If small teams ruled the world ...
Random Small Team news ...
* Petty Enterprises announced Kyle's summer subs: Terry Labonte will drive five races, and Chad McCumbee will do two. (Release.) The fact that McCumbee (one of the 2007 subs) is back is good news for him and his career, though I suspect he wants steadier work in the Cup series, not to mention a full-time Busch ride from someone.
But the Terry Labonte selection disappoints me. It's clear he's going to be behind the wheel because (a) he's available (though he's technically retired -- long story) and (b) he has the much-coveted Past Champion's Provisional, NASCAR's version of the Get Out of Jail Free But In Reverse card. So why not Richard? He wouldn't cost Petty a dime (and they're cheap cheap cheap), and he's three years younger than James Hylton, who turned a 185 mph lap in Daytona practice last year.
* The All-Star race continues to disappoint (entry list): There's only one Small Teamer, and that's Bobby Labonte. Maybe Robby Gordon or Carl Long will race his way in.
* Some vintage Wood Brothers love. How cool would it be to see this on the track? How cool would it be to see the 21 in anything other than a shot of it dropping oil and sheet metal after a wreck?
* Hey, it's not just Joe Nemechek's fault.
* Post-post update: Bob Pockrass explains why Jon Wood won't be racing Saturday. You think NASCAR would pull this on Hendrick or Roush?
Brian Vickers (17th overall in the real world) retains his lead in the Small Team Standings. But hold on! What's this? It's ... it's ... Travis Kvapil? The Yates driver pulled out an 8th-place finish at Darlington and is now within six points of Vickers.
Otherwise, you'll see a little shuffling throughout the ranks. Top 10 has the same drivers as it did a week ago.
Rk. Driver ... Pts ... Beh .. Last wk
1. Brian Vickers ... 1,161 ... Ldr ... 1
2. Travis Kvapil ... 1,155 ... -6 ... 3
3. Bobby Labonte ... 1,128 ... -33 ... 2
4. David Gilliland ... 1,088 ... -73 ... 4
5. Scott Riggs ... 1,006 ... -155 ... 5
6. Robby Gordon ... 946 ... -215 ... 6
7. Dave Blaney ... 793 ... -368 ... 7
8. J.J. Yeley ... 702 ... -459 ... 8
9. Joe Nemechek ... 543 ... -618 ... 10
10. Jeremy Mayfield ... 490 ... -671 ... 9