Full Throttle

It’s not every day you can say NASCAR has made the right move. The release of the 2008 Sprint Cup schedule does give a slight clue the sanctioning body can go down the Path of Correctness on occasion.

The first noteworthy change is the removal of the off week after the season opening Daytona 500.

Having the 500 open the season, which traditionally garners the highest TV ratings of the year, followed by an off week has been universally panned as silly at best, idiotic at worst.

In seasons past NASCAR Nation has been hyped to the peak of excitement leading up to and during the two-week speed fest. And then, just when fans are at their collective peaks, nothing, everything falls flat for two weeks. It’s a PCNA mandated Coitus Interruptus.

But that’s gone now with the first off week after the fifth race of the season. (Bristol) That’s a good thing, but they failed to address another scheduling problem, no off week before the Chase begins.

An off week after event 26 (Richmond) would solve the obvious, let teams gear up for the final championship run.

It would also give NASCAR the chance to go into full hype mode. Not that it would be good in many eyes mine included. Back in the day when I gave a rats butt about the Numerous Felons League I found the two week break before the Stupid Bowl tedious, silly and mostly an opportunity for reporters to think up the most inane questions possible. And they never disappointed me. As would the NASCAR beat reporters.

But it is what it is, that’s what leagues do to hype their “star attraction” whether it be an individual or big event. In NASCAR’s case the important advantage is to give teams an extra week off before the run to the wire.

It didn’t happen for the 2008 season, maybe if enough teams voice their opinion in favor of a week off it will happen.

On the other hand maybe my thinking is clouded by the Tin Colander affixed to my skull.