Matt Kenseth's cool streak over the summer months came to an end in Saturday's Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Kenseth led twice for 143 of the 500 laps, including the final 126, despite three cautions during that span and a hard-charging Kasey Kahne in the closing laps. Kenseth inherited the lead when Carl Edwards, who had been the class of the field most of the night, lost an engine and held it stoutly until Kahne pulled up alongside the No. 20 in the last 20-25 laps.

Martin Truex Jr. had his heart ripped out at Atlanta Motor Speedway last year. Jamie McMurray's blown tire late in the race brought out a caution while the No. 56 NAPA Toyota led. The team lost a couple of spots on pit road and Truex Jr. fell to 4^th at the finish. He was dejected and disgusted on pit road, despite clinching a spot in the Chase.

Chase Elliott is still a few months short of 18, but he has several NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts under his belt. A beneficiary of the new rule that allows drivers 16 and up on tracks 1.1 miles or below in length, Elliott has impressed in the No. 94 Turner Scott Motorsports Chevy.

The Scoop: 300 laps is a long way for late model races, but the crown jewel event at Jefferson, Georgia's Gresham Motorsports Park is just that length. Past races have seen this event run in segments, with inversions, and with caution laps not counting. Not this year. Track officials decided to make the event more like a traditional race, much to the liking of many I spoke to. GMP stalwart Bubba Pollard won the pole for the race that has eluded him for years. Fellow Georgia driver TJ Reaid (also winless in the WC300) started 2^nd.

The Scoop: Jimmie Johnson seemed to have the Pocono trophy in hand before the green even dropped. Starting from the pole at a track where he won the last race from the pole seemed the makings for a long, boring GoBowling.com 400. But a cut tire sent Johnson into the wall around midway through the 160-lap race. Johnson and Team 48 fought to stay on the lead lap and then pick up about 10 spots on two late restarts to finish 13^th and actually extend their points lead over Clint Bowyer (14^th).