Associated Press
The NASCAR notebook ….
TALLADEGA, Ala. ó Deadly storms that roared across the South led to the postponement of an ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway, cut short practice for Sundayís NASCAR Sprint Cup event and led Juan Pablo Montoya to take cover in the media center.
The track was pounded by heavy rains and wind, and the area was twice under a tornado warning Friday. But there were no reports of serious damage.
NASCAR stars such as Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth planned to ride out the storms in their luxury motor homes, parked next to the infield garage area.
ěIn all my times watching the Weather Channel, Iíve never heard of 43 big expensive buses getting destroyed,î Newman said. ěIím going to stick with the odds. Iím staying in my mobile home.î

NATIONWIDE POLE: Elliott Sadler landed the pole for todayís Nationwide race, another big step in his comeback from a disappointing start to the season.
Sadler finished 38th in the season opener at Daytona, and had problems at Phoenix and Las Vegas.
But he was in the top five at the last three races, and a speed of 179.558 mph gave the former Sprint Cup driver his first pole of the year.
ěWe are definitely going in the right direction,î Sadler said.
Sadler was a regular on the Cup circuit for a dozen years, winning three times and capturing eight poles. But he lost his ride after last season and dropped down to the Nationwide Series, signing a two-year deal with Kevin Harvickís lower-division team.
His teammate, Sprint Cup regular Clint Bowyer, joined Sadler on the front row with a speed of 179.373. Two more Cup regulars, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (179.115) and Jamie McMurray (178.560), will be on the second row, while Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne was fifth at 178.427.

WAR EAGLE, FLY DOWN THE TRACK: One car could spark some divided loyalties in Sundayís Sprint Cup race, and it wonít have anything to do with whoís behind the wheel.
Michael Waltrip will be driving a No. 15 Toyota Camry decked out in Auburnís blue and orange colors, commemorating the schoolís national football championship.
That will certainly draw plenty of cheers in Auburnís home state, And, of course, a sizable share of boos considering the divided football loyalties in these parts. Hard to imagine many fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide rooting for anyone bearing the Tigersí logo.
In keep with the Auburn theme, coach Gene Chizik will serve as grand marshal for the race.

MENARDíS NEW RIDE: Paul Menard is off to the best start of his career, taking advantage of his move to the powerful Richard Childress Racing team.
The 30-year-old Wisconsin native has never finished higher than 23rd in the points in four full-time years on the Sprint Cup circuit. But he was able to land a spot at RCR because he had solid sponsorship provided by his fatherís chain of home improvement stores.
Menard has capitalized on the chance with a pair of top-five finishes ó he came into the year with that many for his entire career ó and ranks 11th in the points.

BAD COOKING: Carl Edwards has learned not to call out his mom over her culinary skills.
After climbing from his car at Texas last week with an upset stomach, Edwards blamed his mother for preparing a dish that made him ill.
Heís backtracking now.
Big time.
ěIt turns out, my motor home driver and his wife … they told my mom, ëWe ate the rest of that food and weíre fine. So it wasnít the food,íî Edwards said, looking a bit embarrassed. ěI had to apologize to my mom. But I really thought thatís what it was.î
Well, at least thereís been some fringe benefits for his mother.
ěShe thought it was pretty funny,î Edwards said. ěShe wonít have to cook for anybody anytime soon. Sheís been offering to cook for people and theyíre like, ëUh, no, thatís OK.í î