Eager to please, drivers go all out in All-Star challenge
The competition is enough to get drivers to leave everything on the track in the All-Star race. Throw in $1 million-plus with fans eager for thrills, and NASCAR's annual showcase is one of the wildest races every year, Pete Pistone says. 

Frustration mounts as Dodge teams struggle to find groove
Since Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch led the field to the checkered flag at Daytona, it has been all downhill for Dodge teams in 2008. Owners are upset, drivers can't figure it out and changes might be imminent if there is no turnaround, Pete Pistone says. 

Unhappy Biffle goes from starting first to finishing last
He looked like he had the car to beat after taking the pole, but Greg Biffle has another race to forget at Darlington after encountering more problems with his car. Pete Pistone says it only adds to further frustration in an already tough season for Biffle. 

New surface paves way for super speeds at historic Darlington
Slow down with age? Not Darlington Raceway. With its new surface, the historic track will be a lickety-split version of its previous self on Saturday, Pete Pistone says. 

You got a problem with Kyle Busch? He doesn't care
Kyle Busch wasn't going to win any NASCAR popularity contests anyway, but he cemented his status as the driver fans most love to hate after run-ins with the Earnhardt and Wallace families last weekend, Pete Pistone says. 

'Action Track' more like 'Heartbreak Hotel' for Hamlin, Earnhardt Jr.
Denny Hamlin, leader of 366 laps at Saturday night's race at Richmond, wanted to win on his home track. It didn't happen -- or for an unlucky Dale Earnhardt Jr. As Pete Pistone says, the track can now we known as 'Heartbreak Hotel.' 

Smoke needs victory at Richmond to overshadow contract talks
Richmond is home for Virginia native Denny Hamlin. For Dale Earnhardt Jr., it's the site of his last win -- 71 races ago. Tony Stewart? It's his favorite track. Pete Pistone says Stewart needs a victory to shift the focus from his contract situation. 

Stewart driving away from JGR? Nah, just blowing smoke
Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin have emerged as Joe Gibbs Racing's leading drivers while Tony Stewart has expressed interest in moving toward ownership stakes. Pete Pistone says at the end of the day, Stewart wants to win, and JGR is the place to be. 

Thrill-seekers get their fill at Talladega
Now, this is a race. No more single-file death marches to the Talladega finish line this year. Nope, this one has the makings of a demolition derby and Pete Pistone says the fans received their money's worth. Kyle Busch taking the checkered flag wasn't so much a win as survival. 

Asleep at the wheel? Maybe not this time at Talladega
With a lot at stake last October at Talladega, Cup series drivers played it safe, and the result was a snoozer. Pete Pistone says drivers expect this season's first visit to the track to be a lot more exciting. 

Pressure to end drought squarely on Lil' E after Danica's win
The monkey is off Danica Patrick after her victory in Japan. Pete Pistone says the attention is now solely on Dale Earnhardt Jr., who hasn't entered Victory Lane in 70 races. 

Uncertain, yes, but Busch after Nationwide triple in Mexico
With driving on the Sprint Cup circuit his main priority, Kyle Busch isn't sure how much he'll put into pursuing a Nationwide title. But Pete Pistone says a third consecutive victory Sunday in Mexico will factor in to his thinking. 

Weekend's dual races just a glitch in promising IndyCar rebirth
That IndyCar drivers will again be split into two factions in Long Beach and Japan this weekend isn't optimal, but Pete Pistone says it won't detract from a promising start for the reunified IRL. 

Hendrick gets first win; Junior still waiting, not minding
Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn't frustrated for not ending his winless drought; he understands it's all about consistency. After taking seventh in Phoenix, Junior lands another strong finish in his first year with Hendrick, Pete Pistone says. 

Trip to desert should bring drought on complaints
The complaining has been plentiful with the new cars this year on short tracks. Well with a trip to Phoenix in store this week, we should hear much more driving and much less griping, Pete Pistone says. 

In case of new Cup cars, let whines diminish with age
Predictably, some drivers are complaining about how the new Sprint Cup cars are performing on midsized tracks. Pete Pistone says except for relaxed testing rules, NASCAR should do this in response: Nothing. 

