#40 Back in Action

On Wednesday Chip Ganassi Racing announced that Dario Franchitti has been given the opportunity to race in seven additional Nationwide Series races this season. The first will come this weekend at Watkins Glen International for the Zippo 200.

Franchitti has raced at Watkins Glen three times in the IRL, but he has yet to venture to the track to participate in a NASCAR event.

“I’m really looking forward to going to the Glen for my first Nationwide race there, as it’s a track I have always enjoyed,” Franchitti said of the track.

The remaining races that Franchitti will participate in are Michigan International Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Richmond International Raceway, Kansas Speedway, Lowe’s Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway.

Once a regular in the garage, he has been constricted on his appearance due to a lack of sponsorship that forced Chip Ganassi to shut down his Cup ride.

Despite his surplus in struggles this year, Franchitti remains confident that he and the No. 40 race team can succeed and collect a win at The Glen.

“The No. 40 Fastenal Dodge has been quick all year, and as a team we’re really looking forward to continued success throughout the rest of the season." Franchitti continued, "I have confidence in [crew chief] Brad Parrott and the boys that we can get it done at Watkins Glen, particularly after a very productive and enjoyable test at Road Atlanta last week.”

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Jack Roush throws McMurray under the bus!

Did you hear Jacks comments yesterday about his team? Love for all but Jamie. Nice way for a boss to support his teams.

Here is the article:
Team owner Jack Roush admits that Jamie McMurray is obviously the least productive member of his NASCAR Sprint Cup operation this season, but he did not say that meant McMurray would be the driver to leave the organization when Roush Fenway Racing cuts to four NASCAR Sprint Cup teams in 2010.

Speaking to media members at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Friday, Roush discussed the value of drivers in the garage and listed four of his drivers – Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and David Ragan - when talking about working to keep competitors from being taken by other teams. Asked later if he'd intentionally left McMurray off the list, Roush admitted that the driver has not performed up to the standard of the others.

Edwards, Biffle and Kenseth are all currently in Chase contention, with Ragan less than 100 points outside of what is now the locked in top 12 drivers. McMurray has been less successful this season and is currently 22nd in the Cup standings.

"Jamie is important to me," Roush said. "But today Jamie is not the driver that's been productive to the extent the other four are. I look forward, certainly I expected and expect great things from Jamie, but the productivity has not been there at this point."

Asked specifically if McMurray or his No. 26 team could be the ones eliminated when Roush slims down, the team owner said that decision had not been made and would not be for some time. He also pointed to his alignment with Yates Racing, which could possibly pick up what is now Roush Fenway's fifth team when the change is made. He denied that McMurray, or anyone, was currently a candidate to be the driver leaving the team.

"It really has more to do with the sponsor relationship than the driver, but one of the reasons I fostered the relationship I got with [team owners] Max [Jones] and with Doug [Yates] is to be able to have a place to put a sponsor, we do help them sell their sponsorships, we do help them with their marketing programs, we do all the engineering, we do build all the cars, so it's a closely affiliated relationship that maintains the covenants, the barriers that NASCAR wants to put up for competitive considerations, but it has not been determined that the 26 car or Crown Royal will go," Roush said. "I've got two more years. I've got the rest of 2008 and 2009 to sort that out."

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Dario sighting on Saturday @ Lime Rock Park

Dario Franchitti spotted at Lime Rock at the North East Grand Prix. He was watching his brother Marino Race in the ALMS series on Saturday.

I happened to be walking by him in the Paddock area and noticed a familiar face.
No Ashley sightings though.

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Lime Rock Park Race track gets a make over

A new chapter in the history of Lime Rock Park was written Thursday, 10 April 2008 as the track celebrated its Groundbreaking of “two Lime Rock Parks.�? A press conference was held to announce the multi-million dollar track upgrades, the repaving schedule and officially release the Lime Rock Park track(s) map.

“When The Club at Lime Rock Park was announced last July, we committed to spending all the capital raised on the facility. This capital plus the “I Helped Pave the Park�? campaign and track rental fee surcharges all contribute to this effort. The plan was to make the track safer, smoother with repaving and slow it down a little, particularly the downhill, without changing its character. We’re going to do better than that,�? Skip Barber, Track President, stated today.

