Naysayers be damned: NASCAR, the sport, is going nowhere, fast -- as in it's here to stay despite a dip in TV ratings last year. Despite the COT (and the inevitable IROC comparisons). Despite a lot of things that naysayers would have you believe.

	DUANE CROSS
Send Duane your thoughts ...

Is the new TV deal with ABC/ESPN the end-all, be-all? No. Woohoo, the resources of the Worldwide Leader (the leading stick-and-ball network) are being utilized to promote NASCAR. Great -- but it'll still come down to the racing.

Is the Car of Tomorrow the greatest advancement in safety for a sport seemingly consumed with that aspect of racing? No. There will be newer versions of the NASCAR-mandated car which will be touted as even safer than this model, but the COT must be a racecar in more than name.

Is Juan Montoya the face of NASCAR for the near future? No. He will be a part of the sports' marketing campaign, but no one is bigger than the racing.

Is Toyota a deep-pockets boogeyman hell-bent on destroying the very fabric of this American institution? No. The Camry will be one of four makes on the track; no need to fire up the Enola Gay.

But here's where NASCAR is getting off track: manufactured excitement.

When the points and Chase changes were announced, NASCAR president and CEO Brian France said:

• "So we believe the Chase accomplished the original goals, made racing more competitive, made every race at the front end of the season, where in the postseason the final 10 races mean more, and it created more excitement."

• "Second, it maintains competition to the drivers trying to stay in the top 10. You see, when we go to New York, we'll only, as always, have the top 10 on the stage. So two people who qualify for the Chase may very well miss the New York awards ceremony and that important status of being in the top 10. We think going into Homestead that can give us two things for drivers and fans to get excited about, the championship and staying on the stage."

• "You can see that one of the little things or big things, they all go to one area, it's trying to make winning the more important focus and the more important. We're really excited about the changes today because while they may not be radical changes, they are symbolic, and they are not only symbolic, we think they are going to achieve our goals and the new system strikes what we are trying to do, arrive at that intersection with a perfect balance between winning and consistency. I know it's going to provide better competition."

• "We're in a very strong position we are still the No. 2 sport on television. Promoters continue to enjoy great ticket sales throughout the year, and I know 2007 with all of the things that are going on that are to make for an exciting season: The entry of Toyota, the Car of Tomorrow; which you've heard so much about today; racing in Montreal, we're going to get a chance to satisfy our fan base in Canada; welcoming Sirius satellite radio into the family; and welcoming an old friend back in ESPN who helped broadcast the early races with NASCAR when they were just getting started in the '80s."

• "We are excited about the changes and we are excited about where we are at, and we know the Daytona 500 is just around the corner. So with that, thank you very much." (Continued)