Sonoma showed all why a road race belongs in Chase (cont'd)

Elizabeth, it's the Big One

Sorry, but just couldn't help feeling the irony of Richard Petty going back to Victory Lane for the first time in more than a decade to celebrate alongside a car with a full-blown alcohol sponsorship. Of course, when King Richard's mama, Elizabeth, was alive, Petty Enterprises' cars couldn't run that Speedweeks special event, the Busch Clash, because in order to qualify, of course after winning a pole, the car had to wear Busch decals.

Make-ing changes

Richard Petty Motorsports will run Dodges the rest of the season but the future could bring about a switch.

• Petty talks about options
• No change in '09, but '10?

Richard always chortled and said the threat of bodily harm from Ma Petty precluded any thought of affixing any alcoholic decals on a PE car. So just think how Elizabeth might react if Richard Petty Motorsport's rumored segue to Toyota happens?

That would make quite a groundswell over poor Mrs. P's grave, I'd bet; though, in fact, the Petty gang has always been the ultimate front-runners, ready to do whatever it takes to contend. And with Dodge's ongoing bankruptcy reorganization it makes RPM's move, if it transpires, simply business as usual.

The saddest thing about the rumor is that it takes just a little luster off the underdog Dodge's latest triumph, its second this season.

Ruing missed opportunities

All you need to do is look at how Robby Gordon went wild after his potential winning strategy went awry via an ill-timed caution. It was unfortunate that Gordon dumped Greg Biffle up in the far-flung Turn 7 outpost and basically ruined his day, as well.

Gordon's penultimate lap jingle in Turn 11 with Martin and Jeff Burton simply added insult to injury on Gordon's potential winning day. It was variations of the same for road racers par excellence Boris Said and Ron Fellows, which makes their previous close calls all the more agonizing and proves how difficult these races are to win.

I betcha

Bowyer wouldn't mind seeing a road race in the Chase, after his come-from-behind top-10. It's not the first for Bowyer at Sonoma and he and crew chief Shane Wilson carved it from something that was looking a lot less appetizing, so it's no wonder Bowyer is on his way back to the Chase while teammate Burton is tail-spinning.

Kyle Busch Victory Watch

I just know some of you think it's already gotten uglier than you'd care to witness, but we crossed another threshold last weekend as Shrub lost a little more ground on his personal chase to maintain his stunning 2008 NASCAR record pace for victories in a season. I still maintain he could eclipse his total of 21 wins (8 Cup, 10 Nationwide, 3 Truck).

I say that because, face it, the guy can strike at just about any time. But from an outsider's standpoint, what's becoming more troubling is KB's attitude. He flew nearly 4,000 miles to and from Milwaukee, came from the back and finished second to maintain his Nationwide Series championship edge over race winner Carl Edwards -- who happens to trail Busch in wins this season, 9-1.

Falling one adjustment shy at Milwaukee and getting beat up in his title defense at Sonoma leaves it 9 down, 13 to go. His 2008 win total this weekend was 11; so even though he lost ground last weekend he's not commuting this week and has two shots to rebound in Loudon. And make no mistake about it, this cat can strike at any time.