Think “two Lime Rock Parks:�? 1) Classic Lime Rock - unchanged in fifty years and unchanged going forward, the fastest road course in North America, will be completely repaved and have significantly improved runoff areas; 2) the new or “Optional�? Lime Rock substitutes three wide and slower corners with increased overtaking opportunities, along with a wider and straighter Back Straight, additional upgraded runoff areas and will be a moderate speed track.

There is nothing Mickey Mouse – no chicanes – about the “Optional Lime Rock Park.�? Rather, it is a layout for the present - for the fast, high tech American Le Mans Series cars - and for any other group that chooses it. It is also a layout for the future as cars and tires continue to develop. With the new optional corners there are actually eight possible track configurations. It will be easy to switch from one course to another.

In addition to repaving “Classic Lime Rock,�? adding three optional corners and a new back straight, we will construct a longer and safer pit lane providing more pit boxes. The track is closing from 27 May – 2 July to complete all of this work.

In March a lot of work was done on the drive-over bridge that crosses the track. The bridge was raised 6.5 feet and now meets the F.I.A. specifications of being four meters above the track. New bridge abutments were built and are wide enough to accommodate a pedestrian bridge in the future.
We had hoped to rebuild the Paddock bathrooms, adding handicap mens and womens restrooms by Memorial Day weekend, but issues with building bathrooms in a 100-year flood plane (the Paddock) have delayed this project.

In January we purchased the 19-acre parcel on your left as you drive into the track off White Hollow Road. This will enable us to have a more dramatic entrance, add one of our optional corners (the new West Bend) where tickets are currently collected, improve the runoff area at Classic West Bend, and eventually have a straight shot at the drive-over bridge.

For specific information on track “options�? refer to the enclosed track layout. The Classic, unchanged track is grey; optional sections are blue; and the new pit lane is brown.

For further details on all track upgrades and improvements see the following information. Note: numbers below correspond with numbers on the map.

Note 1: Wide (40’) straight into hard braking wide left. Following right flows into existing heavily banked corner. Left/Right complex is wide – two abreast entering Back Straight is possible. Slower entry to No Name than the Classic course.

Note 2: Optional Straight: wide (40’) and straight. Small island between classic and new straight. Improved passing on straight. Harder braking at end. Good overtaking opportunity.

Note 3: Optional Uphill starts climbing earlier than Classic Uphill; crest is not as high – no chicane needed. The right at the end of the optional straight is much slower than Classic Uphill, which becomes runoff for new corner at end of new straight.

Note 4: Optional West Bend: Currently undecided on two rights or one hook in current ticket taking area. Objective is to have good overtaking and slower entry to the Downhill. All the berm on drivers left of Classic West Bend will be removed. Large, flat runoff area. These changes are possible by purchase of adjoining property and moving ticketing area to the west.

Note 5: Bridge raised to four meters (FIA spec) and runoff areas under bridge improved. Bridge abutments wide enough for future pedestrian bridge.

Note 6: New pit lane entrance. Current entrance eliminated. More pit boxes. False grid moved – new pit entrance takes no space from the Sunoco Paddock.

Note 7: New paved runoff drivers left and right on the Downhill. Size not finalized.

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Dario's got a new sponsor

Connecticut financial services giant takes step into Sprint cup racing sponsorship. The Hartford will be showing off the Stag on the hood of Dario Francitti's car starting at the Bristol Race. The Hartford will be an associate sponsor through out the 2008 season.

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Wake Me Up When It's Time to Race

"Will someone please wake me when it's time for the green flag to drop for the Budweiser Shootout and the Gatorade Duels....."

Is anybody else tired of all the nothingness, wasted time, meaningless pronogtiscation, guessing games and endless questions about what may or may not happen and what people think might happen ? We have borderline media "oversaturation" here.....

For some reason, the build-up to the pending race season is missing much of the customary glamour and contagiously inspirational joy fans have come to anticipate. Such misgivings occur, perhaps because of focus changes and the knowledge that NASCAR is "running scared" in its realization and clear understanding that its fan base has a tremendous amount of power and more ability to affect and control the success and or failure of the sport than previously acknowledged.

It is true. Tickets do not have to be bought. Televisions do not have to be watched, and souvenirs do not have to be purchased. Fans have power and have figured out that collectively, they can make their influence felt. What they think matters, and their opionions are more often than not, intelligently formulated and well though out. As time goes on, NASCAR will continue to be tested, evaluated and taken to task.

