FanHouse Nascar Tracks

If we celebrated David Reutimann's win at Charlotte last month and Matt Kenseth's February Daytona 500 victory -- both races called off early because of rain -- then no one can begrudge rookie Joey Logano his maiden win Sunday at rain-soaked New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

However, we can question NASCAR's schedule. And we're entitled to bristle just a bit at Sunday's finish.

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The rumor that wouldn't stop after the shuffling of Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Tony George's job duties finally has some teeth.

Humpy Wheeler -- the longtime and now ex-President and General Manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway -- told the Indianapols Star this week that he and his company are in talks with IndyCar officials about promoting the American open-wheel series.

Humpy's name first entered the IndyCar fold after he attended the Indianapolis 500 instead of the 50th-running of the Coca-Cola 600 in May.

For those that question NASCAR's race shows -- the people who criticize white-checkered finishes, single file parades and races that are agonizingly too long -- the antidote comes Sunday on the beautiful 1.9-mile road course built into the winding, hills of Northern California wine country.

Road course racing is real racing, the true test of driver talent.

And NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series could stand a few more.

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- NASCAR has a "town hall meeting" scheduled with its drivers next week.

The sport's longtime rival, Bruton Smith, held one of his own Saturday.

Smith, the outspoken, multimillionaire chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., ripped NASCAR for choosing not to disclose the banned substance involved in driver Jeremy Mayfield's suspension, for dropping record penalties on underfunded driver Carl Long and for the kind of racing created with the Car of Tomorrow.

This doesn't make up for a lack of NASCAR racing at the speedway over Labor Day weekend, but the new retro look at Darlington Raceway is certainly a good look.

Darlington, site of Saturday night's wannabe Southern 500 presented by GoDaddy.com -- don't forget that GoDaddy or Danica will go after you -- has drawn up an old-time logo and repainted its walls to commemorate the track's 60th anniversary.

And if I must say so myself, the alternating red-and-white paint job around the track [photos below] isn't such a bad idea for a track that with the history and character of Darlington.

Consider the effort to get NASCAR Sprint Cup racing in the Bluegrass State officially underway.

Monday, Speedway Motorsports Incorporated's Bruton Smith talked at Lowe's Motor Speedway about how he's revamping his recent Kentucky Speedway purchase, and more importantly, his plan to lobby NASCAR for a Sprint Cup date at the track in 2010.

But, come on, does NASCAR really need another 1.5-miler on its schedule -- even if it likely replaces another cookie-cutter track?

NASCAR's sister company, International Speedway Corporation (ISC), announced today that Jim France, 64, will step down as Chief Executive Officer on June 1 and that his niece, Lesa France Kennedy (pictured right), will secede him.

Kennedy, 47, daughter of the late NASCAR Chairman Bill France Jr. and sister to current NASCAR Chairman Brian France, is ISC President and has been a member of the board of directors since 1984.

Her uncle, the son of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., has been with the company for 50 years and will remain the Chairman of the Board of Directors in a non-executive capacity.

The announcement was made today during ISC's annual shareholder meeting.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- NASCAR may boast that it is America's most popular motorsport, but when it comes to America's most famous track, IndyCar racing is still the crown jewel.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Joie Chitwood said ticket sales are as robust as ever for the May 24 Indianapolis 500, but that sales for NASCAR's July 26 Allstate 400 are lagging.

"I feel really good for the 500, but I'm seeing some pain with the 400 and I think that's because of the economy and the tire issue we had last year," Chitwood said Saturday while visiting St. Petersburg, site of Sunday's IndyCar Series' season-opener.

There's not a doubt in my mind that NASCAR's Watkins Glen International Raceway just picked up one of the most, uh, interesting race sponsorship titles.

As has been the norm for the past few years at the 11-turn road course in the upstate finger lakes region of New York, the title of the August event has taken many flavors -- from boating companies to computer products manufacturers.

This year, though, there's no Centurion, AMD or Sirius Satellite Radio involved, rather, folks there are looking to have a Heluva Good! time.

Whether you always agree with Bruton Smith or not, you've got to appreciate the way he keeps NASCAR's power brokers honest and on their toes.

This week the outspoken and oft-controversial Smith suggested that NASCAR move the season finale from Homestead-Miami Speedway back to Atlanta Motor Speedway, where the champion was crowned through 2001.