FanHouse Warmup: Coca-Cola 600

Where: Lowe's Motor Speedway
Time: Sunday 5:45 p.m./EDT
TV/Radio: FOX Sports, PRN Radio
Twitter: In-race updates at FanHouseRacing
Forecast: 64 degrees, 80% chance of rain
Distance: 400 laps (600 miles)
Pole Winner: Ryan Newman
2008 Winner: Kasey Kahne
First-time NASCAR winners have been commonplace at Lowe's Motor Speedway for quite a few years now. Jeff Gordon got his first there as did Jamie McMurray, Matt Kenseth and Casey Mears.

Sunday night, though, the favorites look to be of the veteran variety.

Perhaps its a coincidence that the three cars that looked the strongest prior to an incident last week in the Sprint All-Star Challenge will start the 600-miler from the first three spots, but more than likely those drivers (Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch and Gordon) will have strong runs Sunday night.

Jimmie Johnson, the former king of LMS victory lane and current owner of the best record in nearly every stat in the past 10 races at the 1.5-mile track, can't be counted out either. That 50-year-old kid Mark Martin? He'll be strong, as well.

I'm bringing up rain again because its held off nearly every time we've talked about it here on FanHouse. But looking at the Charlotte, N.C., radar doesn't look good with many bands of precipitation moving north to take aim at the region.

Here's to hoping we can get a little luck for the 600 miles scheduled for tonight.

This Carl Long situation is a major black eye for NASCAR -- their second one in as many weeks. You've got to wonder what the sport is trying to prove by levying a penalty against a guy who literally races only when he's got an extra bit of money after paying the bills.

Now, not only have they suspended a guy for just trying to make a few bucks by making a race, pending his appeal in June 2, he'll be out of a day job. Long is a crewman first in NASCAR and a driver when he and wife scrape up enough money to hit the track. Then, tack on the $200,000 fine that has to be paid before Long sets a foot back in the garage area.

All of that, of course, for a difference of .17 inches in a 358 cubic inch engine.

If NASCAR is looking to rid itself of backmarkers, they're doing a darn good job.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. led a bunch of laps a year ago in both races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Both races resulted in him blowing a right front tire and hitting the wall.

Team owner Rick Hendrick this week said he's still got confidence in the driver and, more importantly, crew chief Tony Eury Jr. A bad run, though, at LMS could change a lot of that just knowing how well he ran there last year.

One thing that I think hasn't been said about the situation is that the problems facing Earnhardt Jr. aren't due to a lack of talent. This is a driver that has won multiple times in NASCAR's top level on many tracks, and one that contended for the championship heavily.

Are there problems with the team? Yep. But there were problems with Jeff Gordon's team in 2008, and he's leading the points now. Patience will be key.