Cross' Words: Michigan (cont'd)

Say what?

"But this is twice now that he's crashed us, and both times he doesn't have an answer for why. That's the part that scares you as a driver."
-- Tony Stewart on David Gilliland after a crash during practice on Saturday

Figuratively speaking

52 -- Races between wins for Carl Edwards, whose victory means Tom Giacchi can finally shave his beard. Gillette declines pay-per-view sponsorship offer; Weed Eater signs on the dotted line. ZZ Top will provide the intro music, of course.

Up Next

Toyota/Save Mart 350 | Sonoma | 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday | TNT
Race No. 16 of 36 | Get tickets | Book travel

• Defending race winner: Jeff Gordon
• Most victories at the track: Jeff Gordon (5)
• Best average finish (minimum five starts): Ryan Newman (7.8 in five starts)
Active drivers only

Mailbag

Craig for Australia
G'day. Just thought I would enquire about numbers. I was under the impression that NASCAR owned the numbers, not the team. So, could NASCAR choose to change numbers between teams? If 5 and 8 did swap, DEI would have 1, 5, 15.

Yep, NASCAR holds the numbers; the teams merely have them for safe keeping: 20-3.11 of the rule book -- "(2) All NASCAR Nextel Cup Series car numbers are owned by and will be assigned by NASCAR for use by the car owner. Car numbers are not transferable or assignable by the car owner. Numbers on a car competing in the Series must correspond with the car owner's license that is one file at NASCAR headquarters, unless otherwise authorized by NASCAR."

Nope, NASCAR isn't going to play this numbers game. If Hendrick and DEI come to an agreement, NASCAR most likely would agree to swap the numbers. If not, the sanctioning body could open up a can of worms by making the switch without everyone being on the same page.

Amanda in Tucson, Ariz.
I like watching the races on TNT, for the most part, but this year some genius decided to play Born to Be Wild every 1.5 minutes. I want to throw something at my TV. It was awful last week during the rain delay, but I gave TNT the benefit of the doubt and thought it was a one time thing. I am watching the pre-race now, and apparently it is not. Someone needs to tell them to back off the cheesy song. I may just watch this on mute because I cannot handle hearing that damn song again. Ughh. It seriously annoyed me enough to write this email. Unbelievable.

I don't think that's what Steppenwolf had in mind with "get your motor runnin'," but since you're wound up I'll add my two cents' worth: When folks sit down to watch TV, unless it's a concert, who wants to be inundated with music? Ditto at a ballpark; it's not an amphitheater! If I wanted my MTV, I'd call Mark Knopfler.

Tom in Huntsville, Ala.
This first hit me during the final laps at Martinsville, and then again [Saturday night] during the Busch Race at Kentucky: Why do the TV producers think anybody cares what the crew is doing during the final laps? You've got a great race going on, and they shrink the action down to one third of the screen so you can see what the crew is doing. Show the race for crying out loud. If the split is to show another race for position, fine -- but not the pit crew or the driver's wife for that matter. If that was worth watching, they could just show the fans in the stands for three hours.

C'mon now, I was with you until you brought in the wives; I'd rather see Katie Kenseth or Krissie Newman. ... After three hours of watching [insert TV network's booth crew here], a few on-screen moments of the fairer sex isn't a bad thing. No to the pit crew (most of them have on helmets anyway). Yes to the wives -- or Bobbie Sue from Elkwood, who took a few days off from the Bungalow to trek to the track and do on-site promotions. (Continued)