As NASCAR continues to feel its way through a rather unusual offseason, one devoid of "sanctioned" testing during an economic downturn that keeps turning downward, at least two guys think it all could turn out for the better in the Cup Series.

Those two are Lee White, president and general manager of Toyota Racing Development, U.S.A.; and Michael Waltrip, owner of Michael Waltrip Racing and driver of the No. 55 Toyota.

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Talking on a recent teleconference call with reporters from around the nation, they expressed optimism about the general future of racing and even suggested that the current conditions will help make the Cup Series stronger in the long run.

As far as curtailing all offseason testing at tracks where NASCAR events are held (except for the occasional Goodyear tire tests that are considered a necessary evil, sort of like, in some minds, the Goodyear tire itself), White and Waltrip said they are in agreement that it can do no harm to the competitive side when it comes to holding actual races during a season.

"Not going to these NASCAR-sanctioned tracks to tests, I don't want to be naïve, but I really don't see how a negative can come from it," Waltrip said.

"I just know that in desperate times, you have to take desperate measures in order to try to stay afloat. Banning our ability to go to these race tracks to test and limiting the tracks that we can go test on will save the teams money."

White went a step further. He suggested that the limit on testing -- which has continued and will continue at tracks that are not "NASCAR sanctioned" such as Rockingham in North Carolina, New Smyrna in Florida and Texas World Speedway -- will make the actual races at the other tracks better for fans to watch.

"That is part of the mystery of how this whole thing will turn out, and I think that's why it's fascinating to watch," White said. "On the other hand, when we went to Daytona and tested for three weeks, everyone ended up running the same speeds. And that's what everyone hated, because nobody could pass anybody.

"Maybe, just maybe, it'll mean there will be people who aren't all running the same speed -- and there will be lapped cars, people to pass and picks, and a lot of different scenarios panning out. And maybe that will make it more fun to watch."

Thin out the herd?

Along with the legitimate concerns about the struggling economy come concerns about NASCAR being able to consistently find enough funded teams to fill their starting grids for each race.

There almost certainly are going to be events this year, especially in the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series, where less than the desired full field takes the green flag at the beginning of some races. There is a fear that there might even be some Cup races where less than the usual field of 43 cars will take the green.

But again, Waltrip and White dispute that this necessarily is as bad a deal for NASCAR as it might seem on the surface.

"In my opinion, no, it's not a bad thing at all," Waltrip said. "There are always waves of cars that come and go. We started the 2007 season with the most competitive cars in the history of NASCAR. There is no way to argue that. There were 53 cars that had money when we started the 2007 season.

"We're going to start 2009 with considerably less than that, but there are going to be opportunities for guys like Tommy Baldwin and Phil Parsons [to perhaps field independent cars in certain races]. There will be opportunities for some guys to come in and learn what it takes to have teams in NASCAR at the Cup level. So I don't think it's a bad thing at all."

White added: "I absolutely agree with Michael. I don't think it's a bad thing. I think if there are 20 quality cars and quality drivers on the race track, there are going to be people in the grandstands watching them and pulling for their favorite guy. This is one of those things where it's a little bit of a downturn.

"Certainly 43 cars [in every Cup field] is the goal and we'd all like to see that -- but I also agree with Michael about this creating some opportunity for new blood to come in and see if they can figure it out. Have a shot. That's the American way."

Ah, there is nothing quite like a top dog from Toyota espousing the American Way.

Plus Waltrip really has it figured out. Laughing, he added truthfully that "all you need is enough people for Dale Jr. and Jeff Gordon to pass and everybody will be happy."

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.