Observations at random

By DAVID GREEN

Observations on the eve of Race No. 6 in the 10-race Chase to the Cup:

ITEM: Wonder what the real reaction (not the public-consumption one) will be from NASCAR if Jimmie Johnson clinches the 2009 title with two or three races left in the Chase? After all, that's what the Chase was supposed to prevent.

Is such a thing likely to occur? No. But neither is it impossible. ...

ITEM: Jeremy Mayfield goes "Outside The Lines" at 9 a.m. EDT Sunday in an ESPN interview. Previews of the conversation with ESPN's Steve Delsohn indicate that Mayfield continues to maintain his innocence regarding drug use, and states that he's being used as a sacrificial lamb to scare star drivers who, according to Mayfield, use drugs such as marijuana and cocaine.

"I was worth more to them as a failed drug test then [sic] I was as a driver, owner for my team," Mayfield is quoted as saying in an ESPN press release.

However this turns out, it's a sordid mess and a crying shame. ...

ITEM: What, a whole week or so without somebody claiming Danica Patrick has done a deal to race in NASCAR? ...

ITEM: In his Martinsville preview story, Jim Utter takes veteran scribe Ed Hinton to task, writing that Hinton "bemoans the lack of 'danger' in NASCAR today." I don't believe Ed was bemoaning anything; his piece merely inquires of racing fans, "Is racing dangerous enough for you anymore?"

If you read the entire piece, Hinton touches on a number of things that perhaps deserve some introspection, or at least some consideration. ...

ITEM: The "racial slur" of Juan Pablo Montoya by ESPN commentator and former Miami Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese has Griese in apology mode, but will in all likelihood spell doom for Griese as a broadcaster.

It was dumb of Griese to say what he did -- because it was culturally flawed, because it was inappropriate, because it was unnecessary, but mostly because Griese should have known what the reaction to it was going to be. ...

ITEM: My pick for today? Jeff Gordon.