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Ah, controversy. Where would NASCAR bloggers be without it? Thanks Tony. Muchos gracias Regan. And thank you so much NASCAR. The finish of the latest Talladega race wasn’t a finish at all - only a beginning.

Tony Stewart got the trophy. But as Luke told me in an email this morning, he has to know he didn’t really win the race.  Regan Smith  crossed the finish line first and ended up 18th.  I would be more supportive of his claims that he believed he had made a legal pass, if his story about how he came to that conclusion hadn’t changed. 

Mike Helton clarified the rules “moving forward”. But that didn’t un-muddy the race time perception that one of his officials had created earlier at Daytona. Maybe we need a do-over.

Onward to Charlotte and the autumn night race.  Back home again in Carolina and some of the best looking televised Fast Laps on the schedule.  Take your four warm up laps right here.

1:  Did Carl Edward’s ill-timed bump draft of Greg Biffledeal a death blow to the Roush-Fenway trio’s title hopes?

2:  Did Goodyear blow it again, or is there something else to blame for the tire problems at Dega?

3:  Does the exciting racing and multiple lead changes outweigh the inevitable the big ones?

4:  Did the inexperience of DEI drivers, Smith, Menard and Almirola lined up at the restart lead to Tony Stewart’s win?

 Here’s your chance to get those tires nice and warm, so they don’t go BOOM when you turn left on Saturday night. Give us you best shot and we may use you ON PIT  ROW as an example of what is good and intelligent in the NASCAR internet community. Or we might expose you as the…..

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Greg Biffle finally got the win that I and plenty of others had called for at various venues this year.  With what he called a “text-book pass” the Biff relegated Jimmy Johnson to runner-up status at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  

Johnson was good again.  Tony Stewart was good for a change.  Dale Earnhardt Jr was tough early, and petulant late.  None of them won.  Kyle Busch sucked (maybe because of his crew).  Earnhardt bitched (at his crew).  Stewart apologized (to his crew).  Johnson probably shrugged and told his crew, “we’ll see how good they are at Dover”.

Chase week one is done and gone.  Chase race number two is on deck.  Biffle was probably a long shot to be a factor for the championship before Sunday night.  If he can win at The Monster Mile in Dover - and he’s been among the best there for better than three years - he will stamp himself as the “real deal” in the early playoffs.

This is the Fast Lap blog and it is a comment blog.  We want to read what YOUR opinions are to the four Fast Lap topics which follow.  And then we plan to assault your opinions and cause huge, vociferous debate.  Take a shot.

1: Should NASCAR be more flexible with qualifying and not so quick to cancel-but move it?

2: The much anticipated debut of Joey Logano was not too impressive; was it driver or equipment?

3: Can Kyle Busch’s championship hopes be realized now?

4: Last week it was Stewart/Zippadelli-this week its Earnhardt/Eury. Are these spats showing cracks in their relationships or just idle chatter?

Got any opinions on those babies?  Are you ready to defend your position.  Better yet, are you prepared to have your thoughts thrown out to the ON PIT ROW studio audience?  It could happen.  We want it to happen, in fact.  Come on, I want to argue with you!

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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. 

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Nineteen heat races and a ten lap feature. That Allstate 400 at the Brickyard was more like what we’re used to at the Friday and Saturday night short track races around here than one of NASCAR’s biggest extravaganzas.

I’ll bet Jimmy Johnson doesn’t care about that though. Johnson had the best car all day, even if he only got to show it off in ten lap sprints. But with his win, you have to look at Jimmy as one of the guys who may be able to challenge Kyle Busch, once we get to the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Throw Carl Edwards into that mix too.

Goodyear’s tire woes made for a less than satisfying Brickyard race. But this stuff has happened before, and with the continuing development of the New Car, it’s likely to happen again.

There was plenty to talk about after the race. Toss your opinions in on these four Fast Lap questions and place your bets on whether the Pocono tire will be better.

1: Will Tony Stewart be able to successfully juggle his responsibilities as driver of the #20 and as owner of the #14 through the rest of 2008?

2: Would an open test at Indy have been able to head off the tire problems before the race weekend?

3: NASCAR’s attempt to cut Toyota horsepower in the Nationwide Series didn’t slow down Kyle Bush on Saturday. Is engine restriction the best way to regain parity?

4: Did Rusty Wallace lose some of his credibility by saying Ryan Newman was fired by Penske; then have Roger turn around and say he wasn’t?

Limit your answers to 100 words or less, but come back throughout the week to defend your ground and throw some tire debris those not as smart as you. This is the Fast Lap comment blog and we will be taking selected questions and responses to use in an upcoming video feature for OnPitRow.com and Bench Racing TV.

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I wonder if those fortunate rains that fell on, and brought the win to, Kurt Busch at New Hampshire International Speedway yesterday will be the start of KB 1’s resurgence?

