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One might have figured that long-time NASCAR fans would have been rejoicing this week thanks to the reincarnation of Darlington Raceway's legendary Southern 500.

The race -- a staple of NASCAR's top series for 54 years -- was traditionally held every Labor Day weekend at the gritty South Carolina track and produced some of the best-known races of NASCAR's modern-era.

It was a place where drivers made a name for themselves and was a place where legends cemented their status as such in stock car racing.

But in 2004, that all disappeared thanks to a track realignment by the higher-ups in NASCAR and International Speedway Corporation that sent the traditional weekend packing to the West Coast in what has turned into a lame, ill-timed attempt to gain fans in the Los Angeles market.

But now, with ratings dropping in 2007, attendance dropping in 2008, growth slowing, and sponsorship troubles occurring thanks to NASCAR being a tourism-based industry that has likely overpriced itself, the legendary Southern 500 at "The Lady in Black" is returning in a much different form -- with lights and in May.

Have you ever seen a more blatant exploitation of tradition?

NASCAR Chairman Brian France really loves the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

And because of that, don't expect any major amends to the format, or a complete reversal back to the standard point system -- regardless if many fans and at least one top driver questions how it affects the sport's future integrity.

France cited the increased point amounts for winning a race as a major reason why the Chase is working so well.

Example 1-A? Jimmie Johnson last week at Texas Motor Speedway.

"I actually called Jimmie Johnson on the phone and told him that [afterward]," France said. "By going after that win, he risked a lot -- because he knew how close it was and he knew that those bonus points were maybe going to be necessary to win it all. I think in the old days, a couple years ago, somebody might have settled for second."

Sure, you can't argue with the fact that adding 10 points to the winner's prize for a race was a good move. In fact, that number should be 20 to 30 points higher.

But are winning championships in the 10-race Chase playoff comparable to the "old" point system? Jeff Gordon doesn't see it that way.

(This will be the first part of a two-part series airing here on the Fanhouse. It will break down the final two races of the season for the two drivers, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, who still have a manageable shot of winning the 2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup. Watch for the next one just before Homestead next week.)

Heading to Phoenix International Raceway this weekend for the 9th of 10 events in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, Jimmie Johnson leads teammate Jeff Gordon by 30 points. Here's a breakdown of their past success at Phoenix and what type of possibilities exist with the point standings.

PIR Stats: Jeff Gordon comes to PIR knowing that he was the last winner in April at the track, and that he is the only driver to win there in the next-generation NASCAR race car. Johnson, though, holds the average finish margin by one full position - 7.2 to Gordon's 8.2.

Gordon has 17 career Cup starts at PIR to Johnson's 8. In that time, Gordon has racked up 8 top-5s and 14 top-10s to Johnson's 3 top-5s and 6 top-10s.

Chase Stats: After gaining the 30 point Chase lead last week at Texas, things are looking brighter for Johnson. However, that could change very quickly, as well. If Gordon wins and leads the most laps, he will tie Johnson if the No. 48 finishes 3rd without a led lap or fourth with one. A 43rd-place finish for Johnson at that point would give Gordon a 131-point lead heading to Homestead.

Likewise, if Johnson found victory lane and led the most laps, he could clinch the championship if Gordon finishes 34th or worse by simply starting at Homestead.

Naturally, Johnson can control his own destiny by winning the last two events, but Gordon can as well. If he wins at PIR and Homestead leads the most laps in both events, Gordon would take the title. If he doesn't lead the most laps and Johnson finishes 2nd in each event and leads a lap, the season would end in a tie, with the title going Johnson based on wins.

It shall be interesting, wouldn't you say?

So that Thursday announcement didn't pan out.

But the the Friday one certainly will. (At 12:30pm EST, actually!)

That announcement also won't likely carry any new news along for Lowe's Motor Speedway vs. Concord City Council, either, as Speedway Motorsports CEO Bruton Smith is expected to announce a purchase of Bob Bahre's independently owned track in New England -- New Hampshire International Speedway.

On Friday, Smith is expected to announce only the purchase of the track in Loudon, N.H., and not speculate on any plans to move either of its two Nextel Cup Series race dates, multiple sources said.

Smith has previously stated his desire to add a second Cup date to his track in Las Vegas. He also has expressed interest in an earlier date for his second Texas race to avoid a conflict with the opening of white-tail deer hunting season.

Yes, you read that correctly -- to avoid a conflict in Texas with not an open wheel race, a Cowboys game, or a rodeo but rather white-tail deer hunting season.

Think that just threw out every stereotype that the NASCAR bigwigs in Daytona have been trying so hard to abandon? You can bet Brian France is cringing to hear that a track owner is trying to help the fans that don't drink martinis or Perrier -- but rather is making them us a priority.

