Skinner set to battle Hornaday Jr. and Kvapil at Bristol

Autoracing Betting Lines

08/22/2007 - Bristol, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - "Race leader Mike Skinner" is a phrase used quite often this season. The driver of the No.5 Toyota truck has led at least one lap in the last 19 races dating back to the Atlanta Motor Speedway in October 2006.

Skinner led 102 laps in the last Craftsman Truck Series race at the Nashville Superspeedway pushing him over the 1,000-miles led mark in 2007. It is the fifth time in the series the feat has been accomplished and the second time for Skinner, who did it in 1996. Skinner finished third in 1996 and is determined to finish a couple of positions higher this season.

Skinner has led the most laps in seven races this year while leading the series in points (2,521), winnings ($526,850), wins (4), poles (8), top-fives (12) and top-10s (14). He also leads Ron Hornaday Jr. by 82 points.

Wednesday's race will present a different challenge than usual at the 0.533- mile, high-banked, Bristol Motor Speedway short track. In addition to the traditional problems that BMS entails there is the added feature of a newly paved race track.

Teams tested there in July, but it will still be the first NASCAR race on the track since it was repaved.

"They did a nice job, the track looks different, but it's really the same Bristol - and that's a good thing," said Ted Musgrave's crew chief Rick Gay Jr.

In the test, Travis Kvapil was quickest at 119.626 m.p.h., while Musgrave was second fastest.

"The team did a great job working through our test plan," Kvapil said. "They hit on some things towards the end of the day that found us some more speed."

Kvapil (-236) sits third in the championship after winning the last race at Nashville.

"It was pretty awesome," said Kvapil in the post-race press conference. "It took our K&N Ford half the race to get the track position and the right adjustment in it. This is the truck we won with in Michigan and finished second in Kentucky with."

It was Kvapil's ninth consecutive top-10 and third win of the season. If Skinner and Hornaday Jr. weren't having such great seasons, Kvapil would be right in the middle of the battle, instead of just outside of it, looking in.

The good news, however, is there are still 10 races left and if Kvapil can keep up his current pace he can challenge Skinner and Hornaday Jr. for the championship.

Starluckcaisno Autoracing Betting News

<< Reds bring up Saarloos from minors
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds selected the contract of pitcher Kirk Saarloos from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. Saarloos, who was up with the team earlier this season, went 1-4 with a robust 8.19 earned

<< Ferguson joins Vikings
Eden Prairie, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Veteran receiver Robert Ferguson agreed to terms with the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday. Ferguson, who was cut by Green Bay last Friday, was drafted in the second round by the Packers in 2001 and had p

<< Rain wipes out Day 1 at Forest Hills
Forest Hills, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Four opening-round matches were postponed because of rain Tuesday at the $74,800 Forest Hills Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Classic. Second-seeded American Meilen Tu was scheduled to meet Italian Roberta V

<< Fire sign Colombian defender Conde
Bridgeview, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago signed Colombian international defender Wilman Conde, who previously played under Fire coach Juan Carlos Osorio, on Monday. Conde, 24, played for Osorio with Millonarios in Colombia. Co

<< Hawks exercise options on Marvin and Shelden Williams
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Hawks exercised contract options for the 2008-09 season on forward Marvin Williams and forward/center Shelden Williams. Marvin Williams averaged 13.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 64 con

West Virginia suspends two players >>
Morgantown, WV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The West Virginia football program suspended defensive back Ellis Lankster and linebacker J.T. Thomas indefinitely on Tuesday. The pair were arrested over the weekend for transferring and receiving st

Red Bulls refuel for key clash at United >>
Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Coach Bruce Arena is worried if New York will have enough "gas back in the tank" for Wednesday's key showdown at D.C. United. New York won one of the best games in Major League Soccer history on Saturd

Braves place James on DL; recall Reyes >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Braves have placed starting pitcher Chuck James on the 15-day disabled list and replaced him in the rotation with Jo-Jo Reyes for Tuesday night's game against the Reds. James is suf

Cubs reinstate Floyd, activate Blanco >>
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs activated outfielder Cliff Floyd from the restricted list and activated catcher Henry Blanco from the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday. Floyd was originally placed on the bereavemen

Fire try to stay hot against Wizards >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mexican international Cuauhtemoc Blanco has needed just three games to turn Chicago into a playoff contender. Since joining Chicago in July, he has one goal and two assists during a three- game unbeaten st

Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

Bet on NFL

Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

Bet on NFL

Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts Visa & Mastercard