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Talladega may be the Chase’s “wild card”, but really, it didn’t do a whole lot to shake things up. The strongest drivers acquitted themselves decently, and the top drivers who met unceremonious ends encountered nothing more than a speed bump.

#5- Matt Kenseth- Everybody, all together now: “Gloom, despair and agony on me.” Poor Matt Kenseth, if it weren’t or bad luck, so the old “Hee Haw” song goes, he’d have no luck at all. Just when it looks like the Wisconsan is about to make a move, something sets him back. To add insult to injury, it was a teammate taking him out. It was tempting to give this spot to Harvick, but “Happy” also got collected in that wreck and the 20th place finish wasn’t enough to dislodge Kenseth.

#4- Carl Edwards- On principle, I should give Flipper a demerit for the bonehead stunt at ‘Dega, but the overall body of work that is the 2008 season outweighs the foible on Edwards’ part. Somebody needs to put his game controller on the shelf until the season’s over. The video games aren’t helping.

#3- Jeff Burton- This dude’s so quiet, somebody’s gonna forget about this guy, and he’s going to sneak away with a Cup. Burton had the best finish of any chaser at Talladega not named Tony Stewart. J.B. in typical J.B. fashion manage to dance his way around every mishap. Sometimes, the crown gos not to the swift, but to the survivor. If I need someone to rush me to the hospital- Burton’s my guy.

#2- Greg Biffle- I can’t justify docking him for a wreck that was someone else’s fault. He’s the hottest Chase driver not named Jimmie Johnson. If you’ve got the car and you can drive it well, MOST races that’s more than good enough.

#1- Jimmie Johnson- Warm up the engraver, but don’t start on etching his name just yet. Jimmie’s come to the Chase to race, and if anyone can take it from him, they know they’ve accomplished something. Can we finally admit Jimmie Kenneth Johnson may just deserve to be numbered among the greats? The boy’s been good off the truck.

Knocking On The Door: Kevin Harvick is just right there. If those RCR engines had a little more juice, he’d be there…..Junior’s still a factor, and I predict at least one more win if not two before the season ends…..Smoke’s not finished yet….Though some of the others are fading, I won’t write the likes of Busch, Bowyer or Gordon off until they are mathematically done.

This championship chase is nowhere near over, though the odds favor Jimmie.

Let’s take a quick jaunt down memory lane: Its July and Tony Stewart has announced his long-anticipated move to become part owner of Haas-CNC Racing. One pundit, Bob Margolis predicted Joe Gibbs would give Smoke junk to run in the rest of the year and focus their greater attention to getting the red-hot (at the time) Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin to the checkered flag. Some from the dold school base said Stewart had no interest in getting a win for Toyota, and he’d mail it in the rest of the year.

Stewart and Gibbs have proven the skeptics wrong one more time. The two-time champion bobbed and weaved his way through the hazards of Talladega for his first win of the 2008 campaign, crossing off one more ttrack he had not won at. Making the feat truly amazing was the “Rushville Rocket”’s penchant for not being anywhere near the mayhem. This is the same Tony Stewart who earlier in the year couldn;t buy a break with all the gold in California. For Stewart, that’s career win 33 and the affirmation that he wishes to leave Joe Gibbs Racing in classy fashion.

Regan Smith tried to re-write the ending with a pass to the inside that took him out of bounds, underneath the yellow- a NASCAR no-no that was covered during the drivers meeting. He must have been catching some “z’s” in the back with Carl Edwards when they covered that. While Smith crossed the line first, NASCAR ruled the pass illegal, and placed Smith in 18th, which would have been the end of the longest line on the lead lap had the race not been complete. Apparently, NASCAR has arrived at a differing conclusion than Smith concerning his contention that Tony blocked him down.

You know the youngster from DEI could have passed from the outside and even got a little push from Elliott Sadler, who found no willing dance partners on the final lap. Smith knew better than to pass on the inside and it’s a bummer that the error results in dropping Smitty from his most impressive finish yet.

