Commercials Are Killing NASCAR Telecasts

NASCAR Telecasts

At the end of the NASCAR season, more and more commercials were being shown and less and less action on the track. It has become increasingly difficult to watch an entire NASCAR Cup race because of the endless interruption for commercial breaks and the amount of time taken away from the race itself. NASCAR may have to wonder no longer why ratings are down.

It has gotten so bad that my brother regularly records the races and then views them at night so he can fast forward through the crap, and it takes him half the time to watch the actual action. Understood, bills have to be paid, but for me it's gotten to the point where I would just assume they make the races a pay-per-view event. This way you have control over what you actually want to view without the annoyance of commercial breaks.

It's kind of the same way Public TV has gone. Have you tried to watch anything on Public TV lately? They spend more time on telling you who thier corporate sponsors are as well as trying to do promo pitches in between the programming. I tried to watch a special on Eric Clapton last week and I got so infuriated with the on air sales pitches I shut it off and watched a movie on HBO. At least with HBO I pay for a service that doesn't get interrupted by crap I don't want to see. Good luck NASCAR, I don't think this fan will be around to much next year to watch a sport shown between the important stuff. Commercials!!

NASCAR Telecasts

Winter Racing Blues

Winter Racing

OK, now that all the major racing series have ended for 2007, what is a race fan to do until late January of 2008? Do we have to subject ourselves to endless rerun shows of "Pinks" and "Unique Whips" on Speed TV? I remember a few years back when ESPN would rerun some classic F1 and Daytona 500 races. It was just what the Doctor ordered for those mid-winter slumps that all of us race fans go through.

I equate it to being starved for your favorite food for eight weeks. And also being an avid baseball fan makes it a double whammy effect because each season ends at the same time and it becomes a real hangover effect. But what I miss the most is the discussion of the races and all the elements that comprise a single race and ultimately a racing season. Rooting for your favorite drivers and teams, gloating when they win and complaining when they don't.

So please, if the racing Gods are listening and the good people at Speed TV and ESPN are, please fill my winter with some races from the past. Make this winter the one that I remember and gets my juices going for another full racing season in 2008. Thankfully next year we won't have to listen to Rust Wallace announce anymore! Did they get rid of Andy Petrie too? All in all, I can't wait for the 24 hours of Daytona and the sweet sound of a gasoline driven engine at 200 MPH!

Winter Racing

Johnson Repeats Nextel Cup Crown

Jimmie Johnson

In what was a smart strategy, Jimmie Johnson took his second consecutive Nextel Cup championship to finish off an impressive run in the last ten races. His team proved once again that they are the class of the field and performed the best when the pressure was on. Although he finished seventh in the race, this race fan is convinced that he could have easily pressed for the victory but was smart and took the conservative approach to the championship.

Matt Kenseth did a stellar job and lead the majority of the race in taking his second victory of the year and first since February. Jeff Gordon just did not have enough to challenge Johnson in the last five races to "The Cup" but finished a strong second in the points. The Hendrick race organization once again has shown it's dominance at the highest level of the sport as they continue to be a cut above the competition.

I am not a Johnson or a Gordon fan but you have to tip your hat to them for what they have accomplished. They are always humble in victory and give thanks to all the people that work hard to put them into a position to win. In what was an eventful season let us say congratulations to Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Motor Sports and look forward to a more competitive season in 2008.

Jimmie Johnson

Race To The Cup All But Over

Jimmie Johnson

With his main rival Jeff Gordon conceding defeat, it seems evident that Jimmie Johnson will repeat as the Nextel Cup Champion for 2007. With another dominant performance at Phoenix International and cruising to his fourth consecutive victory, Johnson has shown why he is currently the best driver on the best team in NASCAR.

As I have stated before it amazes me to witness how one team out of forty-three can consistently outpace the field, in what is suppose to be a competitive series. My version of competitive is a different winner every race, or at least the threat of someone new winning every race. To be truthful, I don't see much of a change in this for the next three or four years because the Lowes Chevy team will only get stronger. In a sport where the rich get richer and the poor fall by the side of the road, Hendrick Motor Sports should shine for the foreseeable future.

But then again, look what happened in Formula 1 this year. With two chances to close out the championship, Lewis Hamilton couldn't do it, and Kimi Raikkonen found his way into first place. Maybe Johnson is in line for a bit of bad luck at Homestead this Sunday and Jeff Gordon may luck his way into championship #5. So let's watch and see what unfolds, but it would not be a surprise to me that we see JJ running at the front all day and winning his fifth in a row for a much deserved championship.

Jimmie Johnson

The Death of Open Wheel Racing In The US

With the latest migration of open wheel drivers to NASCAR it seems more and more evident that open wheel racing in the US will no longer be considered an "A" level formula. With no reconciliation in sight involving the twelve year rift between Tony George's IRL and Champ Car, and losing the F1 race at Indy, what's left for open wheel fans in the US?

In what seems like a millennium ago, when the likes of the Andretti's and Unser's where household names on the American racing scene in the 1990's, one bad decision after the next has buried open wheel racing. With the recent defection of former Formula 1 and IRL stars to NASCAR'S Cup series, the life of this American form of racing is all but extinct. Sure, the lower formulas will survive, but the likes of any major American racing star to come out of open wheel racing is bleak at best.

Look at the list of names; Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Robbie Gordon, Dario Franchetti, Juan Montoya, Jacques Villenue, Carl Edwards, Clint Bohyer; all stars in various formulas of open wheel, jumping ship to stock car racing. The remainder of the better open wheel drivers are all looking for a seat in a NASCAR series rather than stay in a form of the sport they know and love.

How is it that car makers such as Mercedes, BMW, Honda and Toyota, all with Formula 1 teams, do not insist on having a race in their biggest consumer market? Because the people who run open wheel racing have no clue as to what they need, or the resources to build a proper race track in a major market in the US. The track at Indy was one of the worst designs I have ever seen, lacking any character or challenge to the F1 driver. Why can't we modify a track like Road America to world class status to host the US Grand Prix?

This race fan has become so disillusioned with the state of open wheel racing to the point of giving up the notion it will ever improve. I guess the forces of NASCAR are to imposing and their marketing reach to far for any competitor to make a dent in. Not to exaggerate the obvious, but a truth must be told, the death of open wheel racing is upon us and likely not to recover.

Johnson Wins Again at Martinsville

Jimmie Johnson

Can someone try to explain to me how forty three cars can start a NASCAR Nextel Cup race and but a handful only have a chance to win? Why is it that the same drivers and teams always finish up front while the majority languish in mediocrity? And why is everybody so damn happy to have a top twenty-five finish?

Jimmie Johnson won his seventh race of the season by doing what the Hendrick teams do best. Run consistently up front and take advantage of weaker opponents. With teammate and points leader Jeff Gordon finishing third it seems to me it will be a two horse race for the championship. The Hendrick Juggernaut is well on it's way to another dominant season in a sport that should be possess stronger competition. My hope for next year is that Toyota's partnering with Joe Gibbs Racing will bring on some competition for the Hendrick teams.

Maybe its allot harder to win races than I think. Why hasn't Ryan Newman won a race in over two years? He is a proven race winner but can't seem to be there at the end when it counts. And for that matter so many other drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jaimie McMurray, Denny Hamlin and Casey Kane can't seem to get a sniff of a win. Maybe as a NASCAR fan it has become to much to ask to have a different driver win every week! Here's an idea; NASCAR should limit the amount of money a team can spend in a given season. Level the playing field between the haves and havenots. It seems to work in the lower formulas. Same money, same equipment, multiple winners. Boy, now I am really asking to much.

I guess what I am really trying to say is that it's getting boring watching the same team win all the time. Like "Michael Schumacher" boring if you get my drift. Well I guess it seems like sour grapes because I am not a Johnson or Gordon fan, or for that matter a Hendrick fan. All I hope for next year is to see the wins spread among several drivers and the title won by a dark horse nobody thought had a chance.

Jimmie Johnson

Raikkonen Wins Improbable F1 Drivers Title

Kimi Raikkonen

In what must have been an unbelievable dream for Kimi Raikkonen, the star crossed driver for Ferrari F1, was a nightmare for McClaren sensation Lewis Hamilton. With the championship well within his grasp with two races remaining, critical mistakes prevented Hamilton form being the first rookie driver to win the world championship.

As the Brazilian Grand Prix started, Raikkonen had to win the race and have his teammate Felipe Massa run second, taking valuable points away from his rivals. The odds were long against this happening, but that is exactly what transpired. With the two Ferrari's running a cut above the competition, the rest fell into place when Hamilton faltered at the start, went wide at the second corner, then had some mechanical problems that left him buried in the back of the field on lap eight. The stage was set for the improbable to become reality.

You have to feel good that for once Kimi Raikkonen had good luck on his side. Remember back in 2005 when he was leading at least three races when mechanical problems struck his McClaren, once on the final lap of the European Grand Prix. He was by far the quickest driver that year, but the title went to Alonso because he had the reliable equipment. This was turn about is fair play for the Finish sensation, who does all his talking from the race car.

