It didn't hurt that Busch, who led 265 of 367 laps, cut a right rear tire down the stretch that cost him.

NPR: Kenseth Passes Busch For 1st Darlington Victory

If it wasn't FSU tailback Chris Thompson zipping down the sideline to tire out the Clemson D en route to 103 yards and two scores, it was sophomore back James Wilder Jr. (not, as Rip might guess, a return from retirement by James Wilder Sr.) pounding them into submission late with two TDs of his own.

WSJ: Florida State, Notre Dame Roll: College Football's Throwback Weekend

As it winds down operations, it has cut car tire output by 90% to around 2, 000 tires a day from the 21, 000 the plant could produce at full capacity.

WSJ: U.S. CEO Blasts French Work Culture

It happened with about 100 laps left, when the right-front tire on Patrick's No. 10 Chevrolet went down and slammed her into the wall.

NPR: Edwards Ends Long Drought At Phoenix

Danica Patrick, the pole winner two weeks ago at Daytona, struggled with her car from the start, going two laps down by the 60th lap and later getting penalized for a tire violation.

NPR: Matt Kenseth Holds Off Kahne To Win In Vegas

And while Firestone remains the third-largest brand behind Goodyear and Michelin in the U.S. replacement-tire market, the crisis leaves it with a 7.5% market share, down from a high of 10.5% in 1999.

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