The road course to success is to simply add another

To all the naysayers who believe there's no room at the NASCAR inn for races on road courses, I need only smile and point to Sunday's Centurion Boats at The Glen. The race had it all: drama, generosity, intrigue, comedy, controversy, heartbreak, potential fisticuffs, fantastic racing and most important of all, potential.

• Send Tom your thoughts

It was unlike anything you'll ever see at an oval track. Not that there's anything wrong with oval racing, because there isn't. Not one thing. Ovals must always serve as the foundation of this sport. But considering all they bring to the series, NASCAR should seriously consider adding a third road-course race to its Nextel Cup calendar.

And why not? As it was this weekend, road races are as compelling as any race on the circuit. The beauty of road races is that there's a genuine sense of anticipation and desperation on every lap. Drivers are constantly being hounded for position. Every pass is a flirt with disaster. Drivers can swap positions in successive corners. And a couple times per race, banzai moves are made with varying degrees of success. Isn't that the stuff of epic races?

Competition-wise, the action on a road course is hard to beat. The cars run so close together that the slightest bobble opens the door for the person behind to make a move. Then the drama really begins, because passing on a road course is not just a matter of a driver grabbing and holding the bottom groove as the guy in front slides up the track.

Passing on a road course forces drivers to process a lot more information in far shorter periods of time and with far greater frequency. In a matter of about one second, often less, all these questions (and more) have to be asked, evaluated and answered by a driver before attempting a pass:

• How realistic of a passing opportunity is this?
• Is a pass advisable at all on this part of the track?
• Is the move I need to make within my own skill set?
• Are the car's brakes behaving like they're supposed to?
• Can the car's tires handle this move?
• Who am I passing?
• Do I trust him?
• Does he see me?
• Can I beat him in a fist fight?
• What gear am I in?
• What gear do I need to be in, and when?
• What's the grip like off line?
• Can I emerge from a four-wheel, power-on slide while side-by-side with this guy and keep my car pointed in the right direction?
• Will I finish the pass before the next turn (which is coming up about three seconds)?
• If not, will I be in a position to complete the pass at the exit of that corner?
• Is there debris on the track right where my tires are likely to be?
• Is the corner worker waving a local yellow flag?
• Is the guy behind trying to put a move on me?
• Is there still time to pull off this pass?

The ability to successfully process all that information, pass after pass, lap after lap, for 90 laps is what separates drivers like Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart from everyone else in the field. (Continued)