Cross' Words: Loudon (cont'd)

Say what?

"My right foot was just shaking like crazy the last three laps -- you know, you try to hold the gas pedal down and all you're doing is going crazy with the right foot because you know, you're getting nervous."
-- Denny Hamlin on holding off Jeff Gordon at Loudon

Figuratively speaking

21 -- Different winners in 21 Busch races at New Hampshire, with Kevin Harvick adding his name to the list on Saturday.

Up Next

Pepsi 400 | Daytona | 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday | TNT
Race No. 18 of 36 | Get tickets | Book travel

• Defending race winner: Tony Stewart
• Most victories at the track: Jeff Gordon (6)
• Best average finish (minimum five starts): Jimmie Johnson (12.2 in 11 starts)
Active drivers only

CAUTION: Shameless plug for TNT
(But some really neat stuff ...)

TNT goes under the lights Saturday as the network debuts a new format, a special on four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, a special feature on seven-time series champ Richard Petty and continued post-race coverage exclusively on NASCAR.COM.

TNT will rev its race day at 5:30 p.m. ET with the one-hour 24x24: Wide Open with Jeff Gordon. Coverage of the Pepsi 400 marks the debut of TNT's Wide Open Coverage, a unique format that will feature no national commercial interruptions, only three local commercial breaks per hour and an innovative on-screen video box for sponsor-branded content.

The branded content will include animated sponsor messages and graphics from sponsors Autozone, DirecTV, Ford, Goodyear, Miller Brewing, Pepsi, Principal Financial, Sprint and Subway, all of whom relied on Turner's creative expertise to create and produce the original branded content to complement the race. Toyota, also a sponsor of the telecast, utilized a separate creative agency for its individual spots.

The branded content for all 10 sponsors includes a mix of vignettes running 60 seconds to 2 minutes and features notable faces from around the world of NASCAR, and will include Cup drivers Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, David Ragan, Robby Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Casey Mears, Mark Martin, Regan Smith and Kurt Busch.

For the first time ever, following TNT's on-air race coverage, NASCAR.COM will feature post-race coverage with interviews and analysis from TNT's announcers as part of Jack Daniel's Post-Race Show.

Mailbag

Being out of the office for 10 days wreaked havoc on the inbox; the cybermailman will expect a big Christmas bonus. In any case, let's kick off the debate with this question:

Which driver currently in the top 12 is most likely to miss the Chase?

Submit your take and briefly state your case as to why you think Driver X won't cut the mustard. And remember: pithy makes it much more likely to make the cut next week ... (Continued)