Talladega Finish Closest In While

((HT: NASCAR on Fox/MT89Motorsport2))

The larger issue at Talladega Sunday turned out to be who your favorite driver would use as a dance partner. If Dave Blaney had Regan Smith instead of Kurt Busch ((who was involved in three incidents with other drivers)), we all would be heading to Blaney's steakhouse sponsor with any kid we knew for a free meal...

But Roush went with Roush, Hendrick was with Hendrick, and so on and so on...

The four Hendrick cars were in the mess at the end, and the mess ended up being .002- or the length of a fender- good enough for one of the wildest non-Big One endings in a while... the closest margin since 1996...

Have you ever...???

Gordon Ends Winless Streak At Phoenix

((HT: NASCAR on FOX/NASCAR.com/youtube))

Jeff Gordon ended his 60-plus race winless streak by winning the five-five dollar-five dollar footlong-five race in Phoenix this afternoon...

Here's the Phoenix version of the "Big One" that involved 13 cars and knocked out some big names along the way...

Clint Bowyer wasn't a happy man...


And the HQ hopes that when Brian Vickers watches the video, he knows that Kenseth wasn't all entirely at fault...

Bowyer Docked 150 Points For Failed Inspection

But he does get to keep the Loudon win from last weekend, though...

NASCAR penalized him 150 points because the car didn't meet specifications.

Crew chief Shane Wilson was suspended for six weeks and fined $150,000. Richard Childress was docked 150 owner points.

Bowyer had moved from 12th to second in points with the victory, but the penalty knocked him back to 12th -- from 35 points behind leader Denny Hamlin to 185.

Asked what that means Bowyer said, "Got to win a couple of more races."

Childress says he plans to appeal the decision...

Cindy Brunson discusses with Ray Evernham...
((HT: ESPN/NASCAR/NASCAR Images))