The announcement of the 2011class for the NASCAR Hall of Fame was interesting if not perplexing.  Chosen were David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Lee Petty, Ned Jarrett, and Bud Moore.  Pearson was as much of a lock to be voted in this year as anyone could have been.  Reports indicate he nearly made it last year, so this year was a certainty.  Surprising was the Jarrett and Moore selections, not that they didn’t deserve the honor.  They certainly do.  But what is confusing is how can you lock William Caleb Yarborough out two years in a row. 

I had openly campaigned for Pearson, Yarborough, and Allison.  Those were the heroes of my youth, and with each approaching or past 70, I wanted to see them get into the Hall before anything happened to them.  Two out of three made it, but what about Cale?  Humpy Wheeler, former boss at Charlotte Motor Speedway, said it was personal feelings that drove the voters to Jarrett, Moore, and Petty and against Darrell Waltrip and Yarborough, the other two favorites.  Is there something I’m missing here?

Yarborough has the third most wins in series history and is the only one of two drivers to win three consecutive Sprint Cup championships.  So why did Petty, Jarrett, and Moore get in and Yarborough did not?  It probably had to do with exposure.  Yarborough is seldom seen around NASCAR’s speedways and last made an appearance in congratulating Jimmie Johnson for tying his consecutive championship record, a record Johnson has since eclipsed.  Maybe Yarborough could be called the forgotten man.

Truth is, this was a tough decision for the voters to make and Wheeler is probably right in that personal feelings had a lot to do with it.  Petty was a pioneer in the sport and the father of NASCAR’s “King,” Richard Petty.  Jarrett was a popular personality on NASCAR’s television and radio broadcasts for years.  Moore was a crusty World War II veteran who led his drivers to 63 wins and two championships.  And that’s the problem.

The powers that be just don’t induct enough people into the Hall of Fame.  At the rate of five per year, most of our heroes will have gone on to their reward before they make the Hall.  There should also be separate categories for drivers, crew chiefs, pit crew members, car owners, and media greats.  The Hall should have had an initial 20 people inducted and then chosen five a year from each category.  Some will not live long enough to see their heroes in the Hall, and that’s a shame.

So those of us who watched Yarborough wrestle a race car around the track to win will have to wait another year…or three.  And if NASCAR continues to only induct five per year, we may never see him join the elite group he deserves.

NASCAR’s 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship will officially hit the half way point Saturday night when the green flag falls on the Bank of America 500 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. By the time this race is over, there should a sharper focus on the Chase picture and we will know which teams are serious championship contenders, which teams are still in contention but need to charge a little harder and we should know which teams can start focusing on the 2011 season. In other words, the Bank of America could likely turn out to be deal maker or a deal breaker for the Chase teams.

THE STORY BREAKDOWN

If anyone driver is going to deter Jimmie Johnson’s “drive for five championships” run then that process needs to start this weekend. That deterrent won’t be easy because Johnson leads all active drivers with six wins at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. That includes being the defending race winner from last year, an event that he won from the pole position.

However, Johnson doesn’t have a lock on the standings.  Denny Hamlin is right behind him only 36 points away. Kevin Harvick holds down third and is only 54 points out. Both Hamlin and Harvick will have a daunting challenge this Saturday night in Charlotte: finish ahead of Johnson at a speedway that more and more is being referred to as “Jimmie Johnson’s House.”

Then there’s the matter of Jeff Gordon, Johnson’s team mate and team co owner who’s 85 points away in fourth. Gordon is a five time winner at Charlotte and, like his team mate, is also seeking his fifth Sprint Cup championship this year. This team is still a factor in the Chase due to their high level of consistent finishes. But we’ve all heard the talk regarding closing the deal plus the fact the #24 hasn’t found victory lane since Texas last year. If there was ever an opportunity to rectify that situation then Saturday night is it. Gordon knows the fast way around the Charlotte Motor Speedway. His five wins there proves that.

