Multiple title races spice up Phoenix weekend

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- While the 2003 NASCAR Busch Series drivers' championship is still very much in doubt, the owners' title is all but locked up.

Meanwhile, the battle for the Busch Series rookie-of-the-year award is heating up, too.

	David Stremme

So when the Busch Series teams headed to Phoenix International Raceway for Saturday's Bashas' Supermarkets 200, there is more at stake than one might think.

Sure, the drivers' championship may be the most visible. And it may be the most exciting, as David Green leads a pack of five drivers separated by 49 points.

But don't forget about the other title races. Richard Childress Racing has the unique opportunity to win the owner's championship while not winning the driver's title. RCR's No. 21 Chevrolet comfortably leads the owners' standings by 216 points over Brewco Motorsports' No. 37 (Green).

With Kevin Harvick and Johnny Sauter splitting driving duties, RCR's No. 21 has had a terrific season, with three victories, 15 top-fives and 22 top-10s in 31 races. Should Childress win the owners' championship, NASCAR would have its first split title in the modern era.

	Brian Vickers

"What would be great is if we could win it with Ron Hornaday as a driver and the other two drivers win the owners' championship," Childress said. "With (three) races to go, there are no guarantees. We just have to keep doing what we have to do, keep working hard, keep focused and try to win that championship."

Childress also owns the No. 2 Chevy driven by Hornaday, who is 35 points behind Green in the drivers' standings -- but 251 behind RCR's No. 21.

The last time there was a split championship was in 1963, when Joe Weatherly won the Winston Cup title and the Wood Brothers took home the owners' trophy.

In eighth place in the owners' standings is Phoenix Racing, which fields cars for Jamie McMurray and David Stremme. They're 483 behind RCR, but Stremme is closing in on Coy Gibbs for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title.

With a late-season surge, Stremme is six points behind Gibbs despite competing in 16 fewer races. Stremme, plucked from the ASA series, has finished 14th or better in his last three races, earning rookie-of-the-race honors all three times.

	Scott Riggs

Gibbs, driving for his father, Joe, has been in a free-fall, finishing 26th, 25th and 25th in the last three races.

"If I perform well this weekend, I could take over the points lead in the Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year competition," Stremme said.

So while most eyes will be on Green, Scott Riggs, Jason Keller, Hornaday and Brian Vickers as they battle for the drivers' championship, don't forget about two other title fights.