For all of you ready to write off DEI as a viable NASCAR team, Talladega proved they’re not finished yet. The soon-departing Paul Menard ran as well as I’ve ever seen him and teammate Aric Almirola was a major player as well. DEI frontman Martin Truex was strong before getting collected in of this race’s many fender benders.

This was a race of attrition. Casualties included such luminaries as Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Dale Earnhardt Jr.- who looked like a winner until getting caught in the Edwards-caused mess.

Memo to Cousin Carl: What were you thinking? Ya didn’t win any fans with that move and you really irked a bunch of Kenseth fanswho don’t care for you to begin with. Bup drafting in the turns? Come on man, you knew better. I’m a fan Flipper, but you’re on your own on this one.

What about those tires? You can’t ignore what was going on out there. I’m not ready to rush to judgment, because like Junior said in his post-wreck interview, the Hoosiers weren’t doing well either. At the same time, this doesn’t look good. NASCAR- this is yet another area where you’re your own worst enemy. Get out there and talk to to the fans about this and other issues. Make ur case that you’re not so wedded to Goodyear that you put “loyalty” to a brand above safety. I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, but you’re not helping me any.

Anybody who thinks NASCAR racing has become boring with the CoT needs to be given tapes of the last handful of races. On a track known for wildness, this race at Talladega will go down as one of the wildest ever. We had a record number of lead changes, two “big ones”, some lesser-known leaders and the end of a long dry spell for one NASCAR’s top racers.

It was cool to see Tony win. Even if this is his final victory for Joe Gibbs, he couldn’t have picked a better place and a better time to make it happen.

The Chase’s “wild card” race lived up to its hype.

Attitude determines altitude. That’s what one of my old sales managers used to say. What he meant was is that I could if I thought I could. Based on recent events in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, I’d say that I’ve come to appreciate all the more the difference a driver’s attitude makes.

Now that attitude can come in all shapes and sizes. If a “sunny” personality like Carl Edwards is down, that’s bad. You’ll note, you’d have to go back a ways to find when he was down in the mouth. No reason to think he would be, as Edwards hold down the number two spot in the points. Now here’s Kyle Busch as exhibit “B.” Rowdy is not one to mince words, so when he’s up, we know it. Life is good and his emotions reflect it. Lately, things have really gone gunny bag on Busch and his words and demeanor don’t hide it.

Then there are guys like Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. For the most part, these guys never look especially joyful, even when things are going great. When they’re going really bad, there’s not necessarily a huge difference, although they really, really look down- although by most of the field’s standards they’re not that bad. It’s almost like Junior and Matty thrive on adversity. What can I say? That works for some guys.

Talladega is a wild place, and that goes for more than just the fan camps littered about campus. The 2.66 mile track inspires drama, fear and excitement. Commentator Krista Voda likened racing here to a “pinball on Red Bull.” That’s what made the young Busch’s run all the more meaningful. Until the spring race, Shrub had always struggled here. Usually, Talladega is much like a road course….either you do exceptionally well here, or you just hope to survive and get it over with quickly.

When it comes to prowess on a super speedway, some interesting names come to mind. All of Michael Waltrip’s Cup wins come on the big speed tracks. Bill Elliott was always good on a speedway. And then there’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. No doubt an ingredient in his insane popularity was his 4-race winning streak in in ‘Tide Country between 2001 and 2003. Though “Lil E” is in many ways different from his progener, he did pick up Dale Sr.’s penchant for excellence at Talladega.

With 5 wins at ‘Dega, Junior has to be considered a favorite to win tomorrow.
“Are you kidding?” the skeptics may say. Isn’t he starting in the back of the grid with a back-up car after yesterday’s practice mishaps? True that. Yet consider this: the starting grid doesn’t mean much here. What makes racing at the Alabama mecca such a wild card is the drafting, the speeds and the wrecking. In just a matter of a turn, you can go from checker to wrecker. This track is one place where a great starting position is really pretty meaningless.

What Junior also has going for him is his study of restrictor plate racing. He KNOWS he’s good on the high speed tracks, and he’s gone to great pains to maintain his reputation. It also seems Junior has gained as much popularity in the draft as he has on among the fans. Junior and Smoke ran together nicely in the spring. Earnhardt also has HMS teammates Gordon, Johnson and even Mears (who qualified second) to keep up with him and lend support.

