Local Look: Sonoma

Events: Dodge/Save Mart 350, SBC 250 (Milwaukee), Toyota Tundra 200 (Milwaukee)

Local papers contributing: Capital Times (Madison, Wis.), The Tennessean, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Las Vegas Sun

Short-track races a welcome diversion for Kenseth

	Inside the Numbers Matt Kenseth in 2005 Site Start Finish Daytona 14 42 Fontana 6 26 Las Vegas 8 8 Atlanta 23 31 Bristol 25 16 Martinsville 18 11 Texas 39 18 Phoenix 17 42 Talladega 23 11 Darlington 31 26 Richmond 26 12 Charlotte 3 37 Dover 23 7 Pocono 10 32 Michigan 21 4 Average 19.1 21.5

The deal: Tamira Surprenant of the Capital Times says Matt Kenseth took time out of his full-time Cup schedule to race Tuesday night at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna.

In his only scheduled appearance in Wisconsin in 2005, Kenseth joined Roush Racing teammate Carl Edwards and two-time Busch Series champion Randy LaJoie in the 100-lap feature.

These short-track stops have been a welcome diversion to a disappointing Nextel Cup campaign.

"I've been trying to do some different things, have a little bit of fun and kind of have a change of pace," Kenseth said of his appearances that included his first race on a dirt track two weeks ago at Eldora Speedway, a track owned by Tony Stewart in Rossburg, Ohio.

Why we care: Up until his fourth-place showing Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, the 2003 Cup champion had not registered a top-five finish all season. With 11 races remaining before drivers are determined in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, Kenseth sits 21st in the standings, a whopping 651 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson.

It might be tough for Kenseth and his Roush Racing crew to qualify for the Chase, but Kenseth is confident that his team can improve and contend in races down the stretch.

"The key is not to get too high when things are going good and not to get too low when things are going bad," Kenseth told the paper. "You've got to stay somewhere in the middle.

Marlin will consider consultant position

	ALSO BROOKLYN, Mich. -- David Stremme was officially introduced Sunday as driver of Chip Ganassi Racing's No. 40 Dodges for 2006, but that news was overshadowed by the announcement of Sterling Marlin's potential plans.  •   Complete story,  click here

The deal: Larry Woody of The Tennessean says Sterling Marlin said early this week he will "consider" an offer to remain at Chip Ganassi Racing next year as a consultant -- a move that would end his Nextel Cup racing career -- but made it clear he hopes to land a new ride with a different team.

"Chip and his people have made a really good offer," Marlin told the paper from his home in Columbia, referring to a six-figure deal that would keep him at Ganassi Racing in a non-driving role.

Why we care: What Marlin is waiting on is word from "two or three really good" Nextel Cup team owners about his prospects of driving for them next year.

"We've talked, but nothing has been decided yet," Marlin said. "Hopefully I'll know something soon."

Marlin, 47, next year will be replaced by David Stremme, 27, in the No. 40 Dodge that Marlin has driven for eight seasons. The decision was confirmed last weekend at Michigan International Speedway.

Hornaday looks forward to extended drive time

The deal: Dave Kallmann of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says Ron Hornaday, the driver, and Kevin Harvick, the owner, were together recently but without race cars, so sharp words became their weapons of choice.

"He come over and put his arm next to mine. He said, 'Man, you're tan,' " Hornaday recalled. "I said, 'Why don't you get me a job where I can race all the time instead of having a couple weeks off.' "

That's Hornaday. Bronzed and buffed and freshly 47 as of Monday, he couldn't be any more eager to get on with the heart of the Craftsman Truck Series schedule and, for that matter, do any other racing anyone can find for him.

So this ought to be a good week for him.

Why we care: Hornaday, who has never finished worse than 10th in 10 NASCAR starts at the Milwaukee Mile, comes back with a chance to win for a second time in each of two divisions. He'll drive Harvick's Chevrolet truck in the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200 on Friday night and then defend his Busch Series victory on Saturday, driving a Braun Racing Chevrolet in the SBC 250.

"The Truck Series is fun but I'd like to see them run more races," Hornaday told the paper last week during a test session at the track.

Martin has chance to go out like a champ

The deal: Brian Hilderbrand of the Las Vegas Sun says 15 races into his final season in the Nextel Cup Series, Mark Martin isn't driving like a man who is on the verge of semi-retirement.

	Mark Martin
	ALSO •   More from the NASCAR.COM Newswire •   Complete Race Coverage

And that's just the way Martin had it planned when he announced that the 2005 season would be his last in NASCAR's premier circuit.

"I really am the happiest I can ever remember (being) right now," Martin, 46, said after his third-place finish Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. "I'm at peace with what I'm doing right now and if I can keep this up, I can truly say that I'm going out at the top of my game and not just near (the top). I would like to go out near the top of my game but if we can keep this rolling, we might be able to justify calling it top."

Why we care: With 11 races remaining in NASCAR's "regular season," Martin has five top-five finishes, is fifth in points and is looking to qualify for the 10-race "Chase for the Nextel Cup" for the second consecutive season. "All we're doing is trying to make this Chase," Martin said.

"It's still really, really tight. Broken parts and wrecks can destroy the opportunity for us to make the Chase."