Joshua and Cheryl have been offering up their own personal sets of HeartRacers~HeartBreakers for each race. The moments that stirred them for whatever reason will fall in the HeartRacers category, and anything that makes them wince, cry, or throw stuff will be HeartBreakers. All cawsnjaws readers are invited to add on their own to share with everyone.

NASCAR did not make it rain in the desert, as it has on occasion. The big questions coming in to this race were which Chasers would avoid bad luck and car troubles to stay far enough inside the points to not be eliminated, and whether or not Tony Stewart would continue showing them up.

HeartRacers:

• When your favorite musical group releases their greatest hits collections you know they’ve reached the big time. Apparently, so has Wally Dallenbach and his ‘Wally’s World’, because today we were treated to a video collage of previous rides. You’ve made them scream and squirm, Wally. Thanks a lot. We have enjoyed it.

• Taylor Swift did a terrific rendition of the National Anthem. We see why she’s an up and coming country music star.

• Tony Raines (No. 96 Chevy) started 41st and finished 21st; and Scott Riggs (No. 10 Dodge) started 42nd and finished 22nd. That makes them the big ‘movers and shakers’ of the race, both having moved up 20 spots during the race.

• Kyle Petty (No. 45 Dodge) started 34th, finished 25th, and managed to stay in the top 35 in points for another week. Fans of Petty Enterprises have to be pleased.

• Martin Truex Jr.’s (No. 1 Chevy) fans had to have been glad that he avoided some of the bad luck and other chaos that have been biting him lately. He finished 12th, and moved up one spot in the Cup standings to make it into the top 20.

• Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Dodge), Mark Martin (No. 6 Ford), and Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Chevy) also avoided the troubles that have been hanging over them and enjoyed good finishes (Kahne finished seventh; Martin finished sixth; and Hamlin finished third). Anyone who has in the past conjectured that Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Chevy) was a flash-in-the-pan must be feeling awfully silly right now. This driver on fire almost won the Busch race on Saturday, started the Cup race in second and won it, and moved up two spots in the Chase standings to third.
• Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Chevy) fought valiantly and nearly was the victor of the race. He is 63 points in the Cup Chase lead, and while that does not mean that the championship T-shirts and hats ought to be printed already, it does look like he will be the featured driver in NYC this December.

HeartBreakers:

• Following an engine change, Robby Gordon (No. 7 Chevy) had to start the race in 40th. Troubles during the race included a tangle with Chad Chaffin (No. 61 Dodge) on lap 225. Gordon finished 33rd.

• Lots of fans love Michael Waltrip (No. 55 Dodge) for his wit, announcing abilities, and talent behind the wheel. But we’re thinking Waltrip is ready for the season to be over, to get on with his new venture in NASCAR in 2007. On Sunday he started 19th, finished 42nd, and is outside the top 35 in Cup standings.

• Jamie McMurray (No. 26 Ford) was once again seen spinning, wrecking, and taking cars along with him, following contact with Tony Stewart (No. 20 Chevy). Despite starting 14th, he finished 40th.

• Kyle Busch (No. 5 Chevy) was one of the cars taken along with McMurray on his spin on lap 272. It was another grueling and frustrating day for Busch. He started in ninth position, but by race’s end he was in 38th, dropping him two spots to the bottom of the Chase standings in 10th.

• Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Chevy) and Jeff Burton (No. 31 Chevy) have now joined Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, and Mark Martin as the drivers who have been eliminated as possible Chase champions.

• We are giving our ‘Driver Most Frustrated’ HeartBreaker award to Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Ford). His starting place of tenth was good, but finishing 13th was not. While he didn’t move down in the standings, Jimmie Johnson has a 63 point lead ahead of him. While that is not insurmountable, it will be difficult. We think that he is surely wondering how different things would be for him right now if he’d had a stronger car the last few races.