Thoughts during the rain delay for the Coca-Cola 600

CONCORD, N.C. -- There are a few odds and ends to be dumped like rain from the notebook and the mind as Day 2 of the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway rolled on Monday.

So even before reaching the checkered flag, here we go while dodging the latest raindrops and hoping Day 2 doesn't turn into Day 3.

Meeting of the minds

Mayfield storylines

• Mayfield wants to see results
• France cites serious infractions
• Test negative for steroid use
• Perception becomes the battle
• Policy tests for array of drugs
• Mayfield suspended indefinitely

On Tuesday NASCAR will hold a mandatory meeting with owners and drivers at its Research and Development Center a few miles from Lowe's Motor Speedway. Chairman Brian France said everything will be on the table to be discussed in a "town-hall meeting" type of setting.

Listen, this isn't the first time, nor will it be the last, that NASCAR holds this kind of meeting with owners and drivers during a season. They held one last June during a race weekend at Michigan, ostensibly to discuss making sure fans were treated with tender care -- but also in what appeared to be an attempt to do damage control in the wake of a $225 million racial and sexual discrimination lawsuit filed by a former female NASCAR official (since settled out of court). So let's not make too much of this latest meeting of the minds.

It's obvious, though, that the drivers want some questions answered about the governing body's tougher substance abuse policy that has been so much (maybe too much) in the news since the indefinite suspension of driver Jeremy Mayfield under a cloud of controversy. And they should get them. One thing that makes this sport different from others -- and arguably might give competitors the right to know what fellow competitors have tested positive for -- is that they operate 3,400-pound stock cars at high speeds in the same arena. That's quite a bit different than, say, if they were on a football or baseball field.

But the drug policy will not be the only topic covered Tuesday at the R&D Center, nor should it be. There are many issues that need to be addressed -- including ways to improve attendance and television ratings in a declining economy, as well as ways to deal with disappearing sponsorship dollars and make the "new car," which isn't so new anymore, as racy as it is safe. (Continued)