Suddenly, it is simply not enough to accept everything NASCAR says and does as the gospel. If something is deemed wrong, unfair, unscrupulous or out of whack, in any way, it just will not fly. NASCAR will hear about questions, by way of radio complaints, internet messages, blogs and correspondence to sponsors. 2008 is a year which finds a population, historically of the lemming persuasion, much more akin to parrots, hawks, falcons and eagles. NASCAR fans are strong, tough birds. As much as possilble needs to be done to assure the racing community that it is important and it will receive the best possible value and benefit for every dollar it invests in the sport.

Fans have had enough drama and uncertainty !

Let's just get to Daytona and get the cars on the track and race. Make that new car run successfully ! Let's have a season of "Ups", with as few "Downs" as possible !

Enough about Dale Earnhardt, Jr., as darling as he is. Enough about Hendrick and Gibbs and Tony Stewart's contract. No more about the financial problems of the car manufacturers and who doesn't have sponsorship. Fans are not callous, but the economy affects us too, and we have our own worries.

Let the "Open Wheelers" show what they can do in their cars, and spare us any more tales of their debuts. Testing is good, but how much does it really mean with regard to actual race performance. Let's temper our enthusiasm about it.

Understand that while the idea of getting back to basics has merit, no one in their right mind expects drivers to get out of their cars and punch each other out to express their displeasure. Didn't the Carl Edwards - Matt Kenseth episode teach us anything ? Hooliganism will not be condoned or considered appropriate. There is a difference between enthusiastic disagreement and classless raucousness. Do that stuff in private, if you must.

It won't be much longer before the real fun begins, so let's not wear ourselves out with mundane trivialities. It is said, " It's the quiet ones you have to watch..." and Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch have been mighty quiet. They'll have something for us soon......especially Busch !

This fan will relax now....until it is time to cheer for real, and any an all excitement will be reserved for when that happens.

If anything monumental occurs, buzz me. Until then, I think I can survive without the meaningless mental clutter.

p.s. If I was headed to Daytona, I might feel a little differently and a lot happier.....

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NASCAR Drivers On Ice

What goes faster in winter? How about Bobsled racing! Connecticut's own Joey Logano is participating. What can't that kid race?
Boris Said takes pole! (takes after his father)

Here is the story from SI:

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (AP) -Joey Logano looked up at the scoreboard as dusk fell over the bobsled track at Mount Van Hoevenberg and shook his head.

"He brought some heat. Damn! How did he do that?'' Logano lamented Friday after road race ace Boris Said won the pole for the Bodine Bobsled Challenge. "I was doing good, but I hit the nose and hit the rear. I've got to find a little heat. I'm not here to run second.''

Said, whose late father, Bob, drove in the 1968 and 1972 Winter Olympics for the U.S. bobsled team, continued his nearly impeccable record in this unique event. He's won all but one of the races since the Bobsled Challenge debuted in 2006.

"After winning three out of four, the odds go down that you're going to win all of them,'' said Said, who edged drag racer Morgan Lucas by .23 seconds over two qualifying runs.

Former NASCAR Cup driver Larry Gunselman was third, followed by Craftsman Truck Series driver Johnny Benson and Logano, Busch East Series champion.

This is the third edition of the Bobsled Challenge, which features race car drivers on ice. Former NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine has been involved with bobsledding since watching the 1992 Winter Olympics on television and noticing that the U.S. teams were using European-made sleds. He created the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project Inc. to help make sure U.S. sleds would be made in America, and his efforts have since helped provide the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation with sleds designs involving NASCAR technology.

And it's starting to pay off. The United States has won four medals in the last two Winter Olympic Games, and current driver Steve Holcomb is the defending two-man and overall World Cup champion and tops the international field this season with three golds, two silvers and a bronze in six World Cup races.

The Bobsled Challenge, whose chief sponsors are Chevrolet and Whelen Engineering, will feature two separate races on Saturday. In the morning event, all 15 drivers will make two runs, and whoever turns in the lowest combined time wins.

In the second race, drivers will be split into two groups - five NASCAR guys against five drag racers from the NHRA - and it will be like a drag race with the drivers competing head-to-head. The final heat will feature the top NASCAR driver against the top NHRA driver, with the winner claiming gold.

