Write Turn: Drivers finding comfort zone with COT

Updated Oct. 2

Last week's slam bang-finish at Kansas Speedway, the continued problems for Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch, plus the game of musical chairs being played by the smaller and low-budget teams were the topics on our readers' minds this week.

From: sookie

Two weeks and two good races, at least the finishes at Dover and Kansas were exciting. Is the new car getting better or is it just a coincidence the racing has been more exciting?

There is no doubt teams and drivers are getting more comfortable with the new car and it is showing. There isn't the constant whining we heard at the beginning of this season and, yes, the on-track action has gotten better. There is still room for improvement and the bigger 2-mile tracks still cause handling problems, but the evolution of the COT is headed in a better direction.

From: drvgd Is Tony Stewart's focus just completely gone because of his new team and plans for next year? How else can you explain why he hasn't won in 2008 and doesn't look like he will anytime soon?

I'd say Stewart is still focused when he gets into the car and wants to win races, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't torn in about a hundred directions these days with the plans for 2009 rolling around. But he has had his share of bad luck this year, as well as mistakes. Last week I do think his emotions got the better of him in his feud with Brian Vickers after their pit-road encounter and when Stewart tried to retaliate on track, he spun himself out and damaged his car, ending any chance of snapping his winless streak.

From: viktrs

Will Kyle Busch now just go out and use a win-or-nothing strategy the last seven races now that he is completely out of championship range?

Yes. Look for some very aggressive set-ups and driving in the coming weeks from Busch, who is very frustrated and wants to win at all costs. The three straight mechanical issues that doomed his Chase chances are perplexing to everyone inside Joe Gibbs Racing, yet there's a silly rumor that somehow someone inside the organization sabotaged Busch's car the last three weeks. Black helicopter theorists love that one. But it's just been a case of incredible misfortune and I predict Busch wins at least two times in the next seven races.

From: noid8

Pete, you do a great job here at CBS and on Sirius. And you were right on in your prediction that Paul Menard would jump ship from DEI to Yates for next season. What happens to DEI now?

Thanks for the kind words. Menard and his father, who basically foots the bill, weren't happy with the direction at DEI and bolted to Yates, which has to feel like it won the lottery with the lucrative sponsorship dollars that come with Menard. As for DEI, management continues to say it has a plan, but right now it's looking like that team will either merge with another or run only two cars in 2009.

From: stellax

Will Michael Waltrip Racing field three cars next year?

Right now MWR only has sponsorship for a full season on the No. 55 driven by Waltrip and half a year on the No. 00, which will have David Reutimann behind the wheel next season. Michael McDowell might be looking for work if a sponsor cannot be found for the third entry, although the team did enter into a technical agreement with the new JTG Daugherty Racing team, which will have Marcos Ambrose as its driver next season.

From: freserve

I think Team Red Bull made a big mistake letting A.J. Allmendinger go in favor of Scott Speed, who in my opinion is another of those flavor-of-the-month guys who won't make it over the long term. Where will A.J. wind up? Back in open wheel racing?

Although Allmendinger said he did have an offer to return to open wheel with the IRL, he wants to stay in NASCAR after the improvement he's made. Expect him to sign with Ganassi Racing and pilot the No. 41 Dodge as Reed Sorenson's replacement in the next few days with an announcement coming at Charlotte next weekend.