Under the theory of “where there’s smoke there’s fire”, keep a sharp on eye on Tony Stewart Saturday night. Were it not for running out of gas, en route to winning the first Chase event at New Hampshire, Stewart would be right at the top of the Chase standings instead of being fifth 107 points out. Stewart is riding a huge wave of momentum right now. He won in California last Sunday, on top of his USAC Sprint car teams having a very good weekend, and then on Tuesday he announced that Mobil 1 Oil will be joining the Stewart Haas primary sponsor list for next year. But most of all look for Stewart to be in a hard charge, willing to gamble, mode Saturday night. He’s well aware that what’s required to get back to the top of the Chase standings.

Also keep a sharp eye on Kurt Busch and his Penske Racing Dodge as well. Sixth in the standings, 140 points out, the elder Busch brother is in a do or die situation in terms of winning his second Sprint Cup championship. But there’s some extra motivation here. Busch won the Sprint All Star race and the Coca Cola 600 last May at Charlotte. He’s planning on becoming the first ever Cup driver to sweep all three major races at this track in a single season.

******************

But the one factor, in the Bank Of America 500, that could seriously impact the outcome is the mood of Mother Nature. The weather forecast for the greater Charlotte area calls for sunny skies and 76 degrees during the day. But this is a 500 mile night race that begins at 7 pm eastern time. That means the temperature is expected to drop as the race progresses. In fact the atmospheric temperature could likely drop to the 40’s during the late portion of the race.

That means changes in track temperature throughout the night. That, in turn, means changes in the handling of the cars. It also means major concerns, not to mention headaches, for the crew chiefs who will have to deal with the decisions regarding pit road adjustments on their cars. This is especially true during those final pit stops when a crew chief only has one final opportunity to come through for his driver.

************

THE VEGAS BREAKDOWN

The Las Vegas based World Sports Exchange, (WSE), to no real surprise has Jimmie Johnson on top of their list to win Saturday night’s race at Jimmie Johnson’s house. They’re backing that theory with 7 to 2 odds based on the driver’s six wins there.

Right behind Johnson is Kyle Busch at 7 to 1 odds. Busch is still looking for his first Cup win at Charlotte. He’s also looking to revive what’s left of his Chase hopes following last Sunday’s blown engine in California. Right behind him is the aforementioned Kurt Busch who has been rated at 8 to 1 odds.

At 10 to 1 you will find Roush Fenway Racing drivers Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards. Each driver’s Chase hopes took a major hit last Sunday in California due to unexpected engine problems. They, also, will be looking to revive what’s left of their Chase hopes Saturday night.

Wow, look at what the WSE has for you at 12 to 1 odds this week. It’s a quartet of Chase contenders featuring Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick. This is a rock solid opportunity worthy of any one’s consideration. It’s also worthy of obtaining kitchen pass permission to call the WSE.

Looking at the WSE’s middle portion of this week’s rankings you will find another wager worthy of consideration. Its three time Charlotte winner Kasey Kahne at 15 to 1. Right behind him is Matt Kenseth, another Charlotte winner, at 18 to 1. At 20 to 1 you will find Childress Racing drivers Clint Bowyer and Jeff Burton who is a three time winner at this track.

At the bottom of this week’s rankings are Joey Logano and David Reutimann, whose only Cup win came at Charlotte, at 30 to 1. The third driver in this group is five-time Charlotte winner Mark Martin and that could turn out to be a worthy wager for those who like long shots. After suffering a dismal 2010 racing season, the Martin team looked really strong last weekend. Completing this week’s WSE rankings is the second Stewart-Haas entry driven by Ryan Newman at 40 to1.

Now for the disclaimer. NASCAR wants us to remind you that these posted numbers are for information and entertainment purposes. They neither encourage nor condone the placing of wagers on their events.

But, if you’re going to do it anyway, then seriously take a look at those four drivers in the 12 to 1 category. Pardon me while I take a break and go to the kitchen to have a friendly chat with the house “Sweetie.”

