Rewind: Has NASCAR's latest feud lost traction?

Rewinding Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway:

REAR-VIEW MIRROR

Fords have a better day

Several Fords ran well on Sunday, particularly the No. 9 of Kasey Kahne. Kahne was pretty much Denny Hamlin’s primary competition late in the race.

At the end of the day, two Fords – those of Kahne and Greg Biffle – were in the top 10 and five finished in the top 15.

That’s a good performance, but I don’t think there is much to celebrate just yet. Ford drivers are going to need to be out front more consistently before they can be counted on for wins.

You can't please all of the people ...

I would love to know what fans think is the perfect race.

Some people didn’t like Sunday’s race because it had only a few cautions and long green-flag runs. Others don’t like the wreck-fests which typically are at the superspeedways of Daytona and Talladega.

If only a side-by-side, down-to-the-wire finish will do, many race fans will remain disappointed most of the time.

Cracking The Debris Caution Case

The best controversy anyone could come up with Sunday was whether “phantom” debris on the track to bring out the last caution. Folks, there is ALWAYS debris on the track somewhere. It’s a losing argument.

Truce or dare? No friction on track

In a shocker, the Joey Logano-Kevin Harvick feud had no legs in Michigan. The drivers raced around each other several times on Sunday without incident.

NOTEBOOK

Stewart back in top 12

Tony Stewart rallied late in Sunday’s race for a fifth-place finish, which helped him move up two spots in the series standings and crack the top 12.

Heading to the road course at Sonoma, Calif. – where Stewart has typically fared well – he is 11th, 57 points ahead of 13th-place Clint Bowyer. The top 12 qualify for the Chase.

"We just need to keep plugging away and doing what we do,” Stewart said. “I’m not as panicked about the top 12 right now as I think some of the guys that are close to that bubble.

“We’ve just got to keep going out and if we keep riffling off top-fives like this, we won’t have to worry about it. We’ll be there.”

Biffle: 'We are still off'

While Greg Biffle's was one of two Fords to finish in the top 10 on Sunday – and running the new FR9 engine – he believes his Roush Fenway Racing organization still has some work to do.

“We are still off. We got beat really bad off the start and I just don’t know why,” he said. “I felt comfortable with the car and I felt that if I could get out front then I could run with the leader. I know we can just from looking at the lap times.

“When you aren’t fast enough, you cant get track position.”

Biffle moved to ninth in the points, 82 ahead of 13th.

Former NASCAR official dies

Les Richter, a former NFL standout who also was instrumental in NASCAR's growth, died Saturday, June 12, 2010, at a Riverside, Calif., hospital. He was 79.

NASCAR president Mike Helton replaced Richter as competition director in 1994.

Helton announced Richter’s death on Saturday during the drivers meeting for the Truck series race at Michigan.

Richter was once traded for 11 players in the biggest NFL deal for a single player. He also played in eight Pro Bowls while with the Los Angeles Rams and was known by the nickname “Coach” in the NASCAR community.

In a statement, NASCAR chairman Brain France said, “Les Richter will be missed by the entire NASCAR community and always remembered for all he did for the sport on all levels.”

Arrangements were incomplete.

Read what Tom Higgins, the longtime Charlotte Observer motorsports writer and ThatsRacin.com contributor, says of Les Richter.

Johnson says Hamlin can win title

While Jimmie Johnson finished sixth Sunday, he was never in contention for the win and didn’t lead any laps.

After the race, Johnson – who has won the past four Cup championships – said winner Denny Hamlin is capable of winning the title this year.

“The No. 11 (Hamlin) certainly can be the champion at the end of the year,” Johnson said. “I think it’s too early to really form an opinion for anyone. We still have 10-11 races before the Chase even starts.

“But you can’t deny the victories and laps led and what they have been doing.”

KEY MOMENTS

Lap 1

Kurt Busch, who started from the pole, led 47 of the first 51 laps. But he had difficulty getting back to the front and led only nine laps the rest of the way.

Lap 52

Denny Hamlin takes the lead for the first time and shows his strength, leading 40 laps.

Lap 99

Casey Mears and his Red Bull Racing teammate Scott Speed wreck. Shortly after, Mears collides with the No. 6 Ford driven by David Ragan on pit road.

Lap 167

Shortly before a final round of green-flag pit stops, Hamlin build as much as a 10-second lead over his nearest competitor, Kasey Kahne.

Lap 182

A caution is displayed for debris, allowing one last chance for the field to catch Hamlin. It didn’t matter.

NEXT RACE

Toyota/Save Mart 350k

Where: Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, Calif.

When: 3 p.m. Sunday.

TV: TNT.

Radio: Performance Racing Network.

Last year’s winner: Kasey Kahne.