And then there’s that attitude. In spite of some recent bumpy spots, Junior seems much more relaxed and confident. On top of that,the “88″ team seems to thrive on adversity. It’s a lot like other sports teams who seem to be at their best when they’re coming from behind. Dale Sr. was never a good qualifier and had all those come from behind wins. Heck, his old buddy Tony Stewart has never been much of a qualifier either, and Tony’s two Cup collection suggests it hasn’t hurt him any.

Junior will get plenty of challenge from his teammates. Mears looks poised to give him a run, though if his girlfriend goes into labor, it may be Brad Keselowski who takes the wheel. Jeff Gordon also has a history of success at ‘Dega. Call it a hunch, but I’m looking for Jimmie Johnson to struggle. Johnson has reported a rattle in his car, and at these speeds, it suggests something may break on the Lowe’s Chevy.

It may not be the most “fearless’ forecast I’ve ever made, it’s looking like Junior has all the pieces in place to pick up his second win of 2008 and the 19th of his Sprint Cup career.

As the field of championship contenders narrows, so does the poll. Spots 6 through 10 would encapsulate some drivers who pretty mediocre right now. There’ll bne some comtinued volatility over the next couple of weeks, I mean who saw Greg Biffle going in?

#5- Jeff Burton- J.B. gets here primarily by hanging around and capitalizing on attrition, just like he does in the races. This approach won’t often win you championships, but it’ll make you a lot of money and earn you a lot of respect. Burton has both.

#4- Matt Kenseth- The way he interviews after races, you’d think he was running 40th. Oh well, that’s Matty. He may have had the fastest car at Dover. Like Burton, Kenseth has a somewhat conservative approach. Unfortunately for Kenseth, that can running a consisten top 10 without winning can burn you if you hit an unlucky stretch, and he’s had some. The Killer Bee may be peaking at the right time.

#3- Carl Edwards- Kind of an odd spot for the points leader, but Edwards’ grip on the top spot is pretty shaky. I’ll be interested to see how he handles the big track at Talladega and the short track at Martinsville. Cousin Carl is mainly a mile and a half kind of guy.

#2- Jimmie Johnson- He’s got the intelligence of Burton with a streak of aggressiveness. Going for three Cups in a row wil be a battle unlike any other the sunny southern Californian has ever had. He’s holding up well. Very well. Ya gotta go through this guy to win it all and he’ll battle down to the bloody end with the best equipmetn and best crew chief in the business.

#1- Greg Biffle- It’s gotta be his for now. The Biff will tell you just how tough it is to win a race, he’s just missed victory lane a handful of times, but now he has the mojo. It has to be a confidence builder knowing you’re going back to the track where youpicked up your lone 2007 win.

Knocking On The Door: Kevin Harvick need only overcome a slight lack of power in his RCR engines to be better….Don’t count out Kyle Busch just yet….In spite of the rough week, I like Junior’s attitude. Earnhardt is still in a great position to make a charge.

Pushed out the back: Busch can’t have another lousy week. Which Kyle Busch will show up?….Rumor has it Jeff Gordon crew chief Steve Letarte is under pressure to produce better results. What will that do for the #24 team?

Funny thing happened on Kyle Busch’s stroll to the championship. After winning an incredible 8 of 22 races in the 2008 season, “Wild Thing” has suddenly become mortal, prompting the 23-year-old to declare “We’re done” after a day cut short Sunday at Dover.

Has he lost it? Is Busch succumbing to the pressure of crunch time? Are we seeing NASCAR’s equivalent of the Atlanta Braves- a team dominant during the regular season who comes up a little short at the end?

Contrary to what the driver of the #18 Toyota may have believed, he still very much has a chance.