But remember, this is Formula1, and controversy is always going to play a role in the outcome. After the race McClaren launched a protest against both BMW's and the Williams/Toyota of Nico Rosberg for fuel improprieties. If the protest is upheld than the points Hamilton would need to win the championship would be gained and once again Raikkonen would be left out in the cold. If this happens would Lewis Hamilton really want the championship handed to him by a court of appeals? Somehow I tend to doubt that this would be anything but a blow to the sport and cast a bleak shadow over F1.

But let's leave this final race on a happy note and congratulate a true champion in Kimi Raikkonen. It was exciting to see the championship run down to the final race among three great drivers, and the driver that didn't make a mistake came out on top. That driver is Kimi Raikkonen.

Kimi Raikkonen

What's Wrong With Lowes Motor Speedway?

Lowes Motor Speedway

In what has become the mecca of crashes, last weekends Busch series and Nextel Cup series cras filled events have become commonplace at Lowes Motor Speedway. Why are cars crashing at such a high rate? I thought that when the repaved the track last year it would lessen the amount of carnage we saw this weekend. But whether it was the track with grooves cut in it or a track newly paved, the same sad result was played out.

Could it be that Goodyear can't figure out what tire to bring to this race track? Why was turn four such a common place to wreck? It seems that these are questions that may never be answered and it would be a shame because Charlotte was always a great place for a race. Maybe all this talk by track owner Bruton Smith about building a new facility has something to do with it. But it seems very strange that these set of circumstances have exited so long at this track. Oddly enough I didn't hear much being said about the abundance of wrecks from the reporters or for that matter, the drivers!

Well maybe this is what NASCAR wants for the end of the season to compete with baseball and football. In it's own way maybe the excitement of crashing and banging will draw a bigger TV audience. I did happen to notice allot of empty seats in the overhead camera shots, so maybe NASCAR's popularity is taking a hit. Anyway, this NASCAR fan is tired of all the wrecks and wants to see more side by side racing for that Nextel Cup. Get your act together Lowes!!

Lowes Motor Speedway

Jeff Gordon Sweeps Talladega

Jeff Gordon

In what was a very unremarkable restrictor plate race for the most part, the final handful of laps were full of excitement. Once again Jeff Gordon and team Hendrick showed why they are the class of the Nextel Cup field as Gordon took the victory over teammate Jimmie Johnson. It completed the two race sweep of NASCAR'S largest track for the four time Cup champion.

The only lap that Gordon lead was the final one and you didn't see him or Johnson much during the race, as each laid back and waited for the right moment. When the two Penske cars were looking good at the end and Andie Petrie and Rusty Wallace were singing their praise upon them, I knew it was only a matter of time before were heard from the two strongest cars on the circuit. Not once did they mention Gordon or Johnson but with a handful of laps to go they made their power move to the front.

Tony Stewart was most likely the strongest car all day but he didn't have any help at the end as his teammates were not in position to do so. With Dale Earnhardt Jr. out with a blown engine the Hendrick brigade of Chevy's were the cars to beat. The COT proved to be the same type of car on the super speedway as the single file racing was prominent through most of the race. The drivers always seem to say that the cars drive completely different, and that may be so, but to the racing fan it looked exactly like any other restrictor plate race.

But congrats to Jeff Gordon and the Hendrick team for once again showing why they are the team to beat and that the Chevy's still rule the roost. Although the Toyota's qualified well the lone car of Dave Blaney finished well and seem to be on the right track to being more competitive. Now it's on to Charlotte where once again the Hendrick Chevy's will be the cars to beat.

Jeff Gordon

Raikkonen Wins Wild Chinese GP

Kimi Raikkonen

What should have been the crowning of the first rookie Formula 1 World Champion, turned into a wild race that now keeps the championship open to three drivers. Lewis Hamilton had the championship in hand but the rain that fell on this race was his downfall unlike helping him last week in Japan.

After the first pit stops where all the drivers stayed on the original intermediate rain tires, the track started to dry and Kimi Raikkonen caught Hamilton up quickly. Instead of giving way to Kimi, Hamilton raced him hard doing further damage to his wounded tires. On his pit entrance he slid off into the gravel patch thus giving Raikkonen the lead and eliminating any hope of securing the championship. It looks as though the pressure finally got to this impressive rookie and his mistake cost him dearly.

But for Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen it was a nearly flawless race and a superb effort by the "Flying Fin" who once again showed how brilliant a driver he is. With Fernando Alonso finishing second we now have a three way battle for the drivers title going into the final race in Brazil. Hamilton still has the upper hand as he has four points on Alonso and seven on Raikkonen. As I stated before, I fear that once again Raikkonen will win the most races and fall short of the grand prize on racing's biggest stage. Don't miss what might happen in two weeks because in racing you never know!

Kimi Raikkonen

Edwards Wins A Dover Mess

Carl Edwards

In what has become a bigger Bristol, the racing at Dover is just one crash after another as the "Monster Mile" has justly earned it's name. Not only seen in the Cup race but also the Busch race the day before, wreck after wreck seemed to dominate the action. When you did get to see some racing it was for a very short period of time. But Carl Edwards was able to dodge the bullet all day and came up with his first win in the final ten race format to the championship.

But did Carl win fair and square? Seems his car was a little too low when it went for post race inspection which puts a damper on the win. As competitive as the series is I guess all the teams will try to find a way to gain an advantage. But the Nextel Cup rules are there for a reason and I think a penalty should be handed down to save the integrity of the sport.

Getting back to the main point of this article, which is the racing at this particular venue. Is this a track that they should be running at? Are the constant yellow and red flags what the fans want to see? Is it the particular tire that NASCAR ran for this weekend the problem? These are all questions that come into play when evaluating the train wreck of a weekend at Dover. What do you think? The "Auto Racing Junkie" wants to know!

Carl Edwards

Bowyer Wins First Cup Race In Loudon

Clint Bowyer

On a track that has always been difficult to pass on, Clint Bowyer didn't have to worry about that as he dominated the field to take his first Nextel Cup win. In what seemed a very easy victory, Boyer never seemed to be in trouble as his RCR prepared Chevy Impala won in convincing fashion.

It's always nice to see a first time winner on the Cup circuit, as we did previously this year with Martin Truex Jr. Both Boyer and Truex are two of the up and coming drivers on the Cup circuit and they both race the field clean as all good drivers do. With his win Bowyer now finds himself in fourth place just 15 points behind co-leaders Gordon and Johnson and only five back of third place Tony Stewart.

It seems that this new scoring format has done it's job and has created a real close competition among several drivers. It would be really cool to see a young driver like Bowyer get hot these last nine races and take the championship away from the favorites of the series. If not him then maybe Martin Truex, Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin can steal the title.

Wouldn't it be fitting if Kyle Busch, who was released by Hendrick to make way for Dale Jr., won the championship and takes it to his new home at Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008. So keep it up guys, this race fan wants to see a first time champion crowned at Homestead in November.

Clint Bowyer

Raikkonen Wins Belgian Grand Prix

Kimi Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen won the Belgian Grand Prix in what proved to be a dominant performance by the Ferrari F1 team. Raikkonen started from the pole followed by teammate Felipe Massa and then the McClaren duo of Alonso and Hamilton. With the smallest of margins to Alonso's qualifying time, the McClaren's had nothing for the "Prancing Horse" stable of Raikkonen and Massa as they out paced them the entire race.

But pay tribute to the McClaren team as they had to race under the cloud of being penalized heavily for there involvement in possessing secret technical documents of the Ferrari car. In what was the largest penalty accessed any race team, McClaren lost all constructor points for 2007 and some $100 million in fines for their wrong doing. But the punishment must fit the crime and apparently the crime was close to murder in the eyes of the ruling faction of Formula 1.

With Ferrari now having locked up the constructors title, what remains is the battle for the drivers title. With Hamilton and Alonso only two points apart with three races remaining it will be interesting if the rookie can beat the two time defending world champ. Kimi Raikkonen has an outside chance at the drivers title but he will need both McClaren drivers to have problems in the final three races for it to happen. My fear as a Raikkonen fan is that he will again have the most wins (as in 2005) and not come away with the title. But anything can happen in racing so let's keep our fingers cross for the "Iceman" as the races in China, Japan and Brazil end this very entertaining F1 season.

Kimi Raikkonen

Chase Ends For Dale Earnhardt Jr

Dale Earnhardt Jr

He fought a strong battle but the 2007 chase for the cup ended for Dale Earnhardt Jr. with yet another blown engine. The finish of The Chevy Excitement 400 was just that, very exciting as Dale Jr., Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and finally David Ragan tried their best to hunt down race winner Jimmie Johnson.

But even if Earnhardt finished first it would not have mattered because all the drivers ahead of him had locked up the first twelve positions to qualify for NASCAR'S version of a ten race play off. Jimmie Johnson has come on strong again just at the right time as his Lowes Chevy team is primed for a defense of his 2006 championship. Johnson will go into next weeks race at New Hampshire as the #1 seed in a very strong field of 12 cars and drivers.

