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I know, I know. Call me a slacker. I am what I am, and that’s all what I am, as Popeye the Sailor Man used to say. Better late than never, as my dad often said on those nights when he stopped for a cold one, or four. Never eat spinach with a stranger was another saying, that seems like it should fit here, but doesn’t.

The digital Fast Laps are back after a couple week hiatus. The respite wasn’t planned, exactly, but it was appreciated by the hack that writes this thing. ON PIT ROW hasn’t missed a beat - Fast Lap wise - and Steve-O and I have had some spirited debate these past two weeks. But it just isn’t the same without you. Damn, that sounds like a Barry Manilow song. Whatever, it’s open testing at OnPitRow.com. Try these three cookiecutter-ish quick ones.
1: Will the lack of testing by Cup teams cause fans to loose interest in NASCAR during the off season?

2: With just two, as of now, drivers slated to run for Rookie of the Year honors in the Cup Series, will that battle be better than the 2008 crop produced?

3: What was a bigger story in 2008; Junior finally winning a race after two years or Jeffy not winning for the first time in 14?

4: What is your wild-yet plausible-prediction for the 2009 season?

Take a shot. Let us know what you think about these four NASCAR related topics. Limit your answers to 100 words or less, but then come back to ridicule your fellow Fast Lappers and to defend your place on the track.

I love Martinsville. Or maybe it’s just a short track hang-over from the ARCA Championship weekend at the equally short, and fun as hell, Toledo Speedway. At least it was fun for Steve and me. Don’t know about Scott Speed and Ricky Stenhouse Jr or any of the others who got their rides short-tracked to greater and lesser extents. I can tell you it was a blast to watch.

Congrats to Justin Allgaier for keeping his head on and winning the race and the ARCA RE/MAX Series championship.  It’s on to the Nationwide Series in Penske Racing’s no. 12 and by the looks of Allgaier’s Friday showing at Lowes, he’ll do just fine.

Scott Speed had major short-track issues and may find a distinct lack of allies as he tries to make his Sprint Cup debut at Martinsville this weekend. Speed might want to tackles these four, tricky Fast Lap questions to work out some of his frustration, hmm?

1:  NASCAR threw up a trial balloon at Lowes this week seeking reaction to shrinking the field size at all three series races, How will that help NASCAR?

2:  While everyone else has moved up and down in the Chase standings, Johnson has held firm at the top. Can Burton or Biffle knock him out of the lead?

3:  If one of the NASCAR axioms is that crew chiefs and drivers must have “chemistry”, what are teams hoping for with their “driver de jour” programs?

4:  How might a GM-Chrysler merger affect NASCAR?

Go ahead. Show Speed how it’s done. Be assertive, but know your limits - 100 words or less - and don’t take any schtuff from your fellow Fast Lappers. We’re looking for the best for the new Fast Lap Show, coming to a blog near you.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

I think I may be convinced.  In 2007 Clint Bowyer parlayed a win in the first race of the Chase to the Sprint Cup playoffs -his first ever win as a matter of fact - into contention with Jeff Gordon and eventual champ, Jimmy Johnson.  Clint hung in without another win.

Greg Biffle has two.  In a row.  And he’s going back to Kansas, where he is the most recent winner as well.  And the once - and probably future - favorite driver to sweep the Cup up - Kyle Busch is limping with an average finish of a tic worse than 38th place in the first to Chase races.  Yikes!  Looks like Biffle may be for real and Rowdy is outta here.

And where did Matt Kenseth come from?  I mean lately you expect the Biff and Carl Edwards to be tough, but that no. 17 team has been as resilient as the Detroit Lions.  Good to see though.

Take a look at our little mid-week distraction we call the Fast Lap and tell us, in your own concise way,  what you think of the four topics that Steve-O has tossed up today. 

1: NASCAR’s new drug policy adds random testing, but why isn’t there a banned substance list?

2: This weeks Robby Gordon rumor has he and DEI joining forces. Will Robby ever get it right?

3: How can the new car provide such great racing on a one miler and not even come close when you add another half mile?

4: Is The Chase down to a three car battle?

This is a debate so bring your arguing shoes.  We’ll use the best, or maybe the worst, comments on a future episode of ON PIT ROW. 

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Well at least we know who won’t win the Sprint Cup.  Michael Waltrip is officially elliminated, costing Buffy Waltrip uncalculated bucks.  So too are Robby Gordon, Kasey Kahne and David Ragan.  Ragan and Kahne were close to getting into the Brian France Invitational.  Robby, sadly was not.  So he’ll sue somebody.  Like we need another law suit.

The most disappointing, and to me surprising failure was that of the Penske Racing teams.  After Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch finished one-two at the season opening Daytona 500, they bombed.  Oh, Kurt won a race on a roll of the dice, but other than that, nada. 

Is the Chase a battle between NASCAR’s dynamic dozen or is it really just the big three and other nine?  Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards are getting heat from two time defending Cup champ Jimmy Johnson.  Who else really has a shot?  Tune in Sunday to the track known widely as Martinsville on Steroids, for your first taste of the the 2008  Chase for the Sprint Cup.  But first, try your wit at the ON PIT ROW Invitational - the Fast Lap.

1: Has Jimmy Johnson surfaced as the “man to beat” for the championship?

2: How will Dodge’s announcement to pull factory support from the Craftsman Truck teams affect the rest of their programs?

3: Is Tony Stewart trying to get released from Joe Gibbs Racing early by being a PITA and A-hole?

4: Robby Gordon or Gillett Evernham Motorsports?

That’s it.  So what do you think?  The Fast Lap is a comment blog and lately, we’ve been a little weak in the comment department.  Give a brother a break.  Tell me what you think.  I promise not to treat you any worse than the Falcons treated my Lions yesterday.  I think I’m gonna be sick. 

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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