Martin thrilled with Lowe's repaving

If there's anything wrong with the freshly paved surface at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Mark Martin would be the driver to find it.
It took him one lap in a street car Tuesday to learn his favorite race track was as good as ever.
"Most everybody in motorsports knows that this is the race track that sets the standard in my world - it's the greatest race track to me - and the new pavement looks beautiful," he raved. "The race track still has every bit of the same personality as it did.

• Martin thrilled with Lowe's repaving

Ralf wanted more from decade in F1

Ralf Schumacher says he 'expected more' from his decade in formula one.
The 30-year-old is perhaps bettered only by big brother Michael in terms of F1 salary, but Ralf has amassed just six wins since debuting for Jordan in 1997.
His German brother, Ferrari's Michael, had a five-year head start, but - in stark contrast - is nonetheless the record-holder of most grand prix wins and titles.

• Ralf wanted more from decade in F1

Unchanged Renault hope to keep upper hand

Renault is a bit of an 'odd team out' in the Imola paddock.
While key rivals McLaren and Ferrari have brought significantly updated cars to the Italian venue, title-leader Renault appear basically happy to plug away with the 'R26' that has carried its drivers to an 100 per cent victory record so far.

• Unchanged Renault hope to keep upper hand

Graves steps down as team manager, Stremme gets new crew chief in Ganassi shakeup

Andy Graves, the first employee hired by car owner Chip Ganassi when he started his NASCAR operation, resigned as team manager Tuesday as part of a shakeup within the three-car operation.
The move comes one day after Jeff Vandermoss was replaced as crew chief on rookie David Stremme's struggling team.
Graves, who began his career as a crew member on Jeff Gordon's famed "Rainbow Warriors" team and worked his way up to crew chief for Terry Labonte, joined Ganassi's operation in 2000.

• Graves steps down as team manager, Stremme gets new crew chief in Ganassi shakeup

47 drivers on Nashville Busch entry list

Busch Racing on FX from Nashville entry list
Car No.
Driver
Hometown
Make
Owner
0
Kertus Davis
Gaffney, SC
Chevrolet
Johnny Davis
00
Johnny Sauter
Necedah, WI
Chevrolet
Gene Haas
1
Jason Keller
Greenville, SC
Dodge
James Finch
01
Jay Sauter
West Salem, WI
Chevrolet
Keith Duesenberg
2
Clint Bowyer
Emporia, KS
Chevrolet
Richard Childress
4
Mark Green
Owensboro, KY
Dodge
Fred Biagi
5
Kyle Busch
Las Vegas, NV
Chevrolet
Rick Hendrick
05
Chad Chaffin
Smyrna, TN
Chevrolet
Wayne Day
06
Todd Kluever
Sun Prairie, WI
Ford
Jack Roush
07
David Odell
Lawrenceville, GA
Chevrolet
CE Clower
08
Jason White
Powhatan, VA
Dodge
Barry Tudor
9
Erin Crocker
Wilbraham, MA
Dodge
Ray Evernham
10
John Andretti
Indianapolis, IN
Ford
Gregory Pollex
11
Paul Menard
Eau Claire, WI
Chevrolet
Teresa Earnhardt
12
Joel Kauffman
LaGrange, IN
Dodge
Mimi Fitz
14
Tracy Hines
New Castle, IN
Dodge
Armando Fitz
18
J.J. Yeley
Phoenix, AZ
Chevrolet
Joe Gibbs
20
Denny Hamlin
Chesterfield, VA
Chevrolet
Joe Gibbs
21
Kevin Harvick
Bakersfield, CA
Chevrolet
Richard Childress
22
Kenny Wallace
St. Louis, MO
Ford
Gregory Pollex
23
Chris Wimmer
Wausau, WI
Chevrolet
Keith Coleman
25
Ashton Lewis
Chesapeake, VA
Ford
Ed Rensi
27
David Green
Owensboro, KY
Ford
Tammy Brewer
28
Shane Hall
Greenville, SC
Ford
Troy Stafford
32
Jason Leffler
Long Beach, CA
Chevrolet
Todd Braun
33
Ron Hornaday
Palmdale, CA
Chevrolet
DeLana Harvick
34
Mike Bliss
Milwaukie, OR
Chevrolet
Frank Cicci
35
Regan Smith
Cato, NY
Ford
Sam Rensi
36
Tim Sauter
Necedah, WI
Chevrolet
John McGill
38
A.J. Foyt IV
Hockley, TX
Dodge
Doug Stringer
41
Reed Sorenson
Peachtree City, GA
Dodge
Chip Ganassi
43
Aaron Fike
Galesburg, IL
Dodge
Mike Curb
47
Jon Wood
Stuart, VA
Ford
Jodi Geshickter
49
Jorge Goeters
San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Ford
Jay Robinson
50
Danny O'Quinn Jr.
Coeburn, VA
Ford
Jack Roush
56
Kevin Lepage
Shelburne, VT
Chevrolet
John McNelly
58
Kevin Conway
Lynchburg, VA
Dodge
Scott Glynn
59
Stacy Compton
Grit, VA
Ford
Tad Geschickter
60
Carl Edwards
Columbia, MO
Ford
Jack Roush
64
Steve Wallace
Mooresville, NC
Dodge
Rusty Wallace
66
David Reutimann
Zephyrhills, FL
Ford
Clarence Brewer
72
Stanton Barrett
Bishop, CA
Chevrolet
Pat MacDonald
77
Burney Lamar
W. Sacramento, CA
Chevrolet
DeLana Harvick
88
Mark McFarland
Winchester, VA
Chevrolet
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
90
Stephen Leicht
Asheville, NC
Ford
Robert Yates
95
Steadman Marlin
Columbia, TN
Dodge
Earl Sadler
99
Michael Waltrip
Owensboro, KY
Dodge
Michael Waltrip

