Like Playing Monopoly With Your Brother

By Mark Young

I swear, I made a promise to myself that I would be a more positive person in 2009.  I wouldn't bash or slam NASCAR for the decisions they make....or didn't make.  I told myself I wouldn't be so critical of drivers when they do something I didn't like (even Kyle Busch) as well.  With so many other bad things going on lately between job cuts, the mortgage crisis, and so on I really wanted to be a more positive blogger this season.  Then NASCAR announced rule changes to the Budweiser Shootout that guaranteed Tony Stewart a starting spot.

Just like changing the number of drivers who qualify for The Chase from ten to twelve because Dale Jr. missed the cut this rule is flat out ridiculous.  Changing the format of the Shootout from the pole position winners the previous year to this equal participation race is just plain dumb.  Of course we can't have the Coors Light Pole Award winners run the Bud Shootout, that doesn't make sense.  But why not sell the shootout as the Silver Bullet Dash?  That way the pole winners would still be the participants and not allow teams to get into the race "because they tried really hard".

Hey NASCAR, want to keep Budweiser as a special event sponsor?  Why not rename the All-Star race after Budweiser?

I swear, sometimes the way NASCAR changes the rules on the fly is like playing monopoly with your little brother.  It's cool to change the rules as you go because hey, he is your little brother.

Yet again, another really cool thing in NASCAR to get ruined by the new France regime.