PPistone1

If you missed Sunday's race at Texas Motor Speedway you have my apologies. The AAA texas 500 had just about anything a race fan could want and then some including a shake-up of the Chase for the Sprint Cup standings with only two races to go:

(1st) - Denny Hamlin
Became first driver to sweep Texas since Carl Edwards in 2008 and in the process took over the Sprint Cup point lead by 33 over Jimmie Johnson. The good news for Hamlin is the driver leading the points with two races to go has won every Chase since its inception in 2004.

(2nd) - Matt Kenseth
Showed his usual Texas magic and nearly pulled off the victory if not for Hamlin's thrilling pass for the lead on the next to last lap. Kenseth now has four second place Texas finishes.

(5th) - Greg Biffle
Looked to have the race in hand until transmission problems cost Biffle a gear and shuffled him back on the last restart when he couldn't accelerate away from the pack.

(6th) - Kevin Harvick
Battled back from early race issues including a disagreement with crew chief Gil Martin on tire strategy. Made contact with the fourth turn wall inside twenty laps that cost Harvick much-needed speed and put him into hang on mode.

(7th) - Clint Bowyer
Followed up his Talladega win a week ago with a somewhat quiet yet consistent afternoon to hammer down another top ten finish and add to the "What Might Have Been" file.

(9th) - Jimmie Johnson
Had his pit crew changed in mid-race when the 48 bunch was swapped with teammate Jeff Gordon's team, a move that did pay dividends with better stops in the second half of the race than what Johnson endured early on Sunday. But the disappointing afternoon cost Johnson the point lead and maybe some morale within his team.

(11th) - Tony Stewart
In the mix near the end of the race but not much of a day for Stewart who was a pre-race pick in the garage area Sunday by many after a strong Saturday practice showing.

(19th) - Carl Edwards
Saturday's Nationwide Series race winner could not back up the performance and has now reached the two year mark of being winless in the Sprint Cup Series.

(24th) - Kurt Busch
Was in trouble with handling issues from the start of the race and was forced to endure a mediocre outing with another finish well outside of contention.

(32nd) - Kyle Busch
Spun out, was penalized for speeding on pit road, was parked for two laps after making an obscene gesture at a NASCAR official and at the end of the day was never in contention despite have a very fast race car.

(36th) - Jeff Burton
Was involved in the day's biggest fireworks when he made contact with the rear of Jeff Gordon's car sending the No. 24 Chevrolet hard into the turn two wall. Gordon took great exception to the incident and confronted Burton on the backstretch with the two exchanging severals swings and shoves. Burton took blame for the incident but both showed emotions not usually on display from the two veterans.

(37th) - Jeff Gordon
Perhaps it was a season-s worth of frustration that finally boiled over but for whatever reason, Gordon's outburst was unlike anything ever seen in his long Sprint Cup career including his Bristol pit road tangle with Matt Kenseth a few years back (when Gordon did keep his helmet on by the way).

Even with the closest point battle in the history of the Chase for the Sprint Cup after seven races rolling into Texas Motor Speedway this weekend it's the Nationwide Series that is capturing the most headlines.

CBSSports.com has learned NASCAR is very close to making a decision on what level Sprint Cup regulars will be able to participate in the Nationwide Series next year with a formal announcement said to be one or two weeks away. Speculation is the plan will allow Cup drivers to compete in an unlimited number of Nationwide events but not be eligible for the championship. Drivers planning on competing full-time in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide schedules will need to declare which of the two titles they will compete for in 2011.

The championship parameters appear to have the inside track over limiting the number of Nationwide starts Cup regulars are allowed to make each season, which would hinder teams trying to find sponsors and funding - an easier task with high-profile and established names as a marketing resource. Track operators, many of whom have been adamant about the value of having Cup drivers in Nationwide fields as a means of selling tickets, also would benefit from an unlimited start policy.

Despite the uncertainty of just what the sanctioning body will finally decide, teams have wasted no time in putting their plans in place for 2011 and beyond with a flurry of announcements coming this weekend.'

