Cross' Words: California

Random ruminations ...

• Gillian Zucker, whose gig as president of California Speedway is one of the least-envied on the circuit, deserves credit for at least trying to get the folks in SoCal interested in stock-car racing. Paris Hilton, however, isn't the type celebrity the sport should cater to in an effort to garner some attention.

• Send Duane your thoughts

Sure, the shutterbugs follow Paris -- but the flip side is this: NASCAR fans couldn't care less about her (or most anyone in Hollywood). Yet there was Paris on Wednesday night, mugging for the camera during the red-carpet gala at Avalon.

• And then there's 500 miles at California. Twice. Thanks, but 400 would be plenty.

• It's one of those things that you know, but you want to forget: The sun setting at Cali ... not pretty from the driver's seat.

• Brad Keselowski and Michael Waltrip ... glad y'all are OK. Brad's crash was a whoa moment (video), while Mikey's flame-out was more wow (video).

• Robby Gordon couldn't get lucky with a fistful of fifties.

• ESPN's Andy Petree is solid. Stick Andy and Larry McReynolds in a booth, lock the door and flip on the mic. I'd listen ... but I'd still have on the radio. Some habits aren't worth giving up.

• After 6,999 laps since the green dropped at Daytona on Feb. 18, it's come down to 400 laps at Richmond on Saturday night.

• Heading to Richmond, there have been ... 14 winners; at least three will not make the Chase: Casey Mears, Jamie McMurray and Juan Montoya ... five drivers with multiple victories; all will make the Chase ... 29 drivers with top-five finishes; three have at least 10 and each of those will make the Chase ... 40 drivers with top-10 finishes; 13 have 10 or more and at least one of those will not make the Chase (Ryan Newman) and two others are on the bubble (Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr.).

• Eight drivers are locked into the Chase -- Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Burton and Kyle Busch -- and 166 points separate ninth-place Clint Bowyer and Earnhardt, who has three wins, seven top-five finishes and nine top-10s in 16 races at Richmond.

• The Car of Tomorrow again will be used at Richmond. Nine of the top-10 finishers at RIR in May are currently Chase-eligible: 1. Johnson; 2. Ky. Busch; 3. Hamlin; 4. Gordon; 5. Ku. Busch; 6. Newman; 7. Harvick; 8. Stewart; 9. Bowyer; 10. Kenseth. (Dale Jr. finished 13th, FWIW.)

Say What?

"I don't know much about the [Chase] system, I never cared to. I just go out there and run as hard as I can. It doesn't look like we're going to make it, but we're not going to quit trying until they tell us we're not [in it]."
-- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Figuratively Speaking

128 -- Points separating 12th-place Kevin Harvick, the last Chase-eligible driver, and 13th-place Dale Earnhardt Jr. ... Only 38 points separate Harvick and ninth-place Clint Bowyer. (Continued)