Just what the doctor ordered...

Admit it, you’ve been there.

Christmas ends and your thoughts start to drift south towards the beaches – and asphalt – that is Daytona Beach. Each car you pass with a drivers sticker attached to it makes it worse, and when FOX starts with the previews for the Daytona 500, you are as anxious as a kid waiting for summer vacation.

The two weeks of Daytona went off without a hitch with most of the stories centering on the action on the track, as opposed to last years debacle with Michael Waltrip Racing. There were a lot of great stories, none of which centered on cheating or other off track controversies. It all ended with a great ending to the 500, with another first time winner in Ryan Newman taking the checkered flag. We were left with the hopes of a great season of stories, from the resurgence of Dodge, to the new guy driving the 88, as well as the new car coming on full time.

Then there was California, the race that would never end. Weepers and empty seats were the topic of the week following – should NASCAR have started the race as early as they did, should they have waited that long to postpone, was California fit to host racing? And in all of this, the actual race was lost somewhere.

Robbie Gordon was the main story though – did he cheat, or was it accidental? Should he be penalized? Was NASCAR being consistent like everyone claims they want? And in all of this, the actual race was lost somewhere.

Las Vegas was next with stories filling the airwaves and blogs about a possible second date, will they get it and if so, from who? Then there was Carl Edwards. The pit road incident as well as the oil cover controversy, the years first ‘real’ cheating scandal. And in all of this, the actual race was lost somewhere.

Atlanta was next, with the weather again being a top story. First the rain, then the snow, then cold, then more snow, then warm. And with that were the empty seats, something that seems acceptable in Atlanta but not in California. The race itself? With so few cars finishing on the lead lap, it reminded me of the ‘good old days’ of NASCAR that everyone seems to want back. But before any of us could digest the race, there was Tony Stewart, live on FOX moments after the race, ripping into Goodyear and the quality tire that they provided. Other drivers echoed his concerns, but not nearly as loudly. But what Smoke managed to do was again give everyone plenty of off track controversy to talk about. Again, another lost race.

What started as an exciting season of racing has quickly turned into three weeks of ‘off track’ controversy; as opposed to talking about the actual action on the track.

But there is light on the horizon – back to back short track racing! First there’s Bristol this weekend, and despite shaky weather, 160000 rabid fans will pack the track looking for the best NASCAR can offer. Despite all the complaining about the new car and the new paved surface, I think we are in for a heck of a treat Sunday.

Then, after a week off for Easter, NASCAR stops at my favorite track – Martinsville Speedway for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500. This is short track racing at its finest, and where the ‘new’ NASCAR hasn’t quite made its presence known. It’s truly a throwback to NASCARs roots, and if you haven’t had a chance to visit, it’s certainly a track worth putting on your list of places to go.

I’ll be making the 13 hour car ride in my ’04 Monte Carlo with my 12 year old daughter to both the truck race Saturday and the cup race Sunday. You can look for us about 30 rows up from the start finish line, she will be the one decked out in Kasey Kahne garb, while I’ll be the guy with a couple of Jessie Jones hotdogs in my hand and an ear to ear smile.