Short Laps

1 The stock car education of Juan Pablo Montoya (right) continues to proceed much faster than expected. On Sunday, Montoya was once again aggressive (he nudged Tony Raines into the wall on lap 375) and impressive (he finished 16th). It appears almost certain that the rookie will win at least one race this season.

2 The biggest disappointment of the season so far? Kasey Kahne. In 2006 Kahne had more wins (six) than any other driver. This year his races have begun to resemble his disaster-filled TV commercials for Allstate. On Sunday he struggled again with an ill-handling car and finished 25th. Kahne is 34th in the standings, and his slow start is symptomatic of the aerodynamic woes that have afflicted all the Dodge teams. At Martinsville, for example, only one Dodge driver finished in the top 10 ( Scott Riggs, eighth).

3 The drivers' complaints about the Car of Tomorrow—namely, that it doesn't turn well through the corners—weren't as loud after Martinsville as they were at Bristol on March 25. After two events the CoT has proved to be structurally sound, and there has been no drop in the quality of the racing. SI's early grade for the CoT? B plus.