In case you forgot, Busch the Elder finished second - right on the rear bumper of Ryan Newman - the last time NASCAR saw Daytona.  Just because Kurt won in unconventional fashion, by playing the rain game, doesn’t mean this won’t start a streak.  Kasey Kahne got rolling after being VOTED into a race.  Kurt’s competitors may regret the awakening of the ex-champ.

There were other stories out of Loudon.  We’ll get to some of them.  But it’s Fourth of July week.  That used to mean it was Firecracker 400 week.  I loved that name.  That one and the Rebel 400.  Classic.  But those are gone.  Instead, you get the Firecracker Fast Lap.  Four, high banked, fast and hopefully, controversial corners for you to tackle.  Remember, 100 words or less on the answers themselves.  Unlimited words for taunting and smack-talk.

1.  What would it mean to teams if NASCAR went to unlimited testing?

2.  Would an official announcement about 2009 allow the #20 team to get on with 2008?

3.  Who should Jack Roush keep around when he has to eliminate one of his teams after 2009 - Jamie McMurray or David Ragan?

4.  Who’s your bet to join Tony Stewart as the number two driver at the proposed Tony Stewart Racing?

We have a plan to incorporate the best comments - and commentary - into a new feature ON PIT ROW or OnPitRow.com.  I haven’t, totally, figured it out as yet.  But an announcement of some kind is coming.  In the mean time, have fun with the Fast Lap.  We do.

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The last time the Sprint Cup circus visited the left coast the talk was mostly about what all was wrong with - take your pick - springtime weather in California, weeping race tracks, multiple races at Auto Club Speedway of Fontana via Anaheim and the sale of naming rights that create venue names too long and complicated to remember.

This time we can talk about road course specialists - welcome back Boris Said- and those drivers who just can’t seem to get a handle on turning right as well as left - Matt Kenseth comes to mind.

Matt had a nice third place finish at MIS.  He wasn’t happy with Dale Earnhardt Jr getting away with passing the pace car as Junior coaxed more from a tank of gas than anyone this side of Smokey Yunick.  Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers continued their strong early summer runs.  Tony Stewart had a nice finish and gave away more cash to others in need - this time the flood victims in his Indiana hometown.

But enough of this drivel.  It’s time to argue, Fast Lap style.

1.  Should Junior have been penalized for repeatedly passing the pace car?

2.  Did NASCAR’s closed door meeting with drivers - chastising them for excessive negative comments - contradict its earlier “say what’s on your mind” directive.

3.  Is Joey Logano the real deal or just another over-hyped wannabe?

4.  Would you give up one road course race to see the Cup Series race on a one mile dirt track?

There ought to be something in those four corners that sticks in your craw.  Let us know what you think and then come back later in the week and tell everyone else how wrong they are.  I know I will.  The best and brightest may become part of a future feature ON PIT ROW.

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The contrast between Dover International Speedway and Pocono Raceway couldn’t be much greater.  The tight concrete confines of the Monster Mile are nothing like the wide, flat turns and long, engine eating straights at the Green Giant.

It probably won’t matter to Kyle Busch though.  The Shrub is putting his stamp on the early third of the Sprint Cup marathon.  Make no mistake though,  there is a long way to go. 

Remember that this Sunday too when, after 400 miles or so, you are thinking that ‘ so-and-so has this thing sewn up.  The Pocono races are 500 mile endurance tests, and there will be plenty of bitching about that this and next week.  The complaints will come from the boredom that many will suffer.  Just remember, it ain’t over ’til the fat lady says it’s over - or something like that.

And this ain’t over either.  Try out the Fast Lap questions and win valuable prizes*.

1.  Half way through the “regular season” can anyone catch Kyle Busch?

2.  Is it time for NASCAR to stop giving points at the bottom of the grid, thus keeping broken race cars off the track?

3.  Tony Stewart seemed to take the blame for the early race wreck - or was he just ragging on Elliott Sadler?

4.  Who will win the 2009 Rookie of the Year; Joey Logano, Scott Speed, Brad Kesolowski or someone else?

That’s it.  If we like what you have to say you may win a new car, or something**.  Runners up  might just get a shot to share the fame and fortune afforded the co-hosts of ON PIT ROW.  The possibilities seem limitless, don’t you think?  

* This is an exaggeration.  ** This one is an out-and-out lie.

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The NASCAR traveling carnival is heading next to Richmond International Raceway.  The Richmond folks advertise “Racin’ perfection” and I can’t say I argue that.  The racing at RIR is, year after year, some of the best action and - important to me, best looking racing - on the circuit.

But Richmond this time has one, tough act to follow.  The Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Super Speedway was one exciting spectacle.  Kyle Busch’s performance was breathtaking.  Just ask Darrell Waltrip, who had to be reminded to “breathe Darrell” by broadcast partner Larry McReynolds during the race.