"I don't think the NASCAR guys want to get beat by the NHRA guys, so we'll do our best to keep them behind us,'' Whelen Modified champ Donny Lia said.

Also competing are: two-time Busch Series champ Randy LaJoie; Craftsman Truck Series champions Todd Bodine and Ron Hornaday Jr.; Whelen All-American Series champ Steve Carlson; Whelen Southern Modified Tour champ L.W. Miller; and draggers J.R. Todd, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Phil Burkhart and Bob Vandergriff.

Members of the New York State Army National Guard will serve as brakemen on all sleds.

Logano, one of the very young guns of NASCAR who will make his Cup debut at Dover in May - a week after he turns 18 - proved a quick study a day after seeing a bobsled track up close and personal for the first time in his life.

"When you walk the place is where it really sets in,'' said Logano, a developmental driver for Joe Gibbs Racing. "That pretty much is a wall (of ice). You're like upside down.''

Indeed. No pansy 34-degree banked turns like NASCAR's so-called bullring in Bristol, Tenn.

"This was probably more nerve-racking than qualifying for the Daytona 500 because you don't know what to expect,'' said Hornaday, another rookie here. "You don't know the track conditions, you don't understand the track conditions. We're down there running into the walls. It's like Bristol and Martinsville all over again.''

Especially for Todd and Carlson, who flipped in practice but escaped unscathed.

"This is pretty wild stuff,'' said Benson, also a first-timer. "I rode the first time I went down, and after I rode I was like, 'You know, it would be all right if I didn't drive.'''

Lia discovered the secret of going fast - it's the sled. He topped the speed charts on his first run and was next to last the second time down after switching sleds. Said was nowhere near the top in practice, switched sleds with Lucas, and became the man to beat.

"There's a couple of sleds that are way off, and this is one of them,'' Lia said. "We get a better sled, and we'll be all right. You don't get a good sled, it don't matter how you drive, you ain't going to go fast.''

And rest assured Lucas won't be lending his sled come race time.

"I've got dibs on that one,'' he said.

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• Logano

New Year's resolutions are a lot like NASCAR's rule book

Always changing.

Seldom taken seriously.

Just kidding. Many people take New Year's resolutions very seriously. At worst, according to what the experts agree is the most popular resolution, they are a great excuse to go on a diet.

Look what they did for Tony Stewart.

Again, kidding. Stewart's diet had nothing to do with a resolution so he didn't technically break one. Maybe this year, now that he's shown his physique has more to do with a love for milkshakes than trying to improve the handling of his car, he'll make it official with a toast.

Then when he gets ticked off at NASCAR for throwing fake debris cautions, he can refer to his mid-section as proof things can change.

Or not.

Ever wonder what your favorite driver's resolution might be? Since most are circling the globe, or at least the North Carolina foothills, we can't get that information for you right now.

But we can take a stab at what each driver might vow to do heading into 2008. Let's do it NASCAR style by taking the top 35 in owners' points from last season. The rest are on their own.

1. Jimmie Johnson -- Learn to dance like Helio Castroneves so he doesn't get overshadowed during next year's appearance on "Good Morning America.''

2. Jeff Gordon -- Hire Colin Farrell and Lindsay Lohan to teach drivers how to show their personality and wild side without being fined by NASCAR or showing private parts.

3. Clint Bowyer -- Close Jack Daniels lemonade stand at his Welcome, N.C., go-kart track during weekly neighborhood races with kids.

4. Matt Kenseth -- Hire a trainer, get to a gym and work on upper-body strength for the rematch with Carl Edwards.

5. Kyle Busch -- Develop profile for Match.com or just call Central Casting and request a NASCAR wife.

6. Tony Stewart -- Give up hot dogs and milkshakes for sushi and sake to keep new manufacturer happy.

7. Kurt Busch -- Be first driver to sign up for Jeff Gordon's class with Colin Farrell and Lindsay Lohan.

8. Jeff Burton -- Get owner Richard Childress to build a two-seater race car so brother Ward can join him in a race.

9. Carl Edwards -- Buy complete DVD collection of "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Leave It to Beaver."

10. Kevin Harvick -- Start wearing dresses to driver introductions so NASCAR officials can differentiate him his wife, DeLana.

