Chase Race #3

I keep waiting for that #24 to find his way to victory lane. All season long, Jeff Gordon has seemed to be off for some reason. He has not had the momentum or the consistency that he has shown in previous years. So as I wait to see if today's race at Kansas could be the one, here are some things about NASCAR that you should know if you have ever said that "NASCAR is not a real sport."

Now do not take this seriously. I am not harping at anyone, because there are other sports that I question why people sit and watch (like baseball). So I understand that NASCAR is just not fun to watch for some people. But consider some of the following:

• Drivers have to be physically strong. Cars are going around 200mph (sometimes faster), and if the driver is not physically strong, they will not be able to handle the car on the track.
• Also, the tracks are all different. Tracks range form half a mile in length to over two miles. There are short tracks, speedways, super speedways, and road courses. Drivers have to be mentally prepared as to what track they are racing on to know the grooves, banking, and speeds.
• The cars are also very demanding. These new cars are a little bigger, and drivers are still trying to figure them out. Crews work on the cars throughout the week, trying to get them to be just right for the race. There are many small adjustments that have to be made that become crucial at race time.
• Pit strategy also plays a big role in the race. If the pit crew messes up the pit stop or if the wrong adjustment is made, the next set of laps could be detrimental. However, if they make the right adjustment or make a quicker stop than others, they could pass several cars just by taking the pit stop.

NASCAR is a team sport, and it takes drivers and pit crews working together. If they are not in tune with each other, then the victories will not come. Of course, there is sometimes a little bit of luck that plays into the race as well. Wrecks will happen, and sometimes a driver will be caught up in a wreck that they did not start. But all in all, it takes good drivers and good crews to produce race winning and even championship success.

So who knows what will happen today at Kansas. As I sit here typing, Kyle Busch is have his 3rd straight week of mechanical problems. This really hinders his hopes of a championship run. On the flip side, Jimmie Johnson is remaining consistent, keeping his lock on the points lead. But then there are drivers such as Jeff Gordon who needs to produce a consistent run today hoping that others have problems. By doing so, Gordon could find himself right back in the championship hunt. Lots of factors affect the race, and when it comes time to win a championship those factors become drastically more important.

Matt