Hello Angels,

Last week I started off by talking about the Hendrick Motorsports tragedy. This week I’ll start off with some good news for the organization. Jimmie Johnson is back in the hunt for the championship after winning his third straight race, and seventh race of the season.  He’s now second overall, just 59 points behind championship leader, Kurt Busch. Jeff Gordon is in third place, just 13 points behind Johnson. Congratulations to Johnson on his three victories in a row, and comeback.

For the record, Busch finished 42nd after his engine blew and Gordon finished 33rd after his rear-end gear broke. Dale Earnhardt Jr., was poised for a big points-day but that went up in smoke late in the race when he got turned by Carl Edwards. Earnhardt hit the wall going from third place to 33rd place and out of the race. Edwards completed the race, finishing third.

So, now there is a five-way race between Busch, Johnson, Gordon, Mark Martin and Earnhardt.  Just 98 points separate Busch and Earnhardt, who dropped from third to fifth in the standings.  To me, it looks like NASCAR is getting its wish to see the championship up for grabs until the final race…we’ll see.

So, where do we stack up against each other this week? 

Well, Sabrina, unfortunately for you, you have a driver that didn’t make the pack this week. Scott Riggs failed to qualify for the fall race in Atlanta and you get to pay the price. You are hereby awarded the CHARLIE’S ANGELS’ GOLDEN CABOOSE AWARD for the 33rd race of the season. It’s a shame because your remaining drivers did really well. Robby Gordon is losing his ride at the end of the season, but that didn’t stop him from trying his best to win a race. He finished 16th. Tony Stewart finished ninth with Jeremy Mayfield right in front of him in eighth. Your top driver is Johnson and his third-straight victory. With four drivers your average finish is a very nice 6.8, but with five drivers…well, incalculable.

UnNamed One -- Sabrina saved you from the GCA this week, but not from your average finish. Matt Kenseth had an uncharacteristic 41st place finish after his engine let go. Elliott Sadler, another title contender, had problems and finished 36th. Dale Jarrett finished 15th. Ricky Rudd finished 12th after rebounding from the back of the pack. Your best driver this week is Greg Biffle and his 10th place finish. Your average finish is 22.8.

Bosley -- having Busch on your team is normally a good thing, but this week his blown engine hurt not only his championship points lead, but your average finish as well. Of course Earnhardt’s crash didn’t help the average finish as well. Jarrett finished 15th, with Rusty Wallace in 11th. Your best driver is Edwards in third. Your average finish is 20.8.

Julie -- like all of us this week, your driver picks are normally decent ones. Unfortunately having Jeff Gordon and Earnhardt hurt you this week because they both had their problems, and subsequent 34th and 33rd place finishes. Bobby Labonte finished 20th, while Wallace finished nine spots higher in 11th. Your best driver is also Edwards and his third place finish. Your average finish is 20.2.

Madison -- while you’re not our GCA this week, you didn’t improve your overall standing in the Charlie’s Angels’ Fantasy League. I’m sure your disappointed with both Jeff Gordon and Earnhardt’s 34th and 33rd place finishes respectively, and Jarrett finishing one-lap down probably didn’t make you smile either. However your two “low-cost” drivers did the best for your team. Mears finished 13th, while Edwards continues to show that he deserves his driver’s spot by earning a third-place finish. Your average finish is 19.6.

Dylan – Harvick’s 35th place finish makes him your worst driver for the day. Earnhardt was a close second with his 33rd place finish. Jarrett finished 15th, while McMurray finished eighth. Your best driver is Kasey Kahne and his fifth place finish. Your average finish is 19.2.

Kelly -- your worst driver is Earnhardt and his 33rd place finish.  Jeremy Mayfield continues his slide out of the championship with his 26th place finish. Labonte finished 20th, while your remaining two drivers, Jamie McMurray and Brian Vickers finished eighth and seventh respectively. Your average finish is 18.8.

Kris -- Sadler and Earnhardt are your worst drivers with their 36th and 33rd place finishes. Ryan Newman, who started the race on the pole, finished in 17th place. Joe Nemachek, who started on the outside pole, finished fourth. Your best driver is Edwards and his third place finish. Your average finish is 18.6.

Mr. X -- Busch’s “catastrophic” engine failure cost you dearly, of course Jeff Gordon’s 33rd place finish didn’t help you either. Other than that, no problem for you…but the damage was definitely done to your average finish. McMurray finished eighth, Nemachek fourth, and Edwards third. Your average finish is 18 even.

Thin Man -- Jeff Gordon and Earnhardt paired up to be your worst drivers with their 34th and 33rd place finishes respectively. Mears finished 13th, while Edwards and Johnson were your best drivers with their third and first place finishes respectively. Your average finish is 16.8.

Corwin -- like those before you who picked Busch, normally it’s a safe pick. Not this time with his 42nd place finish. Labonte finishing 20th didn’t hurt you too badly, as well as Mears’ 13th place finish. Nemachek finished fourth, while your top driver is Mark Martin, who led 227 of the 335 laps, but could only muster the second place finish. Your average finish is 16 even.

For me -- my worst driver is also Jeff Gordon and his 34th place finish. Brenden Gaughn finished 18th, while Jarrett finished 15th. Nemachek had another good day with his fourth place finish, while Johnson won all the marbles for the third consecutive time. My average finish is 14 even.

Which leaves you Jill to be our CHARLIE’S ANGELS’ FANTASY LEAGUE TOP ANGEL AWARD winner this week, even with Earnhardt on your team. Helping you to overcome his 33rd place finish, along with Labonte’s 20th place finish is Kahne and Nemachek with there fifth and fourth place finishes, as well as Johnson and his overall win. I can’t remember how many TAAs that you have under your belt Jill, but congratulation on another TAA average finish of 12.6.  J

Next week’s race is the Checker Auto Parts 400 at Phoenix International Raceway in Arizona.

Don’t forget to check to see where you stack up on the RPM.ESPN Stock Car Challenge Web site.

Good luck next week Angels,