11. Martin Truex Jr. -- Take team owner Teresa Earnhardt on an "off the record" bow hunting trip -- see Teresa's "off the record" media party during banquet week in New York City -- and tell her he'll sign a long-term extension for 50 percent of DEI.

12. Denny Hamlin -- Invite neighbor/team owner Joe Gibbs to his famous house parties to ease the stress from his day job as coach of the Washington Redskins.

13. Ryan Newman -- Give his points to new Penske Racing teammate Sam Hornish Jr. in return for his Indianapolis 500 trophy. Or at least make more races than Hornish.

14. Greg Biffle -- Take his three boxers -- Foster, Gracie and Savannah -- to visit Michael Vick once a month in prison.

15. Casey Mears -- Buy billboard on Papa Joe Hendrick Way so owner and Hendrick Motorsports teammates remember his name.

16. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- Create rehab center for hyped-up Junior fans who drink as much AMP and Mountain Dew as they used to Budweiser. Invite stepmother Teresa (once she returns from hunting trip with Truex) over for a get-to-know-you dinner.

17. Mark Martin -- Get a hearing aid so he can hear all the boos of Dale Jr. fans when he is introduced as the driver of the No. 8 and then tell the media how much the support means to him.

18. Jamie McMurray -- Start charity foundation for drivers who win a Cup race once every five years.

19. Bobby Labonte -- Get hair extensions so he can have a ponytail so nobody will notice when teammate Kyle Petty takes over his ride to guarantee a spot in the field.

20. Kasey Kahne -- Provide case of Budweiser to track security officials after shoving them.

21. Juan Pablo Montoya -- Lobby NASCAR to race only on road courses.

22. J.J. Yeley -- Convince other drivers that DLP doesn't stand for "Don't Let Pass."

23. Reed Sorenson -- Have Dario Franchitti's wife, Ashley Judd, introduce him to some of her friends.

24. David Ragan -- Install GPS system in race car to help him find his way around the track.

25. Tony Raines -- Get a job as a taxi driver in New York City so he knows -- the only way he will -- how those who make the Chase feel when they drive around Times Square.

26. David Stremme -- Date Paris Hilton until an owner will give him a ride.

27. Elliott Sadler -- Start shooting for top-10 finishes instead of furry animals in the woods.

28. Robby Gordon -- Follow sponsor Jim Beam's slogan and "Drive Responsibly."

29. Paul Menard -- Change last name so Tony Stewart stops picking on him for being a daddy's boy.

30. Ricky Rudd -- Stay retired longer than Mark Martin.

31. Jeff Green -- Build brick wall in driveway at home so he has something to hit on Sundays.

32. David Gilliland -- Get bucket hat, red shirt to go with Gilligan nickname.

33. Johnny Sauter -- Become the recipient of Jamie McMurray Foundation's first donation.

34. Dave Blaney -- Thank Michael Waltrip and Dale Jarrett for making him the top Toyota driver in 2007.

35. Kyle Petty -- Spend more time hosting "Tradin' Paint" rather than actually trading paint.

From David Newton who covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. He can be reached at dnewtonespn@aol.com.

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NASCAR needs to let drivers be entertainers

Jimmie Johnson, the 2007 Nextel Cup champion, seems to be a good person.
Except for a few wrecks here and there — OK, a few multi-car wrecks at Talladega Superspeedway — Johnson has done very little to earn the disdain he sometimes gets from fans.
By most accounts, Johnson does and says all the right things off the track, making him the type of charming, clean-cut, All-American boy most mothers would want their daughters to marry.
But most NASCAR fans don't want clean-cut All-Americans. Many prefer hot-under-the-collar, rough-and-tumble roughnecks, the type of fierce competitors more likely to throw a punch than point a finger and craft a clever zinger.
They want drivers with personality. Colorful, aggressive, entertaining personality.
That's not Jimmie Johnson.
By most accounts, Johnson is as predictable and as vanilla as they come.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. Like in any sport, you need a few choirboys to balance out the hoodlums and thugs.
But NASCAR, it seems, has a few too many choirboys and not enough bad ones.
According to many fans, NASCAR has totally sanitized the sport of all color and personality.
It has done this by cracking down on drivers who show any hint of temper or emotion.
Take a swing or a shove at someone and you pay a big fine. Spin somebody on purpose and you get fined and possibly suspended for a race. Defy a NASCAR order and you get all of the above, plus a tongue-lashing like you haven't seen since kindergarten.