And to think, just Tuesday, I was questioning Bruton's commitment to the fans. (And well, I probably still would if he moves LMS, but as for now, he's got some points in my book.)

But the real announcement on this issue, apparently, isn't being made Friday at Texas Motor Speedway.

So yesterday, I harped on NASCAR's -- err, I mean ISC's -- plan to drop the current Washington track idea. And today, I've got more food for thought on the future of NASCAR.

The Roanoke Times said today that NASCAR has finally admitted that the sport's growth spurt has leveled. They use the term "stagnant", and I use the term "duh".

Which part of the fact that TV ratings have been down for over a year didn't tell that story last season? Wasn't it NASCAR CEO Mr. Brian France who said last year that "we're not too concerned about it and frankly expected it" when asked about dwindling TV ratings? Is that why ISC's stock price has dropped -- an expected leveling of fans?

Honestly, I'm doubting its a leveling of ratings as fans, but rather a loss of old die-hards and gaining of a few with an interest as to what NASCAR is all about.

I still remember the good ol' days. You know, the ones where Darlington still had a Southern 500 and California was only a road course and some other track for two total dates a year. New York City was the place for a banquet and Rockingham wasn't just a place to test. Know what's different about then (yes, that was less than five years ago) and now?

International Speedway Corporation, the track company that is a sister to NASCAR, finally -- and I mean finally -- dropped their plan to build a speedway in Washington state this year.

And it took this long?

Now before I get all the comments about how there are NASCAR fans in the Seattle and Northwest region, I know that. I know there are NASCAR racing fans all over the country. And props to you folks.

But this idea has been a failure for months now. Remember the insinuation by the Washington state Speaker of the House that Richard Petty (yeah, that guy that owns the race team that doesn't allow alcohol sponsorships) has a had a DUI? Dude ate crow for that one.

I won't even get into amazing comments made by State Rep. Larry Seaquist that NASCAR fans "aren't the kind of people you would want living next door to you". (Note: Seaquist did apologize and said he was referring the NASCAR as a company, not the fan base. I still don't buy or understand that explanation)

Even aside from the legislative hating on NASCAR racing, this plan just doesn't make sense to me. California Speedway can't sell out and it has two dates, but a track in the Northwest would? L.A. already proved "location, location, location" isn't a good marketing tool for NASCAR, but apparently ISC thought that building a track an hour and a half away from Seattle (yeah, it's smaller than that SoCal population) would be a tremendous enterprise.

As a NASCAR fan from the mid-west, I realize that I've got it pretty good with plenty of options to see a race. But you know, its almost a slap in the face to fans in the South and East that have built this sport to be building tracks and trying to get the sport away from them. There really is something about going to a NASCAR race in Charlotte and seeing how virtually the whole city is wrapped in the excitement.

Does NASCAR get that in Los Angeles? What about at Vegas? I couldn't tell you for sure, but I'd imagine it's not the talk of the town.

I'm glad NASCAR and ISC lost this battle in the Pacific Northwest. I've always been a firm believer that you should never pull your roots -- and apparently that is at odds with Brian France and the rest of the Daytona posse. Apologies to all of you loyal fans in the Northwest, but right now is just not the time for this sport to expand into Washington, much less anywhere else.

Washington may have produced two of today's top NASCAR drivers in Kasey Kahne and Greg Biffle, but the Evergreen State doesn't want them back in their 'hood racing with their fellow competitors anytime soon:


State House Speaker Frank Chopp did follow up on his comment about the Petty DUI: "... I personally apologized to Richard Petty for a comment I made yesterday. It was inappropriate and wrong."

Ya think?

Maybe he was confusing the King of NASCAR with the Boss of NASCAR. Not only does the King not drink - he won't even take money from alcohol sponsors and won't let his team accept awards from them, such as the Bud Pole Award. (When's the last time they had to refuse one of those?)

What say you Washington state NASCAR fans? Chopp is up for re-election this year. Will you exercise your vote to elect a less-ignorant more NASCAR-friendly voice?

What say you toothless, rednecks with beer bellies and other "misguided" NASCAR fans? Want to put your money where your teeth are?

You can start by boycotting their five Fortune 500 companies:

• Washington Mutual - switch to Bank of America the official bank of NASCAR
• Safeco Corporation - you could be in good hands with Allstate, the official insurance sponsor of NASCAR
• Nordstrom - try the Home Shopping Network, based in Florida, home to NASCAR headquarters
  
• Amazon.com - shop their competitors Barnes & Noble and eBay
  
• Starbucks - in Concord, N.C. try On Common Grounds, in Daytona, the Daytona Internet Cafe
  

Want more? Check out the lists of companies based in Washington and in the city of Seattle.