Chad Knaus is reportedly inking the paperwork on a long-term deal with Hendrick Motorsports. Credit: Autostock

Last Lap: New Year brings a new mailbag

Chad Knaus to remain but others leaving Hendrick

Note to the 7,000 Jimmie Johnson fans that kept my BlackBerry buzzing throughout the Christmas holiday: Let it go. Chad Knaus is not leaving Hendrick Motorsports.

It seemed inevitable at the end of the 2005 season, and the rumor is still hot, but Knaus told me late last week he is working with HMS officials on a new long-term contract that will keep him atop the No. 48 pit box for the foreseeable future, and he was in the wind tunnel with the No. 48 team last week.

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Many key HMS crewmembers, however, have departed the 24/48 shop during the offseason. No less than four crewmembers are gone from the No. 48 team, one to Robert Yates Racing, another to Richard Childress Racing, another to Evernham Motorsports and another to Bill Davis Racing.

Sources close to HMS said the No. 24 team lost roughly the same number of crewmen, and to the same teams.

It's the nature of the business today. Continuity over time is difficult to achieve, and it's a major reason Tony Stewart won the 2005 championship. The No. 20 team has remained virtually unchanged since its formation in 1999.

Marty,

Do you happen to know which drivers scored the most points over the last 10 races? If you don't, do you happen to know where I can find this stat?

I happen to enjoy reading your columns. Isn't "happen" a rather strange word when you say it over and over again? Funny what your mind thinks about when there's no racing.

The champ and Carl Edwards scored more points than anybody in the Chase. Credit: Autostock

Pat G. in KC

So glad I happened upon your e-mail, Pat. Just so happens I have your answer.

Not surprisingly, 2005 champion Tony Stewart and NASCAR's newest star Carl Edwards tied atop the points-scored chart during the 10 races that comprise the Chase for the Nextel Cup: 1,483 points apiece.

Stewart recorded five top-fives during the Chase, including runner-up finishes at Loudon, Talladega and Martinsville. Edwards, meanwhile, won at Texas and Atlanta, finished third at Kansas, fourth at Homestead and fifth at Talladega.

Greg Biffle was just behind them with 1,453, while Mark Martin (1,403) and Jimmie Johnson (1,371) rounded out the top-five. Ryan Newman (1,354), Matt Kenseth (1,337), Jeff Gordon (1,202), Casey Mears (1,198) and Jamie McMurray (1,158) ranked 6-10.

Marty,

I am TIRED of typing NASCAR in email, Word Docs, message boards, ONE NOTE and other electronic media, and having it underlined in RED, saying it is NOT a word.

Can we get NASCAR to petition the dictionary makers, Microsoft and other application makers to insert NASCAR as an official WORD in the English language?

Thanks,

Corey Quain

Sorry, Corey, not sure I can help you there. Don't have much pull at Webster's. Don't have Bill Gates' cell number, either.

I do, however, have a quick suggestion for you. Next time NASCAR is highlighted by your spell checker, click the "Add" tab when prompted to double-check the word.

From that moment on, Microsoft Word will forever recognize NASCAR as a legitimate word of the English language. I've had to do that with several NASCAR names. Earnhardt, Kenseth, Biffle, etc., etc.

Marty,

Wondering if the owner points for the 15 will be moved to the 1 car this year?

Chris Pereira

Yes they will, Chris. NASCAR officials confirmed that a team owner has the right to transfer owner points to teams within his organization, so the No. 1 will most certainly take the points earned by the No. 15 in 2005.

Marty,

How about some more pictures of Eury's Late Model? COOL! Email Helton and tell him this is the car of tomorrow that we want! Merry Christmas!

The new Car of Tomorrow Credit: Autostock

Greg

Hilarious ... I'll run Helton down next week at Preseason Thunder, Greg; see what I can do for you.

Marty,

Do you know why Dale Earnhardt Jr. formed a new Busch team to compete against DEI's Chance 2 ride? Does DEI support Dale's team?

Thanks,

Craig

I went straight to the source for you, Craig. Junior told me that Chance 2 is no more and that its last function as a unit was last month's Busch Series banquet in Orlando.

In the near future, Earnhardt said, any Busch Series effort fielded from within DEI's walls will run under the DEI banner, not Chance 2.

Earnhardt said he was presented an awesome opportunity to partner with Navy for the coming Busch Series season, and it was the next step in the natural progression of JR Motorsports, which has fielded a full-time racing effort of some sort for the past five years.

"DEI is acutely aware of the advantages of any association pertaining to JR Motorsports and will surely utilize those advantages over time," Earnhardt said.

Marty,

Mr. Go Fast Credit: Autostock

My wife is Czech and she tells me that Kvapil is a Czech name. The English translation is "Mr. Go Fast." Great name for a racer!

Thanks,

Chuck

Agreed, Chuck. "Mr. Go Fast" is a stellar racing name -- ranks right up there with Lake Speed, which is indisputably the coolest racing name of all time. Also on the list is Billy Race, a buddy of mine over at Petty Enterprises.

When I looked up "Kvapil" on a Czech-to-English translation Web site, it was translated as "flew." Still pretty fast.

Hopefully Kvapil will translate to on-track performance for PPI Motorsports this year.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the writer.