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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.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

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.

Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc

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.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc

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.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

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.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

The new car looked awfully squirrely at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday. The current tire package seemed to keep these cars right on the very edge “whoa Nellie” the whole day.

For the second straight week, Cousin’ Carl Edwards owned the last 100 miles or so and led a relative parade of Fords including teammate Greg Biffle and Yates Racing’s Travis Kvapil. Kvapil’s sponsor-less, all white #28 sure looks strange out there, but after two straight strong runs, the colors ought to start popping soon.

Two nasty, hard crashes by Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon were a reminder that auto racing is still dangerous business. The new car and safety equipment may have prevented tragedy.

There were other issues, in and around the actual race and Steve and I will be fighting about some of them ON PIT ROW this week. Check out these four high banked lefties and show us what you got in the comment section.

1. Did NASCAR make the proper call on the #99 team’s pit infraction?

2. Is it time for Team Red Bull to pull the plug on A J Allmendinger?

3. Should the Coca Cola 600 or the Indy 500 move back to Memorial Day, so more drivers could attempt “the double”, or is that all just a stunt?

4. How can NASCAR inspectors allow the #48, #88 and #17 teams to “fix” minor problems after the cars failed pre-qualifying inspections, then go through inspection again without penalty?

Remember, this is the Fast Lap and your comments are limited to 100 words or less. So be fast and be prepared to come back throughout the week to defend yourself. Some of your fellow commenters just may bump draft you a little hard. We’ll use the best - or worst - stuff on a future broadcast of ON PIT ROW.

Photo credit - Icon Sports Media, Inc.

 

After listening to the various announcers in the immediate after-race of the 50th Daytona 500  I’m not sure if they were more excited by Ryan Newman’s very popular victory or the stunningly competitive performance of the New Car.  The Great American Race lived up to it’s name in one of - if not THE - best of all time.  And the CoT has arrived.

Newman’s triumph was  Roger Penske’s first ever Daytona 500 win too and that was another feel good thing about the race.  The Penske one-two finish, with Kurt Busch an adventurous second place headed a surprising seven Dodges in the top ten.

The Hendrick Motorsports power house and Roush-Fenway’s Ford factory team struggled.  The Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas looked to be the strongmen most of the day but in the end, could not hold off Flyin’ Ryan and the Dodge Boys.

Those might well have been the best Fast Laps ever - we’ll talk about that.  Next up is  a trip to the Republic of California and these four un-restricted Fast Laps.

1. Were the Daytona 500 results a preview of the rest of 2008 or just the usual plate-track one offs?

2. Where do you rank this 500 in relation to past Daytona 500 ’s

3. Have we seen the end of the “Big One” with the arrival of the New Car?

4. Did anyone expect the over/under on Jacques Villeneuve’s NASCAR career to be the under at one race?  

The Fast Lap has no restrictor plates but you’re answers are limited to 100 words. Give us your best and don’t forget to come back and defend your position throughout the week.  We’ll use the best stuff for a future ON PIT ROW. 

Photo Credit: Matthew Stockman - Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR Fantasy Racing

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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