Track Smack: Search is on for the 'next big thing' (cont'd)

2. NASCAR's new double-file restart rule created plenty of action last weekend at New Hampshire. How will it affect Saturday night's restrictor-plate event at Daytona?

Mark Aumann: If anything, I'm waiting until we get back to the intermediate tracks to decide whether I like it or not. I do think getting the lap-down cars out of the way is a huge help. But at Daytona, where the draft is more important than starting position, I'm not sure that's going to be a huge benefit or detriment.

David Caraviello: Goodness, who knows. If they were forcing it three- and four-wide at the front of the pack at New Hampshire -- at New Hampshire! -- then they might be six-wide on Saturday night. No question, having all the leaders up front in double file can be fun to watch. But it's also going to create some havoc.

Raygan Swan: Jeff Gordon made some interesting points. He said it will give the leaders a chance to catch their breath and ride for a few laps. Or for a few corners, at least.

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Sunday was the best race I've ever seen at New Hampshire, a place where the leader usually checks out. But I wonder if this is going to be one of those things NASCAR is going to have to police a little bit going forward.

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DAVID CARAVIELLO

David Caraviello: Well, that's not what we saw Sunday. Sunday we saw the leaders shoving each other around every time they took the green. And these weren't slower cars that can be ordered out of the way with the blue and black flag. These were all leaders. It was intense stuff.

Mark Aumann: Like every other race, it's the late-race cautions that will be the deciding factor. When it's "go time," the guys in the back won't be very patient. And that's a big wreck waiting to happen. It won't be just eight cars at Daytona. It takes so long for the restrictor-plate motors to wind up, that may not be as much of an issue. Still, once the cars are at full song, watch out.

Raygan Swan: It could help with the drafting partner situation, since the leader can line up wherever his partner is in the mix. That could be a positive, but I agree, it could get crazy.

David Caraviello: No question, it takes a while for Daytona engines to get up to "full song," as the MRN guys would say. But we all know how hairy those pack restarts can be at Daytona, which is a lot narrower than people realize.

Mark Aumann: But I fear for a green-white-checkered. They may not get to the stripe before all heck breaks loose. Does one attempt include a yellow before they throw the green?

David Caraviello: It's going to be interesting to see how they manage this at places like Bristol and Martinsville. But I guess at the short tracks, where a certain degree of bumping and banging is expected, a little more aggression on restarts comes with the territory.

Mark Aumann: And can we drop the "shootout style?" I feel like we're watching Doc Holliday and the Earp brothers at the O.K. Corral.

David Caraviello: Yeah, I ordered my hash browns "shootout style" the other day at the Waffle House. Whoops, I meant smothered and covered.

Mark Aumann: Well, if they came side-by-side ...

David Caraviello: With bacon!

Raygan Swan: What is going on here, guys? I didn't know you two were so Western.

Mark Aumann: Get along, little doggie. One of my favorite John Wayne lines is "Let's go! We're burning daylight!"

David Caraviello: Listen here, little lady. Anyway, this new restart format is more fun to watch, no question about that. Sunday was the best race I've ever seen at New Hampshire, a place where the leader usually checks out. But I wonder if this is going to be one of those things NASCAR is going to have to police a little bit going forward.

Mark Aumann: I've been impressed at how the leader has pretty much been able to hold serve on nearly every restart. The problems are all in the middle of the pack. But that's not really much different than the "non-shootout style" restarts.

Raygan Swan: Police it how so? Does that mean Kyle Busch will be the one to get a ticket after every restart?

Mark Aumann: "Every breath you take, every move you make, I'll be watching you." Oh, that's a different Police.

Raygan Swan: Oh now we're in the '80s, Mark?

Mark Aumann: Did we ever leave?

David Caraviello: You are right, Mark, Jeff Gordon especially was able to hold off every challenge. But I'll tell you, guys sure weren't shy about trying. And I don't know if every race leader will have a car as good on restarts as Jeff's was on Sunday. As we saw -- somebody up front spins the tires once, there's going to be a melee behind them. Point the finger at Kyle, but all the guys up front were in the gas every opportunity they had.

Mark Aumann: Same with Kasey Kahne at Sonoma, which I thought was even more of a challenge.

David Caraviello: And Saturday, we'll get to see somebody hold off an eight-wide challenge at Daytona. That ought to be fun!

Mark Aumann: Remember, the yellow line is out of bounds. And you know somebody will get darn close to it.

David Caraviello: Oh, they'll get more than close to it. Combine this restart format with the yellow-line rule, and the post-race explosions in the sky won't be the only fireworks on Saturday night. (Continued)