California was good as gold! I'm not a big California fan, but this race was great! Everyone seemed to get that we wanted a race, not a continuation of the drama. California was the best season opener we could have asked for. Thank you, California.

            I was very happy with the pre-race festivities and was actually looking forward to the race, even though I knew it would most likely end in a Hendrick win. I quickly realized this race would not provide much seat time. The first twenty could've been the last the way they were driving. They were going fast and getting so close to the wall that you'd swear they hit it. This was defiantly an on your feet race.

As with Kevin Harvick, at Daytona, a weekend sweep would come into view again. That sweep came to fruition as Matt Kenseth took the checkered flag on Sunday. If this keeps up they'll have to change the old saying to, "Win on Saturday, win on Sunday,  breathe on Monday." Matt Kenseth owned California. There have been many whispers of a title for Kenseth; this is defiantly a good way to start. Last week, however, was not a good way to start, and I don't know if Kenseth can overcome that penalty. He has returned with a vengeance, though, and I have to appreciate their ability to rise above. The two I just knew would take the race? Well, Jeff Gordon came close and so did Jimmie Johnson, but the 1-2 became a 2-3, I am heartbroken, not.

On the subject of unleaded fuel, there really seemed to be no difference. The engines out of the DEI stable didn't take to well to California. Engine problems are not new for DEI, so the fuel may not have been a factor. California is notoriously hard on engines and it is possible that the fuel may have acerbated the problem for DEI. Using a new fuel mix requires some slight changes in calculations, if you don't get it right it can cause problems. These minor but critical adjustments can cause other problems to surface. I'm not sure that the fuel can be blamed, though; it didn't pose a problem for the majority.

As I look east, to Nevada, I know I will not sit much for that race either. Hey, if it scares Kurt Busch, it's gotta be fun! A toast to California, you were great. A toast to Matt Kenseth for giving his fans what they knew was coming. A toast to Jeff and Jimmie for continuing to dominate at California. Oh, and to Mark Martin, I think someone is trying to tell you it's not time to retire, again.

I was against the Busch series going to Mexico, and I'm against any race outside of the U.S. The main reason being that it takes a race date away from an American track. Many of the most beloved tracks have found themselves being cut from the schedule to make way for newer tracks already. With a schedule already packed with good tracks, and new one's being built, why widen the track pool? I have no objections to non-point exhibition races. On off weeks, teams could choose to participate, or not, and it would not affect a national title. How is this a National organization if a points race is staged outside of the borders? We already have Toyota racing, which makes this, technically, an International league, can't we at least keep the races here? I guess it's a mute point, at least in the Busch Series. P.S. Why doesn't Toyota buy out Chrysler and totally manufacture their cars for America here? By definition that would make them American cars. (We don't call Chrysler a German car.) Hmm.....

         Just Like Starting Over

            So, now that the debacle at Daytona is over, I have decided to wipe the slate clean. Well, after I carry on for a bit. This years Daytona 500 was so plagued by bad news, that a lot of good things were forgotten. So much emphasis was put on Michael Waltrip making the race, that some real feel-good stories were treated as bylines. I was more upset with the time being wasted saying the same things over and over, than I was with the actual cheating. To be fair to Michael, if cheating really was the big story (and not just a Toyota team cheating) they should've spent some more time on other teams. As much as I like Kasey Kahne what Kenny Francis is accused of doing is no less blatant than what David Hyder is accused of, as well as the Kenseth team. I stand by what I believed was right in the beginning; these three drivers should have been disqualified from the race. This would have made a point. Still, these drivers were in, they felt the rush, the sponsors got their name out, and they were in the Daytona 500. Meanwhile, James Hylton sat on the side lines.

            (I am in no way trying to imply that any of these drivers were knowledgeable or culpable in any of the infractions, I am only saying that to hurt a team and stop the cheating by any one person, the driver is the way, because missing a race hurts more than a few pocketbooks.)

            During the Duels the saga of Mikey continued. We had the cameras going to Buffy, the announcers singing his praises. They made it into an epic drama, like he was a hero out to conquer the beast. Meanwhile, another Mike's family, who really needed this, were treated as another byline. Mike Wallace would race in the Daytona 500! This was the good story, but nobody cheated, so pat him on the back and go find Waltrip. By the way, thanks Marlin, despite the image, you're okay with me. Let's not forget that Robert Yates Racing should've been the story of the week. They put a rookie and a veteran on the front row and for some reason discussing the caterer's sterno was more interesting.

            I am ashamed as I look back at Daytona, and it really looks bad on NASCAR, because it makes it look like it really is about the money to them. That kind of ruins the hopes for more small teams and venues. I try to focus on the good, yet a dark cloud floats above. As I try to walk away with the good, I realize that the good will not be what is spoken of, but we will hear about the bad forever. As I leave Daytona behind, I can only hope that California will be brighter.