Don't feel to bad for Dale Jr. because win or lose he still remains the most popular and most highly paid driver in the Cup garage. With the move to Hendrick Motor Sports in 2008 he has a strong future in a sport that his given him more than most can expect. Being a big Dale Jr. fan I myself can't wait for next year to start and see what he can do with an inherently stronger team.

Back to the chase, we have to keep our eyes on Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards as they seem to have the most momentum going into the championship run. Put your money on Johnson and Stewart to battle for the top prize that NASCAR has to offer because they have the two best teams, which is what you need for a chance to win the big prize. Who do you think will win? Drop me a line and give me your opinion.

Dale Earnhardt Jr

Gibbs Makes The Move To Toyota

Gibbs to Toyota

In a move that had been anticipated for several weeks, Joe Gibbs Racing has made it official and signed on to be the #1 team for Toyota. In 2008 Toyota will now have a top notch team to field it's Camry's with three of the best drivers on the Cup circuit, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and newcomer Kyle Busch.

In what was characterised as a squeeze play from the Chevrolet stable, JGR sited the fact that it was tough for Chevy to support four of the top teams of the sport. With Hendrick, Childress and DEI in the mix, I guess the Gibbs organization felt the move would be the best long term deal for them. Obviously Toyota has deep pockets and needed a strong front running team with a winning history in the most competitive form of American motor racing.

This move now gives Toyota what it needs to win races and eventually a championship. The next thing JGR needs to do is sign Stewart and Hamlin to long term deals so that there will be no questions to be answered, either on a driver or sponsor level. The chemistry is there for a winning combination and in this writers opinion, JGR will be a bidding for the number 1 position within the next three years. Let me know what you think.

Gibbs to Toyota

Another Win for Johnson In Fontana

Jimmie Johnson

It was another stellar performance by Jimmie Johnson and his Lowes Chevy team as he scored his fifth and series leading victory at his home track in southern California. For the first half of the race he stood there lurking in the top five and then proceeded to take over past the half way point and cruise along to another victory for Hendrick Motor Sports.

This NASCAR Nextel Cup race had some descent racing among the front runners as this huge 2 mile oval boast three and four racing grooves. Dale Earnhardt Jr. found himself in the hunt early on but faded at the end and finished a disappointing fifth, all but eliminating him from the chase. With the final race next weekend in Richmond he will need a miracle to get in.

But once again Hendrick showed why they are the dominant team in the cup series as Johnson, Kyle Busch and Casey Mears all ran well. The only exception is points leader Jeff Gordon who struggled all night. Gordon will most likely see his points margin of over 400 points erased by the bonus system NASCAR has adopted and Johnson will lead going into the final ten races for the championship. Oh well, at least it's a Hendrick car unless another team can step up and give them a fight. Tony Stewart, are you listening? See you next week in Richmond.

Jimmie Johnson

Massa Wins F1 Grand Prix Of Turkey

With another dominant performance by team Ferrari, Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen finished one-two in what proved to be a very subdued race. As in most F1 contest the only passing came at the start and in the pit lane after each team showed their hand on fuel strategy. The only glaring event of the race was when championship points leader Lewis Hamilton had a right front tire blow and he had to limp back to the pits. Luckily he only lost two positions as he had his problem close to the pit entrance and not further down the track. He was able to salvage fifth place.

Ferrari's getting the better start they went into turn one nose to tail and The Ferrari's showed again that they were the cars to beat as Massa had the pole and Raikkonen started from the third position, but on the clean side of the grid. With both of thebasically stayed that way the balance of the race. Defending world champ Fernando Alonso started from grid spot number four but lost two places at the start to the BMW's. But with better pit strategy and his teammates bad luck, finished on the podium with a strong third place.

Maybe there will be a little more on the track action at the next event in Monza, but that is not likely to happen, as the cars tend to get spread apart very quickly on the high speed circuit. As in all the F1 events qualifying will get the most attention as the front runners will once again be vying for the ever important pole position. But congratulations to Felipe Massa and to Ferrari on a most impressive Grand Prix of Turkey as we head off to Monza were the Ferrari fans will be in abundance and as crazy as ever.

Massa Grand Prix of Turkey

Boring Race From Bristol?

Bristol

It what seemed to be anything but the usual Saturday night late August event from Bristol, this race seemed to be missing something. That something was the beating and banging of car bumpers and fenders that send cars flying and tempers flaring. In a nutshell I think I know what caused this phenomenon.

The new track configuration was the reason we had a gentleman's race in Thunder Valley. By making the track wider and flattening out the turns, cars were able to find two if not three racing grooves to get around the 1/2 mile oval. The bullring which once was Bristol Motor Speedway has now been made somewhat tame by the new layout.

You would not have predicted such a clean race based on the yellow flag filled Busch race that took place Friday night. But I guess Carl Edwards and his team had things figured out as they breezed to victory in this NASCAR main event. I wonder if the fans at the race were disappointed when they didn't see any fights, spins or helmets thrown?

But what I came away with from last nights race was satisfaction. I for one never liked all the yellow caution laps at Bristol and the race ending at about midnight. The racing was pure and the ability for the drivers to run high or low and be able to pass without some dirty work was refreshing. This race fan likes to see racing, and that's exactly what we saw at Bristol on Saturday night.

Bristol

Will Parity Ever Come To Formula 1?

Formula 1 Parity

Being totally absorbed by the racing spectacle that is F1 for most of my adult years, it still is hard for me to understand why so few teams dominate each season. In years past it was either Williams or McClaren then it was Ferrari and McClaren and throw in Renault for a few short years and there you have it.

Why can't significant automobile companies like BMW, Honda and the largest Toyota, field cars that have a chance to win on a consistent basis? Each of these companies have enormous budgets to fund their programs, yet with the exception of BMW, have no chance of winning a race.

Are Honda and Toyota trying to do too much by building the entire package, both engine and chassis? Shouldn't they opt to partner with an established team such as Toyota is doing now with Williams? Take my word for it, you will see a Williams Toyota driver on the top step of the podium sooner than one of the factory drivers. With so much promise last year look at where Honda is with only a single point to show for 2007.

I remember the glory years when they partnered with Williams and then McClaren as they had the engine to beat in the pinnacle of the racing world. Is it the drivers? Is there such a void of talent that only a few can get the very last tenth of a second that is needed to win poles and races?

It's my hope that some day I will see six or maybe even eight drivers vie for race wins on any given weekend and as many with a chance for the championship. Michael Schumacher's run was impressive but I think it did the sport more harm than good.

As great as Aryton Senna was he had some stiff competition from the likes of Prost, Mansel, Piquet and Berger and it is my hope that Alonso and Hamilton will have several rivals in the years to come. So come on a Toyota, Honda and BMW, get your acts together and find your way to the top of the podium!

Formula 1 Parity

What's Up With NASCAR Points?

NASCAR POINTS

I have just come to see by way of a show on ESPN that if the chase were to begin today Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson would be tied with the same number of points. So there goes a 500 plus point advantage that Gordon now enjoys over Johnson who sits sixth in the standings, but by virtue of having the same number of wins (four) they are tied going into the chase. Take the example of Kurt Busch who just won in Michigan. If he wins the final three races before the chase ends he could possibly be number one on the leader board, even though he is more than 700 points back from Gordon.

Now I have always been in favor of the winner of the race getting substantially more points than the rest of the field but this system can't be looking good to Jeff Gordon or Denny Hamlin. Hamilin who sits second in the points because of consistent high finishes and only one victory, which could put him dead last when the chase begins. How do you explain that to his sponsors when they go to the rear of the field when the playoff starts? Why do all 43 cars have to score points in each race? Why not have only the top 20 or 25 finishers score points which would get the also rans and half wrecked cars off the track limping around just to scrounge out every last point. The worst thing you can see on a race track is half a car doing slow laps around an oval looking like a demolition derby.

I know with so many cars vying for points it's hard to come up with a system that is fair to everyone but for the top runners to loose such an advantage seems grossly unfair. I guess this new system is to encourage teams and drivers to race for wins instead of points and if that's the aim than more power to them. In my opinion whatever NASCAR does to try and help stimulate competition it creates just as much controversy. Let me know what you think about the point system and what other ideas you might have that seems a little more fair than what we have now.

NASCAR POINTS

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Loses #8

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The latest battle in the Earnhardt family war ended this week with the stepmother from hell not yielding the #8 to Dale Jr so he can take it with him to Hendrick for next years ride. Well, what's in a number anyway? If you ask me, I think NASCAR should have stepped in and tried to mediate the negotiations between the two teams and make them settle on a fair figure. Dale Jr and his fan base identify with the #8 just as everyone will always identify his father with the #3 and Jeff Gordon with the #24. What could Teresa Earnhardt possibly gain by not giving the number to Jr? Is the bad blood that thick that it's gotten to the point she won't give in and give him his NASCAR identity?

