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Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been one of the most consistent performers in the Cup garage all season. And now that the 143-race winless skid is in the history books, watch out.

Clint Bowyer once famously said Michael Waltrip was the "worst driver in NASCAR." Now Waltrip is going to be his boss. Surprised? Don't be, it's just a racing thing.

Sunday's weather at Auto Club Speedway was downright spectacular, unlike the sweltering 115-degree sauna that blanketed the track in 2007. Even the Southern Cal sunset was postcard-perfect. Then why all the empty seats? Terry Blount has a few ideas.

If you are looking for a couple of things to ponder in the offseason, here are two big ones that should get your attention. The new car will be a new world for NASCAR. And Matt Kenseth may do something that hasn't been done in more than 30 years. B...

NASCAR's wild-card system for making the Chase may be the best decision in the sport in years. Winning isn't just important, now, it's Chase life or death for some big-name drivers.

It's not that surprising that Matt Kenseth is out at Roush Fenway Racing at season's end, even though he leads the standings now. It's a sign of the times in NASCAR.

A 200th Cup victory for Rick Hendrick is a given. But what about a maiden win for Danica Patrick? A fifth title for Jeff Gordon? Just how many wow moments will 2012 produce?

David Ragan, Paul Menard and Denny Hamlin each have a win this season, but only one of them would make the Chase now. The wild-card Chase format really has put the emphasis on winning.

Clint Bowyer was kissing the finish line the last time we visited New Hampshire. A few days later, he wanted NASCAR to kiss something else. How does he feel now back at the scene of the crime?

Once upon a time, NASCAR was planning expansion into untapped markets. Now, Kentucky Speedway has the first new Sprint Cup Series race in a decade, but maybe that's OK.

Denny Hamlin is at the age and experience level in NASCAR at which many drivers win their first championship. He isn't about to let up now that he's back at the track that got his season jump-started.

Dario Franchitti proved you can go home again with his second Indy 500 victory. How special was it? He wondered if he'd race again after a bad trip to NASCAR, and now he's back on top of his world.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is at a critical crossroads. Will he step up his game and start challenging for a Cup title? Or will he tumble into a racing purgatory of unmet expectations?

Talladega and the Chase should be two of the best things in NASCAR, but both are now broken. The league's habit of tweaking things isn't enough this time -- we need some real fixes.

Grab your remote. Get comfy in your favorite lounge chair. Saturday night's last-chance race to make the Chase promises to be a doozy.

Let Indy kick off the Chase. Contract the schedule to 32 races. Move the All-Star Race to different tracks. Here are five bold moves NASCAR won't be making when the 2010 schedule is announced.