Checkers or Wreckers?

The calm, level-headedness of No. 84 crew chief Rick Viers is in stark contrast to the personality of his driver, AJ Allmendinger. The two share a common goal — transfer into the All-Star Race through tonight’s Sprint Showdown — but have differing opinions on how to get there.

“Under our conditions, we need to qualify well and run well and not worry about balls out, the no-matter-what type of attitude,” Viers said. “If we’re on the last lap racing for the lead, that’s different. But right now, we’ve got to complete the race and get as much information for the 600 as we can, because that’s what’s really important.”

AJ, when asked the same question, shot back: “Run hard and either get in or wreck big.”

Brian Vickers accomplished the feat in question in 2005, when he sent Mike Bliss spinning in the closing laps of the last-chance race. Brian went on. Bliss went home.

“I don’t know about the win or wreck part,” Brian said. “Obviously, it’s an all-out situation with winner take all. I don’t know if I want to wreck big. Wrecking big in this sport is not very fun.”

For tonight’s 40-lap Sprint Showdown (7:30 p.m. ET), Brian’s No. 83 Red Bull Toyota rolls off outside of polesitter Elliott Sadler, with AJ’s No. 84 tucked in behind in fourth. The All-Star race follows not long after.

Speed blurb: “Transmission” is listed as the culprit that knocked Scott Speed out of Friday night’s Craftsman Truck race at LMS. He kept flirting with the top 10 and reached it at lap 100. The knockout came seven laps later. No rest for Scott, though. An ARCA race awaits Sunday in Toledo, Ohio, where he starts fourth.