FanHouse Warmup: Carfax 400

Where: Michigan Int'l Speedway
Time: Sunday 2PM ET
TV/Radio: ESPN, MRN Radio
Twitter: Updates @ FanHouseRacing
Forecast: Sunny, 91 degrees, 30% rain
Distance: 200 laps (400 miles)
Pole Winner: Brian Vickers
2008 Winner: Carl Edwards
Just as the weather pattern has been for the upper midwest all summer, the high temperatures and imposing humidity have finally kicked for the NASCAR season's stretch run after a round of events in June and July have been mostly temperate.

Drivers will be feeling fortunate to only have 400 miles at the 2-mile MIS, as will the engine tuners. Innovations such as a helmet coolers and in-car drinking systems that always leave a cold refreshment at hand for drivers make a big difference in staying focused for the entire race, but 3+ hours in a car generally topping 120 or 130 degrees inside is still a workout.

And more than likely, at least one driver will feel the effects of technical difficulties if those cooling systems malfunction or are forced off thanks to another electrical issue inside the car. That's when 'Hot! Hot! Hot!' really comes to play.

And the award for most awkward media visit goes to... none other than Kyle Busch and Brian Vickers. The former Hendrick drivers and not so best friends had an interesting post-race press conference after Saturday's Nationwide Series race at MIS.

For background, Vickers and Busch were clamoring for the win with two laps to go in the 250-miler. Busch was trying to pass Vickers, who got loose, corrected, and tried to force Busch to the bottom of the track down the frontstretch coming to the white flag.

It ended up being a successful defensive move but gave the third-place car Brad Keselowski a wide-open area to swing past them both in the next corner. Keselowski then held off Vickers and Busch to score the win in his home state, as well as one for the Nationwide Series regulars.

Busch was none too pleased with Vickers efforts and showed it by bumping Vickers' No. 32 on pit road. Busch then hopped from his ride to confront a still-seated Vickers about the move, walked away, returned to flip the visor on Vickers' helment and then headed to a national television interview where he said Keselowski didn't deserve to win.

The insults kept flying when Vickers had his interview -- a la "I didn't know it was the Kyle Busch show" -- before they were both hoarded to the media press conference area for their obligated post-race question-and-answer. Of course, they were seated next to each other, leading to this gem of "Awkward Moments presented by Youtube":



Kinda reminds you of those pre-fight boxing matches with a staged controversy, doesn't it? Only difference was that it was very real -- these guys just don't seem to get along.

Brian Vickers, of course, is on the pole for Sunday's race, a mark that tallies his third-straight at the track. It also marked his sixth of the season though he has yet to claim a victory for the prime starting spot.

You can bet that Vickers probably will be pressing harder than normal on Sunday to get to victory lane, mainly to help shore up his yet-to-be-resolved contract situation with Red Bull Racing. Red Bull has always figured out their plans for the next season in an odd, seemingly late fashion, but the possibility of the team's Austrian bosses making a radical change is always there.

For reference, see A.J. Allmendinger being replaced by Scott Speed last season.

Jeff Gordon and his back may finally be off topic for Sprint Cup reporters after the four-time champ finally had it with the questions on Friday during a small media gathering outside his hauler.

"Man, let's stop talking about my back," Gordon said. "We're done talking about my back. Let's move on. I'm here. I'm fine. Let's move on to something else."

Sure, it's an issue, but nothing has really changed on the matter in the past two or three months -- even with some hard hits at Dover in June and last week at Watkins Glen. The questions, though, haven't stopped.

I suppose I can understand a brief "loss of composure" -- as the Associated Press put it -- on the issue, especially given that Gordon has been very up-front about any changes to his situation.

Kasey Kahne confirmed that he had a photo shoot recently for 2010 marketing campaigns that included both a Dodge version and Toyota version of his No. 9 Budweiser car.

Rumor around the garage area has said his Richard Petty Motorsports team is thinking of switching to Toyota next season, and Dodge CEO Mike Accavitti said Sunday he wouldn't speculate on the manufactuer's future with the team.


GM: I'm going with one Brian Lee Vickers to finally win a race. There's plenty of reasons not to pick him, but I'd look like a genius if he did win. Fingers crossed, indeed.