When drivers change rides it takes most if not all season to get use to new colors, numbers, sponsors and all that goes with a change in venue. In the case of Dale Earnhardt Jr the growing pains will be multiplied five fold. What new driver going into the DEI ride he vacated will want to use his #8? Why put that kind of pressure on a new driver on an new team? If you think his fan base hates Jeff Gordon when he beats him at Talledega you ain't seen nothing yet! Seems to me that when things start to spiral down hill it's tough to stop the train from going out of control. What must Dale Sr be thinking up in NASCAR heaven?

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Kyle Busch To Gibbs In NASCAR Shuffle

Kyle Busch

Well the speculation has ended and it looks like Kyle Busch will be headed to Joe Gibbs Racing and be put in the number 18 car replacing JJ Yeley. It seems like a good fit for both sides as Kyle is probably the most talented young driver in the series and he is a proven race winner who is consistently running up front. Yeley has been a disappointment ever since replacing Bobby Labonte after Labonte left for a ride with Petty. I'm still trying to figure that move out two years later. I guess some things just can't be explained as Labonte went from a championship caliber organization to an also ran.

But getting back to Busch and his new ride, we should see a resurgence with the 18 car come next season. I am sure that JGR will make the changes necessary for Kyle to be a winner. If rumor is correct they will be shelling out big bucks to Busch and a national sponsor will probably replace Interstate Batteries to help pay for it. It would be a little sad as the Gibbs-Interstate relationship dates back to the original team that Gibbs formed with Dale Jarrett. And is it possible that Toyota would lure JGR away from Chevrolet? Toyota needs to real in a top team and Gibbs seems like a perfect fit. Remember Toyota has deep pockets.

Sometimes change is good and next year there will be a bunch of new paint schemes on cars with numbers that will take time to recognize. In the end we will all get use to it and become familiar by mid season when everything shakes out in the ever changing world of The Nextel or should I say "Sprint Cup". Winston Cup still sounds better, doesn't it?


Kyle Busch

Wild Finish At The Glen

In one of the most unbelievable finishes at the famed road course at Watkins Glen, Tony Stewart bested the Nextel Cup field to take his third victory in four races. It was a day that say several cars off the course as you would expect on a road course, but the most surprising and stunning off was Geoff Gordon on the next to last lap. Turn one caught out Stewart early in the race but Gordon made the same mistake at the absolute wrong time as he gave up the lead one lap from the white flag and gave away a sure win. Gordon and Stewart had the two dominant cars all day and it was no surprise that they were one-two at the end of this very entertaining race.

Road course racing with these 3400 pound 750 horsepower monsters is always fun to watch as it always breeds caution flags and keeps the racing close. Thankfully fuel issues did not play a role at the end of the race as the top four ran nose to tail, but I think everyone could not believe that Gordon went off in turn one. When Gordon went off in turn one Stewart seem to slow which gave Carl Edwards the chance to get right on his bumper for the last two green flag laps. Edwards tried his best and went off at the next to last turn but managed to keep his foot in it and salvage a top ten finish.

The entertainment for the day came on a late restart when Juan Montoya got tapped from behind by Martin Truex, lost the rear end under braking and sent him into Kevin Harvick entering turn one. The wreck also took out Jeff Burton who collected Montoya's wounded car and Harvick came out with a fight on his mind. He got into Montoya's face and the pushing and shoving started when he thought Montoya took him out with a banzai move. Even after he saw the replay which showed Montoya being hit from behind he said he still wanted to kick his ass. But that's Harvick being Harvick.

So on the goes the Nextel Cup circus with the next stop in the Irish Hills of Michigan and a track that usually is decided by gas mileage and could produce a surprise and or a first time winner. Even with his late race mishap Jeff Gordon still has a commanding lead in the standings as other drivers vie for the top twelve positions. The biggest loser in the race was Dale Earhnhardt Jr. who was battling Kurt Busch for the final playoff position, as he lost his engine at mid race and allot of ground in the championship hunt.

Dale Jarrett In The TV Booth?

It seems more commonplace that you see Dale Jarrett in the TV booth as a commentator than you do in the UPS sponsored Toyota. It didn't seem like a good idea to me when Mikey Waltrip signed him to a two year contract to drive his second car. Then again, it didn't seem to be a good idea for Toyota to form two new teams. But I have to say that Dale does a great job as a commentator, much better than Rusty Wallace, Andy Petrie or Tim Brewer. Boy do I miss Benny Parsons!

Since it is obvious Dale is way past his prime as a racer, this would be a good time for him to follow in his fathers footsteps and go full time into TV land. He is an articulate and knowledgeable commentator who will bring credibility to a broadcast. He would more than offset the below par people ESPN currently have. If I have to hear Rusty say "Hot Rod" one more time I think I'll have to turn the sound off. But seriously, like many great baseball players who left the game too late, it's time for Dale to step into his new career and say good bye to "The Truck".

Tony Stewart Wins The Brickyard 400

Indiana native Tony Stewart won The Brickyard 400 for the second time with a dominant performance in his Joe Gibbs Chevy Monte Carlo. Stewart led the most laps and ran up front for most of the race, a race that saw some heavy crashes, fire burning cars and a few ticked off drivers. But in the end Stewart was able to pick off Kevin Harvick as the handle went away on his RCR Chevy. Juan Pablo Montoya had his best qualifying and finishing position, both second places as his displayed consistency throughout the race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a good car at the start, good enough to lead several laps and stay with Stewart, but some bad pit work and decisions put him back in the pack. He made his way up to the front again only to blow an engine late in the race and finish well back in the pack.

As most of the season has gone, it was a Chevy dominated race with only the two Gannasi Dodges finishing in the top ten. With wonder boy Jeff Gordon finishing third and teammate Kyle Busch fourth it was another strong showing for Hendrick Motor Sports. Jimmie Johnson had a scary crash when he cut a tire at 200 plus and hit the wall a ton, causing a big fire and his quick departure out of the burning wreck. Luckily he was able to walk away uninjured and ready to race next week in Pocono. For some reason Kevin Harvick had a beef with Tony after the finish as he went up to his car and rubbed fenders in an unsportsman type manner. He was called to the Nascar trailer for s talking to by the officials, but I didn't see anything wrong with the way Stewart raced him at the end. I am generally a Harvick fan ever since he took over the car from my favorite drive Dale Earnhardt, but he can be a big cry baby sometimes. So come on Kevin, stop crying, you got beat by a faster car, so take it like a true racer and go on to the next race. Congrats to Tony Stewart for a well deserved victory at the most famous racetrack in the world, a racetrack that once again hosts the most popular race in the US, The Brickyard 400!

Alonso Wins In The Rain In Germany

In what was a chaotic and interesting F1 race, Fernando Alonso came away with an impressive victory in the European Grand Prix at The Nurburgring. After a very strange and scary first lap were torrential rain fell on the circuit, the field was set after a red flag when order had to be restored. The big loser at the beginning was Kimi Raikkonen who missed the pit in during the downpour and had to stay out another lap before changing to rain tires. All the other front runners came in to change tires but the intermediate tires did nothing to improve traction and the full wets probably would not have helped either. One by one cars were going off in the first corner, including Lewis Hamilton who started in tenth because of his accident in Q3 a day earlier.

After a red flag halted the race for several minutes a suprise was at the front of the field prior to the restart. Markus Winkelhock of the Spyker team had come into the pits to change to intermediate tires on the formation lap and assumed the lead when every other driver pitted. However, it was a short lived lead as the restart left him in a precarious position with the Ferrarri of Massa and McClaren of Alonso hot on his tail. Massa did a good job keeping Alonso at bay in the wet and Lewis Hamilton had to battle from a lap down but could not get into the points as he finished ninth.

As in most cases, rain in a Formula 1 race is a great equalizer as many of the slower cars fair far better as was evident with Mark Webber finishing on the podium in fourth for the Red Bull team. Poor Kimi had more bad luck as he was running a strong third when what was called an hydraulic failure put him out. Was he out of fuel? But when rain came again with eight laps to go and all came in to switch to rain tires again, Massa was no match for Alonso as the Spaniard passed him with ease and went on to a much deserved victory. With Hamilton out of the points Alonso is now within two points of the lead and a forced to be reckonded with. I feel that with his retirement Raikkonen is now out of the picture as once again the fastest man in F1 will not win the championship. Some drivers just don't have enough good luck to finish on top! Let's hope for another interesting F1 race in Hungary in two weeks.

Where Will Ford End Up?

I just read a story about how Teresa Earnhardt and DEI acquired the Ginn racing team, making her Chevrolet backed organization stronger. With their engine partnership with RCR and the development of the new Chevy R07 engine, DEI has positioned itself to be competitive with the other Chevy teams as well as the other manufacturers. With Toyota now in the mix and presumably willing to spend money and add more teams, were does this leave Ford? Take away the Rousch teams, which will be limited to four next year, what presence will Ford have in NASCAR? How can the biggest name in the history of American car making be so compromised on the racing scenes biggest stage?