            I would like to toast a few good men, before I go. A toast to James Hylton, for proving that passion and ability do not fade with age. To Robert Yates Racing, for proving that teas can rebuild and make an impact. To Mike Wallace, his family, and his team, for reminding us what it really means to be in the Daytona 500. And a toast to the "King of Boo's", Kurt Busch, for being man enough to say ,"I'm sorry", even though it really wasn't his fault. I am a die hard Tony Stewart fan, but Tony got loose and (-25pts.) happened. Kurt thought it was his fault and he was not happy with himself, which shows a maturity that had previously been absent. I think Kurt deserves a little respect.

            In closing, I would like to say that Michael Waltrip's daughter penalized him worse than NASCAR ever could. NASCAR gave Michael Waltrip Racing a good spanking, but Macy brought Michael to his knees. She made him realize that no matter whose fault it was, he would be held accountable. NASCAR fines and fan opinions can be overcome with time, but Michael may find his private penalties last a lot longer. I say Michael has paid enough and so have we. Off to the land of sun, surf, and unleaded race fuel!

           I am done with everyone trying to defend Michael Waltrip's behavior. If the team cheat wasn't bad enough, he spins Jr. for no apparent reason. The racing "bumps" that spin, I understand, but this was not "just racing". I don't know if Mikey has Daytona brain freeze or what, but spinning another driver, especially Jr., wasn't a smart move. If he comes out and says he didn't see him, then we'll really know how much he will blame his team instead of himself. If he had no idea Jr. was there, then he needs to fire everyone on his team that had a view and a radio. With crew chiefs and spotters, how does this happen? I believe it happened because Mikey wanted to join that train and wasn't waiting to get a boarding pass. If you can squeeze in, take it, but with where he hit Jr.'s car there could not have been anyone stupid enough to tell him, "Clear." I am sure of one thing, if Mikey doesn't take the rap, he should be ashamed, yet again.

            So, he made it in and all is forgotten? No, "I'm sorry" to Jr., just self pity. Oh, poor Mikey, his team cheated and they took it out on him, oh, woe is Mikey. He's lucky they let him in the race. I have respected many drivers, including Waltrip, but it will take a lot more than a spot in the 500 to forget this week. Pity?  The ones who need pity are the members of his teams and Toyota. Personally, I think Michael has way too much on his mind, but a clear conscious isn't part of that.

 

The fines have been passed down, it's official,  until NASCAR decides it needs to "re-address the issue". Robin Pemberton let Toyota off the hook. (One Toyota driver was it, why were there murmurs about Toyota, anyway?) Waltrip's crew chief, David Hyder, and the team manager, Bobby Kennedy, were suspended "indefinitely". I understand the crew chief, but if NASCAR is going to imply that the team manager should have known what his team was doing, then why not assume that Michael did, too. Another good point on that is- if your going to dock Buffy 100 owner points and Michael 100 driver points, why no suspension? If they really want to make a point about cheating, make the driver sit out a race. I wonder if Michael wasn't the star of the Toyota show, would he be racing on Sunday? I am not trying to imply that NASCAR is favoring Toyota; but they do want this to work because it will make money, it could've been any new manufacturer, and Dodge was the same coming in.

I have heard it from both sides, this is NASCAR trying to mess up Toyota by messing with Mikey, and it's NASCAR trying to help Toyota by not suspending Mikey. Any way you want to take this story, the bottom line is, NASCAR fines need to be consistent. If you assume the driver knew, it's not enough, you have to prove it. Other members of the team are not so lucky, they can fall under the "we believe he had knowledge" or the "he should've known" categories. I will say that the nice little donation David Hyder will be making to the drivers fund of $100,000 will definitely make other crew chiefs think twice before they reach for a "foreign substance" again.

To sum it up, Robin Pemberton said the official that initially found the substance, which was in the intake manifold, said he had never seen anything like it before. Michael Waltrip was given a chance to replace the intake and the substance was found again. Pemberton went on to say that it was unlike anything NASCAR had seen in recent years. It was noted that the substance was not any kind of oil, like Michael had earlier claimed. Pemberton stated, when asked how long "indefinite" was, "it's a very long time." He added that it would be up to the team to re-apply for credentials, implying that they will not return soon.

So are the days of our NASCAR lives. That's why I love this sport, it never gets boring. NASCAR has sent Waltrip's car back to their R&D Center, so we should know before too long what the famous "foreign substance" really is. For now the guesses have been from jet fuel to the stuff under the catering trays. I just hope Michael didn't have anything to do with this.