Local Look: Pocono

Events: Pocono 500, Federated Auto Parts 300 (Nashville), Chex 400 (Texas)

Local papers contributing: Las Vegas Sun, Fort Worth Star- Telegram, (Wilmington, Del.) News-Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer

Earnhardt Jr. not hitting the panic button just yet

	Inside the Numbers A comparision of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s past two Nextel Cup seasons after 13 races Year Wins Top-5s Top-10s 2005 0 3 5 2004 3 8 10

The deal: Brian Hilderbrand of the Las Vegas Sun says even though the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series is halfway through its 26- race "regular season" and Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 15th in the standings, the popular driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet isn't hitting the panic button just yet.

"As much as we've struggled, we're 15th and still less than 100 points from sixth," Earnhardt told the paper. "I feel like we can make that up pretty quick; (we) just need a couple good races here the next two or three weeks and we'll be right back in it."

Why we care: At this point in the 2004 season, Earnhardt had three victories and was leading the Nextel Cup points standings. Going into Sunday's race at Pocono Raceway, Earnhardt has yet to win a race this season and is 418 points out of first place.

"We don't think week-to-week; we're thinking long term," Junior said. "We're trying to do what's best for our race team and what gives us the best chances of getting into the Chase for the Championship."

Veterans agree trucks are more fun

The deal: Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says no one in Daytona Beach, Fla., ever considered the Craftsman Truck Series a joke, and now almost no one who follows motorsports does, either.

With fields that include former Cup regulars, and often a few current regulars, the Truck Series offers the most competitive brand of racing in NASCAR. "I think the race fans who didn't really pay attention to the trucks are starting to watch a race or two and then get hooked on it," Steve Park told the paper.

"You're racing against former Cup competitors and these new young guys trying to make a name for themselves. It just makes the level of competition that much greater. It's not just a fly -by-night series."

Steve Park celebrates his win earlier this season at California. Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Why we care: The 25-event series has become a destination for Cup drivers who have grown tired of the week-to-week grind, or of finishing each race as also-rans in subpar equipment.

Now they have the equipment to run for victories and the points title. The top five in points and six of the top 10 have raced full time in NASCAR's top series. Drivers with Cup ties have won the first eight races this season.

"My impression then, after the first race, was you're rewarded for overdriving them," Ricky Craven, a two-time Cup winner for PPI Motorsports, told the paper. "You certainly can't do that on the Cup side.

"The Cup side was more of a finesse-type driving style. Here it's almost like you'd expect. You have to be fairly aggressive with them, and that's a fun way to race. It's been awhile since we've really been able to do that."

NASCAR's night racing hurting smaller tracks

The deal: Mike Finney of the News Journal says NASCAR went prime time in May, running Nextel Cup events under the lights before sellout crowds in Darlington, Richmond and Charlotte.

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However, some short-track operators have not embraced NASCAR's shift to night racing, as they find themselves shortchanged at the box office.

Why we care: Charlie Cathell, track promoter at Delaware International Speedway, told the paper that his track loses about 200 from its average attendance of 2,000 when NASCAR races on Saturday night.

"It's a shame that NASCAR has kind of forgotten the roots of short-track racing across America," Cathell said. "They put in these night races knowing that the vast majority of short-track races are run on Saturday nights.

"We've expressed our viewpoints to them, but there's nothing we can do."

Newman still not a fan of the free pass

The deal: Pete Schnatz of the Philadelphia Inquirer says according to statistics provided by NASCAR, the free pass has been used to go on to win a race just three times in 57 starts. Ryan Newman has done it twice, and Jeff Gordon was the beneficiary when he used two Lucky Dogs to come from three laps down to win at Martinsville Speedway earlier this season.

Ryan Newman has turned two free passes into two victories.

Even though Newman is the luckiest of the "lucky dogs," he still doesn't like the rule.

"My outlook hasn't really changed on the Lucky Dog rule itself," Newman told the paper. "I still find it hard to justify giving a car back a lap if he hasn't earned it... or he's not competitive enough to earn it.

Why we care: David Hoots, NASCAR's managing event director, told the paper that there was some trial and error when the new rule was implemented.

"There was a learning curve. It's taken us a while to work the bugs out," he said. "But I think the safety aspect has been most beneficial."

Nextel Cup points leader Jimmie Johnson told the paper, above all else, the rule has been accepted.

"I don't believe it interferes with the racing," he said. "In fact, it even adds some excitement for the guys a lap down, because now they're worried who's the next guy a lap down."