Tires were under the spotlight at Lowe's Motor Speedway last weekend. Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images

Cross' Words: Charlotte

If ever stock-car drivers needed to pick up the torch, now is the time for a union. Right now, not six months from now, not two years. Today.

A drivers' union is the only way to avoid another debacle like Saturday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway. A union would have the voice to mandate a safer racing environment.

"This is the biggest joke in racing that I've ever seen, with tires going down. It's just terrible," Kevin Harvick said. "Everybody saw it coming [Friday night]. ... It's pretty disgusting and pretty embarrassing for our sport."

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The track surface was so bad that NASCAR contemplated cancelling the race. There were 14 cautions in the Busch Series race Friday night. Not to be outdone, the Cup Series had 15 -- which was down considerably from 22 in the May race.

Humpy Wheeler, president of Lowe's Motor Speedway, admitted levigating the surface wasn't conducive to racing that fetched $100 ticket prices. He promised the track would be resurfaced before next May, when NASCAR returns for the all-star weekend and Coca-Cola 600.

It's a given these guys run on the ragged edge, but to blatantly court serious injury -- or death, as was the case at Charlotte -- well, damn the SAFER barriers and HANS devices but that was borderline insane.

"This was not a lot of fun to be honest with you," Carl Edwards said after surviving to finish 10th at Charlotte.

Said Kurt Busch, who finished second: "I was just rolling through most of the night worried about which tire was gonna blow out -- the right-front or right-rear." ... Kinda tough to focus on the competition when you're worried about which end will be up after exiting the corner.

How can it be that a reported 42 of 43 cars had tire troubles? Better yet -- how did 24 cars finish on the lead lap?

"We did the best with what we had," said Tony Stewart, who finished 25th after spinning and backing into the wall on Lap 217. "We had the fastest car all night. Zippy [crew chief Greg Zipadelli] told me that 42 out of 43 cars had tire problems, so welcome to the wonderful world of racing. It was a weird night.

"I don't think it was Goodyear's fault," Stewart said. "It's a bad set of circumstances that started before the May race and everybody involved did their part to make it as good as they could.

"I don't know that you can point the finger at anybody. This is just what we had to deal with [Saturday night]. We'll take our lumps and go on from here."

But there was nothing the car owners or drivers could do about the no-win situation.

When asked if there was anything that could be done about the track conditions, Harvick said, "Yeah, throw the checkered flag and get the hell out of here."

Nonetheless, the clock is ticking -- and it's the car owners' and drivers' choice: tick-tock toward a union or the next funeral. It's that simple -- and numbing.

Flags

• Red -- How do you red-flag a guy for navigating his way to the front, leading 35 laps and finishing on the lead lap after the on-track carnage at Charlotte? Consider this: Kasey Kahne finished 23rd on Saturday night -- his 10th finish of 20th or worse in 20 starts since winning at Richmond on May 14. During that time, he's had as many DNFs -- four -- as top-10s.

• Yellow -- Ricky Rudd had his second consecutive top-10 finish Saturday night, and the No. 21 team's fourth in the past eight races. In the past 16 races, the Wood Brothers' Ford has finished outside the top 20 only three times and posted seven top-10s. Not too shabby for a car that began the year with five consecutive finishes off the lead lap.

• Green -- In his Cup Series debut, David Reutimann finished 22nd -- on the lead lap -- after qualifying 26th. Too much gushing over a 22nd-place finisher? Not when you consider the adversity former series champions Dale Jarrett and Jeff Gordon endured. Reuti can tell his grandchildren he finished ahead of DJ and Gordo in his first big-league start.

Quote, Unquote

"I'm not gonna send our cowboy back out there to get hurt. We need him healthy for the rest of these rodeos."
-- No. 8 crew chief Tony Eury Jr., talking to the team's spotter, Jimmy Kitchens, after Dale Earnhardt Jr. blew a right-front tire and crashed on Lap 62

Around the Track

Drive for Diversity is hosting the third Driver Testing & Evaluation Combine at South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Va., on Monday and Tuesday.

More than 300 resumes were submitted to Access Marketing & Communications, which manages Drive for Diversity, for the opportunity to participate during the 2006 season. Based upon the information submitted, 19 ethnic and gender minority drivers were selected to attend this year's combine:

• Jayme Beck, Hunker, Pa.: Competed in the Dodge Weekly Series in the Super Late Model Division, finished ninth in points; was second in points in the Legacy Division at Jennerstown Speedway.

• Chris Bristol, Columbus, Ohio: Made history as the first black to win a race at Hickory Motor Speedway. He had three wins, 12 top-five finishes and 14 top-10s this season.

• Lori Cary, Ballston Lake, N.Y.: Raced on dirt tracks in the Pro Stock and the Hobby Stock divisions with several wins and fifth-place points finishes at Fonda and Orange County speedways.

UAW-GM Quality 500 Official Results Pos. Driver Pts/Bonus 1. J. Johnson 185/5 2. Ku. Busch 175/5 3. G. Biffle 170/5 4. J. Nemechek 165/5 5. M. Martin 155/0 • Race Results: click here • Cup Standings: click here Inside the Chase Point standings after Charlotte Pos. Driver Points Behind 1. T. Stewart 5,777 -- 2. J. Johnson 5,777 -- 3. G. Biffle 5,766 -11 4. R. Newman 5,760 -17 5. M. Martin 5,726 -51 6. C. Edwards 5,723 -54 7. R. Wallace 5,685 -92 8. J. Mayfield 5,662 -115 9. M. Kenseth 5,653 -124 10. Ku. Busch 5,635 -142 Victory LaneJimmie Johnson celebrates his fourth consecutive LMS win Final lapsJohnson battles Nemechek, Busch late for the win UAW-GM Quality 500Check out all the highlights from Charlotte Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

• Tracy Chambers, Timberlake, N.C.: Drove a late model stock car in the Dodge Weekly Series and finished 10th in points with seven top-10s at Ace Speedway.