I would assume Ford's recent money woes have put them in a position of being also rans in the world of NASCAR. How long will it be before Honda, Nissan, BMW or Mercedes put their hats in the ring and start to compete for the biggest prize in American Racing? It has been my personal experience to have owned and operated no less than seven Ford Taurus' so I find it hard to understand on a consumer level Ford's diminished role in NASCAR. If memory serves me they have had only five championships in the last twenty years at the Cup level, whereas Chevy has had thirteen. When Jack Rousch went on a tantrum about kicking Toyota's ass when they entered cup competition, who's attention was he trying to solicit, Toyota or Ford? At the time I presumed the former but now I am not so sure. Anyone have any answers for the blue oval? If Ford and Dodge don't wake up in the next five years, Chevy may be the last American standing in this dreamland we call NASCAR.

Stewart Ends Victory Drought At Chicagoland

Tony Stewart ended his string of races without a victory as he dominated the field at the Chicagoland Speedway to notch his 30 career Nextel Cup Victory. On one of NASCARS cookie cutter 1.5 mile ovals, Stewart had the car to beat all day. The only other car that could have given him a fight was Jimmie Johnson and he had the misfortune of cutting a tire late in the race and hitting the wall a ton to end a good run for the Lowes racing team. Dale Jr. had a good run going until he lost his power steering late in the event which probably cost him a top five finish.

If NASCAR wants to make the racing a little more interesting I wish they would start by racing on some different types of racetracks. All you kept hearing yesterday was track position and clean air and if you didn't have either than you were never going to pass anybody. Instead of these run of the mill tracks why not race on a modified oval, like the one they ran on in Nazareth, PA. It had one straight and a dogleg turn, something challenging within the track to make the drivers race and not follow each other. It gets to the point were you don't remember what track your looking at. Was that Chicago or Kansas? Charlotte or Texas? Booooooooooooooooooooooring! Anyway, congrats to The Home Depot team and Tony Stewart for a long awaited win and now a week off and then off to Indy were the racing may be a little better.

Raikkonen Wins British GP For Ferrari

Kimi Raikkonen won the British Grand Prix in convincing style over the McClaren duo of Alonso and Hamilton for his third victory of the year. It was evident from the first stint that Raikkonen's Ferrari was faster than the McClaren of pole sitter Hamilton. With a heavier fuel load Raikkonen was able to keep pace with the rookie sensation and was noticeably quicker prior to the first pit stop. Alonso used a short fuel fill on his first stop to leapfrog into the lead, but Kimi had a longer and quicker second stint that put him back in the lead after the second stop and he coasted to the victory. Philippe Massa had the misfortune of stalling his engine on the starting grid and started the race from the pit lane. It was fun to watch him carve his way trough the field as he was much faster than all but the first four finishers.

The BMW's of Kubica and Heidfeld were again strong runners and it will be nice to see them step up to the next level and start pushing for pole position and eventually a race win. The competition this year seems to be a bit more spread out, mainly because of the retirement of Michael Schumacher and the use of a single tire source in Bridgestone. Formula 1 can be very fickle as just two races ago everyone wanted to write of Kimi Raikkonen as a bust for Ferrari but now he is the driver winning races as all thought he would be. Just goes to show you everybody loves a winner, and right now Kimi is a winner.

Fantastic Finish In Daytona

In what had to be one of the most increadable finishes in recent history, Jaimie McMurray beats Kyle Busch by not more than the width of the front bumper to take the victory in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. A much deserving and long awaited victory for a good driver who had gone almost five years since his first victory at Charlotte in October of 2002. The monkey or should I say "Gorilla" is finally off his back as all the promise of great things that never came to pass were forgotten for at least one more race. It was great to see the final lap not interrupted by a wreck as was the Daytona 500 last February and so many other restrictor plate events. McMurray had a good car all night and he made some great moves in the end to get to the front and with some much needed help from his teammate Carl Edwards, made it a finish to remember.

The night would not have been complete without some controversy. What was Tony Stewart thinking when he took his teammate out? I mean Tony is one of the better drivers on the cup circuit but at times he makes some bonehead moves. And it was not fun for me to see my favorite driver, Dale Jr., not be in the hunt most of the race because of some bad luck. I'm just glad that Johnson or Gordon didn't win because racing gets boring when the same two or three guys win all the time. But a hearty congratulations to Jamie McMurray and the Rousch racing organization and also to Ford who needed a win in a big way. I'm still looking for Toyota and Dodge to make a statement and make the second half of the season a bit more colorful. See you next in the windy city.

Hamlin Beats Gordon In New Hampshire

Denny Hamlin made the most out of the two tire change on the last pit stop to record his first and very deserving victory of the year in New Hampshire. Jeff Gordon made it very interesting on the last lap as he and Hamlin made contact out of turn four to finish within less than a car length at the checkered flag. The COT may not be the prettiest car you have ever seen, but all the races have had very close finishes. I guess this is what NASCAR had in mind when they developed it and it seems to be what they expected.

As usual, the pole sitting Toyota of Dave Blaney went backwards from the drop of the green flag, and Chevy finishes with eight of the top ten positions. I know there is allot of racing left this season, but the other manufactures better get their cars together or Chevrolet is going to make a joke of this season. Congrats to Toyota on the pole position, but many of their cars still could not qualify to race which is a sad commentary for the worlds largest car maker. What is the answer to fielding competitive cars? Better drivers? Better crew chiefs? More money? God knows they spend more money than any other maker. As a race fan I hope they can figure it out, not only in NASCAR but in F1 also. But congrats to Denny Hamlin on the win and lets see what happens next week in Daytona!

Raikkonen Wins In French GP

Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa and Ferrari routed McLaren in Magny-Cours in Sunday’s French Grand Prix, finishing more than half a minute ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren. It was a dominating performance, one that the Ferrari team needed after they were relegated to second fastest the last two races in North America. Not only was it a race Ferrari needed but Kimi Raikkonen had the kind of weekend that was expected of him since the first race of the season in Australia. He finnally made a good start from the third position on the grid and beat Lewis Hamilton to the first corner and that was all he needed to keep pace with his teammate.

After the second round of pit stops Riakkonen was able to stay out three laps longer on a heavier fuel load and get out comfortably ahead of Massa for his second victory of the season. It is also a shame that this could very well be the last race in France for a long time as the expense of running a Grand Prix takes its toll on the birthplace of the sport. Many of the racing venues this year may not be on the schedule next year as the cost of Formula 1 goes to the highest bidders as Lord Bernie Echelstone waves his magic wand.

But congratulations to Kimi and team Ferrari on a most impressive weekend that has put them temporarily in front of McClaren and rookie sensation Lewis Hamilton. With Hamilton scoring a record 8th straight podium finish he still has a comfortable lead in the championship. I still feel that there should be a wider gap in the points from first place to second as a race win is diminished with only a two point spread between the positions. Oh well, that's F1 for you. Let's look forward to another good race next week in jolly old England.

NASCAR Makes A Statement?

Well it looks like Chad Knaus and Steve LeTarte will get a six week vacation from the Nextel Cup circuit for violations committed at last weeks race at Infineon. Suspending the crew cheifs, docking the driver and team 100 points and a $100K fine is really just a slap on the wrist for a team like Hendrick. I know that NASCAR doesn't want any team messing with their COT after all that hard work to create a car that nobody likes and drivers can't drive. But hey, they are NASCAR and they will deem what they feel is necessary when a team breaks the rules.

If they really want these fines to have an impact than they should suspend the entire race team for a race or two, maybe then teams like Hendrick, who have the means to cheat better than the others, will sit up and take notice. These fines are just a slap on the wrist for the heavier funded teams and it will take much more than these trivial fines to stop them. Taking the crew chief away from the track doesn't do a thing as they just sit at home and email or text instruction to the pit crews. They should be at least banned from all communication for the length of the suspension, maybe that will send a message. Somehow I don't think so.

Montoya Wins In Sonoma

Juan Pablo Montoya made the most of his track position and fuel mileage at the end of the race to post his first Nextel Cup win at Infineon Raceway. The pass he made on Jaime McMurray to take the lead in the final laps was textbook clean and he nursed the car home before it ran out of gas. It was a perfect example of why you can win on a road course without having the best car in the field. It's all about track position at the end of the race and having enough fuel to get to the checkered flag.

It wasn't that Montoya didn't run a great race, and his ability on a road course is unequaled, but Tony Stewart and Robbie Gordon were the class of the field throughout the event. Stewart most certainly had the fastest car and Gordon was the most consistent leading the most laps. In the end, it was pit stratedy and fuel economy that did Stewart and Gordon in, as they had to stop for fuel and lost any chance at a win. It makes you wonder why NASCAR has gone to a smaller fuel cell for the cars, because winning on pit stratedy isn't the way I like a race to be determined. I have always been a firm believer in giving the drivers enough fuel to race each other and may the fastest car win! But anyway, congrats to Juan Pablo Montoya and to Chip Gannasi Racing, who ended a long dry spell with this trip to victory lane.

