASCAR championship. Instead, he’s facing five final weeks of simply trying to salvage his season. Back-to-back bad weeks have taken the former Chesterfield resident out of contention in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. He’s currently 11th in the standings, 372 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson, and his ranking hardly reflects how well he’s been running.

CONCORD, N.C. - Denny Hamlin was already at home when Jimmie Johnson crossed the finish line for his third victory in five championship races. Juan Pablo Montoya didn’t have a great view of the victory celebration, he was four laps behind the action. And Mark Martin? Well, the one guy most people believed could keep pace with Johnson was mired back in traffic.

1. Jimmie Johnson5,728 2. Mark Martin-90
  3. Jeff Gordon-135
  4. Tony Stewart-155
  5. Kurt Busch-177
  6. Juan Montoya-195
  7. Greg Biffle-268
  8. Ryan Newman-288
  9. Kasey Kahne-331
10. Carl Edwards-341
  11. Denny Hamlin  -372
  12. Brian Vickers-485

Richard Childress doesn’t appear to be too concerned about Kevin Harvick’s possible departure at the end of the 2010 season. Childress said Saturday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway that he’s focused on helping his struggling team move on following a disastrous 2009, not Harvick’s status. Harvick hinted during a television interview recently that he has no plans to remain at Richard Childress Racing when his contract expires next year.

Denny Hamlin is over last week’s debacle at Auto Club Speedway. He just wishes everybody else was, too. Hamlin likely saw his bid for his first NASCAR title evaporate with 60 laps to go when the pole-sitter mistakenly tried to cut off a hard-charging Juan Pablo Montoya on a double-file restart. He didn’t have enough room, and his No. 11 Toyota ended up spinning into the pit road barrier.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. hit rock bottom during his last trip to Lowe’s Motor Speedway. He struggled with his car, feuded with his crew chief and finished a season-low 40th in one of the most embarrassing weekends of his career. Team owner Rick Hendrick fired crew chief Tony Eury Jr. three days after that May debacle, and things were supposed to turn around with some fresh leadership on Earnhardt’s No. 88 team.