• Brianne Cronrath, Fleetwood, Pa.: A 2005 Drive for Diversity participant, she drove in Late Model Stock Car races at Motor Mile Speedway.

• Marc Davis, Mitchellville, Md.: Drove in the Dodge Weekly Series and the road course division at Summit Point and Hickory Motor speedways.

• Allison Duncan, San Rafael, Calif.: A two-year member of the Drive for Diversity program, she was the first woman to win at Stockton 99 Speedway and the first rookie to win the points championship within her series.

• Michael Gallegos, Wheatridge, Colo.: In 2005, he was the first Drive for Diversity participant to win pole position.

• Kelly Germain, Tucson, Ariz.: Finished eighth in points at Tucson Raceway Park with two top-five finishes and 13 top-10s.

• Paul Harraka, Fairlawn, N.J.: Had 20 wins in the World Karting Association and Stars of Karting Series this season.

• Jessica Helberg, Petaluma, Calif.: Competed at various tracks throughout the West Coast with four top-five finishes and 12 top-10s.

• Joe Henderson III, Franklin, Tenn.: Joined the Drive for Diversity program in 2004 as the program's youngest driver. He competed during the 2005 season with MB2/MBV Motorsports.

• Jesus Hernandez, Fresno, Calif.: Drove for Belnvavis Racing as a participant of the Drive for Diversity program in 2005.

• Peter Hernandez, Chicago, Ill.: Competed within the Mid-American Stock Car Series, finishing first in points with 14 top-fives.

• Tommy Lane, Passaic, N.J.: The only program participant to be part of both the crew and driver programs. In 2004, he was a front-tire carrier for Hermie Sadler, then in 2005 drove for Evernham Motorsports.

• Alison Quick, Redding, Iowa: Raced dirt modified and asphalt Late Model Stock Cars, winning the "Winners Circle" award from Circle Track magazine's Young Racers Club.

• Mike Rodriguez, Drums, Pa.: Competed at Mountain Speedway in the Super Late Model Division with two wins, six top-five finishes and 13 top-10s.

• Michelle Theriault, Mooresville, N.C.: Competed in the USAR Pro Cup and the Grand National West Series.

• Terri Williams, Capron, Va.: Drove for SCORE Motorsports, owned by Cup Series driver Hermie Sadler and former NBA player Bryant Stith.

Up Next

Martinsville Speedway

• Defending race winner Jimmie Johnson has six consecutive top-10 finishes at Martinsville.

• Tony Stewart has one win and six top-10s in 13 starts at Martinsville, but he's finished 14th or worse in his last three races.

• In five races, Greg Biffle's best finish at Martinsville is 17th. His average: 23.6.

• Four Chase drivers -- Mark Martin (third), Ryan Newman (fourth), Rusty Wallace (fifth) and Jimmie Johnson (eighth) -- posted top-10 finishes in the spring race on April 10.

• Three Chase drivers -- Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace -- had top-10s in both races at Martinsville last year. Johnson and Newman scored top-five finishes in both races.

Mail Call

I've been a NASCAR fan since 1979. I've watched NASCAR racing when it was still in its television infancy. The current trend, however, is troubling. When more often than not the 10 Chase teams appear to be the only teams at the top, the Chase, which is already boring, gets even less exciting. Crash, crash, crash; I want to see good competition, not victory through attrition. NASCAR has always had a legitimate aura of competitiveness. But with the Chase, cautions, wrecks, boring races, and the same people at the top each week, I would rather bore myself watching the grass grow. Something needs to be done, because I know there are many fans that feel the same way I do. NASCAR is going to crash itself right out of popularity.
-- Paul Wilson, Lubbock, Texas

E-MAIL •   Send Duane your thoughts ...

The Brian France interview struck me as a familiar topic from the past. Last year, 60 Minutes did a special on Dale Earnhardt Jr. During that interview, he was showing the reporter through the infield at Daytona. [The reporter] spotted a Confederate flag and asked Junior the same question that was asked of Brian France. Coincidence, I think not. I think the media is trying to start a thing with NASCAR to bring it to its demise, or at least create a negative appeal or a rebellious appeal to the sport.
-- B.J. Mumm

I have one question that I never see printed in the mainstream media: Why does Jimmie Johnson always do so well at Charlotte? It wouldn't have anything to do with the name of the track and the name on the car being the same now would it? We all know that NASCAR is all about money these days, now don't we?
-- Jamie Faulkner, Norcross, Ga.

Fantasy Perspective

• Thirty-one of 113 races at Martinsville have been won from the front row, but only two of the past nine races were won from the front row.

• Jimmie Johnson has finished ninth or better in his last six races at Martinsville, the longest active top-10 streak.

• Jeff Gordon has been running at the finish in all 25 of his races at Martinsville. No other driver has competed in 25 or more races at the track without a DNF.

• Petty Enterprises has 19 victories at Martinsville, the most of all car owners. Junior Johnson and Rick Hendrick have 12, tied for second.

• There have been nine season sweeps at Martinsville since twice-a-year racing began there in 1950. Jeff Gordon (2003) posted the most recent sweep ... and he won the spring race on April 10.