Bonus points put Kyle Busch in enviable position

Kyle Busch's eighth victory of the season gives him an advantage that will be difficult for some of the sport's top drivers to overcome during the Sprint for the Chase Cup.

Busch's wins translate to 80 bonus points - 50 more than his nearest competitor. Four races remain until the field for the Chase is determined, leaving only 40 bonus points available for drivers to snag.

When the Chase begins, the point total for title contenders resets to 5,000 and then bonus points are added.

Former champions Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth have yet to win this season, so they have no bonus points. If their droughts continue and they remain in the top 12 in points, they'd start the Chase 80 points behind Busch - and that's if Busch doesn't win again before the Chase.

True, a driver can make up a maximum of 161 points on an opponent in one race, so Busch's lead could be overcome. But it's not likely the lead could be wiped out nearly that quickly.

The series has raced at eight of the 10 tracks that will be in the Chase. ( Kansas and Homestead are the exceptions.) Busch has outscored all the Chase-eligible drivers in those eight races this season.

It's not like Busch is winning all those races, either. He placed 38th at Martinsville and 25th at New Hampshire. However, he scored top-10s in each of the other six races, winning at Dover, Talladega and Atlanta. Busch scored 1,186 points in those eight races. Jeff Burton (26 points behind Busch) and Jimmie Johnson (58 points back) were the only drivers who scored within 100 points of Busch in those races.

That they have far fewer bonus points than Busch illustrates part of the difficulty of catching the leader.

Busch outscored Gordon by 132 points in those eight races, Stewart by 247 and Kenseth by 314.

DRIVER CHANGES

Mike Skinner will replace Michael McDowell for the next three weeks at Michael Waltrip Racing.

McDowell fell out of the top 35 in car owner points after last weekend's race; his car is not guaranteed a starting spot this weekend at Michigan. McDowell is scheduled to return to the car at Richmond next month after Skinner has helped the team evaluate its program.

Brad Coleman, 20, makes his Cup debut this weekend, driving for Hall of Fame Racing. Marcos Ambrose, who finished third last weekend at Watkins Glen, is back in the Wood Brothers' car this weekend.

Forty-four cars are entered for 43 spots.

Hutchens moves to DEI

Dale Earnhardt Inc. has hired Bobby Hutchens as vice president of competition.

Hutchens had been at Richard Childress Racing, serving various roles, including vice president of competition and general manager of Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines, before taking over at DEI.

HOTTEST DRIVER

Kyle Busch may be rolling on the Nationwide and Sprint Cup scene, but even he hasn't been as hot as Johnny Benson of Bill Davis Racing.

Benson has won the past three Craftsman Truck series races to take the points lead heading to the Aug. 20 race at Bristol.

Sorenson saying little

Reed Sorenson remained coy about his future with Chip Ganassi Racing in a conference call with reporters Tuesday.

Sorenson, in the last year of his contract, said "we're working on it" but that he's more focused on improving the team's performance.