Last Lap: It's in the mail

From track naming rights to Ward Burton, the inside scoop ...

I swear I just checked out of the Waldorf-Astoria yesterday.

Yet here I am, early February, stuffing a suitcase fuller than Larry the Cable Guy git'n'er done at the Golden Corral buffet, eyeing an afternoon flight bound for Daytona Beach.

	MARTY SMITH •   E-mail Marty •   Opinion Archive •   Store: 'I Agree With Marty' tee

The "offseason" -- i.e. the week between Christmas and New Years -- was brief, yet festive. Preseason Thunder East, West, North and South have all been completed, and it's finally time to slap on some decals and go racin' for real.

But before I go, there are e-mails to answer. I've taken a moment to clean out the inbox and do just that. Keep 'em coming, and I'll see y'all at the beach ...

Hey Marty,

Love reading your stuff on NASCAR.COM. I know you are busy, but I have a quick question for you. In your opinion, why do you feel that more tracks have not taken on corporate sponsorship/ownership like Lowe's in Charlotte and Infineon?

This seems like a no-brainer to me, given the amazing NASCAR fan base, and I could just hear DW and the rest of the broadcast crewmembers plastering Home Depot Motor Speedway, Staples International Speedway, etc.

I mean come on, we give sponsorship names to the series, we name the races, we name the victory lanes. Why not name the central aspect of every race weekend -- the track?

I know the legendary tracks like Daytona would not fall into this sponsorship category, much like Lambeau or Soldier Field, but I have not seen the trend to sponsorship at tracks like many other major professional sports venues.

For instance it was only a few years ago that Kansas and Chicagoland came on the circuit. Hey, I even vote for the sponsorship of the Start/Finish Line. I can hear "Boogity Boogity Boogity" as they cross the Budweiser Start/Finish line.

Take Care!
Kevin J. Mizikar

... As if NASCAR needed another revenue stream. Nice work, Kevin, you're definitely on the fast track to a position in NASCAR's New York office. Kidding, kidding.

This really is a thought-provoking question. There's money to be made for International Speedway Corp. and Speedway Motorsports by selling the naming rights to their venues. So why aren't they doing it?

To find out, I summoned knowledge from two of my favorite gentlemen in the track operation business -- Clay Campbell at Martinsville and Chris Browning at Darlington.

First, Campbell:

"I can't say we would never have naming rights to Martinsville Speedway, but I can say it is a very remote possibility. We have been in existence since 1947 and I feel we have as much legend and history associated with us as Daytona, Lambeau or Soldier Field, as (Kevin) mentioned in your inquiry.

"I feel it would be much easier for a new facility to sell naming rights than one that's been around for a long time. That way you're not changing your identity, you're not making your local government officials mad (yes, there is pride attached to having the name of your city getting worldwide attention), and you don't have to worry about having to change the name again 10 years down the road if the sponsor opts out.

"There are so many sponsorship opportunities now with practically every aspect of the event and facility, I would prefer to stay the course. Facility naming rights can be a great thing, they're just not for everybody."

Now there's a fine answer. Browning's is equally first-rate:

"That's a great question. Selling the naming rights to a racetrack is relatively new in the auto racing world. Obviously, it has been very successful in the stick-and-ball arenas, but very few racetracks have been able to capitalize on the opportunity.

"I think the main reason you don't see more race tracks sponsored is there are so many opportunities for companies to have a significant presence during a race than there are during a football, baseball or basketball game.

"For example, a company can sponsor one of the races throughout the event weekend, be an 'Official Status' sponsor, buy signage or display space, buy sampling at the track, do hospitality in a suite or chalet, etc. These are just a few of the possibilities through the track, and we haven't even touched on the numerous team sponsorship opportunities."

So there you have it. Looks as if naming rights partnerships present far more issues than it may first appear on the surface. Then again, what doesn't?

Jeremy Mayfield

Marty,

I keep hearing rumors from the Miller people up here that Mayfield is going to move to the No. 2 car when Rusty retires. Any truth to that rumor?

Rod Swanson
Greensboro

That's news to me, Rod. Mayfield is sharing Rusty's Busch Series machine with Jamie McMurray this season, but I've not heard anything about him being on Roger Penske's short list for the Miller Lite Dodge.

Plus, I'd think Ray Evernham would have something to say about that, and Mayfield said just last week that Penske's management is the culprit behind the Ryan Newman/Rusty Wallace soap opera.

"Ryan and Rusty have this thing going on, but I bet if you ask either one of them they really don't have a problem with each other," Mayfield said last week while testing in Las Vegas.

"So, what's the problem? It was there when I was there. It's there now, and it'll be there after Rusty's gone and Ryan's gone. That's the way I look at it.

"I don't know who the managers are over there. It starts at the shop. When they leave the shop the trucks need to be rolling together. It needs to be a team effort, everything they do, and it's not that way over there."

