Biggest story right now? Danica Patrick coming to JR Motorsports to drive in the Nationwide Series and ARCA on a limited schedule. This talented lady, an Indy Car driver now for a number of years with known talent, will come into the full fendered cars to try her hand and display her skills there in 2010. The transition from computer designed, track hugging, low slung racers to the heavier, NASCAR full fendered taxicab type car should be an interesting one. It's been done in recent history by Tony Stewart, Robbie Gordon, John Andretti, and in the past by A.J Foyt himself. Even Janet Guthrie took a shot at Daytona. Danica Patrick is very popular and well known in the sport of racing, and has shown a talent for getting a car to victory lane. The people on various message boards have expressed a wide range of opinions about how she will perform in this transition to an obviously different ride. JR Motorsports will likely give her the best chance at success, because the cars coming out of that organization come from Hendrick, and we all know they build a good chassis. Now we can only sit back and wait to see how she does in February at Daytona. Are there any other new faces coming into big time racing? With all the buzz about Danica Patrick, who knows?

   On a lesser scale, we've continued to read comments about tracks using transponders for scoring purposes. On that subject, I back the idea that this is the way to go. I've seen the system work, and though there are flaws in anything electronic, the ones I see here are correctable ones, mostly caused by overlooking something in the design phase of a specific tracks set up of the scoring loops involved. Once correctly installed, they give the track an accurate picture of where a driver is in relation to all others on the track. They also give the speed per lap, the average speed of the race, and an accurate placing of the cars at the finish. Ideal, right? So now we get to the drawbacks, and the main sticking point is the initial expense of the system itself. It requires cuts in the pavement, easily made with a diamond saw, and filled in after installation with epoxy. The transponders themselves are said to be in the $250 - $350 range, which is not cheap, but is affordable considering what I've seen racers spend on chrome parts. Tracks that use transponders do so in two ways: they own them and rent them back to the drivers, or they require the driver to have one to use when they come to the track. It can cost about $400 to buy one that can be permanently hard wired, thereby reducing failure of the battery pack in rentals, but assuring the driver they will be accurately scored. The computer system can run of a laptop or desk model, track owner's choice. It only takes one person to run it, and hard copy printouts of each race can document the results for all to see. So the upsides seem to outweigh the downside of cost and installation, and the rental of the transponder units, typically $10 -$15 per event, can create a revenue stream for the track if they choose that method. In that way, they system can eventually pay for itself, and then become a reliable income source for the track promoter.

  On a smaller scale, something fairly new has entered the entertainment side of racing: skid plate racing. While I'm not sure where the idea originated, it has been tried at a few tracks around the country. Basically, it involves disabling the rear wheels of a front wheel drive car, usually a 4 cylinder, small car, by putting metal plates under the rear wheels. From what I've seen of this on You Tube, it creates a control problem that requires the driver to rethink their skills in negotiating turns on the race track.  The rear of the car tends to throw out if they enter the turn at a high rate of speed, so they must compensate by braking hard going into the corners. Interesting viewing if you've seen it. But here is the main problem that seems to come with this: it is done on pavement tracks, and the skid plates have the potential to wreak havoc on the condition of the pavement. Even if the tracks most sophisticated division is some Street Stock level, smooth pavement is essential there for good racing, and safety. While skid plate racing will appeal to younger fans, a much needed audience for short tracks right now, the effect it will have on the condition of the facility is of much greater importance. The average promoter can't repave his track once a month, and if these things get popular (they're cheap to run, so many may give it a try), torn up pavement will become a major problem.  This phenomena may die sooner than anyone could predict, a victim of it's own success. UPDATE: Now the news of this has sparked arguments about whether Spectator Drags, which it seems to be replacing, were a better 'feature' for the fans. It's even brought in comments from out of state people who likely have never even seen a Spectator Drag race, along with defense of the whole thing by someone whose never done much more than watch the races through a video camera lens, but considers himself an 'expert' on the subject. Neither possess the knowledge they'd like us to believe they have, but someone has to be posting in the land of 'delete what I disagree with'. I get closer each day to adding a straight up message board here. Dec 16th update: Now the thread is closed, no more comments, due to side comments by those who disagreed with the gist off it. Yeah, maybe a link to a message board would be a good thing........

  So that's it for now. Do you have any ideas on these topics? If so, avail yourself of our comments section by clicking on the link below. While these are moderated, most of you know I am fair and will use anything that is sensible. If you don't want me to publish your comment, just say so, and I will not post it. Everyone has a right to express a reasonable opinion, and unlike other venues, I will not reject your thoughts just because they don't agree with mine. That's just a foolish way to not get ALL the ideas out there. Criticism has created some great ideas, so it should be a part of any discussion. Let's hear form you soon on your opinions, even if it's something not mentioned here.

WJ