Answer this...: Brickyard: The most FAQs from this...

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Brickyard: The most FAQs from this...

CUP Jimmie Johnson's Lowe's Chevrolet team overcame a tire problem early in the race and hauled ass to the front to win the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race.

Quoting JJ on this...

"The last time I had dirt in my mouth is when I wrestled with my brother. We kissed the bricks right where I did my burnout. We were covered (in tire soot). It was all over our faces. My wife, Chandra, had it covering her lip gloss. The first kiss was really dirty. The second kiss, you realize you may never do it again, so it wasn't as bad."

The No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet team celebrates their win
in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. (Photo: Ezra Shaw)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a surprising finish in sixth after running the majority of the race below the Top 20 before a late caution when his team chose not to pit. The finish put him back in the Top 10. Tony Stewart also made his way back into the chase after an early setback when an air gun broke during a pit stop.

Kasey Kahne fell from seventh to 11th following a late race incident that put him in the wall and left him with a 36th place finish.

Jeff Gordon lost three laps early with a sway bar problem but raced back into contention after 85 laps and the benefit of receiving the Lucky Dog Award three times.

Michael Waltrip failed to qualify for Sunday's race and missed his first Nextel Cup race since 1998.

Standings

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Matt Kenseth
3. Jeff Burton
4. Kevin Harvick
5. Kyle Busch
6. Mark Martin
7. Denny Hamlin*
8. Jeff Gordon
9. Tony Stewart
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

3,124 (pts)
3,017 (-107)
2,749 (-375)
2,733 (-391)
2,733 (-391)
2,712 (-412)
2,648 (-476)
2,627 (-497)
2,619 (-505)
2,612 (-512)

Closing in on the Top 10:
11. Kasey Kahne    2,575
12. Greg Biffle       2,497
13. Kurt Busch       2,438
14. Carl Edwards    2,380
15. Casey Mears    2,279

Busch Kevin Harvick scored his fifth series win of the season and increased his points lead to 374 over fellow Buschwhacker Carl Edwards. Reed Sorenson finished second despite a wicked case of swimmer's ear. Danny O'Quinn came home sixth for his best career finish.

NCTS Winner: Rick Crawford

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BRICKYARD MOST FAQ

Brownstown Speedway - Aug. 5, 2006 (Photo: Felicia Nunn)

Q. Who is the woman Tony Stewart was holding hands with at Brownstown Speedway last night?
A. Early reader speculation identifies her as Tara, the Home Depot representative that accompanied him to the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas in May. TGOM cannot confirm and also has another i.d.ea. Please stand by while I look into this...

Update 08.08.06: TGOM has confirmed that the woman with Tony in Indiana was a rep of some sort as mentioned above and assumes it is Tara. Additionally, further input from those who attended a fan club picnic Monday suggests that Tara was also in attendance. Fans report that Tony and "his girlfriend Tara" arrived together, two hours late. They also mentioned an auction in which the shirt off Tony's back was sold for $1, 400 to a lucky bidder who said it was warm and smelled like Old Spice, but I digress...

Another fan who went to the picnic tells TGOM that the auctionier joked about a bid to win a date with Tony and that Tony did not appear amused by the playfulness, but responded saying he would have to ask Tara for permission.

At this time, TGOM cannot confirm any relationship between Tony and "Home Depot Tara" or "a red-head in Daytona" or "the girl in Alabama that caught his eye" or any other woman for that matter--ALL is speculation. I have information and opinions that may lead to confirmation, but nothing concrete as of yet. Please, everyone, hold off on jumping to conclusions about Tony having an affair with a married woman until and if it is confirmed.

Update 08.24.06: Here is a video from the fan picnic. It is clearly audible and visible that Tony references Tara and even spells out her name for the auctioneer.

Click to Watch

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NEW FAQs

Casey Mears and Friend Q. I saw recent pictures of Casey Mears with a blonde. Does he have a new girlfriend?
A. No. The pictures were of a casual outing with friends.

Q. Did Kasey Kahne and Britney break up?
A. Rumor has it they have, but TGOM has not confirmed.

Q. Does Kyle Krisiloff have a girlfriend?
A. Nope. Single.

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NW&GF Beauty Pageant

Voting is still open in this week's AskMen.com beauty pageant featuring NASCAR wives. It's not too late to cast your vote for Chandra Johnson, Ingrid Vandebosch or Katie Kenseth.

