So with practice for the Daytona 500 starting this Friday (of course on Speed only, just like the qualifying races...), I sat down and started to ponder how the next couple of weeks will unfold. To be honest, the current state of Nascar makes me sick. The money machine that is the France family chases sponsors like AT&T out of the sport in a time when they should be begging companies to put names on the side of cars. Its sad when a single car team like RGM still has 15 races to sell for sponsorship and is one of the better funded "non mega team" cars at this point.

The mergers this last couple of months are a joke too. HOF racing to Yates, just so Yates has a sponsor? Poor Gilliland and Kvapil, last years work was pointless. Ganassi and DEI? Wow, Im sure Dale would have signed off on that. Now word comes that the no name Front Row Motorsports signed a deal with DEI, basically for the #15 owner points? You have got to be kidding me.

Ok, so what does any of this have to do with danger? Look at the entry list. Lets break this down into groups. First off, drivers that have not been in a cup car in years and probably shouldnt be now:

Geoff Bodine in a car owned by Larry Gunselman
Jeremy Mayfield in a car he owns
Derrick Cope in a car he owns

Now, a group of drivers that dont belong in a Cup car, period (No offense meant, just being real):

James Hylton in John Carters car
Carl Long in a car he owns
Norm Benning in a car he owns

Throw in a couple of rookies that have very little to no plate experience:
Brad Keselowski in James Finches car (support from Hendrick, so basically a fourth Hendrick entry)
Joey Lagano in the Gibbs 20 car (again, no offense, but does anyone else thinks this kids sounds gay when he talks?)
Marcos Ambrose in the JTG car (basically a MWR team)
Kelly Bires in a car owned by David Bean
Scott Speed in a RBR car

And finally, lets keep in mind many many cars will be running with partial sponsorship, making the drivers take risks they might not usually take to get that great finish and impress interested companies. (Nemecheck in a car he owns comes to mind)

To me, this formula added together spells danger, not just to Robby but to everyone who is racing. To be honest, despite the safe nature of the COT I will be surprised if there is not a serious injury during this years Speedweeks.

Hopefully Robby lays way back during the qualifying races (he is locked in, and you know he will run at the back in the 500 for most of the race anyhow to avoid problems). Hell, run one lap and park the car.

It will be an interesting few weeks. I just hope everyone comes out ok. After working in Nascar, there are a number of people I cannot stand, but I dont wish injury on anyone. I just think this years 500 is the perfect storm in terms of accidents waiting to happen.