************

THE RACE BREAKDOWN

The Bank of America 500 is 334 laps/501 miles around the Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 1.5 mile quad oval.

With the vast majority of NASCAR race shops calling the Charlotte area home, this race is considered to be a home turf event and that’s likely why this race has an unusually high 51 entries vying for the 43 starting positions.

16 of those entries are on the go or go home list meaning they are not guaranteed a starting berth in the race because they are currently outside of NASCAR’s top 35 in owner’s points. These teams will have to rely on qualifying speed to make the race.

Opened in 1960, the Charlotte Motor Speedway has hosted 103 Sprint Cup races that has sent 43 different winners to victory lane.

Chevrolet leads the manufacturer’s stats at Charlotte with 37 wins. By the way Chevrolet wrapped up the 2010 Manufacturer’s Cup following Tony Stewart’s win last Sunday at the Auto Club Speedway. It’s their 34th Cup championship since the contest was created back in 1950.

In this day and age qualifying has become increasingly important to a Sprint Cup team. It determines pre race track position and, of equal importance, pit stall selection. Elliot Sadler holds the track qualifying record, 193.216 MPH, set in back in October of 2005. But it’s the “Rocket Man” who owns the qualifying stats at Charlotte. Ryan Newman has won the pole a series high nine times followed by Jeff Gordon at seven.

The Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 1.5 mile quad oval has 24 degrees of banking in the turns and five degrees on the straight-aways. The pit road speed is 45 MPH.

The speedway presently has seating for 171,000 fans.

The Charlotte Motor Speedway complex is located on approximately 2,000 acres of property. The land was originally the site of a working plantation during the civil war and, earlier than that, President George Washington ate lunch and rested in a house that later served as the speedway’s office.

The Bank of America 500 will be broadcast live by ABC beginning at 7pm eastern time. The re airs will be Sunday morning, 3 am ET, on ESPN2 and the following Wednesday, 12 pm ET, on SPEED.

Rick Hendrick poses the question that many have been asking since the late 1980s, “Looking back, what could have been? How many championships could Tim Richmond win?”

Hendrick is among the likes of Richard and Kyle Petty, H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, A.J. Foyt and others who bring NASCAR fans a closer look at a driver who did everything at full speed. His lifestyle was what made him unique in a sport he took by storm and left an everlasting mark upon.

All that remain today are the archived pictures of Richmond and his No. 25 Folgers Chevrolet and will remain in the hearts of NASCAR fans around the world.  Photo retouching can bring back the old No. 25 car photos to life, but unfortunately nothing can bring back the driver.  Richmond always pushed the car to the absolute edge, just like he lived his life, burning the candle at both ends

Tuesday, October 19 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, the newest “30 for 30” documentary titled Tim Richmond: To the Limit will showcase the career and life of a man that was taken away way too soon.

Every day was a party for Tim Richmond and he was the life of that party. The way he lived was by making sure his life was to the fullest and that he had fun while doing it. The talent he possessed behind the wheel had even Dale Earnhardt aware of whom his toughest competitor was going to be.

Yet, long before he was racing, Richmond was already impressing. As a kid he had his father time him as he ran to the mailbox. Speed came natural to Richmond and a natural is the best way to describe a man that sister Sandy Welsh says was good at everything he ever did, or else he wouldn’t do it.

Richmond became very good at NASCAR racing, even though it came after a less than pleasant stint in open-wheel. It did help get his name out and fans began to fall in love with him, quickly adding Mr. Popularity to his character traits.

A bad wreck at Michigan in 1980 however, ended his open wheel stint. It wasn’t so much about the wreck, Sandy will reveal to fans, which also includes a bit of family humor.

IndyCar became the past, NASCAR was the future and what a ride it would be. Richmond didn’t know much about stock cars but it didn’t matter to him. On track this was a man who knew how to drive, be it a bit aggressively.

Wrecks and torn up equipment were Richmond’s first impression on the NASCAR world.

