Trackside Talk & Other Randomness

From the “We’ll Take Some Good News Where We Can Find It Department“: NASCAR has announced that effective this Sunday, they’ll be going to double file re-starts. Count me among those who like the move. Tony Stewart said it better than I could have when he said, “I’m excited about it. The good thing is that when they drop the green, you’re going to be racing with the guys you’re racing for position instead of trying to clear lapped cars.” Speculation I’d heard from others led me to believe the drivers would hate it, so its good to hear a voice in favor.

I don’t know it will cure all of NASCAR’s ills, perceived or otherwise, but it is one nice step in the right direction from where I sit.

What do you think is going to happen with Jimmie Johnson this year? While his season has been peppered with a few duff (as my British co-worker would say) finishes, we got a reminder Sunday of just how dominant he can be. I really don’t know that answer to what his realistic chances are of winning a 4th straight Cup. Johnson’s got more serious competition this year than he had in 2007 (when it was mainly Jeff Gordon battling him) or last year (when Johnson, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards were doing most of the winning with mini-charges from Greg Biffle and Jeff Burton).

Right now, the top six in points look pretty fierce. Smoke is consistent, Newman’s coming on strong, Kurt is getting in good performances, while brother Kyle is capable of reeling off a series of wins at any time.

Gordon’s back has me concerned. I didn’t take his plan to skip the Prelude To The Dream as a good sign. Even at this stage in his career, it’s not Gordon’s style to skip such an event.

So Carl Long lost his appeal. I understand that NASCAR has had a recent practice of really cracking down on messing with the car, but why effectively ruin the man’s career? This is like dropping a nuclear bomb on a gnat. Yes, his team broke the rules and that demands a penalty. 12 races? For a guy who rarely gets in? Penalties I get. Penalties this extreme I don’t. I’m quite sure the powers that be feel justified in doing this, but its another case where we’re not able to follow any kind of standard from case to case in determining the penalty.

I never really cared for the “Because I said so” defense. It didn’t sit well with me as a kid, and it doesn’t sound good coming from a governing body.

Jeremy Mayfield  is taking his case to a higher authority. I’m still reserving judgment on this, wanting to believe the best but bracing for the worst. As you know, I cover stick and ball sports on the radio besides opining here and I never in a 100 years would have thought that A-Rod was on the juice- so for me, all bets are off. I just don’t know.

I just want the truth to come out and for justice to prevail.

Never underestimate Kyle Busch’s fan base. Three days later and I’m still answering comments on a post where I called Busch out for ignoring the media after bad races. If I take nothing else away from the exchange, I take this: Busch fans, while perhaps fewer in number are as fierce by far.

I wouldn’t say I was surprised, but I find it interesting that Kyle is drawing from a wider cross-section of fans than I would have imagined. I know I’m being guilty of a gross generalization- but I would have figured his main source of followers to be in the Male 18-34 group. I’m learning the ladies like him and so do the old schoolers.

TNT takes over the TV coverage this weekend. All the Digger detractors can put Carl Spackler’s phone number away. I hear chewing gum will foul up their innards and rock ‘n’ roll playing on a transistor radio in the gopher hole is a good way to scare off the varmints.

I knew there was a good reason to hang on to those old Van Halen and Def Leppard CDs.

Here’s my recommendation for the networks: when you get a shiny new toy, don’t beat us over the head with it! It’s like when FOX introduced the “helmet cams” for baseball or when ESPN came out with the “Draft Tracker.” The novelty lasts a heck of a lot longer if you don’t subject it to us every 5 minutes. I thought the track cameras were interesting at first, and I didn’t mind an occasional appearance by the animated rodent. Then they had to go and make a series out of it. That’s where I drew the line and I think that’s where a lot of already frustrated fans got pushed over the edge.

One thing I will watch with a more critical eye is how fans respond to TNT’s coverage. In my own experience, I don’t know that I heard nearly as much anti-FOX sentiment as I did this year, but that may just be exposure to a wider variety of NASCAR fans than years past. Who knows? It used to be the most vocal criticism I used to hear was reserved for ESPN- particularly Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty.

It’s off to Pocono this week. I’m off now to ponder what the Bermuda Triangle holds in store and work on a preview for tomorrow.