It is this writer’s opinion that victory in today’s big-league races — regardless of series —now depends more on the car than the driver. This is said due to the infinite adjustability of today’s chassis, the ability to tailor a car to a specific track and, in some cases, electronic upgrades of cars from the pits during races. Even drivers, traditional demanders of full credit, are beginning to waver. Consider this begrudging statement by Carl Edwards after driving his Roush Fenway Ford to victory in the recent Sprint Cup Series contest at the California — oops Auto Club — Speedway: “Everyone knows, all the drivers know for sure, it’s what you’re sitting in a lot of the times that makes a tiny little difference, and I’m proud to be driving this car.”   

Counter to early reports, some NASCAR drivers are now saying The Car of Tomorrow, now in everyday use, is better than the cars used in prior years. Kevin Harvick says the cars run slower once the tires wear, giving drivers the option of using various grooves on the track. He also says the COT also “drives better,” allowing more side-by-side racing. Biggest trouble comes on rough tracks, he reported, saying but they “drove like Cadillacs in Talladega testing.”  

Sprint, nee Nextel, last week announced a 29 billion — that’s billion, not million, dollar loss! By the end of last week, its stock price had fallen 20 percent in the frenzied trading that followed the announcement. This raises questions as to Sprint’s ability to continue sponsoring  NASCAR’s premier series. Sprint, a telephone services company, has been losing subscribers and said it expects to lose 1.2 million this quarter. Sprint started the year with over 53 million subscribers.
 
Jobless no more. Indiana born and bred Rollie Helmling, racing industry veteran, businessman and former team owner and president/CEO of USAC, has joined the state government’s  Economic Development Corp. as director of its new Motorsport Development Corp. Helmling spent several years running non-racing businesses while serving as owner and campaigner of midget and Sliver Crown cars before taking on the USAC job. Helmling now says he sees today’s auto racing as providing “great opportunities and possibilities for Indiana to pursue that can bring new jobs and investment to the state.” He notes Indiana now boasts more then 1,400 motorsports specific businesses which provide hundreds of well-paying jobs. The state also has more racetracks per capita than any other state in the union.

Jack Martin’s annual Bench Racing Weekend gets the green flag a week from Friday, the 14th and continues through Saturday, the 15th. It will be the 13th annual get together of this unique event which gets bigger each year. It is at the Holiday Inn Select at the Indianapolis Airport and will be highlighted by a talk on racing by Greg Weld, a former USAC national sprint car champion and Knoxville Nationals victor. In 1970 Greg was the fastest rookie qualifier for the Indy 500. Greg and his racing brothers, Jerry and Kenny, collectively won more than 100 open-cockpit feature events during their on-track careers. Weld’s talk is slated opening night, Friday the 14th. Event tix from Martin at (317) 892-2141, room reservations from (317) 244-6861. Mention the Bench Racing Weekend for a special rate.

Constant reader Kurt Payne of Crystal Lake, Ill., concerned, as is this writer, over the diminishing number of American drivers in front-line open wheel races, has drafted a plan, called Hometown Heroes, to help correct this. He’s sent it off to Roger Bailey of the IRL’S Indy Pro Series. It’s an interesting scenario and deserves more than just a look.

The Indianapolis Oldtimers and Hall of Fame decision to honor Roger Penske at its annual May dinner in Indy was made long before Ryan Newman drove one of Roger’s Dodges to victory in the Daytona 500. This major social function is at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Indianapolis on Friday, May 16. Tickets @ $65 each are now available by mail from IMS Oldtimers care of Jack Martin, 45 Woodview Drive, Pittsboro, Ind. 46167. For room reservations call the Marriott direct (317) 822-3500 and mention the Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers.   

The troubles on Wall Street were offered as the reason for the falling through of  the sale of the Nat’l Hot Rod Ass’n’s professional racing assets to HD Partners, a pro investment group. HD CEO Eddy Hartenstein blamed the economy for the inability to conclude the buyout. President Tom Compton said the NHRA has no plans to seek similar deals.

Two of the biggest names in auto racing and one of the most successful motocross racers of all time will be hooking up to run the NASCAR Camping World East Series this season. Ricky Carmichael, who began his stock-car racing career driving late models last year, will race cars prepared by Ken Schrader Racing with support from Hendrick Motorsports.

Buried in front-page stories in New York City dailies of the Mafia’s famed Gambino clan and its ties to the construction industry included a report that extortion plans had been drawn up by the Gambinos to milk the builder of the NASCAR track planned for New York City’s Staten Island borough. But the plan to build the track was scrapped.

The Indy Racing League quietly ordered panels added inside its cars to better protect drivers’ feet and legs. They’re 7 mm thick made of 18 layers of Zylon synthetic fiber and extend from the pedal bulkhead rearward to the back of the seat on each side of cockpits in all Indy and Indy Pro cars.

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, cognizant of the growing presence of racing car entities in the state, has announced it will offer a degree in Motorsport Engineering. Citing the city’s “Capital of Auto Racing” slogan, IUPUI said students would have plenty of internship programs.

Each year at the Indianapolis 500, involved celebrities receive a “goody bag” of souvenirs, gift certificates and mementos donated by local businesses. Last year’s sack was valued at $4,000. Efforts are now under way by Jewels and Pinstripes of California, creators of this year’s bag, to make this May’s offering even more valuable.

Motorsport Authentics, the retail souvenir entity co-owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and International Speedway Corp., which reported losing between $45 million and $50 million last year, now predicts a break-even 2008.

Bill Elliott, after 33 seasons at the wheel but too slow in qualifying to make this year’s Daytona 500, is now saying this is his last year as a Sprint Cup series driver. He has a part-time driving deal with Wood brothers to wheel their famous No. 21 Ford, but admits he is more interested in following the on-track career of his teenage son, Chase.

A deep and sincere thanks to members of the Hoosier Auto Racing Fans Club for my induction, along with that of Paul Hazen, to the HARF Hall of Fame. I’m sorry I had to miss the club’s 56th annual presentation ceremony and dinner. Other honorees for 2007 included Kenny Niflis as the club’s First Year Driver Award winner; Casey Shuman as winner of the Most Improved driver award; Duane and Sonja Alexander as winners of the Fan Appreciation Award; Kevin Briscoe as the Pat O’Connor Award winner; Brad and Steve Fox and DRC Chassis for their Mechanical Achievement Award; Jeff Bland, Jr. as their Rookie of the Year and Jim Morrison for his Media Award. We all know Jon Stanbrough was the club’s choice as Driver of the Year. Congratulations to all.  
   
Vermont’s Ken Squier, my favorite track announcer, was recently named Citizen of the Year by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. He accepted that honor Saturday at an awards gala at the Snowflake Mountain and Spa resort. It was Squier who was the first to call the Daytona 500 “The Great American Race.” Take a well-deserved bow, Kenley.