NASCAR took a step forward on Thursday when it announced single-file restarts will be implemented in the final 20 laps -- instead of the final 10 -- during events in all three of NASCAR's top-tier series during the 2009 season.

On Sunday, the bigger issue reared its head: double-file restarts with lapped cars mixing it up with the leaders. That is what needs to be addressed now -- right now, before any other on-track competition issues are considered.

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Kyle Busch had a dominant car but hard racing by lap-down cars ultimately ended his day.

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The single-file restart rule was changed to give lead-lap drivers a better chance to go for the victory instead of having to contend with lapped traffic on the inside as they do on double-file restarts that have been the norm.

"We just felt that for the cars that had earned their way up to the top during late stages of the race, it will give them a better opportunity to compete for the win," said Kerry Tharp, NASCAR's director of communications for competition.

"So instead of a single-file restart with 10 to go, that will now be with 20 laps to go. The beneficiary rule is still intact as it was; there is no beneficiary inside of 10 laps."

The beneficiary is the "Lucky Dog," the first car not on the lead lap, which during the rest of a race is given its lap back when a caution flag comes out.

Of course what everyone stands behind is safety -- no racing back to the line, everyone knows the first car not on the lead lap gets the free pass so the field is frozen under caution. That's great for those trailing the leaders.

The problem is when the green flies again and the lapped cars are running up front with the leaders and trying to race for position to possibly pick up the Lucky Dog the next time the yellow comes out.

The leaders are up front for a reason -- they've earned it, either on the track or by pit strategy. The leaders should stay up front with the others who have earned their positions, not be mired behind lapped traffic on restarts.

Double-file the restarts with the field in position as it runs -- not with lapped cars to the inside -- should be the next competition bulletin issued by NASCAR. It can only help the racing (and minimize the wrecking of front-runners by those seemingly all-too-eager to leave their mark early in the race).

Fan's Rant of the Week

NASCAR blew this call big time. When your top 10 consists of one driver that had led a lap prior to the last green-flag lap of a race with nearly 50 laps remaining -- you have a bad finish.

If this is the marquee event of your series, you run it to the finish. Whether you have an hour delay, or two days of delay, you run 500 miles. You don't take away from previous champions by putting a name on that trophy that didn't accomplish the same thing. The same thing should apply to the Indy 500, 24 hours at Daytona or LeMans. Finish the race, it deserves to maintain that dignity.

I don't have anything against Kenseth, but I think NASCAR took the opportunity to finally give Jack Roush a Daytona 500 trophy. I am a Stewart fan, and it was easier to accept last year's loss on a last-lap pass than it was to watch any chance yesterday be taken away without a race to the finish.

NASCAR needs to realize that this year took away from the prestige of the event, and destroyed the momentum that the previous two 500s had going. I guess we can't ask for 3 great finishes in a row, but it would've been nice to see them finish ... period. -- Jared A. Olschewski

Should the Daytona 500 ever be less than 200 laps?
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