And God help you if you let a curse word slip on TV. Do that and NASCAR may: Suspend you for a race; take away valuable championship points; make you film a public service announcement; and fine your mother.
According to many fans, it's such sanitation efforts that have deluded NASCAR of much of its character and personality, in effect leaving it devoid of the characters that used to make the sport interesting.
Many of NASCAR's biggest stars would never have survived in today's climate.
Dale Earnhardt? He'd be broke from paying all the fines levied for rough driving. Cale Yarborough and the Allison brothers? They'd be banned for life for fighting.
Darrell Waltrip and his legendary tongue? Well, let's just say he wouldn't be able to afford a TV, much less have a career in broadcasting.
And NASCAR officials are scratching their heads wondering why TV ratings are sinking.
If it wants to attract more viewers and keep fans interested, then NASCAR needs to loosen its reigns a bit and allow drivers and its teams to show more emotion, even if it leads to an occasional punch or scuffle.
It should even look for ways to encourage more door-slamming action followed by pit-road confrontations. Even a little more name-calling wouldn't hurt.
Apparently, NASCAR Chairman Brian France concurs. Asked recently about the perception that there is no personality among its drivers, France seemed concerned and hinted that NASCAR might lighten up a bit when it comes to stiff penalties for such incidents.
"We are going to look at being careful ... we obviously want to give appropriate penalties when someone does something wrong and we want to guard against escalation where one things leads to another," he said. "As a league we are concerned about things that can spiral on you, but I think we are going to be very careful not to stymie the personalities because they are so worried that NASCAR is going to levy big penalties. This an emotional sport and lots of things happen and we have to make sure that their personalities and emotions aren't missed as part of what people like to see about NASCAR."
NASCAR appeared to be moving in that direction late this season. It decided against penalizing Kevin Harvick and Juan Pablo Montoya for their helmet-grabbing confrontation on the track at Watkins Glen International. And it basically ignored Carl Edwards' angry, confrontation with Matt Kenseth at Martinsville Speedway, despite the fact that it attracted more than 600,000 viewers on YouTube and scared the daylights out of slight-of-build racers everywhere. That's what NASCAR officials need to do more of it in 2008: Turn their heads and pretend they saw nothing.
Obviously, NASCAR can't totally ignore violent incidents that endanger lives and publicly embarrass the sport. But it can give its drivers a bit more leeway when it comes to stirring things up and showing raw emotion.
Drivers and officials concede that NASCAR today is as much entertainment as racing.
So let them entertain.

Jeff Owens is a writer for NASCAR Scene, which is published weekly, 50 weeks per year. Visit www.scenedaily.com for more information. © 2007 Street & Smith Sports Group

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Get over it, Gordon fans: Chase is here to stay

It's amazing how quickly people can forget why a change was made.

I'm talking to you, Mr. Traveling Businessman. The one who demanded tighter post-9/11 security but still refuses to go to the airport a little earlier, and then raises a ruckus in the slow-moving X-ray line.

I'm talking to you, Mr. I Hate Instant Replay Guy. The dude who cried for video playback in the NFL and college football, but now loves to scream and yell about game delays every time it's used.

And yes, I'm talking to you Mr. The Chase Has Ruined NASCAR. The guy who likes to drag out the old pre-2004 points system and talk about how much better it was, how Jeff Gordon is getting a raw deal, and how more exciting life was before Brian France's brainstorm.

Are you nuts? You think the old way was better? If so, you probably also think "I Love Lucy" should still be airing in prime time and Pat Boone is cutting edge.

Have you forgotten why the Chase was invented in the first place? That glorious day at Rockingham in November 2003, when Matt Kenseth clinched his first Cup title with one race left in the season, the final stanza of a sleepy six-month waltz to the championship? The following week's season finale at Homestead-Miami might as well have been run inside an airport hangar in the middle of the Sahara. Kenseth finished dead last with a blown engine on Lap 28 and sat in the garage for three hours waiting for an awkwardly staged week-late celebration. It was the fifth time in six seasons that the final race of the year had been as meaningful as Brit and K-Fed's marriage license.