Turner Motorsports, which after its acquisition of the former Braun Racing organization has gone on an aggressive expansion plan, unveiled its Nationwide line-up on Friday. The team has inked promising Justin Allgaier to headline its roster after the young driver was left on the outside looking in at Penske Racing when sponsor Verizon announced it would leave the team's No. 12 entry at the end of this season. Allgaier will pilot a No. 31 Chevrolet and be joined by Reed Sorenson in a No. 32 Chevy. Two other Turner teams will feature a split driver roster with Jason Leffler and Kasey Kahne dividing duties in the No. 38 entry while Ricky Carmichael and James Buescher will do the bulk of the driving in the team's No. 30 Chevy.

Veteran Elliott Sadler will return to the Nationwide Series in a full-time capacity next season when he drives the potent Kevin Harvick Inc. No. 2 Chevrolet. Sadler, left out after Richard Petty Motorsports decided to shrink its Sprint Cup effort from four to two cars, has driven for Harvick's Nationwide and truck series teams this season.

And Joe Gibbs Racing will expand its Nationwide efforts next year to include a third full-time Toyota for former truck series driver Brian Scott. Two other entries will find Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch splitting time throughout the 2011 campaign.

With the complete roll-out of the next generation Nationwide Series car on tap for the entire 2011 season in addition to the Cup regular policy change and a fresh look for several major teams, things are looking up for the circuit. While Sprint Cup Series ratings have declined this year, Nationwide telecasts have remained steady demonstrating interest in the series.

Now the question is where does the Nationwide Series go from here and what does the future hold?  The events of this weekend are steps in the right direction.

The race thought of as the "Wild Card" of the Chase was just that - pretty wild, especially at the finish. When the smoke cleared (literally) the championship standings were the closest with seven races in the book since the Chase was introduced in 2004:
 
(1st) - Clint Bowyer
How important is that 150 point penalty Bowyer was assessed after the New Hampshire infractions? He has no chance of winning this year's championship but enjoyed a sweet Halloween treat with his win Sunday at Talladega.

(2nd) - Kevin Harvick
Somehow brought his battered car home to a runner-up finish behind his Richard Childress Racing teammate Bowyer to slice into Jimmie Johnson's Chase lead and prove he will be a player in the title fight right down to the bitter end.

(7th) - Jimmie Johnson
Tried to work some late race magic with a two car draft to the front with teammate Jeff Gordon but came up short of stealing a win after playing it safe all afternoon.

(8th) - Jeff Gordon
Worked perfectly together with Johnson until engine problems forced Gordon to drop off the pace. Was able to rally back for the top ten finish but was in contention for a whole lot more.

(16th) - Matt Kenseth
Found a strange partner early in the race in Chevrolet driver Jeff Burton who helped push Kenseth's Ford to the front. Was forced to settle for a middle of the pack finish.

(17th) - Carl Edwards
Considering how past Talladega experiences have gone including crashing a teammate a few years ago and almost winding up in the grandstands after his celebrated crash with Brad Keselowski, maybe a 17th place finish isn't so bad after all.

(19th) - Greg Biffle
Had flashes of drafting to the front of the field but couldn't find that definitive partner to make a difference.

(25th) - Kyle Busch
Actually worked with former arch-rival David Reutimann in a two-car drafting effort that got Busch to the lead at one point. Faded back late.

(30th) - Kurt Busch
Strong effort early on made Busch a solid pick as possible winner. But fizzled at the close of the race and the last lap melee handed him a second straight 30th place finish.

(31st) - Tony Stewart
Somehow made it back to the lead lap after an early cut tire sent Stewart to pit road and two laps behind the field. Now enough to come back all the way.

(41st) - Jeff Burton
Had the same power as RCR teammates Bowyer and Harvick but the end results much different. Looked capable of winning until inadvertent tap from Dale Earnhardt Jr. ended his day.

The passing of long-time NASCAR official Jim Hunter is more than the sad loss of a family man who spent his life contributing to the world of racing. It's also the the end of an era to be sure.

