Four races down … four winners locked in for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Week of Mar. 17, 2014

 

Four races down … four winners locked in for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

 

This week’s lucky driver to sign up as a participant in NASCAR’s postseason … none other than Carl Edwards.

 

Yes, he of celebratory backflips (although he had to use his hands on the landing to prevent slipping on the wet track) notched a win at the rain-soaked Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

His triumph was inevitable as he improved his finish in each of the first four races of the season.

 

Although Tony Stewart didn’t join Edwards in doing a celebratory backflip, he’s happy to consider his fourth-place performance on Sunday as moral win.

 

Why shouldn’t he? 

 

His first three outings since returning from a sprint car accident haven’t exactly gone as he had hoped. Look for his return to his former self to continue this weekend at Auto Club Speedway, where he’s won two of the past four races.

 

A good showing in California could indicate that Stewart’s early-season jitters are behind him and he’s ready to race for the championship. Other drivers better beware.

 

After a disappointing day in Bristol, Dale Earnhardt Jr. hopes to get back to business at Auto Club Speedway and begin a new streak of top-two finishes.

 

The championship battle in the NASCAR Nationwide Series has already heated up with Regan Smith and Trevor Bayne the two primary contestants … at least for now. They’re separated by one point.

 

Is it a foregone conclusion that Saturday’s Nationwide race at Auto Club will be won by one of three drivers: Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth or Elliott Sadler?

 

The reason? All three drivers compete for Joe Gibbs Racing, whose organization has won the last nine races. There will be 37 other drivers who have something to say about that and will be looking to end that streak.

 

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series enjoys one more weekend off before returning to action at Martinsville Speedway for the series’ first race in over a month.

 

The truck series drivers have an opportunity this week to get re-acclimated with their trucks and driving fast during a testing session at the short, paperclip-shaped track in southwest Virginia.