What may be the curse of the Chase, may be the beauty of the Chase at the same time. What Busch has going for him is there are still 8 races left. There’s really no such thing as an insurmountable lead at this point in the schedule. “Rowdy” will still have turn it around in a big way, and he’s going to have to track down the best in the business to make it happen. Jimmie Johnson’s hot, Greg Biffle has found the ever so slight difference between being good enough to being a winner, then you have Carl Edwards sitting precariously in first place.

It won’t be easy, but then what Busch did early in the year was pretty darn close to unprecedented too. If I’m Busch, I’m salivating at the idea of going back to Talladega- where I won earlier in the year. I’m looking at Kansas and thinking that’s an easily winnable track for me. I’m knowing that I’ve been winning at every kinds of course imaginable including the dreaded road courses of Infineon and Watkins Glen. I start thinking about that, and I start feeling pretty darn confident, and I’m ready to rally.

I won’t suggest that Busch is too immature to pull himself together for a monster stretch run. How crazy drivers get in the heat of the moment is only too well documented by the much-publicized radio communications by the likes of Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Shrub himself in the last two races. The pressure of winning in crunch time does funny things to people and there as many ways to cope with it as there are drivers out there trying to do it.

Is Kyle Busch choking? I wouldn’t bet on it. He’s gotta race uphill to get out of the hole he’s in, but only Busch really knows whether or not he’s got the huzpah to pull it off.

I wouldn’t be the one to bet against him.

I went off on Jerry Jones yesterday for the way he handled the Dallas Cowboys since taking them over back in the late 80s. It’s interesting to me that in so many ways, the Cowboys have become the Oakland Raiders of the 21st Century.

For years, my favorite team is the Denver Broncos. My second? Whoever the Raiders are >playing. Some players have come and goen from that franchise I like: Mark van Eeghen, Dave Casper, Howie Long, Lester Hayes, Art Shell, Bob Chandler and Gene Upshaw. My appreciation for these Raiders of the past has been offset by one individual.

From the time I first took football seriously back in 1977, I was properly schooled by my father to passionately love the likes of Tom Landry and despise the likes of Al Davis. The Raiders were the anti-Cowboys back then. Oakland was a regular rogue’s gallery of thugs like Jack Tatum, whose nasty hit paralyzed Daryl Stingley, and other loons like John Matuszak. The Raiders were a reflection of their owner, the NFL’s original gangster, Al Davis.

As AFL commissioner, Davis gained his reputation as a swashbuckler, pirating as many player away from the NFL as he could by any means necessary. After returning to the Raiders in the early 70s after the merge, Davis muscled away the franchise to take total control, essentially while Wayne Valley was watching the Munich Olympics. He also had a way of turning on his players. Former Oregon State fullback Bill Enyart had come to the Raiders to convert to linebacker and blew his knee out on a cheap shot in a pre-season game. The team doctor had recently had a heart attack and the physicians who attended Enyart failed to care for the injury and the player’s career was essentially over. After Enyart sued for malpractice, Davis had given orders to the attorneys to tie up the lawsuit as long as possible to make sure Enyart never got a dime. He’s left a string of other casualties in his wake, and it looks like Lane Kiffin is about to become the latest.

I get that, as owner, Davis has the right to run his franchise as he sees fit. I’m also sure that anybody who signs on with Oakland is well aware of how this soap opera plays out. Kiffin had to know it might not last long. Just ask Mike Shanahan.

By the way, thank you Al Davis for your gift to the Broncos. It’s been a sheer pleasure watching “The Master” get the best of you the last several years.

I suppose I should take pity on the old man, but I don’t. Davis has won his Super Bowls, he has given us some of the games greats- like John Madden and Tom Flores. I even allowed myself to root for Darth Vader’s gang when Jim Plunkett led the Silver and Black to a title in 1981. I will give him a begrudging respect for rescuing a number of NFL careers off the scrap heap.

By the same token, how Al Davis has handled Lane Kiffin’s situation as coach has been utterly classless. If you really don’t want him there, spare him the torture and let him move on. I can’t imagine staff meetings are a lot of fun right now with the rift between Kiffin and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Mr. Davis, if you’re going to keep Kiffin, let him do his job, and have his guys there. This lunacy is doing nothing to improve the fortunes of a team that may actually some potential.

