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.

The Intimidator—who won 76 Cup races and seven championships—made his black No. 3 a larger-than-life symbol in NASCAR with an aggressive driving style that rattled competitors and enamored fans. Shares the record for most Cup series championships (seven) with Richard Petty. Won his first title in 1980, his second full season. Won the 1998 Daytona 500. Died in an accident on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.

NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. headlined the five inductees into the first Hall of Fame class, a group that drew mixed reactions to the inclusion of France’s son instead of driver David Pearson. France, who formed the National Association of Stock Car Racing in 1947, was the first inductee announced yesterday in a ceremony that followed a lengthy voting session at the Charlotte Convention Center.

See what cohosts Chris and George think about the picks for the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. It was just a little more than two years ago when two-time series champion Tony Stewart accused NASCAR officials of “playing God” by manipulating races through phantom debris cautions. Upset because a series of caution flags contributed to him losing a race at Phoenix, Stewart likened the sport to professional wrestling in complaining that the bogus debris calls changed the outcome of races.

Sprint CupRace: NASCAR Banking 500 When: Saturday, 7 p.m. Where: Lowe’s Motor Speedway (Concord, N.C.) Qualifying: Thursday, 7 p.m., ESPN2 Track length: 1.5 miles Race distance: 501 miles (334 laps) Last year’s winner: Jeff Burton Qualifying record: Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 188.425 mph (Feb. 25, 2005) Race record: Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 155.012 mph (June 22, 1997) On the air: TV—ABC; radio—WRVA (1140) Nationwide Race: Dollar General 300 Where: Lowe’s Motor Speedway When: Friday TV: ESPN2, 7:30 p.m. Camping World Truck Race: Kroger 200 Where: Martinsville Speedway When: Oct. 24 TV: SPEED, 12:30 p.m.

FONTANA, Calif.—Jimmie Johnson is back in control of NASCAR’s Chase for the Championship. The three-time defending Sprint Cup champion easily pulled away from Jeff Gordon following a restart with three laps left to win the Pepsi 500 yesterday at Auto Club Speedway for his fifth victory of the year and 45th overall. The win was Johnson’s fourth at the 2-mile oval and sent a message to the rest of the contenders he has no plans of giving up his spot atop the series easily.