Known as a womanizer, Richmond might have been welcomed by fans but fellow NASCAR drivers such as Darrell Waltrip recall that they didn’t know what to make of him. Good ‘ol boy he was not, nor was he from the south where they wore jeans and cowboy hats. Richmond showed up in silk suits.

Wrapped or packaged differently maybe, but everything was there to make Richmond a star and champion. Enter Rick Hendrick and the rest is “Days of Thunder.”

Pairing Richmond with crew chief Harry Hyde proved to be the magic combination as they tore through the then Winston Cup circuit. The team that finished third in points in 1986 was expected to become the next champions of the sport until a tragic fate got in the way.

What was passed off as double pneumonia, AIDS kept Richmond out of the car and racing for six months. When he finally returned it didn’t take long to pick up right where he left off, winning. Outside the car however, he wasn’t the same man that many were used to seeing.

Listening to friends and family talk about Richmond’s illness eat away at him, becoming a shell of his former shelf, is a sobering part of the documentary. No one wanted to be around him, rumors ran rampant in the garage about what was really ailing Richmond.

Drug use was repeatedly thrown out and Richmond’s name was dragged through the mud. ESPN journalist Ed Hinton provides a deep look into how AIDS not only affected the Nation’s mentality, but the sports and drivers as well.

Before the start of the 1988 season NASCAR suspended Richmond for failing a drug test and even after Earnhardt went to NASCAR on Richmond’s behalf, he would never again climb aboard a racecar.

For the NASCAR fans that never got to see Richmond race or truly know the story of Richmond’s decent from the sport, or the harsh truth never told, this is their opportunity. ESPN is telling the story and straight from Bill France Jr. comes the admission that Richmond was treated wrongly.

The suspension sent Richmond back home. Racing was over and so was life to Richmond. The best insight into Richmond’s thought over his final years, what his life was about, and who he really was will again come from his sister.

Viewers will be introduced to a different side of the Richmond story. Only a family member could provide a story as heart wrenching as hers.

When the end comes it’s always the saddest part. The ending of Richmond’s life in 1989 didn’t bring an end to the story though. Now’s the chance for every NASCAR fan to learn more about a man that might have been NASCAR’s first rock star.

With six races left in the NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the race for the NASCAR championship is heating up. However, that’s not the only battle that is left in the Cup Series.

The top 35 is another battle, between four teams as they try and guarantee themselves into the 53rd Daytona 500 in February and the first five races of the 2011 season.

For those of you unclear about the NASCAR rule, the top 35 teams in owner points at the end of 2010, will race in the first five races of 2011, guaranteed. That gives them a big jump start on the season.

Let’s take a look at those cars fighting to get or stay into the top 35. Right now the No. 71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet is sitting 34th in the standings, just 53 points to the good. The No. 7 Robby Gordon Motorsports Toyota sits 35th just 25 points ahead of The #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford who sits 36th. Lagging back in 37th, with still a shot however, is the No. 26 Latitude 43 Motorsports Ford, just 170 points back with six races remaining.

Don’t think these guys are taking it seriously? Think again.

Front Row Motorsports has made many crew chief changes on their team to try and get themselves into the top 35. Just recently y it was announced that veteran crew chief Peter Sospenzo would take over the 38 team for the rest of the year.

Robby Gordon Motorsports even decided to bring down their No. 07 Toyota this weekend in an effort to try and knock out the No. 38 team from this weekends Bank of America 500.

Latitude Motorsports has hired veteran Ken Schrader to run at Martinsville and Talladega for them, as they try and claw their way into the top 35. Think they would have hired him had they had just given up? Me neither!

Some people say that some teams will be bumped into the top 35 because Richard Petty Motorsports is losing a team. However, that is not something you want to bet on for next year.

I understand Richard Childress Racing is expanding its organization with Paul Menard. I understand they will need to get points from somewhere, somehow. But who will it come from? The only theory to me is that the No. 71 team gives up their points to Richard Childress. However, I don’t see TRG Motorsports doing that. Still, leaves the No. 98 points out and no clue where they will go for 2011. Rumors are the No. 19 car might come back next season, so they may try and use those points.