Yes, we realize that Jimmie Johnson's Cup is all but engraved (thanks, Gordon, for being so kind as to point that out at Phoenix), but at least there is still some doubt. Thanks to the Chase, Johnson holds an 86-point lead with one race remaining, what amounts to about a 20-position difference on the track. One blown motor and his Cup is gone. Without the Chase format, Gordon would have closed the door on another ho-hum points title nearly a month ago and this weekend we'd all be talking about Michigan-Ohio State instead of racing.

In case you need a reminder, or five, here's a look at the biggest points beatdowns since the current scale was first implemented in 1975. Perhaps a look back on what frequently was will remind you of how boring this year could have been.

5. 1994, Dale's Demolition -- Dale Earnhardt by 444 points over Rusty Wallace, clinched with two races to go

In 1994, Dale Earnhardt closed out one of the great show-killing performances in NASCAR history with one of the best one-man shows in racing. The Intimidator left Rockingham with a crushing race victory and a record-tying seventh Winston Cup title. The Cup officially became his on Lap 303 of 492, when Rusty Wallace popped an engine. With two races still remaining in the season, Earnhardt eventually built his final margin over Wallace to a massive 444 points.

4. 1977 and '78, Cale's Bells -- Cale Yarborough by 386 and 474 points, clinched each with two races to go

The second stanzas of Cale Yarborough's historic Cup three-peat were nearly identical smackdowns of the ugliest order. Both championships were clinched at Rockingham with two races remaining in the season. He outlasted Richard Petty by 386 points in '77, the final nail coming via a fourth-place finish at The Rock, his 25th top-10 finish in 30 races. One year later he won the Cup by picking up his 10th win of the season. Over the two years his combined average finish for 60 starts was a tidy fifth.

3. 1987, Start Fast, Finish Fast -- Dale Earnhardt by 489 points over Bill Elliott, clinched with two races to go

If it had been a prizefight, they would have thrown the towel over Elliott's head in the second round and hauled Earnhardt off to jail for cruel and unusual punishment. Awesome Bill started the season with a win in the Daytona 500, then sat and watched as the Man in Black cranked out six wins over the next seven weeks, including four straight. With 10 races remaining in the season, Earnhardt's lead was already 498 points, but to prove his point, he won three more in a row. The title was clinched at -- where else? -- Rockingham on Oct. 25.

2. 1998-2001, Early Finales Abound -- All four titles clinched with one race remaining

After three consecutive tight points races, the dullards moved back in to stay in 1998, ushered to the forefront by Jeff Gordon's 13-win season of 1998, the finest single year since Earnhardt's '87 effort. Gordon won his third title in four years by 364 points over Dale Jarrett (and, yes, he clinched it at Rockingham), but it wasn't actually that close. Jarrett won in '99 by 201 points over Bobby Labonte, Labonte came back to win the Cup in 2000 by 265 over Earnhardt, and Gordon stunk up the show once again with a 349-point back-breaker in '01.

Four years, four early clinches, average margin of victory: 295 points. This was the stretch that planted the idea of the Chase into Mr. France's brain, finally kicked into action after Kenseth's nearly identical snoozer effort two years later.

1. 1975, A Royal Butt-Whupping -- Richard Petty by 722 points over Dave Marcis, clinched with four races to go

When the 1975 season started, NASCAR was employing its fifth different points system in nine seasons. Richard Petty had won Cup titles under each of the first four systems thanks to a simple philosophy. "We tried to figure those new systems out, but quit after a while. We figured that if we just kept winning races, the championships would come. That seemed to work out for us."

And how. The King won 13 races and picked up 24 top-10s in 30 starts, and his average finish of 6.6 was nearly two times better than the next closest competitor, Dave Marcis. Petty clinched his sixth Cup with a whopping four races remaining in the season, the only NASCAR title ever won at the Charlotte … ahem … Lowe's Motor Speedway.

"Richard may have clinched at Charlotte," Marcis recalled. "But in reality it was over by July fourth."

So next time you start grousing about the Chase, take a moment to ponder that thought. July 4? Any real race fan will always take a meaningful final 10 races over a midsummer beatdown any day, any year, any time. Unless, of course, it's his favorite driver who would have been the champ.

Ryan McGee, the editor-in-chief at NASCAR Images and a motorsports writer for ESPN The Magazine, is the author of "ESPN Ultimate NASCAR: 100 Defining Moments in Stock Car Racing History."

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