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This will be a somewhat truncated Fast Lap post this week as I am “off on vacation and some things are hard to explain” as Jimmy Buffet said.

The Coca Cola 600 was Looonnnggg. The Indy 500 was looonnnggg and less filling. I’ll have more to say about that later at the Bench Racing blog, but something was missing still at Indy.

The Monster Mile is next up for the Cuppers and while you wile away your week, take a shot at these Fast Lap questions and let us know your thoughts. The best - and maybe the worst - of the results might just land you the vacation fill-in gig for future ON PIT ROW broadcasts.

1. Will the victories at Lowes propel Kasey Kahne to more wins?

2. Should NASCAR allow SMI and Bruton Smith to move a race to the newly purchased Kentucky Speedway?

3. Bootie Barker says the “illegal” wing brackets on their cars have been there all year. How could NASCAR have missed them all this time?

4. Rank the 500 and the 600.

Have fun kiddies. I’ll be back to comment and attack you like a shark in a frenzy. Right now though, Margaritaville calls.

Don’t relax your anti-hype muscles just yet race fans.  It’s Memorial Day weekend, home of the race formerly known as - and still referred to by Latin American racing journalists and Tony George as - The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the Indy 500. 

The first summer holiday also hosts the brain child of NASCAR’s Barnum, Humpy Wheeler.  The Coca Cola 600 was formerly and modestly,  known as the World 600.  PT Wheeler must have thought, “you know, if the open wheelers can have 500 Memorial Day miles, we’ll have six.  And even basketball fans know that the “World” is bigger than anything in Indiana.”

All that Sprint All Star race hype that was heaped upon us last weekend is just the opening act to the slobberknocker that’s on deck.  But there will be racing for real, at least.  Try our four Fast Lap questions as the Bench Racing version of the holiday weekend warm up.

1.  Why is NASCAR allowing teams to alter the front and rear end geometry on the new car, when they they are so stringent about body templates?

2.  Dale Earnhardt Jr says he may move his JR Motorsports team to Cup in 2009 because of cost.  What does that say about the Nationwide Series?

3.  Will the Coca Cola 600 be just an extended replay of the Sprint All-Star race?

4.  Best and worst of the Sprint All Star weekend?

At ON PIT ROW, we strive to tone down the hype ( LISTEN LIVE TUESDAYS AT 5 PM EDT!!!!!!) and be the touch of class (REPLAYS ARE AT RACETALKRADIO.COM THURSDAYS AT 7 PM EDT!!!!!!) that NASCAR and it’s circus barkers so often lack.  If you participate, and we like what you write, we may invite you to join us for polite (BRING IT ON YOU WIMP!!!!!!) NASCAR-rich discussion on a future episode of the show.  

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Well Darlington didn’t disappoint did it? Between the edge-of-your-seat suspense of waiting for the next car to hit the Lady in Black’s turn four exit wall and the plain gorgeousness of the spectacle of Darlington at night - if Saturday didn’t have it all, it sure had most of it.

The popular favorite to win - Greg Biffle - made an early exit. Biffle edged out Elliott Sadler for pickle-boat status. Not at all what Greg’s fans pictured when he was topping 200 mph at the Darlington Speedway tire tests back in March.

The front of the race belonged to Kyle - boo me, throw beer at me, because I don’t care what you think - Busch. Again. NASCAR is better with someone successful to hate, don’t you think?

We’ll find out what you think. This is the Fast Lap after-all and that’s what the Fast Lap is all about. What do you think of the following four fast, made for the internet questions about what’s hot on the Cup Racing scene?

1. Should the Darlington race stay on Mothers Day weekend or move back to Labor Day?

2. Should NASCAR be concerned with Jeff Gordon’s complaint about Carl Edward’s car looking as if it is going down the track sideways?

3. Is Greg Biffle’s frustration with getting 2nd rate equipment a reason for not signing a contract extension yet?

4. Which retro paint scheme looked best at Darlington; Junior’s, Elliott’s or Kvapil’s?

Tell us what you think. Limit each answer to 100 words or less. Then come back often to defend your positions from the slings and arrows of your fellow Fast Lapper’s. This is the Fast Lap ON PIT ROW. We have plans for the best - and silliest - of the comments we get here. You might just get an invitation to defend yourself on the radio - live.

Darlington just might be my favorite race track in the world. Or maybe it’s Richmond. Both are traditional and unique in their own ways. But the Track Too Tough to Tame is quirkier, which gives Darlington the edge in my mind.

There was a lot to like about Saturday’s Dan Lowry 400 from Richmond International Raceway though.  I liked the way it looked - Richmond under the lights just looks good.  The Speed Racer #43 with the newly re-upped Bobby Labonte at the wheel was spiffy.

Richmond was heartbreaking too.  What else could you call Nationwide race winner, Denny Hamlin’s flat tire after leading the Sprint Cup race all night and getting almost within sight of sweeping his home town weekend.

And the disappointment of Green Nation and Dale Earnhardt Jr himself was palpable.  So close they both were to ending the winless streak at two years, only.  Now it goes on, with Kyle Busch a target to transfer the frustration to.  Racing deal or not, the Shrub took out NASCAR’s most popular driver.

Next up Darlington.  Newly paved and soft-walled the old Lady will be different than before.  While waiting to see, try testing your NASCAR chops on these four newly paved Fast Lap questions.

1.  Was NASCAR’s two lap penalty to Denny Hamlin adequate for stopping on the track to bring out his own caution?

2.  Is Kyle Busch’s style similar to Earnhardt Sr’s?

3.   Will Joey Logano’s domination of the ARCA Carolina 500K vault him into a full time Cup ride before the end of 2009?

4.  Kyle vs Junior or Kyle vs Steven?

All loyal Kyle Busch apologists are saying Rubbin’ is Racin’ this week.  It is.  And the Fast Lap is about rubbin’ too.  Rubbin’ other NASCAR  commentors the wrong way.  Rubbin’ your superior NASCAR knowledge in the faces of your friends.  Bring it on.  We’re planning a new Fast Lap podcast for the new OnPitRadio Page at OnPitRow.com.  We need you more than ever.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

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On Pit Row is glad to be a part of such a great NASCAR fantasy racing game like Champs, Chumps & Sleepers. Grand prize is a Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure. How cool is that?

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