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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NASCAR
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2007
Auto racers feel the heat in Chase for Nextel Cup
BY MIKE HARRIS ASSOCIATED PRESS
When NASCAR racer Kyle Petty lost his cool Sunday at Dover International Speedway, berating Denny Hamlin and reaching into his car to slap down the youngster's helmet shield, some wondered why the veteran was so angry.
It's true Hamlin hit Petty from behind and knocked him into the wall, but what does Petty have riding on in these late-season races that brought on such road rage?
He isn't part of NASCAR's Chase for the Nextel Cup championship, and he hasn't been close to a victory since the last of his eight career wins in 1995, also at Dover.
Even so, the longtime stock car competitor has a lot riding on every lap the rest of this season, just like Hamlin, one of the 12 drivers in the Chase.
"Right now, every race is important for everyone for different reasons," Petty said. "You can't spoil any good runs, and our team's total focus is on having good races. For us, as we're looking at it right now, this top-35 battle is going to go all the way to Homestead."
Petty was talking about NASCAR's rule that assures the teams in the top 35 in car owner points earn a starting spot in each Cup race. For those outside the top 35, there are only eight spots up for grabs in qualifying each week, and one of those could automatically go to a former series champion who doesn't qualify with his time.
With the end of the season looming, everyone battling to stay in the top 35 knows that the final standings of this season will carry over into the first six races of 2008.
Heading into Kansas Speedway this week for the third of the 10 Chase races, Petty's No. 45 Dodge is 34th in the owner standings, 8 points behind rookie Johnny Sauter's No. 70 Chevrolet and one point in front of the No. 21 Ford driven by Ken Schrader in the transfer spot.
Dave Blaney's No. 22 Toyota is 36th and 105 points out of the top-35 group, followed by Scott Riggins' No. 10 Dodge, a distant 236 points out of the all-important top group.
Blaney, the highest ranked Toyota entry this season, had a disastrous experience at Dover when he failed to qualify for the race. It was the first time this season that the Bill Davis
Racing driver has failed to make a lineup.
Schrader had his own problems in the race, but finished 26th and gained much needed points.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Blaney had a similar attitude heading into Kansas Speedway.
"For us, it was a bit more about survival, if nothing else," Schrader said. "But we made up some more ground in the points in spite of everything, and we've just go to keep pushing hard."
"Obviously, we need to find a way to put what happened last week in Dover behind us and concentrate on this weekend in Kansas," Blaney said. "We've been working so hard to get inside the top 35 in points, and we're disappointed that we gave so many points away last week because we really thought we could catch the No. 21. Lucky for us, everyone that we're chasing had some problems, so it's not over yet. This Caterpillar Racing team is pretty tough."
Although Blaney isn't out of contention for the 35th spot with seven races remaining, Petty's spot looks fairly secure. But the pressure remains.
"There are some guys that are racing Kansas Speedway this weekend knowing it has implications for Daytona and the beginning of 2008," Petty said. "That's a reality, and we happen to be one of those teams right now."
NASCAR driver Kyle Petty (45) slides across the track in front of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin (11) after they made contact during the NASCAR Dodge Dealers 400 auto race at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del., on Sunday.
"I owe it to my team, my sponsors and myself to race as hard as I can. Can we get ahead and be out of that circumstance by Homestead? Yeah, we can. But, right now, we are working hard to earn every point and move forward."
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United States captain Jack Nicklaus, left, shares a laugh with former U.S. President George Bush during opening ceremonies Wednesday at the Presidents Cup tournament in Montreal.
Nicklaus comes back to lead Americans to another victory
Retired golfer likes to stay involved in the game
BY DOUG FERGUSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
So it was strange to see him back as the captain, even with a mild protest from his wife.
MONTREAL — Jack Nicklaus had a golf club in his hand and a gallery around him, just like old times.
"I was thinking, 'Oh my gosh, how can we top 2005?'" Barbara Nicklaus said from her hotel room in Montreal, where she was getting ready for yet another opening ceremony at the Presidents Cup.
"First bunker shot I've hit since May," Nicklaus cracked.