Carl Edwards Breaks Through In Michigan

It had been nineteen months since "Mr. Back Flip" won a race, and in dominating fashion Carl Edwards took the 400 miler at Michigan International yesterday. He finally did it while overcoming an early speeding penalty and holding off Martin Truex Jr. to win and snap his 52-race Nextel Cup winless streak. It was his fifth career Cup win and ended a dry spell that he never envisioned would have happened. With a four win season in 2005 many thought that Edwards was on his way to several wins per season, but as he now knows winning races is never guaranteed in NASCAR.

With the competition so tough in Nextel Cup, not only from other teams but within your own, you can never count on past success to take you to the winners circle on a consistent basis. Just ask Casey Kane, Ryan Newman or Dale Jr if they ever thought they would hit dry spells such as they are experiencing now. Not only was this a much needed win for Carl, but more so for Ford as they have felt the wrath of the Chevy dominance this year. After he crossed the finish line there were six Chevrolet's lined up behind him before the next Ford scored some points. Also, a moral victory for Michael Waltrip and his struggling Toyota team as he cruised across in 10th place.

But is the start of a series of wins for Edwards and Rouch Racing? Can they put a string of victories together and put a damper on the Chevy dominance that is evident this year? Will Dodge and Toyota make it towards the front of the pack and steal a win? My guess is that this year belongs to Chevrolet as they have too many strong teams, and as in most things in life it's a numbers game, and Chevy has the highest number in NASCAR. So let's wait and see who will or will not step up to make this season a little more competitive and a little more memorable on the race track.

Hamilton's Second F1 Win Comes At Indy

Lewis Hamilton's second straight win came at the fabled Brickyard in front of a very large and enthusiastic American audience. He capped another perfect weekend with a pole and held off his teammate Fernando Alonso for another McClaren one two finish. As in many of the F1 races it was decided again at turn one at the start of the race. Once Hamilton got through cleanly than it was clean sailing from there. He did hold off one failed attempt by Alonso about mid way through the event but he was every bit the measure for the two time world champion.

showing by BMW but not allot of points as in the Renault and Mark Ferrari closed the gap somewhat to the McClaren's with Massa and Raikkonen finishing third and fourth respectively. With six wins out of the seven races held at Indy Ferrari looked to regain the top podium position but were no match for the Silver Arrows. Another stong run by BMW but Heidfeld had mechanical trouble and fill in driver Sebastian Vettel salvaged the last point. Again Toyota could only rely on Jarno Trully as Ralf Schumacher made another mistake at the start of the race, what a surprise! Heikki Kovalainen and Mark Webber in the Renault powered Red Bull finished in the points with strong races.

performance by But let's give a big pat on the back to Lewis Hamilton for his second win and another dominantMcClaren. I know he is in the best car on the grid but this kid has gotten more out of it than most drivers he competes against. Having the best car is one thing, getting the most out of it is another, and Lewis Hamilton has shown he can do just that. So we will see what happens when they get back to Europe in two weeks. Will another team step up to challenge McClaren? Will BMW finally win a race.? Will Toyota finally wise up and dump Ralf? Stay tuned for the next chapter.

What Would Dale Sr. Say About Jr. Leaving?

I remember vividly that fateful day in February 2001, pictures of Dale Earnhardt and his namesake, laughing and smiling, and in a matter of few hours life as they knew it was changed forever. It was hard for me then to accept that my all time favorite driver had been killed at a track that he had so much success at. A track where his best friend Neal Bonnet lost his life seven years earlier. But in all that sadness, I don't think it would have compared to the sadness Dale Sr. would have felt if he were alive today to see his son walk away from the team he had built for him. My father always lived by the rule "Blood is Thicker Than Water", and I think that rings true in this situation.

Why was it so difficult to come to an agreement with his step mother over ownership of the team? Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn't strike me as being a difficult guy or one who can't be reasoned with. Maybe the problems with his relationship with his step mother were so far reaching and unrepairable. But how would Dale Sr. feel if he were alive today? Would this same situation be played out with the team under his control? I have to feel that he built this team with the plan of handing it over to his two son's and still find a way to satisfy his immediate and extended families. As the old saying goes, you can choose your friends but not your family, it rings loudest in this sad situation. Oh well, I guess as in life, all things come to an end, although it being a very sad one. Rest easy Dale Sr., maybe now Jr. can win that championship that has eluded him.

Dale Jr Is Hendrick Bound

Well the worst kept secret was revealed at a press conference today, as Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced he will join Hendrick Motor Sports for the 2008 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. I guess it was not to hard for Rick Hendrick to cast aside Kyle Busch in favor of the biggest name in the sport. Even though Busch has a world of talent, it's evident it will take several more years for him to harness it and show the maturity that is required to be a champion. So enter Dale Jr into the strongest organization in Nextel Cup.

Many people believe as I do that this move gives Jr the best chance to win a championship. With Toyota needing a few more years to find their way and Ford and Dodge having trouble keeping up, the Chevy teams will be favored for several years to come. But it won't be easy winning a championship just because he is in the Hendrick stable, especially if Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have something to say about it. Also, don't forget Casey Mears is a talented young driver who will come into his own and have just as good a shot at the championship as the other three.

My hope is that Hendrick can work a deal with DEI and Budweiser to bring the sponsorship over with Jr. so it makes it easier for the fans to recognize him. It usually takes most of the first half of a season to get to know who is driving what car when sponsorship changes hand. It would be cool to see Jr driving the old #25 car with Bud on the door panels just like in the late 80's when Tim Richmond was wining races for Hendrick. Who knows, maybe Jr. and Busch will switch seats this year and they both start a new chapter in their racing lives. Stranger things have happened before, but as a big Dale Jr. fan I am anxiously awaiting the start of his association with the best team in NASCAR.

100TH Win For Newman/Haas In Portland

Congratulations to Newman/Haas Racing as it gained it's 100th win in The Champ Car event in Portland. Sebastien Bourdais came away with is third victory in a row and now seems to be running away with the championship once again. It would be nice to see more competition for him as it would make the series more interesting. There seems to be no rivalries in the series, which always brings more attention to any race. Remember the days when Michael Andretti would battle Al Unser Jr. almost every race? Or when Rick Mears, Emmo and Mario would duke it out for a race win?

With the inception of the Panoz chassis and all the improvements to the car (which I really like) to accommodate road racing, it would be better for the series to have some controversy or feud amongst some of the drivers. The standing F1 style start was a good idea as it gives every driver a better chance of gaining position early on and it is more entertaining for the fans. Well congrats again to Newman/Haas and to Sebastien for yet another win in the series that seems to be lagging behind in TV viewership.

Rain Shortened Win For Gordon

There is nothing worse for a race fan than a race that is shortened by rain. This was the case yesterday in Pocono as a race shortened event was won by the wonder boy Jeff Gordon. I guess it sounds like sour grapes, and I admit it probably is, but I can't stand it when rain plays the deciding factor in a race. Just like at the Indianapolis 500, the best car did not win the race and the car that should have didn't. But just like in life, racing most of the time is not fair, and like DW always says; "Fairs got nothin' to do with it!"

Poor Ryan Neuman, not that I am his biggest fan, but it has been a long time since he was in the Nextel Cup winners circle. It would have put Penske and Dodge back in the win column but Martin Truex and Denny Hamlin might have had a good shot too. But like the weather, racing can be very unpredictable and the race at Pocono was no exception. I have been a firm supporter of shortening the two races at this track to 400 miles, as they do for The Brickyard and Pepsi 400's. Running 500 miles at a 2.5 mile track with slower lap speeds is allot to ask of a driver, his car, and his team. It is also tough on the race fans who have to sit for hours waiting to be entertained, then ultimately disappointed. I heard allot of "boos" from the crowd when Gordon was pronounced the winner. Anyway, congrats to Jeff on his fourth win this year, maybe the better car will win next time at Pocono.

Historic F1 Victory For Lewis Hamilton

On a race day that featured an horrific accident and four full coarse cautions, Lewis Hamilton made F1 history as he scored not only his first win but the first F1 win for a black driver. Regardless of race, this 22 year old rookie has been nothing short of phenomenal. Sure he is in a very good race car, but the two time defending champion Fernando Alonso is in the same car, and Hamilton has proved to be his equal if not better so far this year. In six races he has been on the podium every time and now has captured his first win with many more sure to follow. He had no real threat in a race that saw a record number of safety car periods which in F1 is almost unheard of, as he sailed to victory in The Canadian Grand Prix.

On a more somber note, Robert Kubica survived one of the worst crashes in recent F1 memory as his BMW went head on into a concrete barrier after getting airborne from contact with Trulli's Toyota. At fist glance, I assumed he had sustained terrible injuries and possibly fatal ones, but to my surprise and relief he escaped relatively unhurt. My only wonder is how will such a terrible crash effect him in the future. Will he be able to put it behind him and maintain the good work he has done for team BMW Sauber?

