May 14, 2009

Drivers call for banned substance list

NASCAR drivers are calling for NASCAR to provide a list of banned substances, according to Dustin Long.

Our View: NASCAR likes to play their cards close to their vest. And while it's perfectly right for them to police this drug policy, before they put something into motion that could destroy a driver's reputation, they owe fans, drivers and sponsors the courtesy of being open and communicative.

IRL: Day 7 Trackside report

IndyCar.com has been publishing daily reports from trackside at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Our View: This report has plenty of interesting tidbits, but when track activity is limited, fantasy owners will get little bang for their buck.

Burton team wins pit crew challenge

Jeff Burton's No. 31 team has won the pit crew challenge and set a new record in the process, according to the Sporting News Wire Service.

Our View: The team avoided mistakes and pushed the car across the line in 22.115 seconds. Flawless pit stops is one key to success in a NASCAR race.

N'Wide: Carpentier entered at Charlotte

Patrick Carpentier will drive a Toyota for SK Motorsports at Lowe's on May 23rd, according to SceneDaily.com.

Our View: A talented driver, Carpentier jumped feet first into the Cup series last year. If he wants to stay in NASCAR, this is a much better approach. He finished 17th with this team at Darlington.

Elliott's record attempt ends on a hook

Bill Elliott was attempting to set a new closed course record in a specialty-prepared Mustang, but it ended up on the hook after he crashed, according to al.com.

Our View: Rain limited Elliott's time on track, which may have caused him to push a little too hard. This car went 252 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats; the closed course record at Talladega is 212 and that was set by Elliott in 1987.

Earnhardt excited about new format

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is excited about the new format of the All-Star race, according to SceneDaily.com.

Our View: No points on the line should take away the pressure and Earnhardt believes he can get up on the wheel for the final 10-lap segment. This could be his best chance to get his first top-five in more than five years. Click here for a record of the last five years.

The Circus

Event Day Games Preview: Everybody loves a circus and that seems to be the theme behind every All-Star race.

What happens when you put a million dollars on the line and tell the drivers to come back with either the checkered flag or the steering wheel? All too often, they end up coming back with the steering wheel. The All-Star race offers no points and there is nothing to lose by putting your car in harm's way. Kyle Busch can tell you precisely how that affects a driver's style—he's never finished one of these events.

Jeff Gordon has finished his share of All-Star races, however, and he stands head and shoulders above his competition with three victories in this specialty event, but even a driver of his magnitude has not been immune to trouble. Since winning his latest in 2001, he's only cracked the top five twice and his last two races have been among his worst.

So, who will be the favorite? Well that's anyone's guess since only one driver has taken the money home twice in the last decade. Jimmie Johnson is a master of this track in both point-paying races and exhibitions, so don't be surprised to see him at the head of the field.

Join us at http://www.eventdaygames.com/ this week to play along with our unique fantasy game.