He was checking up on his U.S. team at the Presidents Cup when he noticed Steve Stricker in a bunker at Royal Montreal, getting advice from assistant captain Jeff Sluman. It wasn't long before Nicklaus joined them.
The last competitive shot he struck was two years ago at St. Andrews, when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt for a 72 in the British Open. So ended the career of golf's greatest champion, and he ended his retirement season on an even greater note when the Americans delivered a victory for Captain Jack in the Presidents Cup.
Deep down, she knew the answer.
They have been together for nearly a half-century, married a month after Nicklaus nearly won the U.S. Open as a 20-year-old amateur. One of the legendary stories about their honeymoon was Nicklaus playing Pine Valley, and his bride having to drive around the perimeter of the course because women were not allowed on the property.
"He's got that little g-o-l f-thing." Mrs. Nicklaus said with a laugh.
She was there for his 18 professional majors that spanned 25 seasons, for his emotional retirement at the home of golf. She has noticed the ease with which he has resisted temptation to play one more time at the Masters or his Memorial Tournament.
"He's not playing anymore, although he's as happy as can be," she said. "He's probably traveling more because he's got over 60 golf courses under construction. And he's loving it. That part of his life is fulfilled. The golf part of his life ... you never get rid of that."
"I don't think he misses playing," she said. "I know he misses the competition."
Being captain of the Presidents Cup team helps fill that void
Winning the cup never hurts.
"It keeps me involved in golf," Nicklaus said after announcing his six foursome teams for the opening session Thursday. "Being captain, I had to keep up with the game. Even though I don't play, I still want to be part of the game."
"I don't think he misses playing. I know he misses the competition."
"It's hanging in our front hall," Mrs. Nicklaus said. "Every time we pass it, we not only think of our Jake, we think of the team, and
BARBARA NICKLAUS
Jack Nicklaus' wife
This is the third time Nicklaus has been captain of the Presidents Cup, and the first time was a disaster. It was 1998 at Royal Melbourne in Australia, matches played close to the holidays and absence of any measurable interest by the players. They suffered the worst defeat in U.S. team history, $20\frac{1}{2} - 11\frac{1}{2}$ , and players later told Nicklaus they let him down.
the world the week before Thanksgiving. They staged a strong rally on the final day to forge a tie.
Then came 2005 in Virginia, where the bond between a 67-year-old icon and a dozen players was never stronger. The year began with tragedy for Nicklaus when his 17-month-old grandson, Jake Walter, drowned in a hot tub. On the eve of the final round, players presented Nicklaus an oil painting of Jake and his curly blond locks, and tears flowed from all corners.
The respect was shown in 2003 in South Africa, amid concern that some players might not want to travel halfway around
how precious they were to even think to do something like that."
Perhaps the most grateful of his decision to return are the 12 guys playing for
him at Royal Montreal.
Nicklaus is a hands-off captain who lets his players be themselves and enjoy themselves. He has them write down their choices of partners, even those with whom they don't want to play, and matches them accordingly.
He brings experience and mystique. Just the name "Nicklaus" inspires.
"When he does speak, everyone listens because obviously he's the greatest player of all time," Tiger Woods said. "You always want to hear what he's going to say."
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Nicklaus is quick with the needle, even with his own team. Charles Howell III shared the story this week about the first team meeting outside Boston last month, when Captain Jack congratulated Zach Johnson, David Toms, Hunter Mahan, and was making his way around the room when he came to Howell, who had not finished in the top 10 since March.
It's all in good fun, although Nicklaus says he can be a little quick with the tease. It's all part of the package, part of why the Americans appear to be so much more relaxed at the Presidents Cup than they are in the Ryder Cup.
"Charles," he told him, "you need a lesson."
And maybe that explains why they have not lost the Presidents Cup since 1998 in Australia.
It begins Thursday at Royal Montreal, the oldest golf club in North America, when Stricker and Mahan play in the first alternateshot match against Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy.
The Americans are in better form. The International team has a stronger collection of players.
The intangible, again, could be Captain Jack.
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