This race was also full of events that rarely occur in an F1 race. Phillipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella were both disqualified for running the red light at the end of pit road. Are they color blind? I think that red is the universal color that means "STOP". And what about Alonso going off in turn one four different times. Is he feeling the pressure from his new teammate? Then he get's passed straight up by Sato in the Super Aguri Honda! To say the least it was a Grand Prix that was short of boring and long on things to talk about. But congratulations to Lewis Hamilton on his maiden victory. Is he the next big gun in F1? What do you think? See you at Indy.

Indy Car In Texas

It has been some time since Sam Hornish has dominated a race, but last night in Texas it was vintage Hornish and vintage Penske. Other than the race starting a little too late for us folks on the east coast, it was pretty entertaining. I especially liked when Tomas Scheckter threw his gloves at Marco Andretti after the too touched wheels that sent Scheckter to the garage. Good thing they are friends, I'd hate to see what enemies might do to each other.

It is amazing to me how these drivers race wheel to wheel in these open wheel rocket ships at speeds over 215 MPH. Safer barrier or not it just shows you the courage these drivers have racing at such high speeds. Sam Hornish is probably the best at this type of racing. Even though he was never really challenged in this race, he has shown in the past the ability to race on the edge of danger and put his car in the winners circle. This is why he is the best at this form of racing. So congrats to Sam on another dominating win and to the Andretti Green team for finishing 2-3-4 behind him.

Why Is Danica So Mad All The Time?

Why is Danica Patrick alaways mad at someone or something? This time she has a issue with Dan Wheldon for an on the track get togeather that basically ended her race on the Milwaukee Mile. To me it seemed to be a racing incident but I guess she thought Wheldon was being a jerk about a previous altercation and wanted payback. What I think it is is an attempt to raise some attention to the fledgling condition of open wheel racing in the US. When a driver that hasn't won a race is the biggest draw than there is something wrong in paradise.

I found it rather amusing to hear Danica sqeaking away sounding all kinds of pissed off and then hearing Dan Wheldon fight back in with that tiny English accent. Maybe they should throw a few punches at each other and then we would really have something to talk about. Oh by the way, Tony Kannan won the race, boring as it may have been. Nice payback for the disappointment at Indy last week.

Truex Breaks Through At Dover!

Well it seems DEI is not dead in the water yet as Martin Truex Jr earns his first Nascar Nextel Cup victory in dominating fashion. It was only a matter of time before Truex won his first race as he showed today what he can do in a race car when given equipment that can run up front. I'm especially proud that Martin hails from my home state of New Jersey as I can't remember in recent past that a driver from NJ has won a Cup race. Again Chevrolet wins another race and another COT race to boot. Will the other manufacturers catch up?

With the win Truex has put himself ahead of his popular teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr in the race to the chase and a chance at the biggest prize in US Motor Racing. And speaking of Earnhardt, where will he wind up next year? I don't know if we will know anytime soon because when you are dealing with the biggest name in the sport it will take a long time to work out a deal with all concerned parties. The only thing I would bet on is that he'll be in a Chevy and sponsored by The King Of Beers. But congrats to Martin Truex Jr for his first win of which there will surely be many more to follow.

Indy 500 A Rainy Mess!!

Can you really feel good about wining a race shortened by rain, knowing you had the sixth or seventh best car in the field? I guess that's how it goes sometimes at The Brickyard and you can't stop mother nature from doing her thing, but winning this way leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I guess in the end no one will remember that Dario Franchetti won a rain shortened race, only that he was the 2007 winner of the event. But you have to feel bad for Tony Kannan, who was the class of the field, as his pit stategy and the final downpour ended any chance of him winning the race.

As I watched bits and pieces of the race it only served to remind me that the open wheel racing venue in this country is really hurting. When will people who run the IRL and Champ Car Series put aside their differences and form a single league that will combine the best drivers and the best teams. This would lead to stronger lower level development series that would nurture the best talent in years to come. We can only hope that this will happen soon as the attendance at most races (other than Indy) is very low and competition from all the Nascar venues is pretty stiff. Listen up Tony George, bring back open wheel dominance as it was in the late 80's and early 90's.

F1 In Monaco

Well can we assume that McLaren is the real deal this year and that they finally have the measure of the Ferrari's? Is Lewis Hamilton the fastest man in F1 after only five races? These are two questions that will be answered in the next two months as the F1 season gets into high gear and the racing will be done on circuits where you actually have a chance to pass another car. Monaco is as Indianapolis is, more a spectacle than a race, more an event than a competition. Racing these powerful 1200 lb cars around a street circuit seems insane to me, but it is one event that will always be on the schedule.

You have to be impressed with what Lewis Hamilton has done so far this season. At times, it was evident that he was faster than the two time champion Alonso, but there was no way he was going to pass him for the win. The scary thing about it is that the kid knows he is as fast as his teammate and has a great chance to win at the highest level of road racing. When he gets his first pole he will guarantee himself his first win, assuming his car stays under him. But what we also have this year is a championship that can be contended by at least three drivers and the possibility of more than two teams in contention for a race win. Time will tell if McLaren can sustain the good fortune they have experienced so far this year. Lewis Hamilton has brought new attention to the sport much in the same way Michael Schumacher did in 1991 when he splashed on the F1 scene. So lets hope for a real fight down to the last race of the year with a few drivers in the hunt and several teams in contention for race wins.

Casey Mears First Win!

Congratulations to Casey Mears on his breakthrough first career win at the Cup level. It was nice to finally see him in victory lane and see someone who really appreciates what it means to finally win a race. It was especially fitting that his sponsor be The National Guard on the Memorial Day weekend. It was the right call to leave him out on the track and take the chance that he would not run empty. There are usually two or three races during the season where the winner is determined by fuel mileage and not who has the fastest car. Casey was the first to admit that he had a fourth or fifth place car and rolling the dice was the only call to make and it paid off big time.

The same decision to stay out at the end also paid off for JJ Yeley, Kyle Petty and Ricky Rudd as each of them placed in the top five. Again, happy to see some new faces at the top of the leader board at the end of a race. You have to feel good for Kyle and Ricky as these two veterans of the sport needed a strong finish as did Yeley who needs to show better if he wants to keep his ride at Joe Gibbs Racing. But congrats again to Casey Mears as I feel this will be the first of more wins for him as he finally has a strong team backing the talent that he showed in previous years.

All Star Mayhem

Well another all star race is in the books and I am very glad that Kevin Harvick came out in front, just to show that someone else other than Jimmy Johnson can win in Charlotte. But I had to smile when I saw Kurt Busch take out his baby brother Kyle in what proved to be the highlight of the night. It was clear to me that Kyle had the pass made and Kurt should have given him more room instead of coming back down on him to cause him to spin and take both of them out.

It would have been a different story if it was the last few laps of the final segment but it was early on in the third when they decided to be stupid. Don't get me wrong, I don't care for either one of the Busch brothers, but all the commentators were quick to blame Kyle when I feel that Kurt could have showed him more respect and more racetrack. The type of event it is breeds over aggressive driving but the drivers who actually show more patients wind up in the winners circle. So keep on taking each other out Kurt and Kyle and you will have alot of fans cheering for the eventual outcome.

Darlington Main Event

Well how many times this year will Denny Hamlin come close to wining a race that his pit crew loses for him. Strong car! Strong driver! Strong team? It has to be disheartening to him not to be in the winners circle when he has the best car in a field of 43. To top it off he hands another victory to Hendrick and the hottest driver on the circuit, Jeff Gordon. At least Gordon's crew made the right choice and stayed out on the last caution to beat his teammate and my least favorite driver Jimmy Johnson. I thought I never would find myself routing for JG but like they use to say about dale Earnhardt when he was winning everything, "Anybody But Johnson".

But getting back to Hamlin, this guy is the real deal and when his crew gets it together along with Tony Stewart's team then the Gibbs boys will be a force to recon with. To many times this year they have been close to the winners circle and have come up short. But that is what separates the good teams from the "Great" teams and right now Hendrick is the only "Great" team. Let's hope that the season gets a little more interesting with a bigger mix of winners as a few drivers are very close to eclipsing the Hendrick dominance. Keep it up Denny, you'll get there!

Formula 1 In Spain

So is this kid Lewis Hamilton the real deal? Another strong showing in qualifying and a strong second place finish in the race and we now have a new face in the F1 crowd. As usual the Ferrari's and McLaren's were the class of the field with another strong performance by BMW, who I have to believe will get to the top spot on the podium by years end. But Lewis Hamilton was again most impressive at the start where he again snookered Kimi R and took the third position at turn one. After Alonso's off and Kimi's retirement, Hamilton had a lock on second place.

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that Massa was the man to beat in the other prancing Horse Mobile? He now is starting to show the promise and the maturity that is needed to be a consistent point scorer and eventual champion in the world of F1. he Ferrari is still the car to beat and the McLaren's are close but I think as the season goes on they will start to have the reliability problems that plagued Raikkonen in his years there, specifically 2005 when he should have run away with the championship.

So on to the next round in Monaco, a race that I consider to be much like the Indy 500, a specticle and not a real race. If you can qualify at the front and stay out of trouble than you will score well but you never know about Monaco. I think it will be a good venue for Kimi and his Ferrari and he has to score a win in the next round to stay in touch with the other three front runners. Let's wait and see.

