RPM.ESPN.com takes a look at what went down in the racing world this past weekend.

	Not exactly a Kodak moment for Jimmy Spencer's No. 7.

Biggest surprise: Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon getting into it during caution laps after Gordon's slide job on Harvick. OK, so those two having a, well, peeing contest isn't that surprising. But in the third-to-last race of the year with so much on the line, one might think they'd know better than to risk damage to their cars.

Biggest non-surprise: Yeah, yeah -- Ryan Newman won another pole.

And Dale Earnhardt Jr. We've seen him overcome long odds before to get back to the front, but Junior dodged a couple of bullets at Phoenix on Sunday. First, some bumping and banging with Newman caused slight damage to the No. 8 Chevy, but it could have been much worse. Later, Junior was forced to deal with a tire rub that could have been much worse. That kind of luck is what championship contenders need. It might be too late for this season, but as for 2004 ...

... back to 2003. Matt Kenseth did what he had to -- again -- in finishing sixth on Sunday. His run of four consecutive top-13 finishes is plenty strong enough to keep the championship within reach.

Finally, Valentino Rossi saying goodbye to Honda with yet another win.

Biggest disappointment: Rusty Wallace. He didn't have the best car on Sunday, but he was strong enough to possibly have a shot at winning the race and thus shutting up everyone who constantly nags the guy about his winless streak. Wallace got into some trouble -- for which several drivers blamed him, so maybe it's just karma -- and finished 33rd.

And Brendan Gaughan. He managed to hold on to his CTS points lead, but late engine problems knocked him back a bunch of spots -- and really, it could have been much, much worse.

Gutsy move: Jeff Burton's day. He overcame trouble several times and finished in the top-10 at Phoenix.

Also, Ted Musgrave. The NASCAR vet finished second at Phoenix and closed to within 26 points of Gaughan with one race (Homestead) remaining. In all, the top four drivers are separated by just 39 points.

	Simpson

Boneheaded move: Homer Simpson. Really. While mourning the death of ... well ... Death in Sunday's Halloween episode, Homer muttered, "You made NASCAR racing exciting." Don't get us wrong -- we dig The Simpsons ... and donuts. And on many days Homer's line would have been funny. But considering recent (non-NASCAR) events, it just wasn't all that amusing. And yes, we know that episode was written ages ago and has been in the can for weeks. Just an unfortunate coincidence. D'oh!

Redemption: Kurt Busch. Too many laps and not enough fuel forced Busch to give up second place and pit. But Busch stormed back through the field to finish fourth. Speaking of Busch, Jimmy Spencer (whose day could be listed as a disappointment) mentioned how much fun he had racing Busch -- then saying that it probably wasn't as fun for the driver of the No. 97 Ford. It was a lighthearted acknowledgement of the Spencer-Busch feud. To quote Martha Stewart, that's a good thing.

Random stat: Bill Elliott (10th in points) is the highest driver in the points who has not won a Cup race this year. Conversely, Ricky Craven (26th) is the lowest in points to have won a race in '03.

Random thought: The Truck series is in the middle of a tremendous championship battle, yet guys like Harvick and Ken Schrader are in the field. Our cynical side wants to tell these truckwhackers to get out of the way and let the title contenders fight it out (same goes for the Busch Series). But there was something exciting about having these wildcards in the race -- especially considering Harvick went on to win at Phoenix on Friday. Plus, it puts more butts in the seats -- and that's a good thing.

General amazement: Bobby Hamilton Jr. and the Busch Series points race. Hamilton's last three finishes? First, third, first. And yet he's only sixth in the standings, 125 points behind Scott Riggs.

Quote: "A win is a win. Being in Victory Lane is fun. A trophy is a trophy and adding one more to the pile is all the better." -- Earnhardt Jr., comparing victories on restrictor plate and non restrictor plate tracks.

Photo: Check out the photo of the week. Rossi's wig party. It's got to be the hair.

Tell us what you think: Share your thoughts with us about the weekend's action.

 
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