Kyle wins at Bristol but there's something else brewing ...

Kyle Busch did what he had to do Saturday night, holding off a determined Mark Martin to win at Bristol and enhance his chances of making the Chase.

But what is happening off the track could be as intriguing as to what's happening on it with now two races left before the Chase field is determined  (more on this in a minute).

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THE WIN:

Mark Martin gave Kyle Busch everything he could but Busch held him off to score his fourth win of hte season, tying Martin's season-high total and denying Martin the win in what was his 1,000th career start in NASCAR (including Cup, Nationwide and Trucks).

Martin got under Kyle in the last couple of laps but couldn't complete the move and finished second.

"Kyle gave me all the room in the world,'' Martin said. "It's a good thing because I was over my head when I went in that corner and I got loose. If he'd have been crowding me, we both would have went up to the wall. He raced me like a good sport. When he's behind me, I will be comfortable thathe will race me the same way I raced him.''

Said Kyle about racing Martin at the end: "Such an honor to race with him. For him to give me the room I needed was awesome. I can't thank him enough. He didn't let me win the race, but he certainly didn't take it from us.''

Recall, that Carl Edwards bumped Kyle out of the lead toward the end of this race last year to win it. Edwards said he was just racing Kyle how Kyle had raced him.

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OFF THE TRACK

It looks as if it Brad Keselowski will be headed to the No. 12 team and Penske Racing for next season, but there could be a twist. He might be on loan.

Keselowski has a contract with Hendrick Motorsports and drives for JR Motorsports (which has ties to Hendrick). With no room at Hendrick for Keselowski to move to Cup (Hendrick's four-team cap is filled by Johnson, Gordon, Dale Jr., & Martin), and Stewart-Haas Racing unlikely to put together a program for a third car for him, one option could to to have Keselowksi drive one year for Penske. That might help both teams.

Here's what Rick Hendrick said before the race about Keselowski's situation for next year.

“I’m not saying he’s going to be with us next year, and I’m not saying he won’t be,’’ Hendrick said. “But wherever he goes, he’ll always be close enough for me to get him and bring him back. Make sure all the other car owners know I said that. He’s a heck of a talent. He’ll never be far enough away that I can’t find him and bring him back.’’

Hmm. Makes you think, doesn't it?

Consider: Martin's two-year deal with Hendrick ends after next season, so in all liklihood the 5 car should be open and Keselowski could end up there. But how to make this one-year deal work for Penske?  Recall, he has Justin Allgaier, who is fifth in the points in the Nationwide series. Allgaier likely could benefit from another year in the series. So Keselowski keeps the 12 seat warm for Allgaier while waiting for the 5 seat to open up.

Something to think about.

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BACK TO THE RACE

It's a shame ESPN couldn't show the driver introductions before the race. Bristol Motor Speedway had the drivers pick their own theme music to come out to before grabbing a mic and introducing themself or saying something else. There were a few good ones.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. came out to AC/DC's "Thunderstruck'' and told fans: "Let's raise some (heck)!''

Clint Bowyer came out to Elvis' "CC Rider'' and said to fans: "Elvis is in the house! Let's go!''

Jimmie Johnson also came out to AC/DC's "Thunderstruck'' and as fans booed him said: "I know you love me.''

Marcos Ambrose came out to Men at Work's "Land Down Under" and told fans: "I hope I finish.''

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DID YOU SEE WHO WAS THIRD?

Yes, it was Ambrose, who was just hoping he would finish. "Didn't impress my crew any, I'll tell you that,'' he said, laughing. "I guess I shouldn't have said it. Maybe I should  have said I'll spray champagne in Victory Lane or something. I was being honest that I was worried about finishing the race.''

Ambrose did a good job and ran in the top 10 most of the night. He is someone to keep an eye on to get his first victory down the road (who knows maybe even this year?)

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ODDS AND ENDS

# Jimmie Johnson's chances to win ended with a rare pit road mistake with about 75 laps left. The team dropped the jack too soon and the right rear wasn't attached properly. Johnson took off and then had to pit again. He went from 1st to 21st. He climbed his way back to 8th but not the finish it looked like this team was set to get.

"Fastest car out there,'' Johnson said. "We should bein Victory Lane. It' s just a bummer we had something on pit road screw us up. Just really disappointed.''

That comes after he ran out of fuel at Michigan last week. Not the way to go into the Chase but better to make such mistakes now then later.

# Despite the problems, both Johnson and teammate Jeff Gordon clinched spots in the Chase. They join Tony Stewart, who clinched last weekend. Gordon finished 23rd with a car he called "ridiculously loose'' after the team made what proved to be one adjustment too many during the race. "We were never great. I don't know. It felt like something was wrong with the car after that. It just never was the same.''

# Denny Hamlin rebounded from a tire problem early in the race to finish fifth.

# Greg Biffle, needing a good run to keep his spot in the Chase, placed fourth.

# Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished ninth, giving him back-to-back top-10s for the first time this season.

# Brian Vickers scored an overlooked 12th. That ties for his career-best at Bristol and is what he needed to retain his chance to make the Chase. (see points below)

# Clint Bowyer's hopes of making the Chase could have ended when he was involved in a multi-car crash late and finished 21st. "We're not out of this thing yet. We'll keep fighting over these last two races.''

# Points leader Tony Stewart had radio problems the first half of the race. By then he was two laps down. He would lose a few more with some other issues and finish 33rd, marking the first time all season he's finished outside the top 10 in consecutive races.

THE POINTS

1. Tony Stewart ......3,564 points

2. Jimmie Johnson...220 behind leader

3. Jeff Gordon ...........254 behind leader

4. Denny Hamlin .......423  behind leader

5. Carl Edwards ........454 behidn leader

6. Kurt Busch .............461 behind leader

7. Ryan Newman ......84 AHEAD OF 13TH PLACE

8. Greg Biffle ..............75 AHEAD OF 13TH PLACE

9. Juan Pablo Montoya .. 64 AHEAD OF 13TH PLACE

10. Mark Martin ..........60 AHEAD OF 13TH PLACE

11. Kasey Kahne ......52 AHEAD OF 13TH PLACE

12. Matt Kenseth .......34 AHEAD OF 13TH PLACE

13. Kyle Busch ..........34 BEHIND 12th place

14. Brian Vickers .......39 BEHIND 12th place

15. Clint Bowyer ........112 BEHIND 12th place

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