Where Will Jr Go?

Well the inevitable happened, Dale Jr is leaving DEI in search of greener pastures or should I say in search of a team he can win a championship with. Was it majority ownership or some other factor that caused Jr to leave the team his famous father founded? Why wouldn't Teresa Earnhardt give him control of the company? Where do they go now? Who will they get to replace Jr? Where will Budweiser go?

I have to assume that not giving Dale Jr what he wanted is what Teresa had in mind all along. I know you can choose your friends but not your family and sometimes family business is the nastiest business. Although DEI is now partnering with RCR for engine development I have to say that in the long run I think the two teams will merge as one in the not to distant future.

If Jr really wants to win a championship he should strike a deal with Hendrick Motor Sports because they will have the strongest Chevy team for years to come. Gibbs would be a close second and possible Roush third but I can't see him running a Ford. My gut tells me he will bring the Bud sponsorship with him to what ever team he lands with and that team will be Hendrick. What do you think? I'd like to know.

Where Is Toyota?

They may know how to sell cars in the world market, but when are they going to figure out how to succeed in the higher levels of motor sport? Once again in Richmond they fail to put several cars in the show as notables such as Dale Jarrett, Michael Waltrip and Brian Vickers cannot make the show. At least Dave Blaney seems to run somewhat consistently from week to week. This is probably so because they were an established team (Bill Davis Racing) that had a strong working knowledge of how things work.

In my opinion Toyota should have gone after other established teams such as Robert Yates Racing, who would have been a better fit since Ford has basically abandoned him. It would have made more sense to partner with a past wining team to help bring Toyota into the sport. At this point in the season they have to be very embarrassed at the the number of times they have failed to even qualify for a race.

I also believe that owning and running your own team and being the full time driver has proven to be a losing proposition. Just ask Ricky Rudd, Darrell Waltrip and Robby Gordon. Although Gordon has had some decent results there is no way you can be competitive as an owner driver. So why Toyota chose to go with Michael Waltrip is a real mystery to me. I guess the name goes a long way in the sport, but Michael Waltrip? That makes sense, go with a mediocre driver who has never owned a team. I know the top teams have strong ties to Chevy and Ford and maybe this is the way they have to proceed, but Toyota should insist that Michael Waltrip find younger drivers other that himself and DJ and concentrate on running the teams. Sponsorship probably has a lot to do with it but he sponsors can't be happy when the cars never even make it into the race. What's the answer?

COT In Richmond

Well the fourth COT race in Richmond gave a very predictable result, another win for Hendrick Motor Sports. Once again the cream rises to the top as Jimmy Johnson shows why he has one of the best teams in Nextel Cup. But my questions is why does NASCAR have to mess around with a wining formula? Why have they put the teams that provide the entertainment for race fans in a position of developing two cars for not one but two race seasons?

It seems to me that most of the team owners and drivers are not critical enough of the decisions that shape their future. When you have the stars of the sport like Dale Jr expressing their complaints about a car they can't drive or adjust, does it actually get any attention from the France family? Once again, I am still trying to remember the reason for making the change to this ugly beast. Anyway, congrats to Jimmy J and the Lowes team for another victory, but I hope that other teams can figure things out an give Hendrick a run for their money. Things tend to get very boring when one team starts to win all the races. Who will step up? Let me know what you think.

A Record Set At Talladega

When you are a race car driver as good as Jeff Gordon and with the best team in your sport you should expect nothing less than winning races consistently. No surprise that Gordon won his 77th Cup race to surpass the late Dale Earnhardt. The question still remains, how many races and championships will he win before he hangs up his racing gloves? In my opinion he has a great shot at wining six or seven championships and exceed 100 wins and maybe surpass David Pearson in wins to be second only to Richard Petty.

It still astounds me that race fans at Talladega can be so stupid as to throwing full cans of soda and beer at a driver who just risked his life for their entertainment. OK, be a fan for your favorite driver but don't be so small minded as to display that type of behavior for someone you don't root for. Safety comes in many forms in motor racing and fans have to know that it works both ways. I heard they banished more than 14 fans from ever buying tickets at that venue and I applaud NASCAR for doing so. I was never a fan of JG's but when I see behavior that that I am beginning to like him just a little more. Congrats Jeff, many more wins hopefully, but more important, keep those rowdy fans under control NASCAR!

Car Of Tomorrow?

Can anybody explain to me why NASCAR developed the COT? What was the reason for producing this ugly creation. Did they want to slow the cars down? Did they want them to look and perform like the Craftsman Trucks? If that was the case I think you will see race cars that will be much looser, harder to drive and you will have more accidents. That being said, the racing will probably be closer and more competitive right to the end f the race, like in the truck series.

In terms of looks they took a step backwards because of the front diffuser and rear spoiler. Do all the spoilers have to be black? Does NASCAR issue them to all the race teams or do they develop them individually? Sorry for pleading ignorance here but I hope this change to the COT will be a step in the right direction. If it gets NASCAR closer to ridding the series of restricter plates than I am all for it. But for now the jury is still out. Why are they only racing them in 16 races this year and I think 26 next year? How are the lesser funded teams going to be competitive if they have to develop and race two different cars? They should have waited until they could have started a full season with it, because now it's costly and just plain confusing.

Gordon Sits In Good Company

Well it took longer than he wanted it to but Jeff Gordon finally got that elusive 76th victory which tied him with NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt. In a race that saw some very large swings in on the leader board Jeff Gordon was very consistent through out the race and had the best car in the end to take the victory at Phoenix. It was fitting that Dale Jr came to victory lane to congratulate Jeff after matching his father for career wins. It seems impossible that Gordon has been on the NASCAR Cup circuit for 15 years, but he has shown through out that he is the best driver of his generation. Hard for me to say that because I was never a fan of his and was a big fan of Dale senior, but give credit were credit is due.

So where does Gordon stand in the history books when compared to the great drivers of the past? Certainly you have to say he is probably the best driver in the past 25 years, as he has proven to be capable of wining on any type of circuit and wining four championships. Even when he hasn't won the championship he has always been in the hunt in most years. Four championships in a 15 year span comes close to the seven Earnhardt won in about the same time, so you have to tip your hat to that kind of record. Where will Gordon wind up in the record books? At 35 he is still young enough to be competitive for 8 to 10 years. Will he get three more Cup titles and tie Earnhardt? Will he get more? What do you think? Let me know.

Will Montoya Make It?

OK race fans, let's weigh in on one of the biggest stories this year in NASCAR. Will Juan Pablo Montoya make the transition from F1 to NASCAR a successful one? He had a reputation in F1 for being very aggressive and was not shy to go wheel to wheel with his competitors. So one would think this would work well for him driving a 3500 lb car with fenders. But it seems that he is also gaining a reputation for banging a little too hard with the stock car boys, just ask Scott Pruet or Tony Stewart, each of whom have had a run in with Montoya. Then again don't bother because those two are always crying wolf when they have an altercation.

will be Montoya has the obvious talent behind the wheel. When Chip Ganassi brought him into CART several years ago every one said "Juan Pablo" who? But he showed everyone very quickly how good he was, winning races and the championship in his first year. Many NASCAR fans have embraced him because is is different and he does bring a different flavor to the sport. But I also believe that there is a certain amount of jealousy among some drivers because of the attention he receives. Bottom line is that he obviously has the talent, but does he have the team behind him to win races and a championship? A drivers talent can only take you so far, just ask a driver like Jeff Burton, a proven winner in the past who went on a dry spell for five years and now is resurrected with RCR. Drivers win races, teams win championships. Montoya will win some races, but he is not with a team that has shown the ability to be consistent. I think his tenure in NASCAR will be brief, with some short term success but not long term. What do you think?

Will He Stay or Will He Go?

So why did Dale Jr. get into Kyle Busch's car at the end of the race in Texas? Was he sending a message to his team owner Teresa Earnhardt? My take is that is was exactly what he was doing because of the prolonged negotiations over his new contract with DEI. If Dale Jr were to leave DEI what would become of the team? Were would the Budweiser sponsorship go? The answer to those questions is very simple. DEI is and always has been Dale Jr's team ever since his fathers death in 2001. If he doesn't get what he wants from Teresa and goes elsewhere the team will suffer big time and Budweiser will follow Jr anywhere he goes, probably to Hendrick Motor Sports.

It is very easy to see why Dale Jr has become NASCAR's biggest attraction. So why can't Teresa see that and just give him what he wants, majority ownership. Maybe leaving the team wouldn't be such a bad thing. Personally I think he has a better chance of winning the championship with either Hendrick or RCR. Where ever he winds up two things are a given; Budweiser will be his sponsor and he will make a ton of money, so why not leave if he doesn't get what he wants. Many people feel he has gotten sidetracked by his off the track commitments but I firmly believe he wants to follow in his father's footsteps and win more than one championship. My words of advice for DEI; make up your mind Teresa!