It certainly looks like a wild card, doesn't it? Credit: Autostock

We wonder ...

The shortest track in Cup racing always leaves us with questions

... is Martinsville the real wild card in the Chase?

We heard the phrase "wild card" plenty a couple of weeks ago in Talladega. Clearly, things can be shaken up -- literally -- at that track. However, consider that Sunday's race at Martinsville featured 18 cautions compared to six at Talladega. After Sunday, nine drivers had changed position in the 10-man Chase, as opposed to seven after Talladega.

Maybe Matt Kenseth had the right idea when he said that Martinsville was the track he was most concerned about in the Chase. It's likely that Jeff Burton now agrees.

Mark Spoor

DO YOU WONDER? Tell Mark what has you shaking your head THIS FAN WONDERS ... How long are "fans" going to get away with throwing beer cans on the track after a race? Passion is cheering your driver and booing the other guys; this can throwing is simply poor sportsmanship and very immature. It seems to be happening more and more. If this continues and other attendees don't start turning these people in to track security, tracks will ban all outside alcohol from the track. Actually that might be good. Then these losers can stay home.   •   Eric Morana, Parts Unknown

... was Sunday's race really put in the hurry-up?

Each week, we're given a schedule of events for that week's track. When the Martinsville sheet came out, it said the green flag would fall at 12:55 p.m. ET. On Sunday, with bad weather floating around the track, we were told that the race was in the hurry-up and that the green flag was pushed up to 12:55 p.m. ET.

Wait a minute, what?

In a related story, in order to give people more time to shop, Christmas is being moved back to December 25.

... isn't it time to take the yellow stripe off of Denny Hamlin's bumper?

The guy has made 38 Nextel Cup Series starts, plus the Bud Shootout (which he won, by the way). He's got two Cup victories in addition to the Shootout and he sits 47 points out of the point lead with four races to go.

Isn't it time the rookie stripe comes off?

It's not like the other drivers see the stripe on his car and think, "Oh boy, I better watch out. This guy might not know what he's doing."

Instead of a rookie stripe, there should be a "this guy isn't competitive stripe." We all know there are more than a few non-rookies out there that should have some sort of warning label on their car.

Talk amongst yourselves.

... should NASCAR consider a minimum requirement for participation in Chase races?

It was stated in the NBC booth during one of David Ragan's three crashes Sunday at Martinsville that Ragan was getting an education in short-track racing in the Nextel Cup Series.

Should that education really come in the midst of a championship battle?

Heading into Sunday's race, Ragan had one career Nextel Cup Series start.

Jimmie Johnson led the most laps at Martinsville. Credit: Autostock

Subway 500 Official Results Pos. Driver Make 1. Jimmie Johnson Chevy 2. Denny Hamlin Chevy 3. Bobby Labonte Dodge 4. Tony Stewart Chevy 5. Jeff Gordon Chevy 6. Casey Mears Dodge 7. Kasey Kahne Dodge 8. Jeff Green Chevy 9. Kevin Harvick Chevy 10. Kyle Petty Dodge • Complete results, click here • Official standings, click here Victory LaneJimmie Johnson celebrates his Subway 500 win at Martinsville Top finishersHamlin, Dale Jr. and Kenseth talk about their day at Martinsville Final lapsJimmie Johnson tries to hold off Denny Hamlin down the stretch Spin outDale Jr. takes a spin when trying to pass Kasey Kahne Tough dayJeff Burton retires to garage with motor problems PileupKevin Harvick damages car during a multi-car pileup Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

One.

Did I mention that it was a 42nd-place finish at Dover during which Ragan lasted just 47 laps?

Memo to the Detroit Tigers: I'd like to play right field for you during the rest of the World Series. I haven't played since Little League, but I'm feelin' froggy.

You just shouldn't be able to make your second career Nextel Cup start in the middle of the Chase. You just shouldn't. At this point in the season, the pressure is tremendous, not only the 10 drivers in the Chase, but also on everyone else in the field trying to straighten out their season, or worse, keep their jobs.

Watching a guy get in the way during a race was funny in that old 7 UP commercial, but it's beyond frustrating on what's supposed to be racing's biggest stage -- and I'm just a fan.

... what will they call the Car of Tomorrow next year?

If the story David Newton wrote Saturday is any indication, it'll be called an annoyance. But that's not really the point here.

Calling a new model of something the "Something of Tomorrow" is kind of like all those fancy electronic things that were called "Something 2000" when we were all kids. Once it became the year 2000, they all became ridiculous. It's like those Dippin' Dots things you see at the mall. They're called "The Ice Cream of the Future," but they've been around for 15 years.

How about we call it "The Stock Car That Looks Nothing Like A Stock Car."

... did Dave Burns really mean to give a commentary on the NASCAR points system during Sunday's pre-race show?

Of course he didn't, but it sure made you think when he asked Jeff Gordon if it was "about winning races now," since Gordon had proclaimed his championship chances dead last week at Lowe's.

The implication, of course, is that winning is not the top priority when you're running for a championship. If you've been watching NASCAR for any length of time, you know that's right.

Here's hoping NASCAR finishes what they started a few months ago and makes winning mean more in the coming years.

... are Bill Weber and Wally Dallenbach really kidding when they make fun of each other in the booth?

Of course they are, but usually when guys make fun of each other, the victim will laugh along with the joke or at least do the old "Oh .. you!" When Wally Dallenbach and Bill Weber make fun of each other, it isn't quite that way.

Weber got a good dig on Dallenbach during Sunday's race when Dallenbach said that drivers are a lot friendlier on the racetrack if they're running up front. Without missing a beat, Weber said "how would you know?"

Around America, you could almost hear millions of people go "Ooooooooooh," but in the booth, it sounded like someone had released a jar full of crickets.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.