The fast lane is faster—and better

Sporting News, The, June 14, 2004 by Lee Spencer

Jimmie Johnson had one mission: Get to the front of the pack. It's not as if he didn't have the dominant car May 30 at Lowe's Motor Speedway--he led all but 66 laps. But with 25 laps remaining, Johnson didn't have the patience to wait. He says he felt a sense of urgency. He saw his opportunity, a hole between Kasey Kahne and the lapped car of Robby Gordon coming into Turn 4, and went three-wide to make the pass.

Not only was it the move of the race, it was the move of the season.

"I had my sights set on winning that race and was going to do whatever I could to do it," Johnson says.

Johnson believes that style of racing reflects his aggressive nature. His crew chief, Chad Knaus, had a different description.

"We just all looked at each other and said, 'That's sick,'" Knaus says. "It was like a keyhole, and he just slid it in there. It was amazing that he was able to see that hole and take advantage of it.

"It's always a lot more dramatic for us from where we're sitting than from where he is."

And from where the fans are sitting. That's why the racing now is better than it ever has been. The bar has been raised. Drivers are racing every lap as though it's a qualifying lap. That's the prerequisite for the fraternity of speed demons who high-five opponents after yet another stellar run. As for those drivers not willing to follow suit, their time is limited.

"I couldn't even tell you if (the racing is) more or less competitive because it's that close," Ryan Newman says. "I just go out and race for the win."

That's the mentality of the alpha racer. Partially because of the new Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup, drivers and teams are taking more risks. Points racing has declined, and there are more drivers such as Newman with all-or-nothing attitudes going for the victory. But has their level of skill heightened because of the increased technology of the cars, the added experience they get as young drivers or both?

"A top 15 finish today is like a top 10 was a few years ago," says 1984 and '96 Cup champion Terry Labonte, 47, who finished 10th in points last season.

"It seems like there is so much more money in the sport these days.... You have so many different teams that have the resources to win races. There's not much difference between a team that wins the championship or finishes 10th in the championship. And every year it seems like it's getting tougher.

"Last year we were more consistent than we've been this year. We weren't near to the level that we needed to be at to win a championship. That's why it's so hard to win a championship, If you're off just a little bit, it just shows up more at the track these days."

That can happen whether a driver is new to the series or is a seasoned veteran. Jeff Gordon's team completely missed the setup at Lowe's. Ditto Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s team at Las Vegas and Kevin Harvick's at Atlanta. But if any of the top 25 drivers' cars is dialed in, look out.

The age factor can't be ignored, either. Mark Martin, who's very pragmatic, says anyone who believes a driver is as competitive at 45 as he was at 25 is fooling himself. Martin obviously still has the fire to win, and his gritty victory in the MBNA 400 at Dover, pulling away from Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. after the last restart, was impressive. But in the future, drivers won't race until they're 45.

This new generation of driver has several advantages before entering Nextel Cup. Generally, he has been racing competitively in good equipment since he was in grade school. He developed car control at a young age. He has been running for championships for at least a decade. And if he's like Martin's 12-year-old son, Matt, he's already under contract to a manufacturer.

The Young Guns just keep coming. And as long as they do, we'll all be beneficiaries.

For the latest NASCAR news and analysis by FOX commentators Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Hammond and Larry McReynolds--plus Lee Spencer's weekly Power Poll--go to www.foxsports.com, keyword: NASCAR.

SPEED READS

* Scott Wimmer, who was convicted of driving while impaired and leaving the scene of a January accident, deserves a second chance. He is genuinely remorseful and learned a valuable lesson from this serious mistake. With the situation behind him, Wimmer, a 28-year-old rookie, can concentrate on his career and move on.

* Expect many of the teams that are solidly in the top 10 in points to take more risks with the cars and in the pits over the next 13 races. Those races can serve as somewhat of a laboratory for crews seeking an edge for the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup starting in September.

* Fans: Stop throwing debris on the track. Matt Kenseth expressed his concern after a full beer can was thrown at his car during the all-star race. Trash also was thrown on Turn 4 during the final caution of the Coca-Cola 600. This has to stop. Track officials must remove misbehaving fans, as is the case at many other sports and entertainment events.

Down the road

POCONO RACEWAY

Pocono 500

* When: 1 p.m. ET Sunday