By Aaron Burns Dale Earnhardt Jr. did something on Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway that he’s done on many occasions throughout this season: he finished in the top five. Earnhardt’s fifth-place finish in the 5-Hour Energy 301 marked the veteran Hendrick Motorsports driver’s 10th top-five in 19 races, and the eighth top-five of his career at NHMS. It’s an impressive mark, but it’s also a dubious one: Earnhardt now owns the record for most top-fives at New Hampshire without a victory. He had a chance to win on Sunday, but Earnhardt – who had fresher tires than the cars in front…

By Jerry Bonkowski It’s time for NASCAR’s yearly installment of musical chairs – otherwise known as “the Race to the Chase.” A number of drivers have to significantly pick up the tempo in the next seven races, lest they miss the biggest dance of the year, the Chase for the Sprint Cup. With that in mind, we’ve borrowed from Bristol Motor Speedway’s tradition of drivers picking songs to be introduced to (and potentially inspired by) before each of that track’s two annual Cup races – and have given each of them a song that speaks to their waning Chase chances. We’ve already conceded…

5 Lessons Learned at Loudon By Jared Turner Kyle Busch Is On A Roll Three wins in the past four races have positioned Kyle Busch in terrific position to move into the top 30 in points and earn a berth in the 2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup – despite missing the season’s first 11 Sprint Cup Series points races while recovering from multiple injuries suffered in a crash in the XFINITY Series season opener at Daytona. With seven races remaining until the Chase cutoff, Busch is up to 33rd in the standings, just 58 points behind 30th-place David Gilliland. Barring a…

By Jared Turner Love him, hate him or indifferent toward him, it’s time for everyone to stand up and appreciate the job Kyle Busch has done since returning to his No. 18 Toyota in mid-May. The same Busch who missed the season’s first 11 Sprint Cup Series races while recovering from extensive leg and foot injuries suffered in the season-opening XFINITY Series race at Daytona has won three of the past four races and all but assured himself a berth in the 2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Although “haters are still gonna hate,” as they say, Busch has shown a will…