CBS.SportsLine.com's Brian De Los Santos and Charlie McCarthy provide analysis on three weekly racing topics.
| 1. Did NASCAR rule fairly in its dealings with Robby Gordon at the end of the Montreal Busch race? | |
| Brian De Los Santos | Charlie McCarthy |
 Robby Gordon certainly keeps things interesting doesn't he? I think there were a number of mistakes made at the end of the race, by both NASCAR and Gordon. It was just such an odd series of events. If the caution came out before Gordon made his pass of Marcos Ambrose, then he should have restarted second, regardless of what ensued between the two after the caution flew. The field was frozen, right? If Ambrose and Gordon weren't adequately slowing after the caution, then NASCAR should have penalized them both. Ambrose certainly shouldn't have been rewarded for spinning Gordon under caution. It really got strange once NASCAR black-flagged him. Gordon wouldn't budge out of his position. He wanted to protest and I can't really blame him. The problem is that there is no proper way for a driver to protest a call. If he went back to 13th as NASCAR was ordering, a protest would have been pointless. So he stood his ground until the end of the race. So for the most part I tend to side with Gordon, though I didn't agree with him celebrating as if he had won, but it sure was hilarious. Another point of contention I have was that if NASCAR felt Gordon was being a rogue driver and not following the rules and driving out of position, how could they allow his spin of Ambrose to stand once the race returned to green? That had a huge impact on the final results. It really was just a big, old mess and NASCAR can shoulder much of the blame for making a bad call in the first place. |  Brian, no matter how you slice it -- and you did a deli-like job in your answer -- Robby Gordon was W-R-O-N-G. That's the bottom line. NASCAR is the governing body, and what it says goes -- like it or not. Every driver believes he has been wronged by either another competitor or NASCAR pretty much in every race. We can't be having drivers becoming judge and jury, or worse a vigilante, on the track. I don't like suspending a driver in Cup for actions in Busch, but then again, this was an extreme case. My feeling is Gordon should have restarted 13th and fought his cause after the race. (I admit it wouldn't have done much good.) And he definitely should have come in on the black flag. (Though it was cool seeing him do burnouts along with Harvick.) Normally, I think a guy such as Robby Gordon is good for the sport. He speaks his mind -- often unedited -- and that's refreshing in this era of marketing that emphasizes pleasing all sponsors. But Robby, you can't fight City Hall, so don't. Unless he wants to return to open-wheel racing, NASCAR is the only game in town. Gordon must play along, or not play. |
| 2. Pocono is often cited as a track that doesn't need two races a year. Do you agree, or is there another track that could stand to lose a second Cup date? | |
| Brian De Los Santos | Charlie McCarthy |
| I'm sorry to fans of the 2.5-mile triangle in the Poconos, but Pocono Raceway would be No. 1 on my hit list and it's really not even close. The track is so big and the races are so long, the field tends to get strung out and I'm not a big fan of parades. It's just not a great track for compelling racing. Maybe a shorter race or the Car of Tomorrow will help, but I've heard nothing about shortening the Pocono races and we'll have to wait until next year to see what kind of racing the COT brings to the track. New Hampshire is a distant second on my list, but I think the racing has improved there in recent seasons. Another track that holds multiple events that I'm not particularly fond of is Lowe's Motor Speedway, but because of its location it will never be in danger of losing race. | I'd love to see all tracks, with the exception of Daytona, host one race a year with much an emphasis on night racing. (Daytona, naturally, should continue to host its 500 and 400 events.) That would allow more cities and fans to enjoy NASCAR in person. Or at worst, 26 different venues for the first 26 races, and then a return to 10 tracks for the Chase races. |
| 3. Who's your pick to win this weekend at Watkins Glen? Who's your sleeper? | |
| Brian De Los Santos | Charlie McCarthy |
| You have to go with Tony Stewart. He has been hot lately, winning two consecutive races before finishing sixth at Pocono. On top of that he has won at Watkins Glen in three of the past five seasons and finished second last year. Of course, they'll be many eyes on the 42 of Juan Pablo Montoya. He has proven without a doubt he knows how to drive a road-course in a stock car. I was on the mark with my sleeper pick of Kurt Busch last week. This week, I'm really climbing out on a limb with Dale Earnhardt Jr., who's not exactly known as a great road-course racer. However, he has finished in the top 10 in three of his past four trips to the Glen and didn't look that bad at Sonoma earlier this season. | I agree Tony Stewart is a top pick, but so is Jeff Gordon. He has won four times at Watkins Glen and owns six top fives in 14 starts. As for a sleeper, I'm going to stick with Gordon -- Robby Gordon. This week's controversial figure in NASCAR did a well-earned burnout (unlike last weekend's bush deal) in 2003 when he won at the Glen. In eight starts here, Robby Gordon has six top 5 finishes. |