Yet, when you are talking to a sponsor it’s easier to say, “Yes we are in” than “Well we may be in,” especially in this economy.

All four teams fighting to stay in the top 35 do not have full-time sponsorship for 2011. Not only that, it’s been announced that a few more teams will try and run full time making it even tougher to get into the field come next February.

So when you say the racing in the back of the field isn’t good and they don’t care. That is absolutely false. They do care and for many teams the top 35 is the difference between racing next year and packing it in.

Sunday night in California. The NASCAR Sprint Cup cars are growling around the track and the racing is three, four, and even five wide at times. Tony Stewart won the race and nearly 2 million less viewers watched. The attendance was estimated at 70,000 (21,000 less than capacity), the same as the last couple of races there. This is not an indictment of Auto Club Speedway; rather it is a symptom of what the average NASCAR fan is thinking in the year 2010.

Listening to fan comments this week, it may be a combination of things. Witness this scene as described to me by a fan that had a little race watching get-together at his home Sunday night. As he described it, there were seven fans gathered in his family room watching the big screen television.   

Most were in the 50-60 year old age group. There were fans of every brand and every driver. His recollection was that the minute that Jimmie Johnson took the lead, the discontent started. Then, as the race went on, the lack of cautions caused more discontent among the group. Half the crowd left before the race ended. The final four stayed until the end and none were happy. Why?

As much as NASCAR has tried to expand the sport to younger fans, they are in the minority. NASCAR has a base of fans in the age group mentioned earlier that seriously want their NASCAR back. More often than not, I hear fans wish for the days of Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty and David Pearson. Go to any track, and the No. 3 flag is dominant in the campgrounds, an area I consider to be the core fans. They come to the track early and stay late. These campers spend more money and are more rabid than any other. And their numbers are shrinking. As we head to Charlotte for another race, last May there were spots empty for the first time in memory.  Many would say it’s the economy, but it’s much more. I contend that it is boredom.

A few years ago, NASCAR started to police the sport. Don’t touch was the rule. How many times were drivers “warned” during a race to watch what they were doing? The result was that drivers were not taking the chance because they knew the trip to the NASCAR trailer was the next step. When things started going south, NASCAR decided to let them race. I give credit to Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, and others who continued on with what they do best, but they are in the minority. On top of that was the emphasis on the championship. The creation of the Chase has made drivers more tentative and more cautious. The result has been that the core fan is simply turned off. A man I know who attended every race at Bristol Motor Speedway from 1994-2006 summed it up best. “They ruined my track and they ruined my sport. I’m done.”

Yes, the racing was good at Fontana, but it didn’t feed the core fan. A long discussion happened on NASCAR radio today whereby the question was asked if the lack of “wrecking” was the reason for the lack of viewers and attendance. There are varying opinions on this. Racing incidents have always been a part of this sport, and we don’t see so many these days. Also, there is the feeling among racing purists that if the competition is good throughout the field, it’s a good race. Unfortunately, there are many of us who understand, but the majority of fans want to see rubbing and action. That was sorely missing at Fontana and many races throughout the season.

Then there’s Jimmie Johnson. Among many fans, it is a conceded fact that he will be the champion for another year. Who wants to watch the same story over and over? Outside of the usual Christmas specials and “Blazing Saddles” (remember, I’m talking NASCAR fans here), no one does.   People turn the race off or leave when Johnson seems to be winning another championship. It’s not Johnson’s nor the Lowes team’s fault, but it has become very old to many NASCAR fans. If there was ever a time the multitudes wish for a new champion, it’s this year. And many realize that it’s not going to happen. 

So they turn the race off, watch the NFL, and ratings and attendance suffers. So what’s the answer? Handicap the field? Scrap the Chase? Do away with the monetary advantage that the championship brings? I do not know. I just think that something needs to be done. Television ratings and attendance is important to the sport. And unless this slide is stopped soon, we may not have racing on the tube every week. That would be a tragedy.