As far as I’m concerned his can go on another 20 years, though “The Genius” will be long gone before then. To me, Al Davis is the embodiment of thuggery in the world of sports, and we can’t be rid of him fast enough as far as I’m concerned.

If what I saw last night is any indication, only the Dallas Cowboys can stop the Dallas Cowboys this year. These guys are the total package. In three weeks, they’ve displayed a well-balanced passing game, Marion Barber has shown us why he’s “The Man” in the backfield, and that Cowboys defense did everything they could short of planting Aaron Rodgers in the ground.

My contempt as a fan for the Dallas Cowboys is thinly veiled. I once was a fan during the Tom Landry- Roger Staubach era, and I never forgave Jerry Jones for how he handled Landry’s ouster (though it was no doubt Landry’s time to hang it up), and for the band of Raider-types he brought to the team afterwards. It was, to me, fitting that the Cowboys took on that character after bringing former ‘Canes coach Jimmie (”We’re number one in three polls. The AP, the UPI and the FBI.”) Johnson to town. I also believe Jones has crossed several more lines for his public comments on the Ed Hochuli situation. If you ask me, it’s none of Jones’ freakin’ business.

But for Wade Phillips’ sake, I wish good things for Dallas. The son of a Bum has long worn the mantle shared by Gunther Cunningham, Art Shell, and dare I add Romeo Crennel to this list: “Successful assistant, failed head coach.” Phillips has long been heralded for his defensive prowess, going back to the days when he toiled for his father. You could always count on Phillips’ name coming up for a coaching vacancy anytime a team needed a defensive-minded head coach. There’s no question that Phillips is a master of the old 3-4 scheme, and anyone who’s followed football for more than five minutes knows However- his previous gigs in Denver and Buffalo have proven disappointing.

To be fair, Phillips has never been given a fair shake. Though I am a Broncos man, I always wondered “What if Pat Bowlen had been a little more patient with Wade?” Phillips would have been the beneficiary of the arrival of franchise cornerstones Terrell Davis and Rod Smith. and just maybe HE’d be deep into a great career in Denver. Not that I’m complaining about Mike Shanahan, mind you.

Buffalo wasn’t much different. I don’t think blame can really be laid on Phillips for the perceived underachievement there. Any reasonable person can see there wasn’t much “there” there in upstate New York.

He may not be in a much better situation in Dallas. if you understand my perspective, then you know I suspect Phillips may be on a short leash in “Big D” under Jones’ ownership. It’s just a matter of time before Jason Garrett takes the reins and everybody knows it. What the old ball coach has going for him is the ‘Boys are winning and it’s like Emmitt Smith once said, “Winning is a great deodorant.”

It’s not hard to see why Phillips is a winner here. Unlike his predecessor Bill “The Big Tuna” Parcells, Phillips has no desire for the spotlight. Phillips likes an aggressive defense (as evidenced by last night’s game. Dallas threw everything but the kitchen sink at Green Bay), and he gives offensive coordinator Garrett the latitude to run an aggressive offense. Phillips is more than happy to let the glow of the limelight shine on the guys who seem to need it: Terrell Owens and Tony Romo, and his own dear boss Jerry Jones. This is seems as an admirable quality in most leaders, though the way they roll in Dallas, I’m just hoping people don’t forget who’s orchestrating the chaos.

As long as they’re winning, Phillips should be o.k. For his sake, I’ll not suffer the Dallas wins too badly.

Sports fans are addicted to feel good stories. Take “Rudy,” the pint-sized defensive end who got to play a series of downs for Notre Dame. Or how about “The Rookie”? High school coach Jim Morris gets a second shot at professional baseball and makes it to the big leagues with the Tampa Bay Rays?

We’ve also had some feel good stories in 2008. The Tampa Bay Rays are headed for the playoffs for the first time ever. The Chicago Cubs may win their first World Series in 100 years. Slugging outfielder Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers overcomes a drug addiction and lights up the scoreboard in the Major League Baseball home run derby. How about Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce finally getting their ring in winning an NBA title for the Boston Celtics? We even have a great story tonight with undrafted receiver Austin Myles playing the hero in Dallas’ Sunday night win over Green Bay.

