Three Questions...

First, there have been two drivers in the NASCAR Cup series who won seven championships in their career.



Richard Petty was the first to win seven titles. He won the last when 42 years old and across his racing life he earned the nickname “The King”. Then along came Dale Earnhardt. By the time Dale had won his seventh championship at 43 years of age he was known across the country as “The Intimidator”. Today we have a current driver who at the age of 35 has won an unprecedented five championships in a row and yet Jimmie Johnson has not been bestowed with a regal nickname. Yes, we know him by the acronym “JJ”, but that simply doesn’t fit the monumental achievement he’s made in this sport. Why do you think this is so? What do you think would be a good nickname for him?





Second, as I see it there are basically four types of racing venues in NASCAR’s Cup series, the short track (1mile around the track or less), the intermediate length track (between 1 and 2 miles), the superspeedways that are longer than 2 miles, and the road course tracks. Now go back in time. Back to the roots of stock car racing, back to the time when small community tracks were commonplace around the country. Most of the older drivers sprang from those tracks and most of the tracks were originally unpaved dirt tracks that required a driving style all their own. Given the sport’s history, why aren’t there any dirt track racing venues in today’s NASCAR Cup series?

Bristol's concrete was once covered with dirt for a race a few years back... Why not?

And third, two Joe Gibbs’ drivers surpassed 203 mph in Friday’s Sprint Cup practices at

Daytona International Speedway while a total of 10 drivers came in at over 200 mph and another group of four finished at 199. From all accounts the track’s new surface is so smooth it’s enhanced the drivers’ ability to “lock up” with another car (stay in close proximity without bouncing into each other) and thus push the envelope to ever increasing speeds. Given NASCAR’s mandate to keep speeds below 200 mph, do you think there will be a last minute change to an even smaller restrictor plate before race day on February 20th?

Now don't be shy... Let me know what you think...