Hunter (no one who knew him well called him Jim) was as Old School as they come, a former sports writer who moved into the PR and track management game at his beloved Darlington Raceway before heading up NASCAR's public relations efforts for years. With Hunter it was all about the relationship - between drivers, media, track presidents, PR reps hell even maintenance people. A smile, a handshake, a pat on the back, a dirty joke or two and a smile was how Hunter got the job done. And he did it in a way that will be sorely missed in today's very non-personal age of iPhones, Blackberries and Twitter.

The official obituary documents all of Hunter's achievements in his long storied career. His six decades in the sport, countless journalism awards and accolades for his time as a newspaper reporter and author, the accomplishments in the managerial portion of his career at Darlington and with NASCAR. If there was an honor to be given working at any level of the sport, Hunter earned it. 

But it was Hunter's style and low-key demeanor that will be remembered most from those who were fortunate to be personally touched by the man.

He sounded like one part Foghorn Leghorn and two parts the KFC Colonel with his deep Southern twang, which was most of the time delivered in a soft spoken manner but one that when it was needed got the point across. He was often assigned to be NASCAR's spokesperson and explain policy changes, rules interpretations or penalties assessed and did so in a conversational and effective manner.

Over the years Hunter helped countless people inside the industry get their starts in the business of NASCAR, public relations and journalism and he seemed very pleased being able to mentor not just younger people but even those with experience. 

There are no doubt thousands of stories of how Hunter helped individuals over the years and yes, I have one as well.

My first job that actually paid me to go to the race track came back when while still a student at Northern Illinois University I was hired as track announcer and public relations director at Rockford Speedway, the legendary short track in the northwest corner of Illinois. Twice a week I'd go to the track and announce the Wednesday and Saturday night shows on the track's PA system while also writing race story summaries and pre-race press releases for local media as well as the then myriad of weekly racing trade papers.

Simply put it was a dream come true for a kid who grew up in the sport.

Rockford was and still is a part of NASCAR's Weekly Racing Series, an umbrella program that in its hey day had more than 100 local tracks under its sanction with drivers eligible for a national points fund. Hunter, then NASCAR's Vice President of Administration, oversaw that program as well as many other things on his plate in those days.

I had the opportunity to meet him on one of his trips to check things out at Rockford and we hit it off, thanks in no small part to my uncle "Tiger" Tom Pistone's tenure in NASCAR back in the 1950s and 60s, whose sometimes colorful exploits were covered and shared by Hunter in his previous role as a sportswriter.

One thing led to another and after about a year when my education was complete, I got a call from Daytona Beach with Hunter on the other end of the line asking if I'd be interested in working for NASCAR, while still keeping my Rockford responsibilities. I was offered the media relations director position for what was known as the Busch All-Star Tour, a dirt late model series sanctioned by NASCAR that ran about 16 races throughout the Midwest.

The answer was of course emphatically yes and I began an adventure that led me to meet people and experience things that until then I could only have imagined. A guy by the name of John Darby, today's Sprint Cup Series Director, was the head tech guy of the tour, and I spent three summers working together, traveling around the country and learning about the sport in a way like no other.

Along the way there was Hunter, showing up unannounced at races, offering his advice and counsel, stressing he was only a phone call away and helping shape a career that today continues to be blessed.

There are thousands of others who no doubt have a similar tale to tell.

His adoring family and the legion of those who were touched by his intelligence and kindness are his legacy.

Thanks Hunter.

Denny Hamlin had Martinsville Speedway in his radar since the beginning of the Chase. Sunday in the TUMS Fast Pain Relief 500 he showed why.

Hamlin continued his mastery of what he considers his home track with his third straight win and in the process did exactly what he said he'd o - shaved Jimmie Johnson's lead in the Sprint Cup Series point standings.

Hamlin's victory cut his deficit to only six points behind Johnson with four races to go but he wasn't the only one who improved his title hopes. Kevin Harvick's third place finish pulled him to within 62 of the top spot:

(1st) - Denny Hamlin
He didn't get maximum points but the effort Sunday was more than good enough even by Hamlin's high standards. He basically called his shot coming into Martinsville and went out Friday to win the pole, backing it up with his impressive trip to victory lane.

