My Red Nexxus also cracked.  Mine cracked all the way from the finger around the ball to the thumb hole.  I got my at Buddies and Chris gave me a choice of a mastermind or genius to replace it.  I got the genius as a replacement.  Buddies was top notch when I told them about it.  I have been buying stuff from them for awhile and this was the first issue I ever had and they handled it exceptionally.  Hopefully you get yours replaced.

I wasn't even thinking about that.  Yes, the thumb was plugged.  I know that technically voids the warranty in most cases (haven't actually read one lately) but the crack is no where near the plug.  I also don't use inserts where a lot of the problems usually start.

I know you have to go by what the warranty says, but with modern technology, I personally think many of the conditions are irrelevant.  With how aggressively new covers absorb oil and since balls slowly continue to cure over time, I really doubt too much glue or dull drill bits highly contribute to cracking like in the past, plus most pro shops are very aware of this now.  Modern balls just sometime crack.  It's pretty much at the discretion of the pro shop or manufacturer whether or not a claim is authorized.

I have had a few balls crack, and it baffles me as to why when I always keep mine from temperature extremes, etc.  Being around the pro shop for the last 10 years or so I see it does happen.  From any manufacturer at any given time.  You just never know... I'd have your shop call their product specialist and see if there's a remedy for you.

For those who are having balls crack - how are you storing them?  Left out in the open, in a plastic bag, in a bowling bag, etc?

I have had several crack but none since I started storing them in the plastic bags they come in.  Probably just lucky, but I am wondering if it is helping.

Mine are on a bowling ball rack in my den.  On bowling days I take my bag into my office.  I bowl on a lot of different sport patterns, so my equipment is rotated constantly.  I generally practice on Sunday and always try a variety of equipment to see what might work.  If something hasn't been throw in a while I'll rotate it 90 or 180 degrees so the core doesn't sit in one position for extended time.  I can't imagine what a plastic bag would do to help, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it. 

I've had a total of 5 crack:

Storm Thunderflash - odd because it was an older ball, made of urethane, and the cover was super thick.  Because I had moved recently it hadn't been thrown in a while.

900 Global Creature (2) - First was basically a defect - the cover was normal on part of the ball and maybe 1/8" thick on the other.  The replacement looked great but only lasted 20 games (same as the first one).  Global wouldn't replace the second one because they do not replace replacement balls out of the initial warranty time frame.  Wasn't crazy about that, although they offered me a discount on another ball.

AMF Nighthawk M2 - this sucked because it's my favorite ball and it only had 2 games on it.  I drilled it right before I moved from AL to NC and soon after I changed my grip specs.  By the time I was going to it cracked.  This one obviously had sat a long time without being thrown.  It probably sat in the same position for a long time.

Brunswick Nexxus - not many games on the ball and it had been used several times recently.