• 47 drivers on Nashville Busch entry list

Smith, first lady of racing, dies at 89 (AP)

Louise Smith, the first woman inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999, has died. She was 89. Smith, remembered as "the first lady of racing," was on the NASCAR circuit from 1945-56. Known for her fearless style, she won 38 modified events. "It was hard on me," she told The Associated Press in an interview in 1998.

• Smith, first lady of racing, dies at 89 (AP)

Softer bumpers coming at Talladega

NASCAR is hoping that a new, less-rigid bumper configuration on its Nextel Cup cars will cut down on the bump drafting that has been blamed for some of the worst crashes in recent years.
The new bumpers will be in use for the first time in the race April 30 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Bump drafting is the art of banging into the rear of the car in front to gain momentum to make a pass.

• Softer bumpers coming at Talladega

Roush "Gong Show'' winner preparing to take over for Martin

Todd Kluever finally got on NASCAR's fast track by winning the "Gong Show."
Less than 18 months after winning the Roush Racing tryout nicknamed after the once-popular TV game show, Kluever already has completed a successful NASCAR truck season. He is racing full-time this year in Busch and is in line to take over in the No. 6 Nextel Cup car for Mark Martin next season.
"It's been quick. Obviously, everything's happened fast," Kluever said.

• Roush "Gong Show'' winner preparing to take over for Martin

Stewart worries about catching leaders, unplugging toilets

Tony Stewart climbs fences. He also helps design them.
The two-time and reigning Nextel Cup champion, who seems to be a long way from retirement as one of NASCAR's biggest stars, already has a second career. And he's gotten involved in everything as a dirt track owner at the grass-roots facility where he got his racing start.
The driver of the No. 20 orange Home Depot Chevrolet, who has made scaling fences part of his victory celebrations, owns famed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

• Stewart worries about catching leaders, unplugging toilets

NASCAR to use smaller fuel tanks at Lowe's

Nextel Cup cars will use smaller fuel tanks when they race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May, a move to create shorter runs between pit stops and tire changes.
Officials at the Charlotte track spent $3 million this winter to repave the surface, which was too slick last year after it underwent two grinding projects to smooth out bumps.

• NASCAR to use smaller fuel tanks at Lowe's

NASCAR to reprimand Biffle's girlfriend

Greg Biffle's girlfriend faces a reprimand from NASCAR about her pit-road confrontation with Kurt Busch's fiance after the two drivers wrecked at Texas Motor Speedway.
Busch hit the back of Biffle's car early in Sunday's race, causing an accident that ended Biffle's day. Biffle, the defending race winner, had led 49 of the first 82 laps before the crash and wound up 42nd.
Moments after the wreck, TV cameras caught girlfriend Nicole Lunders slamming a water bottle on Biffle's pit box.

• NASCAR to reprimand Biffle's girlfriend

Power Rankings: Rookies ready to make move

Their performance at Texas showed the highly touted NASCAR rookies might be getting ready to make their mark, Brian De Los Santos says in his Power Rankings.

• Power Rankings: Rookies ready to make move

Record-breaking Troxel claims Top Fuel

Melanie Troxel raced to her second Top Fuel victory of the year and became the first driver to ever advance to the final round in the first five events of a season Sunday in the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals.

• Record-breaking Troxel claims Top Fuel

Faceoff: Busch the guilty party in fracas

CBS.SportsLine.com's Brian De Los Santos and Charlie McCarthy provide analysis on three weekly racing topics.

• Faceoff: Busch the guilty party in fracas

Spencer to drive for BAM Racing at Martinsville

Jimmy Spencer will replace rookie Brent
Sherman for this week's race at Martinsville Speedway, BAM Racing
said Tuesday.

• Spencer to drive for BAM Racing at Martinsville