How about Greg Biffle for NASCAR’s feel good story?

You never hear about this guy because he generally doesn’t make waves- save for incurring the wrath of Sterling Marlin and Kevin Harvick. “The Biff” doesn’t possess a flambouyant demeanor, he’s not known for a bad attitude. and he certainly doesn’t talk smack. We know he can win- the native of Vancouver, Washington has a Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck title to his credit- BUT with a baker’s dozen wins coming into today’s action, his Cup career has generally been ho-hum.

Today’s win may have woke a few people up.

There’s no denying Biffle has been consistent this year in a way he hasn’t been for the past two seasons. If you think aaboutit, Biffle has quietly factored into nearly every race. He’s also managed to avoid some of the horrific bad luck and managed to stay out of other people’s messes. To be sure, having the “Nutty Professor” Jack Roush backing doesn’t hurt. In fact, it was no less than RFR teammates Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards that gave Greg a run for his money. The “Cat In The Hat” must have a Cheshire grin on his face watching his top 3 drivers duke it out.

It was quite a race, watching Edwards, Biffle and Kenseth all side-by-side. Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick were also poised to pounce should someone up front slip up.

Today they didn’t.

Perhaps Greg Biffle is winning hearts in the same way Clint Bowyer did in the 2007 Chase. It’s not hard to root for a lunch pail, blue collar guy who minds his business, takes good care of his wife and doesn’t embarrass the sport by playing the fool.

It will get interesting, because I don’t think the “16″ will sneak up on anyone now.

Other notes: Today we saw a study in contrast as is pertains to handling adversity. After his equipment went gunny sack, Kyle Busch said “It’s over” after his 43rd place finish. I want to root for the guy who’s so fearless and no doubt possesses talent, BUT YOU DON’T QUIT ON YOUR TEAM. Yes, I’m yelling. Kyle is still “bush league” in my opinion. I hope Joe Gibbs can talk some sense into him.

Meanwhile, Dale Earnhardt Jr. keeps hacking away even though todays race was a disappointment. He gets my “Rocky Balboa” award. It wasn’t a good day for Junior, but the “88″ didn’t quit…and he won’t quit. He’s got a rough road ahead if Earnhardt wants to win the title, but he knows he owes it to his team and himself to fight ’til there’s no fightin’ to do. You never what will happen. This Chase is far from over.

Props to Mark Martin for perhaps previewing for us what’s in store for the #5 HMS team next year- evoking memories of Harry Gant.

Nice to see Mikey in the top 10.

Great race today. Great chase in 2008. I think this is what NASCAR had in mind, and I hope it keeps up.

There’s no underestimating the value of confidence in auto racing. When a driver has confidence in his abilities, it gives him (or her) to get into those corners and race a little bit harder than they might if they lack confidence. Given the tightness of the competition, both in terms of skill and equipment, there are times where confidence makes all the difference.

Here’s what we know about confidence in NASCAR: Michael Waltrip may not win many races, but there’s no denying his confidence on the big super speedways. Dale Earnhardt’s record of success at Talladega suggests a similar wiring. Then you have your road course experts. In terms of the regulars who have confidence on the windey tracks- you have to agree former open wheel racers like Jeff Gordon, Marcos Ambrose and Juan Pablo Montoya feel like they can ANY race on a road course. What about Bobby Labonte at Atlanta? Texas Terry’s younger brother has 21 NASCAR Sprint Cups wins, 6 have come at the Georgia track.

Then there’s confidenceon concrete surfaces.

Nobody’s more confident on concrete than Carl Edwards.

Cousin Carl is the “King of Concrete” when you look at his Nationwide and Sprint Cup series track record. Go stand out on the street in front of your house. Now jump up on the sidewalk. Even with your feet you can feel the difference. Concrete has a slicker feel and is generally less grippy. It’s not hard to imagine how that surface will wear differently over the course of the race as well.

