NASCAR's future in good hands with young stars (cont'd)

He's already posted two career-best finishes with a 10th at Texas followed up with an eighth-place finish this past weekend at Talladega. Stremme has easily surpassed last year improving from a 26.4 average finish to a 19.1 this year. Aside from a 43rd at Phoenix and a 35th at Martinsville, Stremme has finished every race in the top 20, a far cry from the 10 total he had in 2006.

Currently sitting 14th in points, he's dropped below the top 15 in points just once this season and is poised to put his No. 40 Dodge in the Chase for the first time.

When the '06 season began, all eyes were on two-time Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr. If any rookie was going to make a splash out of this class, it was him.

He had the championships, plus he was driving for DEI which could only mean one thing -- success.

Finishing 19th wasn't what the New Jersey native had in mind, but the season wasn't a complete loss. Two top-fives and five top-10s are good, but no wins and five DNF's hurt. After finishing second at the season finale in Homestead, you knew it was just a matter of time before he found himself in the Cup Series spotlight.

The season though didn't start out smelling like a bed of roses; 29th at Daytona followed up with engine problems and a 42nd at California, Truex found himself 38th in points and thankful the top 35 rule didn't apply for him to begin the year.

Since then, the sky's the limit. Three top-10s and a constant climb up the point standings, Truex currently finds himself 18th, less than 100 points out of the Chase cutoff. With his improvement and DEI's equipment, it's a margin that is definitely attainable.

J.J. Yeley had the season from hell last season. Hitting everything but the pace car, the respect that drivers talk about in the garage ... let's just say Yeley didn't have much. Numerous drivers were upset with his abilities on the track and the damage he was bestowing. Let's put it this way -- if you can make Mark Martin mad, then you know something is awry.

It showed in the standings with seven DNFs and a 29th-place finish in points.

This year though, Yeley has shown how much a driver can change in one season. He's clean and staying out of trouble, unlike guys like Juan Montoya, who beat and bang and alienate themselves trying to get to the front. The respect is coming to Yeley.

His average finish has improved from 25.0 to 23.0. Aside from a first-lap crash at Texas -- which wasn't his doing -- he's been running at the end of every race ... and running well. Take away Texas and a 36th at Bristol and his worst finish is 23rd at Martinsville.

This is the most competitive time in NASCAR history. When teams are running qualifying speeds that are 18th-fastest and they have to load up the hauler and go home, you know things are tight. It's especially tough on the new guys, who are learning their way as they go in a sport where a minute error can ruin your day.

Stewart talked about retirement after Phoenix and fans were up in arms, saying he's not ready to retire. Well in 10 years, the Gordons, Stewarts and Juniors, will either be out of the sport or past their prime.

Don't worry though, we've seen the future of NASCAR and it is good -- it is really good.