(3rd) - Kevin Harvick
Had a bit of a tussle with Richard Childress Racing teammate Jeff Burton to overcome but his march from the 36th starting spot to third was a championship-caliber effort and Harvick stayed right smack in the middle of the championship picture with the effort.

(4th) - Kyle Busch
Solid day for another member of the Joe Gibbs Racing team as Busch helped pump up his stats at Martinsville and may be poised to take the next step as a potential winner there in 2011.

(5th) - Jimmie Johnson
A 19th place starting spot put Johnson in the middle of the field and in harm's way early on. He dodged several bullets as well as a few un-48 team-like stops on pit road to rally back and post a top five finish that at least kept him on top of the championship standings mountain.

(8th) - Carl Edwards
Had his share of scrums over the course of the 500-lap grind but Edwards came home with a solid if somewhat quiet top ten finish.

(9th) - Jeff Burton
The class of the field at one point of the race, the Virginia veteran got involved in a game of tag with teammate Harvick and eventually slid back in the pack but was able to hang on for the top ten run.

(15th) - Matt Kenseth
Hope of making amends for getting knocked out of the way in the closing laps of a possible win back in March didn't pan out Sunday. Ran upfront but was shuffled back in the late going.

(16th) - Kurt Busch
Battled an ill-handling race car and then found himself in the middle of a controversy when he paid back Jeff Gordon for a bump and run move that drew more than its share of boos from the stands.

(20th) - Jeff Gordon
Another week yet the same old story for Gordon. Lightning fast in the beginning of the race and at the front of the field for several laps. But got shuffled back and then became involved with Busch who ended his chance at a good finish when he punted Gordon on the straightaway and then into the inside wall.

(24th) Tony Stewart
Not much of a day for the former Martinsville winner who had a pit road speeding violation to compound his already rough afternoon.

(33rd) - Greg Biffle
If it could go wrong for Biffle Sunday it did. A great qualifying effort went by the wayside in a hurry when Biffle was involved in spins, flat tire issues and pit road miscues throughout the 500 laps.

(38th) Clint Bowyer
Not much to say about Bowyer's day which began with an early spin and went downhill from there.

At first glance Kasey Kahne's early exit from Richard Petty Motorsports isn't that big of a surprise. Kahne isn't the first driver to leave an organization before his contract officially expires to get a jump on next season. We've seen several high-profile drivers in recent years make an early exodus from their lame duck status in attempt to get a head start on the next phase of their careers.

But dig a little deeper and the story reveals some bigger issues and the potential for disaster at Richard Petty Motorsports. Kahne's unhappiness with the organization, which came to a head after last Saturday night's race in Charlotte when he left the track after crashing with Sam Hornish Jr. but not before voicing his frustration about what he believed to be inferior equipment and the lack of leadership within the team, was something made known months prior.

When Kahne signed an unprecedented agreement to join Hendrick Motorsports two years down the road in 2012, he vowed to give his total effort to RPM and the No. 9 ride before exiting. And indeed there were times when Kahne and the team looked to be on the same page with results to prove it, most recently a fourth place finish in Fontana two weeks ago.

However more often than not Kahne was saddled with equipment issues including a series of brake failures that finally seemed to add up to last Saturday's explosion. 

All along Kahne has insinuated his team may not have had the resources originally promised. It seems he may be right on target with that assessment.

No sooner was Kahne's official release from the team announced before information about the financial instability of RPM began to surface. Money issues with team co-owner George Gillett, who is also involved in the contentious sale and purchase of Liverpool Football Club of the English Premier League, have apparently leaked down into the Petty operation. The financial strain is so severe, there were reports that Roush Fenway Racing, which through a partnership agreement supplies equipment to RPM, has halted its assembly line and after Martinsville the Petty stable would dry up.

It now appears the team is safe through Talladega but after that, all bets are off.

With this swirling whirlwind of negativity, it's no wonder Kahne's level of comfort was off even with just five races remaining on his deal. 

