Kyle Busch won both races at Bristol last year, but so far this year he hasn't made a top-ten finish.

- Think maybe Carl Edwards enjoyed having an off week after the Atlanta debacle? Had Bristol fallen the next weekend, the feeding frenzy would've been intense. It isn't going to go away completely, but the scrutiny won't be quite so intense.

- Edwards was the first beneficiary of the "have it, boys" era in NASCAR. He got a three-race probation. In NASCAR, probation is a synonym for "nothing."

- Asked where NASCAR would "draw the line" on its hands-off policy, president Mike Helton said "we see it when we see it." Thanks, Mike.

- Edwards and Brad Keselowski are scheduled for what is often referred to as "a come-to-Jesus meeting" with Helton and others at Bristol. What does that mean? See "Days of Thunder."

- Kyle Busch won both Bristol races a year ago. He doesn't have a top-10 finish so far this year.

- One effect of Kurt Busch's Atlanta victory - with his brother's former crew chief, Steve Addington, calling the shots - is additional pressure on Kyle's new crew chief, Dave Rogers.

- Ninety-six races have passed since Juan Pablo Montoya's lone Sprint Cup victory. He was ninth and 25th in the two Bristol races last year.

- Paul Menard is ninth in the Sprint Cup point standings. Scott Speed is 12th. If only there weren't 32 more races, or 22 between now and the Chase.

- It's important to remember that leading the points doesn't really make much difference until the Chase begins. In the regular season, what matters is being 12th or higher.

- Stewart Haas Racing's relatively slow start shouldn't surprise anyone. Tony Stewart is up to eighth in points, but Ryan Newman is only 29th. Guess what? At this point a year ago, he was 32nd ... and he still made the Chase.