You couple Edwards’ skill on concrete with that good Roush Ford equipment, as well as the guidance of crew chief Bob Osborne, it makes a strong combination. It also has to be a confidence boost that with the Chase points standing re-set, Edwards is now tied ith Jimmie Johnson for the lead.

Who else stands a good chance of winning? Given the boost of confidence from last week’s win, I expect a good race from Edwards’ teammate Greg Biffle. Jeff Gordon’s pole qualfying position has to leave him feeling good about getting his first win of 2008. Mark Martin will start from the 2nd position, and I’m sure he’d love to end his lengthy winless drought.

I also expect a good race from Dale Earnhardt Jr. Both Junior and Jeff Burton are carrying themselves with a certain uncharacteristic swagger that suggests they feel like they belong in this title hunt and they intend to prove it.

Then you can’t EVER count out two-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson. The “48″ simply puts himself in a position to win every week, using a bit of a Burton strategy, he could simply win it, by making sure he finishes near the front every week.

The guy has that much command at the wheel.

The “Monster Mile” always makes for an interesting race. The tight quarters and funky surface can always throw a monkey wrench in the best laid plans of a NASCAR racer.

But when to confidence on concrete, Nobody’s more sure than Carl Edwards.

If you’ve read any of my old posts from my days at Fanboom, then you know I’ve chronicled well the great passion of NASCAR fans. It’s a mania rivaled only by football. The gridiron gang may have the numbers, but nobody, and I mean nobody can match the passion NASCAR fans have for the Great American Racing Sport.

As you know, I’ve said that passion borders on mania. And with that passion, I’ve observed a few attitudes that trouble me, in many ways it reflects on our society today. First, I am witness again to the realization that it is human nature to hate change. I’ve also noticed a cynicism that has spilled over from the world of politics into the world of sports, causing us to view with suspicion even the most pure acts of kindness. Class warfare and xenophobia are also alive and well, as we tend to hate or fear that which we do not understand.

The sum of all vitriole in NASCAR can pretty well be summed up in a name: Brian France.

The third generation czar of NASCAR is easily the most despised human in the world of auto racing- a pretty tall order when you consider all venom aimed at the likes of Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, and even to a lesser extent, anyone named Earnhardt. Do a google search on “Prince Brian” sometime and you’ll find a man called everything from a buffoon to a tyrant and some things I won’t repeat here.

What has this man done to generate such excoriation? Interesting question. I’ve really tried to wrap my hands around it with an open, inquiring mind. I mean if a guy gets compared to the worst of humanity in a place normally reserved for the likes of Adolf Hitler and Osama Bin Laden, surely you’d think you’d find chronicles of sinister behavior, scathing speech and the greatest crimes against humanity.

This is what I’ve uncovered:

Instead of rising from humble beginnings, Brian France inherited his position at NASCAR. Within our country, there tends to be a hatred for the rich for the sake of being rich, and it’s compounded when those riches were acquired through family ties rather than merit. We love the story of Dale Earnhardt because he scratched, gouged, clawed and battled his way to the top. Even the story of France’s grandfather, NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. is a compelling one. In a way, France is disliked because he’s another Jeff Gordon type- he doesn’t come from the humble beginnings that many NASCAR greats came from. He’s well-educated and he’s a marketing man, not necessarily a race car man. How dare he come from privilege! Can you say “class warfare?”

There is also within our fan base and the nation at large, a natural-born suspicion of corporate America- fueled by populist politicians, activists, unions, and a resentment of anyone more powerful than us. What’s odd is that while France is considered a dictator, the truth is “Prince Brian” is a more genteel sort than his forebears. How conveniently old school fans forget the lifetime bans placed on Curtis Turner and Tim Flock for their attempts to unionize in the early 1960’s. Bill Sr. made it very plain he carried a big gun and he was prepared to use it literally and figuratively. Remember the character played by Fred Thompson in “Days Of Thunder”? you now have an idea of what Bill Jr. was like. Brian’s dad was a pretty forceful character compared to his son.

