The success, the top 35 battle and the struggles after five races in NASCAR’s Cup Series.

With a much needed off weekend for the drivers and teams that falls just after the five races of the 2008 season, NASCAR fans have already begun to see the top contenders emerge for not only the race victories, but also for the Chase for Sprint Cup and at least in my opinion, the results are surprising in some ways, remember it’s not about where you start the race, but were you finish and some drivers just can’t seem to endore the entire race for whatever reason.

So far the top contenders, the successful one’s seems to be with all four manufacturers, starting first would be Toyota, I know that some fans didn’t want to see that, but it is what it is and Toyota’s Motorsports program at least in NASCAR is paying off. The Gibbs drivers (Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin) don’t really surprise me at all even with Kyle Busch getting Toyota’s first Cup Series victory at Atlanta, however hats off to Michael Waltrip Racing, all three cars are in the top 35 in owners points, plus one Red Bull is in the top 35 as well, that’s huge.

Besides Toyota, Dodge has had one race or two that they have shined and of course with Penske Racing and Ryan Newman including Newman’s impressive victory in the Daytona 500, plus Kurt Busch has returned to the top 10 in owners points after that fun points swap.

When you look at Ford’s success, one team comes to mind, Roush-Fenway racing and the first thoughts that come to my mind is victories, however you wouldn’t know it by looking at Carl Edwards points standings, that Las Vegas penalty has already been felt and will be felt again once the chase begins, I expect to see two Roush cars in the chase including Edwards… Watch for Kenseth and Biffle to move up.

However, for this racing fan, over the past couple of years, I seem to have become a Chevrolet fan more and more and not just in NASCAR, but in general including ALMS to name another and yes, even with Tony Stewart switching to Toyotas. So I am a little surprise, but not concerned with the start of Hendrick Motorsports with the exception of Dale Earnhardt Jr., which is my favorite driver, yes I know, I’m trying not to play favorites, but hay, this is cool so far for Junior, he is having his best start this season in years and despite the California finish, his results are great, 3 top 5 finishes and a top 9 finish at Daytona, plus he is the one who is carrying the Hendrick banner right now. For those who are concerned about Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, don’t be, never count either of them out, they’ll be there in, in the chase.

Staying with Chevy, the RCR guys are slowing moving in, watch these three, there silent, but fast and if Bristol was anything with a 1-2-3 finish with Burton in victory lane which it is, there here.

Oh yeah, that covered top 35… NASCAR has seemed to have created a new drama show to watch somewhat, the top 35 bubble, that 35th spot that the fight is on weekly with Sam Hornish Jr. in it and Jamie McMurray, Dave Blaney and others want it.

I have never been a huge supporter of the top 35 rule, it’s a golden pass and whoever has it can start the weekend working on race setup while the driver’s outside, are pure qualifying setup and on wondering if they will be in or out. I know NASCAR isn’t going to give the top 35 rule up, however here’s three suggestions:
1) Change the top 35 to top 22 or top 25, the fight would have more drama on pole day, that’s 10 to 13 more cars, think about that...
2) Once the season starts, no owner’s points swap, NASCAR can’t stop it in the off season, however during the season, no way, now that effecting the sponsor, drivers and the teams, one minute your in and the next your out. When you start the season, you have what you have until the end of the season, no exceptions.
3) Qualifying for the go or go home drivers must if possible take place even if no qualifying for the top 35 drivers can, there’s a huge difference, the top 35 drivers are already in the race and are just simply qualifying for a starting position and a better pit selection, while the go or go home drivers are fighting for survival to just make the race, put them out back, at least they have a shot this way.

Well, so far for the owner’s points swap, there isn’t any from Roush-Fenway nor Petty Enterprise, however what if Hornish Jr. goes out after Martinsville, there’s a queston mark. However when it comes to the points swap for the #00 and the #44, I am expecting to see David Reutimann take his owner’s points that he earned with him to the #44, it’s a 94 point difference, that’s huge and it’s not really a points swap because he earned them.

The struggles, this will not include Johnson and Gordon, nor for Edwards, there not even close, however with that said, I am surprised to see Casey Mears down here, he can drive, I know he can. As for Kyle Petty, all I got to say is, he’s in his normal spot, however I’m waiting for two open wheel invaders make there mark, first Dario Franchitti, who is still searching and getting experience, second, Patrick Carpentier, who is getting stronger. I’ll leave this part with one comment, as much as I respect these two drivers, it’s still too early to be in the Cup Series for A.J. Allmendinger and Dario Franchitti, run these two in the Truck series or at least in the Nationwide Series, they need seat time period.

Now I will leave you with two thoughts: First, if drivers want more seat time for the Cup Series COT, drive in the Truck Series, not the Nationwide Series, these Cup Series COT’s handle little a Truck, the trucks have the splitter and are a handful and that’s the description of the COT.

Second, When I look at the first five races, it’s all four manufacturers in, it’s about as even as it’s going to get, they all have at least one team or owner in it competing for victories on a weekly basis, they all have at least one victory, isn’t that was NASCAR wanted? I only wish it was the same way when it comes to the Goodyear tire tests... Comments.

- Racedriven