Gordon expects all-star race to be all-out

ATLANTA — NASCAR's all-star race often produces some roughhouse racing, largely because there are no points at stake and the pay plan is all about winning. Some observers, including TV analyst Jeff Hammond, believes this year's race, which will be run Saturday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway, will be even more eventful because drivers will be running the Car of Tomorrow, which has proved to be better at taking a beating than the car it replaced.

"The more confidence the drivers get in these cars, the more they think they're driving tanks, and they try to use them as such," he said.

Jeff Gordon, who is tied with the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. for most all-star wins with three, said on this week's NASCAR teleconference that he expects some aggressive racing.

"It's about putting on a great show for the fans," he said. "To do that, you're going to push harder, take chances and do things that you wouldn't normally do, because you know if you come out of there with a wrecked race car or a bad finish, it's really not going to affect you."

Elliott looking ahead

Bill Elliott said this week that as he nears the end of his driving days, he's beginning to focus on advancing the careers of some up-and coming young drivers.

Elliott is working with his 12-year-old son Chase, his nephew Trey Poole and two others, John King and Mitch Cobb. The driver-development program is Elliott's way of passing on his years of experience in the sport.

"I'm just trying to give people an opportunity they normally wouldn't have," he said.

For now, Elliott said, the boys just need to race and figure out what they can on their own. Then, as they move to more professional divisions, he'll begin sharing his ideas about how to be a success on and off the track.

Johnson on the rebound

NHRA Pro Stock Kurt Johnson, who had a mediocre home race at the recent Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, has rebounded in a big way. He scored his 37th career victory two weeks ago in St. Louis and is hoping to ride that momentum into this weekend's Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

"I was kicking myself after Atlanta, but we went into St. Louis with a full head of steam and ran the fastest we've ever run," he said. "Things are looking up."

Johnson said his father, Warren Johnson, has been on an aggressive testing program, making runs at both Bristol and Atlanta dragways, after failing to qualify at St. Louis and losing in the first round at Atlanta.

2 nominated for scholarship

Top Alcohol Dragster drivers Kate and Diana Harker, the twin Top Alcohol dragster drivers from Gainesville, Ga., are among the 16 female drivers up for the Lyn St. James "Project Podium" scholarship grant. The program is designed to help young women win races and championships and move onto the top levels of their respective form of motorsports.

Labonte to run 5 races

The semi-retired Terry Labonte is set to run five races this summer in Kyle Petty's No. 45 Dodge. Chad McCumbee will run two more — at Dover and Chicago. Petty is skipping the events to return to his role as analyst for the TNT broadcasts of Cup races this summer and to attend the wedding of his daughter Montgomery.

Rick Minter writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.