Everybody needs a break, but from what? (cont'd)

This one comes a third of the way into maybe the most hectic ever Race to the Chase, the 10 races leading up to the cutoff point to determine the 12-man field for the sixth annual Chase.

The timing's perfect for a break -- not that anytime's never a good time for a break -- and just how diverse a group there is in Sprint Cup points out what it means.

Some went to their current homes, some went to where they grew up, some went to the islands, some went to the shore and -- ugh -- some went tire testing for Goodyear before, you hope, they went somewhere to relax.

Since everyone likes to play amateur psychologist, and since it's so all-consuming, it's intriguing to debate how much the reality of the Sprint Cup point standings will, or won't be, far away from these guys' thoughts.

You'd have to think Kasey Kahne and Juan Montoya would be trying to determine how to maintain the hardy runs that have put them solidly -- though not safely -- into qualified positions for the Chase.

Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth might be trying to figure out how to stop the bleeding before their barely competitive entities fall out of qualified spots.

The "old man," Martin -- who's doing what few his age have ever achieved -- won't even have to worry about achieving the consistency it'll take to make his results equal a qualified Chase spot. He'll just have to keep doing what he's doing.

So will Greg Biffle, though he'll need to ratchet up his consistency a few notches and hope for some continued stumbles by a couple of the guys ahead of him. Ditto for David Reutimann, who remains the most pleasant surprise of this Cup season.

Recent Chase stalwarts Clint Bowyer and Jeff Burton have to execute massive turnarounds to their fortunes else they fall into the area occupied by their Richard Childress Racing teammate, previously almost a Chase lock, Kevin Harvick, who would currently be racing only for wins the rest of this season, if he could only get within sniffing distance of the top 10.

And there's Brian Vickers, who's been as confounded by his lack of a contract to move forward with Red Bull Racing even as he's frustrated by a lack of better results, even as he firmly establishes himself as a consistently front-running team leader.

And for the benefit of the series' suppliers and officials, the break couldn't come at a better time as the returning event, the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, comes with a demand that it returns to a status quo that was shattered by last year's bad tire, caution-plagued debacle.

The break sets up a five-race run to the next pause, which thanks to this year's calendar comes with two races remaining in the countdown to the cutoff. By that time very little will be clearer about many of the issues plaguing this series' foes.

But it'll certainly be just as welcome a break.

Kyle Busch Victory Watch

Wins: Thru Chicagoland

	2008	2009
Cup Series	7	3
Nationwide	5	5
Truck Series	2	2

When Kyle Busch starts running totally like crap before he crashes, burns or blows up, then and only then -- unless the total number of races left runs low -- will I give up on his potential to eclipse his 2008 record total of 21 wins (8 Cup, 10 Nationwide, 3 Truck).

Having said that, failing to win either event at Chicagoland, where he swept in 2008, was a major blow to his chances, not to mention to his none-too-scintillating PR score. His teams are as committed to winning as Busch is, but you have to wonder if at some point his constant berating in the media would take a toll.

With that, he's still at 10 down and 12 to go. His 2008 win total at this point was 14, but the positive to that is Busch went in the tank on the Cup side only three races now, whereas at least to this point, his general competitiveness hasn't lacked, but his ability to finish the deal, has.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.