 | | Matt Kenseth took part of the blame for the accident that ended his and Tony Stewart's night at the all-star race. Credit: AP |
By David Newton, NASCAR.COM
May 25, 2006
09:44 PM EDT (01:44 GMT)
CONCORD, N.C. -- Don't look for another feud between Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth. Both paid a visit on Thursday to the NASCAR hauler, where officials made sure there were no lingering issues after their incident in Saturday night's Nextel All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway. They also chatted in the Busch Series garage, laughing as they ended the conversation. Kenseth admitted he didn't give Stewart enough room when Stewart tried to pass exiting Turn 1 during the final 20-lap segment. He also said Stewart could have backed off. "I didn't know he was in there until it was too late, so that was my fault, and he didn't get out of the gas," said Kenseth, who exchanged barbs with Stewart after an incident at Daytona. "If it had been a normal race he probably would have gotten out of the gas and gave it to me, which I still think he could have. Yet, I probably should have given him enough room to get down through there." Stewart said the incident last weekend is old news. "This is a whole new week," Stewart said. "We're just figuring out what we've got to do for 600 miles now and not worry about an all-star race. It's a different breed.'' Car of Tomorrow test Ten organizations are scheduled to test NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow on Tuesday and Wednesday at LMS. Among those missing is Roush Racing. "To be honest, Roush Racing has opted to pass on that,'' said Robbie Reiser, Kenseth's crew chief. "We don't feel the rules are set to the point where we need to be building racecars to come do the tests." Reiser said Roush is waiting on concrete rules on the wing, splitter and other components that are new to the series. He said the plan is to build two or three cars and be ready to go by the June test at Michigan. Teams that will test are: Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Petty Enterprises, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Penske Racing South, Evernham Motorsports, Wood Brothers, Robert Yates Racing, Ganassi Racing and MB2 Motorsports. Goodyear officials said teams will use the same hard tire compound being used on Sunday. Todd Berrier, the crew chief for Kevin Harvick, said the Car of Tomorrow doesn't have enough downforce to keep that tire on the track.  |  | | Kyle Busch plans to extend his contract with Hendrick Motorsports. Credit: Autostock |
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No changes Kyle Busch said he hopes to have an extension with Hendrick Motorsports soon. Busch's current deal ends after this season, but owner Rick Hendrick plans to pick up a two-year option that runs through 2008. "We've been in negotiations since the beginning of the year," Busch said. "If we can get something we can both agree on we'll be good." Hendrick said he plans to enter next season with the same four drivers -- Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Busch and Brian Vickers -- as this season, which means he's also picking up the option on Vickers. "Our plan right now is exactly like it is today," Hendrick said. "So we're all set." Streak ends Michael Waltrip, who had qualified for 262 consecutive races, failed to qualify for Sunday's race. Waltrip was 47th fastest, 12th among the 18 teams not ranked in the top 35 in points with a guaranteed spot in the field. Only eight of those teams made the field. Waltrip's last race missed was Phoenix 1988 while driving for the Wood Brothers. The last time a Nextel Cup race did not have a Waltrip -- Darrell or Michael -- was the final race of the 1975 season. Red flagged There will no track activity at LMS on Friday, but there will be plenty of Cars. As in the Disney animated movie Cars that will premiere for more than 30,000 fans on large screens built inside the track. Dale Earnhardt Jr. actually was given a small role as one of the voices during a trip to the studio. Asked if he had to repeat his lines, Earnhardt said, "I'm a one-take guy. I don't need 60 takes. I got 'er done. I was in there five minutes." Home track edge There's a picture at Hendrick Motorsports of the team's racing facilities with LMS in the background. "We call it our test track," Hendrick said with a laugh. It might as well be. Hendrick has 13 victories, more than any owner, on the 1.5-mile track. Jimmie Johnson has won the last four points races here and two of the last four all-star races. Hendrick gets upset that some people think the races are fixed for Johnson because his car carries the same sponsor as the track. "Our sport is way beyond that," he said. "Sometimes I laugh. Sometimes I get mad. Some of the things they come up with are unbelievable." | 
