There was a race at Martinsville but I swear I do not understand what is happening to me this year. I seem to want to fall asleep about 30% of the way through a race. And I did so yesterday as well.
Hmm… I guess I have simply been losing too much sleep at night over the chase for the ‘cup’ (or as one wag put it, “The Chase for the Clamshell”).
Speaking of sleep, somewhere in that deep fog just before light, I swore my mind was telling me to write about how the announcers are annoying!
Then I saw that Rusty may not be back in the announcer booth next year—guess he needs to do some more “NASCAR Angels” shows.
I guess dreams can come true…
Michael

Last week we NASCAR fans and followers could have been overwhelmed by the story lines that kept showing up. Let’s review:

Nationwide Insurance takes over No. 2 series in 2008

Coors takes over as Official Beer of NASCAR in 2008

M&Ms will become primary sponsor on Kyle Busch’s Sprint ride in 2008

Dario Franchitti signs with Ganassi

Jacques Villeneuve makes his Nextel Cup debut (without incident)

Andy Hillenburg buys NC Speedway with the hope of running some races there

Haas Racing signs Scott Riggs for 2008 — with possible consequences for either Jeff Green or Johnny Sauter

Indeed, it was a busy, busy week. But let’s look outside the headlines: Several drivers labeled this past Sunday’s ‘Dega race as BORING! And the rich keep getting richer: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, and Tony Stewart finished in the top eight while Casey Mears finished sixth to help Hendrick sweep again! Ah yes, Mikey and the Toyotas came on big time but only Blaney was able to take advantage. Dodges ran well but finished pretty much out of the money. Clearly, Chevy was the car to beat.

In the end, maybe we can keep some excitement in the Chase but after Martinsville, if I were a betting man, I’d say that the Chase will come down to a two-way battle. New blood — yes; change in results — no.

That’s my view.

Jon

Yes, I could enter the fray and give my two cents of philosophy about last Sunday’s fiasco, but I’d rather return to another theme that I brought up a while back — the “F” word — franchise.

Prior to the race on Sunday, I caught some of the pre-race hoopla, and the topic of the diminishing number of single car owners — and merger mania — arrived front and center. Seems there is concern that the single car owner is soon to become history — and that flies in the face of the “good ol’ days” where anyone could arrive at a track and run the race. Seems that economics has gotten in the way of what NASCAR was — RACING!

And, of course, the discussion then turned to the “top 35 rule”, where any owner having at least enough points to be in the top 35 is automatically guaranteed a starting position regardless of what happens during qualifying. That leaves eight slots open for, as it is fond to be said in Southern circles, the “come heres.” Currently, only one single car owner is in the top 35 circle — Robby Gordon.

This discussion naturally led to the topic of NASCAR’s franchising of teams. Teams paying for the franchise would automatically be “in the race” because only 43 teams, at most, would have franchises.

One commentator suggested that NASCAR could ask for up to $100K from a multi-car owner for a franchise. Seems this commentator felt that the owner could then leverage the franchise in some way. Now, it doesn’t take a genius to simply say, “Why give NASCAR a hundred grand when all I have to do is be in the top 35 in points to be assured a starting position on Saturday night or Sunday afternoon?”

Forget franchising — it ain’t gonna happen, guys — the owners are too smart to throw their money away. And that will be one of my predictions for next February. On to Talladega — let’s see what Jacques has in store for #24!

Jon

I wonder if I’ve been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I’m not the same, the next question is ‘Who in the world am I?’ Ah, that’s the great puzzle!
Alice in Alice in Wonderland

First let me do my Sarbanes-Oxley and state that I did not see the Kansas race. I was on a jet returning from a business trip to Guadalajara, Mexico. Sounds like I had the most fun this weekend.

Ah, with that being said it still cannot wash away the fact the Chase is getting curiouser and curiouser (sorry, couldn’t resist).

From what I have read, NASCAR may have a problem in the way they send their ‘signal’ to the public. Radical conspiracy theories aside, many are wondering if rules are applied consistently and fairly. While drivers want to believe that they have won (or didn’t do anything wrong) there must be something to an issue when so many believe they fall into either category. As others have written, NASCAR’s rules mostly likely need interpretation by beings of far superior intelligence to mine, or perhaps to any other human walking the planet.

Oh, Alice was the cat right when he opined, “We’re all mad here.”?

– Michael