That was one wild race.  It seems that Jimmy Johnson may be right - Talladega is indeed the ultimate New Car track.  Second place finisher Juan Pablo Montoya was quoted saying restrictor plate racing is the best racing he’s ever done.  Maybe NASCAR should plate-up a couple more venues - California for one - that need a bit of excitement.

Richmond’s Fast Laps will be of a different nature, for sure, but exciting none-the-less.  While you wait for them, let us know what you think of these four flat lefties.

1.  With 52 lead changes among 20 drivers, will fans finally embrace restrictor plate racing?

2.  Was Joe Nemechek’s pole more surprising than Kyle Busch’s win?

3.  Joe Gibbs says that Tony Stewart will be with Joe Gibbs Racing throughout his contract.  What are the odds of that happening?

4.  Has Joe Gibbs Racing taken over as the restrictor plate kings or are they just taking advantage of extra Toyota horsepower.

I have some pretty strong opinions on some of those questions, how about you?  The Fast Lap is all about opinions.  There are no right or wrong ones.  Well, except for maybe Steve’s.  Let us know what you think.  We want to argue with you.  We have plans for the best of the Fast Lap and want you to be part of it all.

Remember to check out the verbal version on the Fast Lap every week ON PIT ROW.  You can listen to the live stream here at 5pm EDT or the re-broadcast at RaceTalkRadio on Thursdays at 7pm.

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Chevrolet is on the Sprint Cup board thanks to a last lap, Fast Lap by Jeff Burton at Bristol Motor Speedway.  Burton has been lurking in the Cup shadows.  Jeff never seems to dominate a Cup race, though he often stomps the Nationwide Series competition.  He won this one though and led a Childress phalanx of himself, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer to Chevy’s first win of 2008.

The early laps were a Toyota story with Tony Stewart leading the most and Denny Hamlin taking the sloppy seconds.  Those two couldn’t close the deal though - which is getting repetitive for all but Kyle Busch in the Toyota camp - as Stewart got bumped by Harvick and Hamlin had fuel pick-up problems at the end.

The Cupsters will take a break for Easter this week and we’ll have to find our Fast Laps elsewhere.  Nashvillle Super Speedway seems an OK place as the Nationwide Series camps out in the land of the Grand Ol’ Opry.  ‘Course if you are afflicted with insomnia, you could opt for the Formula One race in Malaysia.  Tune in at 2:30 am edt Sunday morning.

I have a Fast Lap option to help tide you over to the weekend.  Take these four fast ones flat out and maybe we’ll put you ON PIT ROW!

1.  The tire test at Darlington saw speeds over 200 mph. What should NASCAR do about that?

2.  Was Harvick getting into Stewart a “racing thing” or retaliation for a similar incident at Indy in 2007?

3.  Is Sam Hornish at his best with his back against the wall?

4.  Has Richard Childress Racing taken over as the number one Chevy team?

Four fast little gems to ponder and pontificate over. This is the Fast Lap - NASCAR debate in the digital world.  Wade on in and be prepared to defend your position  and counter-attack as you see fit.  Just remember, only 100 words or less, per comment.  ON PIT ROW speed limit strictly enforced.  Or not. 

The pump has been primed.  Kyle Busch won the Kobalt Tools 500 and grabbed the first win for Toyota in Sprint Cup Series competition.  That should have been the biggest story ON PIT ROW in Atlanta, but it wasn’t.

Like an old Paul Simon song, those New Cars were slip-slidin’ away, all day long and a cadre of drivers led by Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and  Dale Earnhardt Jr let loose on Goodyear for bringing an inadequate tire to the party.

Smoke didn’t complain - he attacked Goodyear and in the end did everything but blame the California weather on the Akron tire maker.  Tony was pretty hot for someone who actually finished second to his rowdy teammate, Kyle Busch.

On Monday, several drivers, current and former, stepped up to defend Goodyear.  Michael and Darrell Waltrip along with Ryan Newman praised Goodyear for erring on the side of safety with the Atlanta tire compound.  It seems kind of funny that Stewart and Gordon, the drivers most recently involved in hard crashes, would be the ones on the flip-side of that argument.

The first Bristol race of 2008 is on tap and it’s a near certainty that heads will be hot in the post-race pits on Sunday.  Goodyear could use the diversion of some hotly contested Fast Laps.  Let these four high-banked testers divert you for a few hundred words.

1.  Is Tony Stewart’s criticism of Goodyear justified?

2.  Now that Toyota has it’s first win, are Jack Roush’s worst fears set to come true?

3.  Was Kyle Busch the right guy to get Toyota’s first win?

4.  Was the #99 team of Carl Edwards, guilty of premeditated down-force addition?

Four Fast turns and you get 100 words or less to respond.  Of course, you can use as many words as you want to put your fellow commenters into the wall.  The Fast Lap blog is about NASCAR debate.  Bring your best and we may use it on our next show.

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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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