Notebook: Trying to avoid the points leader jinx

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Is there a first-place jinx in the Busch Series?

Brian Vickers has led the Busch Series points standings twice this season. For one race. The 20-year-old won at Dover last month to get the points lead but then wrecked and finished 32nd at Kansas.

	Brian Vickers

Vickers bounced back to lead again after Memphis, but last weekend at Atlanta, Vickers finished 31st to fall out of the top spot.

"It seems like whoever has the lead is jinxed, race after race," Vickers said. "There's three races left, and our GMAC team is not going to give up - that's just not our style. We were faced with the same challenge three races ago when we finished 32nd at Kansas and then battled back to lead the points after Memphis. Now, we've got three races to go for the title. Don't count us out."

The points lead has changed three times in the last three races and six times in the last seven events. Green led two consecutive weeks after Kansas and Charlotte, but that's the longest anyone has led since August.

"When it comes down to it, I don't want to be leading heading into Miami," Vickers said. Homestead-Miami Speedway is the site of the final race of the season in two weeks.

Riggs comes back to second

Before David Green led back-to-back, Scott Riggs was the last driver to stay atop the standings for more than one week in a row. He was atop the points for five consecutive weeks before finishing 29th at Richmond. Since then, however, Riggs has fought back to within 13 points of Green.

Now, he heads to Phoenix with a vengeance. Riggs blew an engine after 40 laps last season and ended up in 40th place.

"I've had Nov. 1 circled on my calendar for a while now," Riggs said. "Ever since last season, my Nesquik teammates and I have wanted to get back here and show what we can do.

"We're bringing our best short track car to Phoenix, and we're really excited about it. It's been to Victory Lane once this year, back in May (at Gateway), and it's time to get it back there again."

Lewis, Barker together again

	Ashton Lewis Jr.

Former Winston Cup crew chief Robert "Bootie" Barker has been asked to help Lewis Motorsports again this weekend. Barker, who took a leave of absence from Jasper Motorsports two weeks ago, worked as a consultant with Ashton Lewis Jr. at Atlanta.

Barker and Lewis are friends from their days at Old Dominion University, where they were getting engineering degrees.

Keller races to fight breast cancer

Should Jason Keller win this weekend, Yoplait Yogurt will donate $100,000 on behalf of Keller's sponsor, Albertson's, to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Yoplait will also donate $75,000 if Keller finishes second, $50,000 for third, $35,000 for fourth and $25,000 for fifth.

Earnhardt in No. 48 at Phoenix

Kerry Earnhardt, recently let go by the FitzBradshaw Racing team, will be behind the wheel of Innovative Motorsports' No. 48 Chevrolet at Phoenix. The car will carry decals honoring Union 76's 55-year involvement with NASCAR. The company departs as gasoline supplier to NASCAR after this season.

Harmon gets new crew chief

Ron Drake takes over as crew chief for GIC Mixon Motorsports and driver Mike Harmon this weekend. Car owner James Whitener dismissed former crew chief Ted Kennedy after the Atlanta race.

"I felt like the team was in a rut," Whitener said. "I wasn't happy with the performance, and I feel like the team needs to go in a different direction."

Drake will crew chief the team the rest of the season, and Whitener will then re-evaluate the situation. Harmon is 22nd in the Busch Series points but is without a top-10 finish this season.