Speaking of beauty, the recently married Marisa Miller is Fox Funhouse's Babe of the Week.

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The Fortunate 50

For the third year, Sports Illustrated has calculated the 50 top highest earnings among sports figures. Here's how NASCAR's finest figure in:

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Deanna Merryman waves the caution flag at this...

Jeff Gordon's former lover Deanna Merryman, the ex-stripper named in his 2003 divorce from Brooke Sealy, gave an exclusive interview to The National Enquirer this week and warned Ingrid about this...

"Watch out! He'll cheat on you just like he did with me!"

"I only became his lover because he lied and said he had already separated from his wife. He is a serial adulterer who would do anything to get a woman into bed. He thinks it is all a big race where he has to be number one."

Deanna had a few more words about what goes on in the bed, too, claiming the former racing champ is out of gas. [Full story]

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Silly Season Updates

Chad Knaus has signed a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports through 2010.
Robert Yates Racing released crew chiefs Tommy Baldwin Jr. (#38) and Slugger Labbe (#88). Baldwin has returned to Bill Davis Racing as Competition Director, where he will oversee the teams' switch to Toyotas in 2007. Previously, he spent four seasons at BDR and won the Daytona 500 with driver Jeff Burton.

Quoting TB Jr. on this...
"This is an exciting time at Bill Davis Racing and I can't wait to be a part of it. To have the opportunity to play a key role in the successful introduction of Toyota to the Cup Series is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm glad to be back home."

No future plans for Slugger Labbe have been announced. RYR interim replacements: Cully Barraclough (#38), Butch Hylton (#88)
Jeremy Mayfield told reporters Saturday that he is unlikely to return to Evernham Motorsports next season despite a year and two options remaining on his contract. He is rumored to be close to signing a deal with Bill Davis Racing that would commence in the 2007 season. NASCAR.com reported that Mayfield already has toured the facilities at Bill Davis Racing and agreed in principal to a multi-year deal to drive one of the organization's two Toyotas next season. First he needs to be released by EMS.

Quoting Ray Evernham this...
"I've got so many partners like Dodge and UAW. That's a decision that would have to be talked about with a lot of people. But we haven't made any decisions. The first thing we honestly both said was, 'Let's fix this first, because no matter what we decide to do, we can't leave this thing like it is. We have to prove that we can do it. Jeremy's got options, the same as many other drivers. Why wouldn't he? He's been in the Chase two years in a row. If I was a team owner starting a new team, he'd be one of the guys I'd be looking at for sure."
Jayski heard that Mark Martin may be returning to #6 Ford for Roush Racing for yet another season because the team doesn't think Todd Kluever is quite ready for a full-time ride in the Cup series.
Friday marked the introduction of a new NASCAR motorsports organization, Riley-D'Hondt Motorsports, LLC (RDM). Based out of Mooresville, N.C., RDM will be fully operational by the 2007 season, with an expected two teams in the NASCAR Busch Series, as well as a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series team competing in as many as five Nextel Cup "Car of Tomorrow" events.

Quoting Eddie D'Hondt on this...
"We're ideally going to start off with three teams - two Busch Series and one part-time Nextel Cup team in 2007. Right now we don't know to what extent each of these teams will participate in the 2007 season - as sponsorship unfolds, we will revise our schedules. RDM's goal is to become a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series powerhouse within five years, with up to four teams in contention for the Nextel Cup championship."
Larry Foyt, who ran 66 NASCAR Busch Series races during the 2001/2002 seasons and 23 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races in 2003/2004, has not been seen since except for the past three Indianapolis 500 mile IndyCar races. It seems father, A.J. Foyt has recently decided it is time for Larry to step up and take a lead in the family business whether it's what he wants or not. [Insider Racing News, Aug. 6, 2006]

Quoting this...
"(A.J.) knew I didn't want to quit driving, so that's hard. But, realistically, am I going to get a good ride? Probably not. At first it was tough for me to swallow, because I didn't want to quit driving. But in the long run it will be a good opportunity. I’m just learning right now, hanging out. I certainly don't want to be the boss' son coming in here trying to run things. I'm just watching how A.J. wants things done, watch our people and other teams. We just have to start taking our operation to the next level."