Mark Martin Credit: Autostock

Local Look: Bristol

Events: Sharpie 500, Food City 250

Local papers covering: Knoxville News-Sentinel, Bristol Herald Courier

The deal: Jim Benton of the Knoxville News-Sentinel says with three qualifying races left before the field is set for the 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup, Mark Martin's team seems to be peaking at the right time.

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But don't ask him about it.

"Please don't drag me into that," he told the paper. "You know I can't stand over-optimistic people. Don't make me hate myself. If you start that and we start babbling all that stuff and I don't make the cut, then I'm only left with a broken heart.

"Right now I'm planning on not being brokenhearted . . . but to go down with a fight. That's my style. That's the way I want to do this thing. I want to go down slugging as hard as I can."

Why we care: Martin finished second to teammate Greg Biffle last weekend at MIS. The effort put Martin just 33 points behind 10th-place Kasey Kahne for the final spot in the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

For more news about Martin, click here.

The deal: Allen Gregory of the Bristol Herald Courier writes that Kyle Petty is unique. The third-generation leader of the famed Petty Enterprises empire can see the big picture beyond the spotlight.

Kyle Petty

His Victory Junction Gang Camp is an example of that. Instead of spending his time and money on recreational pursuits, Petty realized his vision for an enchanted place that would enrich the lives of children facing life-threatening illness.

Why we care: By now, most NASCAR fans have heard about the 72-acre racing-themed Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, N.C. However, Petty said each day at the recently-opened camp offers a new slice of magic and wonderment.

"The buildings and surroundings are impressive, but when the kids started coming in this past summer -- the camp was a pretty cool place,'' Petty said.

"I'm not sure how the kids feel when they entered the camp. What's it like for a person to go to Disney World for the first time? What's it like to be able to go somewhere special where you never thought you would be able to go, do things that you never thought you would be able to do, and be with people you never thought you would be with?"

For more NASCAR news on Petty, click here.

The deal: Mike Connolly of the Bristol Herald Courier says watch Kurt Busch walk into his team's hauler wearing his usual dark pair of sunglasses. He's slight, wiry --- almost frail looking. Central casting would never pick the 5-11, 150-pound Busch to play the bad guy. He looks more like the bullied than the bully.

Kurt Busch

It is when Busch takes off the sunglasses and slides into his car at Bristol Motor Speedway that he suddenly becomes the most hated man in NASCAR.

Why we care: A week before the 2003 Sharpie 500, Jimmy Spencer attacked Busch in the infield at Michigan International Raceway. Spencer blamed Busch for bumping him earlier in the race and smacked Busch in the face before he could climb out of the car. The attack was the culmination of a year-long feud that began when the two bumped back and forth during the 2002 Food City 500, Busch's first win at Bristol.

Spencer got suspended for the next race at Bristol. Busch got a black eye, the blame and the win.

For more NASCAR news on Busch, click here.

The deal: Allen Gregory of the Bristol Herald Courier says Dale Earnhardt Jr. has already reached icon status with his army of fans. However, the son of the "Intimidator" never stops learning from his peers.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"Just about all the guys that raced with my daddy, I can go to Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte and even a guy like Rusty Wallace, and if I have a genuine question they can see it in my eyes that I really care to know what they have to say," Earnhardt told the paper.

Why we care: While winning races is the immediate goal, Earnhardt has also improved on his consistency the past two years. He can credit his good friend and rival, Matt Kenseth, for gaining that perspective.

"Me and Matt love to race each other," Earnhardt told the paper. "We love to beat each other on the racetrack. We actually used to race back and forth quite a lot in the Busch Series and it was a blast.

For more NASCAR news on Earnhardt Jr., click here.