Tyme Out: Norris embraces momentum after changes

Ty Norris, vice president and general manager of Michael Waltrip Racing, will share his opinions each Thursday on NASCAR.COM:

Have you noticed that an old friend rejoined the NASCAR community this winter? For more than four decades, we took him for granted. So, if absence truly makes the heart grow fonder, Uncle Mo, we welcome you back with open arms. Unpack and stay a while.

Back to basics

You wanted the elimination of bump-drafting restrictions at Daytona and Talladega, you got it. You wanted more power for the Daytona 500, you got it. You wanted to replace the rear wing on the Sprint Cup car with a spoiler, you got it. You wanted the yellow-line rule to stay, it stays. You want NASCAR to go easier on you when you punt and bump and argue with one another, you got it.

• Complete story
• Video: Rear spoiler is back
• Video: Pemberton on changes
• Video: Bump-drafting notice
• Video: Character and contact

Those of us who live within the gates of NASCAR's garages recognize unprecedented change, change which has sparked a tidal wave of momentum for our sport, its fans and its future.

Crazy thing, momentum. You can't see it. You can't will it. But every human in the world can feel it. And it's here.

Next week will mark the 20th time I drive into the tunnel at Daytona for the Great American Race, and I cannot recall a time when I will come through the other side with more anticipation than this year.

Last week's sweeping announcements were a culmination of exhaustive efforts on NASCAR's part to listen to its drivers, owners, track operators and fans. NASCAR started Town Hall meetings with its stakeholders. NASCAR formed a 12,000 person Fan Council which it leans on heavily for majority opinion.

And, yes, you heard it right. They said it. Brian France: "NASCAR is a contact sport." Robin Pemberton stared into the camera and deep into the souls of NASCAR's drivers and said, "Boys, have at it."

Governmental reigns on bump drafting -- gone. Driver muzzles -- gone. Wings -- gone. Here are consistent start times and the largest restrictor plate in 20 years. Somewhere in the heavens a big bushy mustache just cocked sideways with a smirk. After all, it was Dale Legend who once publicly told the drivers if they didn't want to race hard, "better tie a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants don't crawl up your legs and eat your candy asses."

Our NASCAR ... your NASCAR is back.

The beauty of this momentum is that it is here off the track as well.

Tuesday, Michael Waltrip spent an entire day in New York as the guest of several internationally recognized media outlets. His segment on FOX Business explained that Michael Waltrip Racing is a success story within NASCAR, rising from a building blueprint and an organizational chart just three years ago to be a race-winning, Chase-contending organization with 100 percent sponsor renewal entering the 2010 campaign.

Michael enjoyed the same opportunity with Forbes.com and finished his evening with a 15-minute segment on Sean Hannity's politically charged pre-Obama State of the Union FOX News show. Michael gave Hannity a Best Western race-worn helmet and NAPA crew shirt on the show, and by the end of the segment Hannity was wearing the helmet. In the coming days Michael will be featured talking NASCAR as a guest columnist in the Wall Street Journal.

As soon as the Hannity show went off the air, HBO's 24/7 came on, featuring Jimmie Johnson. Jimmie's goal for this late-night, censorship-free, all-access show was to unveil his real personality. And there he was, less than two minutes into the show, drinking a Bud Light, hanging at a pub and listening to some buddy's band -- just like we know him.

HBO will allow Jimmie's personality to shine through. So will NASCAR.

Let the fun begin. See you at the water cooler on Mondays again. Welcome back.

Ty Norris is vice president and general manager of Michael Waltrip Racing. He has worked within the NASCAR industry with MWR, Speedway Motorsports Inc., Dale Earnhardt Inc. and RJ Reynolds since 1990.