Double-file restart rule has drivers excited, waiting (cont'd)

Having said that, Newman and Burton argued that the racing lately has not been bad -- even without the new double-file restart rule.

"We're putting on pretty fun races that I've seen. And I'm not just talking about for the lead -- I'm talking about cars running side-by-side and racing like that," Newman said. "You're seeing a good average number of cars on the lead lap. I think it's been around 20 or something like that for each race. That's competitive racing. We're just delivering the fans what they want. That's what our job is as a series and as drivers and as sponsors."

Burton added: "I am not defending or trying to take a side or whatever, but the last seven weeks of racing have been pretty good. I've been pretty surprised about how much better the racing has been and how exciting it has been. Goodyear has brought a much better tire to those races or the races have been at night in the cooler air; we have had more grip and we have had better tires and the races have been pretty good.

"I don't think that there is this major need, as the perception seems to go, that we've got to have better racing -- if it's going to be the way it's been the last seven weeks. If it's going to be like it was in California, we have improvements to make. If it's going to be the way it has been the last seven weeks, we are pretty close. That is my opinion."

As far as the new rule goes, the free pass for the first car not on the lead lap when the caution comes out will remain in effect throughout the races, Pemberton confirmed. Drivers seem eager to see what strategy will come into play for competitors not on the lead lap who elect not to pit during a caution, as they will get waved around to the tail-end of the lead lap.

Pemberton said NASCAR will constantly review the effects of the new rule, but said he expects no more changes to be made between now and the end of this season.

One thing everyone seemed in agreement on, heading into this Sunday's race at Pocono, is that restarts late in races are likely to become more exciting for fans and more harrowing for the drivers who will now be battling each other up front for lead positions.

"We're in competition with every other form of entertainment," Mark Martin said. "That's been brought to the forefront based on what has happened with the economy and everything. And so, that's what it's about. It's about trying to step up your game.

"We're competitors. From a competitor's standpoint, there are winners and losers in a double-file restart. You just have to hope that it balances out equally. What that means is that sometimes a double-file restart will put you in a less desirable lane that you maybe wouldn't have had to deal with. Hopefully it balances out to 50-50 over the long haul, that you gain some and you lose some -- and that the fans gain every time."