The truth is Brian has opted for a lower profile. A casual might actually have the mistaken impression that Mike Helton or Jim Hunter ran the sport. Brian’s a businessman more than he is a racing man, and when you consider NASCAR’s desire and need to grow, it’s a good thing France the younger has a marketing background. In many ways, Brian is building on a foundation built by his dad, who grew NASCAR beyond its regional popularity to a worldwide phenomenon.

Given France’s ties to “Brand Sense,” a company involved with the marketing the likes of Dodge, Britney Spears and Nicolette Sheridan, many are suspicious of a conflict of interest, that France may use one organization to further the interests of another. But let’s consider that matter for a moment: If Brian France were that deeply devoted to Dodge, then why is there not a Dodge in the Chase? What about the rumors of Gillett Evernham abandoning the manufacturer? You can attempt to make the connection all you want, but it’s a leap in logic. Certainly, you wouldn’t bring in a dreaded foreigner like Toyota.

Uh oh. Struck another nerve here. No room for Jap Crap in NASCAR!!! This is just one of the many changes having occured under the watch of Brian Z. France, and touches off a wave of emotions regarding all the changes that many in the traditional fan base loathe.

Not only do you have Toyota in a sport once limited to “American” makes, never mind the fact that the last time I looked, we had “American” made cars assembld in Mexico with part from Japan. Oh yeah, and we’ve got Toyotas and Honda made in America. Oops, better find a better argument. Come on people! Who are you kidding? NASCAR old schoolers are also quick to voice their disapproval of the “Car of Tomorrow,” “The Chase”- NASCAR’s playoff format, the top 35 owner points qualifying rule, summing up an overall move away from the NASCAR of yesteryear.

I could spend numerous other posts defending these changes. The truth is, running this sport is incredibly expensive and the sport had to grow to survive. Think about all the money it takes just to field one NASCAR team. You’ve got personnel: the technicians, the marketing people, the pit crew, equipment and the haven’t even got to the car itself. Did you ever think of what it takes to put a race on? It take money, a load of it. And you can’t attract sponsors if you keep running races in dilapidated ratholes like Rockingham, and if you concentrate the bulk of your racing schedule in the Southeast. I submit that NASCAR roots are very much alive and well. It’s history is relived rather regularly thanks to ESPN, and Daytona, Darlington, Martinsville and Bristol aren’t going anywhere. Do you think these people are complete morons?

The Chase? I think there are magnificent story lines this year. Any one of the top 12 could very much win it. Don’t be schocked Junior Nation if your beloved redhead goes out and wins it. The Car of Tomorrow? I’m not foolish enough to argue that the potential of the car and the qaulity of racing envisioned for it hasn’t been realized yet. But if you’re being intellectually honest, it is getting better. Jack Roush and Joe Gibbs’ team seem to have their programs up to speed, and there’s no question that HMS’ Jimmie Johnson has proven a quick study on setting up the new car. And you know what? No less than ol’ Darrell Waltrip said drivers hated the old car when it was new. Give it time, they’ll figure it out.

I could go on and on, and while I don’t care for ALL the changes, I can appreciate the efforts made to move NASCAR forward and ensure it longevity. Anybody who has followed other sports knows they’ve gone through their changes too and they haven’t always been embraced their fans. But change is a fact if life and we’d do well to get used to it.

Brian France would do well to make himself more accessible and open to hear from the fans, but would we do anything other than crucify him?

What I’m saying is give it rest people! If you really can’t take the sport as it is now, go down to your local dirt track and see what you think of how they run things. You may get that odk fashioned racing, but there’s a lot of baggage: political chicanery, competitive imbalance, cheating and other garbage that goes with it. The fact you’re reading this tells me you’re not quite ready to kick NASCAR to the curb.

I’m no Brian France apologist, but give the guy credit for wanting to grow the sport, move it forward, and at least acknowledging that not everybody has embraced his actions.

At it’s heart NASCAR is still the same. It’s the old “My car is faster than your car.” “Oh yeah? Prove it.”

The same as it ever was. Can we not at least give those, such as Brian Z. France their due for wanting to grow the sport and let NASCAR take its rightful place as one of America’s sports passions?