Grand Rapids, Mich., native Johnny Benson rides a wave of momentum following his third-place finish in Friday’s Sam’s Town 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.

In a slow yet consistent pace, Brian Vickers, the same driver who failed to make 13 races last season, is making a chance at the Chase a possibility.

Telling from a handful of red-faced, breathless drivers at the end of Pocono’s 500-mile race last weekend, one of two things need to happen: Improve the new car’s cooling and ventilation system, or drivers need to invest in a gym membership.

Carl Edwards failed to repeat as winner of the LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway last Sunday, but he did put together another solid seventh-place finish to remain fourth in the points standings heading into this Sunday’s race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Brian Vickers’ crew was clocked for speeding coming off pit road twice during Sunday’s Best Buy 400 at Dover International Speedway, but it left the driver perplexed as to how it could even happen.