The wrong way to settle a score

It has been almost two weeks since Dale Jarrett, with malice aforethought, wrecked Ryan Newman at Bristol.

Old news, you say? Not so. Not if that type of feud continues over the next 11 races and has a direct effect on the title. This is nothing new. Drivers always have taken revenge on other drivers who have used the chrome horn for position.

This weekend, NASCAR's top tour rolls into Richmond International Raceway--a three-quarter-mile short track where fuses will be short and tempers will be as combustible as they were at Bristol.

But unlike Bristol, the Richmond race is the last chance for drivers to secure a position in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. Only 10 drivers will make it, and those coveted positions should be decided on the strength of the drivers and their teams over 26 races, not as consolation prizes to the last guys running in a demolition derby.

The same goes after the Chase starts. The title hopes of Jeremy Mayfield and Tony Stewart evaporated 64 laps into the first race of the Chase last season, at New Hampshire, when both drivers were caught up in Robby Gordon's payback attack on Greg Biffle. Yes, with nine races remaining, there was time to catch up, but their teams' momentum was shot in an instant.

"It's part of racing," says Mayfield, who's seventh in points. "We were the innocent victims in that mess, but what could we do about it?"

He is right. There are plenty of innocent victims whose races end early because they're at the wrong place at the wrong time. When Jarrett assumed the role of judge and jury at Bristol, he took out himself, Newman and Kevin Harvick--an innocent bystander.

A former champion such as D.J. should know better. In case Jarrett didn't notice, it's NASCAR's job to police the track. And police it it should. It's easy to understand the frustration Jarrett felt at Bristol, especially considering he thought Newman ran over him earlier in the race, but his retribution was blatant.

What's difficult to understand is NASCAR's leniency in Jarrett's punishment. If NASCAR wants to make the point that this behavior won't be tolerated in the Chase, it's going to take more wrist-slapping than what Jarrett received: two laps in the penalty box.

The repercussions of drivers' actions go well beyond the resulting wrecks. Retribution affects sponsors, owners and especially crew members, who rely on a drivers' performances for bonuses at the end of the season.

In a perfect world, drivers would maintain composure on the track and settle what differences they had afterward. If they can't do that, it's up to NASCAR to settle issues for them.

speed reads

When NASCAR changes its rules to limit the number of tests a team can conduct, it should give exemptions for tests at Daytona, Indy and Homestead. These races are the biggest events of the season, and it benefits NASCAR if teams bring their "A" games.

Hendrick Motorsports has to wonder why its Busch program floundered this year, after Brian Vickers won the championship in 2003 and Kyle Busch finished second last year. Hopefully, newly named crew chief Chad Walter can turn things around, even if not-ready-for-prime-time players occupy the driver's seat.

INSIDE DISH

How dominant is Roush Racing? Dominant enough to qualify all five of its Cup drivers--Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards-for the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. That would be half the field. "I think it's going to happen," Martin says. "It's absolutely phenomenal what the 17 bunch (Kenseth) has been able to do over the past eight races." Kenseth climbed from 19th eight races ago to ninth heading into Richmond, the cutoff race. How impressed is Martin with Kenseth? He's picking Kenseth to win the title.

Silly Season? Displaced drivers? The answers are simple, and after the first seat is filled, several of the top organizations can move into the future without waiting until 2007. Here's my proposed plan: Kevin Harvick moves into the No. 42 at Chip Ganassi Racing, which allows Jamie McMurray to take the No. 97 at Roush Racing for one year, with Mark Martin remaining in the No. 6, McMurray's ride starting in 2007. Kurt Busch leaves the No. 97 and takes over the No. 2 Penske ride, and Clint Bowyer graduates to Harvick's No. 29 at Richard Childress Racing. * Bowyer's maturation as a driver was evident again in the Busch race Saturday at California Speedway, where he won the pole, finished third and chopped Martin Truex's points lead from 194 to 142. Bowyer, 26, finished 22nd in his Cup debut in April at Phoenix, and Richard Childress wants his prospect to gain more seat time before season's end. * Speaking of Childress, a merger between RCR and Dale Earnhardt Inc. is rumored to be in the works. Although DEI vice president Richie Gilmore says the partnership will involve nothing more than promotional plans, the two organizations enjoyed a beneficial aerodynamic alliance several years ago. Considering the strength of powerhouses Roush and Hendrick Motorsports, a marriage between RCR and DEI would move their programs up a level. Another benefit? Dale Earnhardt Jr. could follow in his late father's footsteps in an RCR car. * Tony Eury Sr., affectionately known as Pops, has signed his first contract with DEI. Eury led Earnhardt Jr. to two Busch titles and stepped down at the end of last season as Junior's Cup crew chief. Eury, who's under contract through 2008, is working in research and development. * Wood Brothers transporter driver Sonny Valles said he was dreading the trip back to North Carolina from California because of reports of gas shortages and price gouging. "I hear the prices jump once you hit Texas," Valles says. "On the way out to California, some of the gas lines stretched from the stations to the highway ramps." Valles' fuel bill for the trip to California was about $1,200. He expected the cost to jump to $2,000 for the trip back to North Carolina. * Who's your crew chief? That's the question Busch driver Reed Sorenson will be asked in the next five weeks because his chief, Brian Pattie, is serving a suspension for allegedly soaking tires at Bristol. Jimmy Elledge, who's expected to oversee Sorenson's entry into Cup next season, stepped in as the Busch chief last weekend at California Speedway. Ganassi principals say the role will be filled on a week-to-week basis. Sorenson finished 12th Saturday and fell to fourth in the standings. * Kudos to Rusty Wallace, who offered insightful commentary on NBC during the Busch race at California. Although he will be missed behind the wheel, Wallace will be an asset in the broadcast booth.