A lot a news going on in the world of racing this past week, so forgive me for only mentioning a few items:

Turns out Max Mosely, FIA President, wasn't actually involved in a N*azi sex fantasy with four women after all. It was just a German prison fantasy. Well, there you go...I feel so much better about it now.

Tony staying or going? Ryan staying or going? Martin staying or going? DEI staying or going? Is Joey comng up? Is Dario going back to open-wheel? In or out, In or out? Don't know, but I have been taking quite a bit of Advil lately.

Good race on Saturday night. Lot's of action up front, middle and rear. People were running all over the place. At the end, bottles and cans were thrown at the competitors. People were cheering and booing. There were fireworks. Long lines after it was all over to leave and make their way home.  Oh,  you thought I was talking about the race...nope, that was my night at the bar.  But we did all have different makes of vehicles to drive on the way out.

The race? Yeah, yeah, it was good. Still is restrictor-plate racing, though. I give NASCAR credit that handling actually matters after 15 laps o####reen-flag run. That wasn't the case up until the last two years. Talladega, however, is another matter. I know several folks here that love that race and I'm not bashing it at all. But come on, can't we do something to break it up a little? Hanahan and HotfootLori don't burn my image in effigy for that last statement.

TNT - Hmmmmm. I would like to say good things about "Wide Open Coverage". But, if you ask me (and for these purposes, please do) it would seem that this is the minimum amount of coverage we SHOULD expect from the broadcast partners. It really is no different than what they did in the late-90's when TBS covered the Coca Cola 600. If ESPN/ABC can manage it with the IRL, there is no reason it can't be used full-time with Cup racing. Can we also tell Wally and Kyle that we like their kidding around, but when something actually happens on the track, please refer to the action only?

The F1 race was stellar. It was exciting. It was tense. I know that those three words are not used to describe that series often. Usually it's an exciting first lap and then a wait until pit stops and early retirements, followed by endless blocking maneuvers. Not on Sunday. Yes, Lewis Hamilton ran away from the field. But cars were spinning in the wet like the ballet. Rain just makes for compelling racing in F1. Ruebens Barrichello and his team made the call of the race to pit for rain slick tires, while the rest of the field stayed on the intermediate's compound. He unlapped himself and, at one point, was running 9 seconds a lap faster than the rest of the field. Unfortunately, he needed an additional fuel stop at the end and settled on the podium in 3rd. Nick Heidfeld ran an excellent race to finish runner-up and continue BMW's resurgence. It was a bad day for Ferrari with 5 spins between Massa and Kimi. Wait, did you hear that? Felipe just spun again when I wrote that....

The IRL at Watkins Glen was, surprisingly, a bit boring. I really like (and always have) the track. Helio was in trouble after the morning run and went laps down quickly. Justin Wilson had more bad luck. Dan Wheldon was run into the back early and had suspension damage. Scott Dixon and Ryan Briscoe dominated early and that put me to sleep. But then Danica Patrick inexplicably spun leaving the pits and almost took out the Ganassi crew. EJ Visio drove Vitor Meira into the concrete barrier in turn one and made Vitor look like the gopher from Caddyshack with his hands flailing staight up and down. Cue  Kenny Loggins "I'm all right, don't nobody worry 'bout me." Then Dixon, cleaning his tires on a late caution, spun like a top and took himself and Briscoe out of a chance to win. Ryan Hunter Reay - yes that's right - an American male, in an American open wheel series took the checkered flag. Way to go dude!

The Chase(r) - Were getting closer to Richmond. Remember that I've been saying that Greg Biffle is going to be on the outside looking in when we leave VA. Look, I think Greg is a very talented driver. But there is just something funny about that team. Bonehead things happen to him at the worst possible times. Bad wheels, pit stops, loose lug nuts, untimely green flag pit stops, caught up in accidents - it doesn't seem to matter. He is running better than his current position, but I don't think they will have enough "finishes" to keep himself inside the top-twelve. Look for the Biff to be strong at Michigan,  California and maybe Chicagoland. But Watkins Glen and Bristol will mean he needs to be top-ten at the Brickyard and Pocono.

Martin Truex just lost 150 points. Don't think he is out yet, but don't know where he will make it up. Brian Vickers (come on BVick!) can still get it done. He needs to stay clean at the shorter venues and get a couple of top-fives at the 2+ mile tracks. I am backing off my proclamation that Kurt Busch is out of it. Sorry KLV,  for giving up on the Miller Lite team so quickly. But it seems as though karma has turned in his favor. He can win at least three of the remaining pre-chase tracks - Michigan, Bristol and California. Believe he will get some help from either Harvick or Bowyer, who seem to be just getting finishes right now.

Well, that's all for me. Time to get back inside for a frosty one(s).

P.S. - How many Green-White-Checker finishes have actually run green until the finish? My guess is about 33%. Anyone else care to do the research,  please help yourself.