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Tony Stewart, Darian Grubb and company really pulled one out of the hat Sunday at Kansas. Grubb made the call on the final stop of the day to take on two tires and get his driver out front in clean air and perhaps pull off the win. Mission accomplished. Stewart held off a hard-charging Jeff Gordon to secure his 4th win of the season and his first in the Chase. But was it enough? Smoke thinks so. Can we throw Stewart into the fold along side Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin or is this still a two-man race?

Did you see where NASCAR warned Brad Keselowski about how hard he was racing the Chase drivers? You read that correctly folks. Apparently word came down to the 25 pit from NASCAR warning the rookie driver to be cognizant of who he was racing and how hard he was racing those particular drivers. The warning came down after Keselowski and Juan Pablo Montoya inadvertently got together as the two raced off into Turn 1 mid-way through Sunday’s race at Kansas. Even though the contact seemed to be nothing more than close racing, NASCAR sent the warning anyway.

Does the NFL radio down to the sidelines and tell Ray Lewis to quit hitting running backs so hard on 3rd and inches? Does the MLB tell Josh Beckett to quit throwing his fastball so hard to batters early in the count? What is NASCAR thinking? Is BK supposed to move over and let Montoya go? Isn’t he out there to race for the win just like the other 42 drivers? I take it racing hard and going for the win is exclusive only to drivers qualified for the Chase. Is this what the sport has turned in to? Personally, I think the sport is in a serious tail spin and this only confirms it. No wonder the ratings are down.

Speaking of ratings-Does it really surprise you that the ratings continue to drop as the season has gone on? With the NFL and NCAA College Football “hitting the chip” (to put it in racing terms) in regards to popularity and ratings it only makes sense that casual sport fans would choose the pigskin over racing. It doesn’t help that tracks like Loudon, Dover, Kansas and California fail to attract and captivate race fans with their on-track action or lack thereof. The first three races in the Chase have been nothing short of disappointing and might be better off being run in the regular season rather than the Chase. Perhaps if NASCAR were to include Bristol, Darlington, Indianapolis and a road course maybe fans would tune in more so than they are now. Football and MLB playoffs aside, the bottom line is that the racing and on-track action has become anemic at best and even the most die hard NASCAR fan finds themselves tuning out rather than tuning in.

Bragging isn’t something we like to do here at The Spotter Stand, but in regards to Danica Patrick and her future in NASCAR we have to stand up and simply say….we told you so! Sports Illustrated is reporting that Danica is in serious talks with JR Motorsports about running a limited ARCA and Nationwide schedule starting next year. Does this really surprise anyone? When the Danica rumors kicked back up earlier this season our first thought was there was no way Rick Hendrick was going to be out bid for Danica Patrick and what she brings to the table in both exposure and sponsorship revenue. He can’t put her in a Cup ride due to lack of space and the 4-team Cap Rule, but that should fix itself once Mark Martin decides to finally retire in a couple of years. What he can do is put her in a Hendrick affiliated ARCA or Nationwide Series ride part-time until the 5 car (soon to be GoDaddy Chevrolet) finally comes available.

Enter JR Motorsports.

Now I know what you’re thinking-This is has nothing to do with Rick Hendrick. Kelly Earnhardt-Elledge and Dale Jr. are the ones talking to Danica not Rick Hendrick. Let me set it straight…if Danica is talking to JRM about racing next season in one of their two Nationwide cars she is talking to Rick Hendrick. No doubt about it. It may not be directly, but she is talking and/or negotiating with Rick Hendrick in one capacity or another. Dale Jr. and Kelly are merely providing the equipment, albeit Hendrick equipment, and the avenue to do so.

From all indications it looks as though Lance McGrew will return as crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. next season. McGrew and owner Rick Hendrick are scheduled to sit down over the next couple of weeks to discuss the 2010 season and McGrew’s role within the organization. I would be completely surprised if he does not return next season as the crew chief on the 88. Even though bad luck and misfortune has gotten the best of them, the team has definitely turned the corner as of late with McGrew at the helm. Take away the blown motor at Indy, the wreck at Loudon, and the pit penalty and oil pump belt issue at Kansas and this team would have easily finished in the Top 10 and perhaps even stolen a win or two. I am sure the powers that be over at Hendrick Motorsports would love nothing more than to make a seamless transition into the 2010 season with McGrew returning to the top of the box for Team 88.

Well, enough of what I think….what’s on your mind? What’s your take on the 48 and 5 “almost’ failing post-race inspection at the R&D Center last week? What’s your thoughts on the racing this past weekend at Kansas? Did Sunday’s action keep you glued to the set ? Or did you even watch at all? Now that the smoke has cleared from Smoke’s burnout it’s time to hear from you in this week’s edition of Smoke Screen.

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