Doesn't sound to me like Mayfield is chomping at the bit to head over there.

McMurray is Wallace's first choice to replace him in the No. 2, but word is McMurray's Ganassi Racing contract spreads through 2007.

Now, the name I continue to hear being associated with the No. 2 ride is Kevin Harvick, but Harvick told me Monday he's never been contacted by Penske Racing. He has heard the same rumors we have, but says that's the extent of his association with Penske.

	John Darby
	ALSO Nextel Cup director John Darby outlined the changes to be used to determine the starting lineup for both the Daytona 500 and the Gatorade Duel qualifying.

Marty,

I heard somewhere that they have changed qualifying for the Daytona 500 this year. Can you enlighten us on the nuances of the Qualifying set-up, if it has indeed changed?

Thanks.
Patrick Lightsey

Yes, the qualifying format for the Daytona 500 has changed, Patrick, and I'll do my best to thoroughly break it down for you. Key word: thoroughly. Buckle up, this will be a long ride. Hopefully it won't read like Swahili.

Starting positions for the Daytona 500 will be designated for the 35 highest-ranked positions from the final 2004 car owner point standings from each qualifier, the two-highest finishing cars in each qualifier who failed to finish among the represented '04 top 35, and the two front-row qualifiers.

The balance of the 43-car field will be filled by the fastest remaining qualifiers who have not earned a starting position, with the exception of the 43rd position, which is still the champion's provisional.

Should there not be an eligible champion, the position will be assigned to the next fastest qualifier not in the field.

(Told you it was tricky. Not unlike learning quantum physics. In preschool).

The Gatorade Duel -- previously the Gatorade 125s -- has been lengthened from 125 miles to 150 miles. The first 150-miler will be composed of the odd-number positions (first, third, fifth, etc.) in the final 2004 Nextel Cup Series owner points, as well as the Bud Pole winner from 2005 Daytona 500 qualifying, scheduled for Sunday.

In the likely event that the Bud Pole winner was among the 35 highest-ranked teams in 2004, he will start in the first race, regardless of his odd or even position in the '04 standings.

The second 150-miler will consist of the even-number positions (second, fourth, sixth, etc.) from last year's owner points, led by the second-fastest qualifier from 2005 Bud Pole Qualifying.

Like the pole-winner, if this car was among the 35 highest-ranked in 2004, it will start in the second race regardless of its odd or even position in last year's standings.

(Settle in. We're just getting started).

Additional cars that were not among last season's top-35 will be alternated between the first and second qualifying races, using an odd-even format -- odd in the first race, even in the second.

The odd-even positions are not determined by where the car qualified overall, but their specific qualifying rank among the cars not in the 2004 top-35.

For example, a car qualifies eighth overall in Sunday's Bud Pole qualifying session, but ranks third fastest among the group of cars not in the 2004 top 35. That car would be an odd-number position and start in the first race.

The lineup for each qualifying race will be set by qualifying speeds in Bud Pole Qualifying for all cars, including those who were among the top-35 in 2004. The top-35 designation does not determine the car's starting position, but instead determines which of the 150-mile qualifying events it will participate in.

A maximum of 66 cars will be permitted to compete between the two qualifying races, and all cars must compete in one of these events to be eligible for the Daytona 500.

Gracious Heavenly days ... I think I'm more confused now than I was when I started.

Hi Marty,

I am hoping you can explain why the Nextel patch on Ryan Newman's drivers suit is different in the fact that it is white on black rather than the normal yellow on black.

Lee

Newman's sponsor, Alltel, is a rival cellular service provider, Lee. So while he and Jeff Burton (Cingular) are required to have the Nextel Cup Series logo on their driver suits like everyone else, they're granted permission to use a less conspicuous color-scheme in doing so.

Ward Burton

Marty,

Maybe I have missed something, so forgive me if so, but where is Ward Burton? Could you please fill us in on what is up with him.

Thanks, a lot!
Pam in Texas

Presently, Ward is without a ride, Pam, but that's of his own doing according to sources in his camp. Sources close to Burton say he has turned down several Busch and Truck Series opportunities in order to remain a player for a Cup ride.

Personally, I see Burton in the role Dave Blaney played last season -- stay on the scene, hang out and wait until someone needs a driver. Invariably someone doesn't live up to expectation, and when they don't, voila!, Ward Burton is back in the seat.

Marty,

Why not use speed bumps on pit road?

Highlinedrifter

Good question, High line. While I'm sure there's a technological answer here, I'd have to assume that, aside from whatever suspension issues speed bumps would present, the main deterrent against using speed bumps to slow cars down on pit road is the possibility of tearing the valences off the front ends of the cars.

OK, enough already. Time to head to the airport. Anybody seen my water wings?

Last Lap appears on NASCAR.COM every Tuesday.
The opinions listed here are solely those of the writer.