Four-time Cup winner Gordon headed in reverse
This isn't the way Jeff Gordon pictured the 2008 season. After a 43rd-place finish in Texas, the four-time Cup champion finds himself without a trip to Victory Lane this season and sitting in 14th in the standings. The No. 24 team needs to figure things out soon, Pete Pistone says. 

Pair of stars hope Texas can cure what ails them
Dale Earnhardt Jr. hasn't won at Texas in eight years, but that one triumph is special -- it was his first career victory. Junior, like fellow one-time Texas winner Matt Kenseth, looks to recapture that magic this week, Pete Pistone says. 

Searching for straw against Toyota? Roush finds one -- sway bar
Jack Roush went off on Michael Waltrip Racing over a sway bar he thought was stolen from his garage. There might be credence there, but given the timing, Pete Pistone wonders if Roush's nitpicking has anything to do with Toyota's oil lid comments. 

Still-winless Hendrick turns it up a notch at Martinsville
With the addition of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports was expected to blow away the field. Its four drivers remain winless after Martinsville, but record four top 10s Sunday, proving the team is on its way, Pete Pistone says.  

Martinsville perfect place for Johnson, Hendrick to get right
Hendrick Motorsports, dominant in 2007, has no victories in 2008. Pete Pistone says after a week off, Martinsville is the perfect place to get well, with Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon having won eight of the past 10 there. 

Champ Car comrades hope to get up to speed as new-look IRL debuts
When the brand-new Indy Racing League debuts in Miami this week, there will be more cars. But with Champ Car vets having little experience on oval tracks, Pete Pistone says their learning curve will be steep, and the result will be an unpolished product. 

Cup series off, but Edwards on guitar hunt in Nashville
With the Cup series off this weekend, the Nationwide will take center stage. Pete Pistone says that's music to the ear of Carl Edwards, who won't have to do double duty as he tries to win his fourth straight at Nashville. 

Emotion is good, but line of conduct must still be kept
So Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick made up after their Bristol blowup. Being chums did prevent things from escalating. But there's no excuse for Harvick's media rant, Pete Pistone says. 

Gibbs drivers fizzle, open way to Childress sweep
Joe Gibbs Racing drivers dominated early at Bristol, but then everything went south. Pete Pistone says Richard Childress' Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer took advantage for the first podium sweep in team history. 

Even with new look, Bristol continues to be harrowing -- and fun
Its new surface now allows side-by-side racing as opposed to one-lane bump-fests, but Pete Pistone says Sunday's race at Bristol will still be a white-knuckle thrill ride for both drivers and fans. 

Goodyear tires a challenge in Atlanta -- and the problem is?
A number of drivers -- notably Tony Stewart -- were unhappy with their Goodyear tires Sunday in Atlanta. But Pete Pistone says if they were safe, there's nothing wrong with the world's best drivers being challenged. 

Edwards breaks down, but still a decent day for Roush
Carl Edwards might have had the best car until the engine blew, Greg Biffle finished fourth and Matt Kenseth went from last to eighth. Pete Pistone says all in all, a week of controversy ended pretty well for Roush Fenway Racing. 

NASCAR wants focus back on track as Cup Series hits Atlanta
Carl Edwards -- victory aside -- isn't the only one who wants to put Las Vegas behind him. There's Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth ... and NASCAR, which hopes driver-friendly Atlanta can erase the past week, Pete Pistone says. 

Trying to make sense -- again -- of NASCAR's justice system
Carl Edwards' car is illegal when he takes the checkered in Las Vegas, there are fines and points lost -- but he still wins. An appeal goes Robby Gordon's way -- and the fine against his crew chief is raised. Forgive Pete Pistone if he's confused. 

For illegal car, NASCAR should flip Edwards' Sin City win
Carl Edwards escaped a tire penalty in Vegas, but pays dearly for a failed inspection after his Sin City win. NASCAR has been tough and that's great. But something doesn't make sense to Pete Pistone: Why is Edwards allowed to keep the victory? 

Edwards shows Sprint Cup not just a two-horse race
Carl Edwards earns a second consecutive victory of the season and shows that even though Hendrick and Gibbs dominated most of the preseason title chatter, Roush Fenway should not be forgotten, Pete Pistone says.