Since what is currently known as Richard Petty Motorsports was founded by former championship-winning crew chief Ray Evernham in 2000, the organization has gone through what seems like a yearly reshuffling. Gillett came in for a partnership in 2007, after a failed deal with the Boston Ventures Company did not yield any additional funding or sponsorships, and since then the team has restructured several times to its current four car lineup.

That was supposed to contract to a two-car effort in 2011 with A.J. Allmendinger signed to continue driving the iconic No. 43 entry and Marcos Ambrose set to take Kahne's spot in the 9 ride. Sponsorship was reported to be in place for that effort.

However the recent turn of events has many wondering if there will even be a RPM entity next year with several sources reporting many team employees have been inquiring about opportunities with other organizations.

No one from RPM has publicly commented on the proceedings other than the official release which was distributed late Wednesday evening announcing Kahne's exit. Kahne will address the assembled media Friday afternoon at Martinsville.

Perhaps he will shed some light on what for now appears to be a very dark situation.

The Chase hit the halfway mark and although a non-Chaser spoiled the party with Jamie McMurray's win, the race for the championship stretched out even further. Jimmie Johnson's miraculous comeback coupled by the myriad of problems that plagued his competitors gave the four-time champion another step toward an unprecedented fifth consecutive title:

(2nd) - Kyle Busch
Had one of the fastest cars all night and battled through a throttle issue that bothered Busch early in the race. Could not hold off th ehard-charging McMurray in the closing stages and was forced to settle for the runnerup finish.

(3rd) - Jimmie Johnson
Things looked bleak for Johnson when he spun on the backstretch in the early going and fell back to 37th place after two trips to pit road to make minor repairs and change tires. It turned out to be a minor setback and Johnson roared back through the field to challenge at the front of the pack in short order. He finished 2.179-seconds behind McMurray and just short from a truly amazing "Spin and Win" story.

(4th) - Denny Hamlin
A top five finish still not good enough to gain any ground in the standings when you trail the guy you;re chasing across the finish line. Hamlin had a good car but just not good enough.

(5th) - Greg Biffle
A solid rebound from the engine failure disaster last week in Fontana and the 41st place finish that for all intents and purposes ended his championship hopes. Showed the kind of intermediate-sized track strength Roush Fenway Racing has displayed for decades.

(6th) - Matt Kenseth
Another stealthy top ten for Kenseth who wasn't flashy by any means but stayed near the front of the field most of the night. At the end of the day an okay night by Chaser standards.

(8th) - Kevin Harvick
The in-car communication between Harvick and crew chief Gil Martin was not for tender ears after another pit road miscue and a car that was not capable of making up ground. Adjustments on pit stops did make the Shell Chevrolet better but Harvick again lost ground in the title hunt.

(12th) - Carl Edwards
Some pointed to Charlotte as the track where Edwards would finally end his nearly two-year victory drought. Had a great qualifying lap and started outside the front row but that speed didn't hold up under race conditions and Edwards finished outside the top ten.

(17th) - Clint Bowyer
Nothing close to what Bowyer had a week ago in Fontana when he finished second. A mediocre run for the Richard Childress Racing driver.

(20th) - Jeff Burton
A so-so car and middle of the road night was compounded by a late race spin and Burton was saddled with a 20th place finish for his Charlotte efforts.

(21st) - Tony Stewart
Stewart did exactly what he could't afford to do Saturday night by following up his Fontana win with a dismal effort. Got caught up in an early incident and slid into the infield, sending him to pit road and into a game of catch-up all night long. The five spots he made up in the standings a week ago evaporated Saturday.

(23rd) - Jeff Gordon
After winning his first pole of the year Gordon's night went sour when en electrical issue robbed him of power racing off of turn four. Things got worse when Gordon was nabbed for speeding on pit road for the second straight week and he finished one lap behind the leader.

(30th) - Kurt Busch
Was trying to become the first driver in history to sweep all three Charlotte Cup races after his All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 victories in May. But a spin through turns three and four pretty much ended Busch's night by the race's mid-quarter mark.