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*Who was hurt more on Sunday - Kyle Busch or Jimmie Johnson? In particular, what has happened to the 48 team since August, and can it be fixed?* %{color:purple}Toni:% They are both in a big hole, really. I think if anybody can dig out, though, Johnson's team can. %{color:red}Tom:% To be honest, Kyle was probably hurt more than Jimmie just because New Hampshire is one of his best tracks, _and_ he's a first time Chaser. However, Johnson and the 48 just do not look like a championship team right now.

Following the September 8th Busch Series race at Richmond International Raceway, driver Kevin Grubb refused a random drug test request, resulting in a suspension for an indefinite period of time by NASCAR. In doing so, the 28-year old Mechanicsville, VA native may have effectively ended his career as a stock car driver within the sanctioning body, despite the controversy surrounding his latest suspension. Unfortunately for Grubb, it's a career NASCAR had every right to grind to a halt, with a drug policy they're obligated to enforce, no matter what type of extenuating circumstances may exist.

*Who: Denny Hamlin.* The FedEx driver has been flying below the radar lately - despite the fact that he's the first rookie ever to compete in the Chase and this year's only representative from Joe Gibbs Racing. If there were any concerns about his ability to handle the pressure of a title run (and there shouldn't be), he quashed them on Sunday with a solid 4th place finish, boosting him three spots in the points to 2nd.

Racing has always been a sport where momentum can be stopped at the drop of a hat. The slate is wiped clean after every race; you may finish Sunday in Victory Lane, but the next weekend can provide you with an opportunity to go from hero to zero immediately upon the drop of the green. Ask Jimmie Johnson about that; he can relate.

*To the Point*: Last week at Richmond, Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress Racing crashed the Chase party in style by taking the win. With Jeff Burton also squeaking into the title hunt in 8th place, it marked the first two times in team history an RCR driver had made the Chase for the Championship. Sunday, they proved that simply getting the invite won't be enough.

As Fall nears and a brisk chill begins to fill the air, the battle for the 2006 Nextel Cup Championship is just starting to heat up. Just one race into the ten race Chase, the point standings have already jumbled up faster than the leaves can start to change colors. Which drivers are still feeling the heat of summer, and which ones are heading towards an early winter chill? Read this week's Starr Report to find out Who's Hot and Who's Not in the Chase.

*Pace Laps* Get well soon, Benny! We need you to keep the peace in the television booth! The power outage at New Hampshire International Speedway was responsible for a weird opening ceremony at the track...Bill Weber did a good job of explaining that to everyone.

*0.777* Kevin Harvick's margin of victory, in seconds, over Tony Stewart Sunday at New Hampshire. *2* Active Cup drivers who made their first career starts at New Hampshire; Jeff Burton and Joe Nemechek. Ironically, both made their Cup debut in 1993, during the first ever Cup race held at the track.

_Editor's Note: Amy Henderson is on vacation this week from That's History. Look for a new edition of TH to return next Tuesday, right here on the Frontstretch!_

The first race for the Chase is in the books. It was also the first race in the home stretch for the battle for the top 35. The final 10 races of the season are the time for the teams battling for those precious positions to entrench themselves in the top 35 and secure a starting spot for the first five races of the 2007 season. Some teams were able to capitalize at New Hampshire while others saw their fortunes continue to slide backwards. Here are the winners and losers from Sunday's race.