Some Things Are Becoming Crystal Clear

With race number four freshly inked into the record books of the 2009 Sprint Cup season, there are some things that have been incredibly crystal clear. Some things come as no surprise, others leave me in complete shock. Here is my short list of ponderings :

• Tony Stewart was paying extremely close attention to Joe Gibbs during his ten years driving for his former boss. I admittedly wondered if Smoke would self destruct as a team owner and find himself struggling to run with the big boys. Sitting 6th in the points, Stewart is proving he made the right decision and this owner/driver role suits him perfectly.

• NASCAR messed up huge banning testing at NASCAR sanctioned tracks. Joey Logano and Scott Speed deserve better than what they're getting and that is just sad. There are more blown engines and DNFs due to equipment failure and just flat out ridiculous reasons than ever and talented drivers are having poor finishes that they normally wouldn't have.

• The big money teams, Hendrick and Roush-Fenway primarily, are the only ones successful under the new testing rules. Just what I want, another follow the Hendrick car by the Roush stable. It's time for someone else to lead this show because some of us don't think Jimmie Johnson is NASCAR personified.

• Joey Logano is just one race away from breaking out and turning NASCAR on its ear. As soon as Sliced Bread gets his confidence and feels comfortable in that race car, he is going to be unstoppable. So I will wait in silence while the phenom grows into his own.

• Denny Hamlin is silently proving that being the veteran is what he was born for. With loose race cars, spin-outs and pit road mistakes out of the way, and consistent, amazing finishes in his future, the Fed Ex Toyota pilot is looking forward to Bristol and Martinsville. He has a chance to avenge the race that slipped through his fingers and return to the sight of his momentous home track victory for a repeat. Look for fabulosity from this leader, I do every week and he has yet to disappoint me.

• Kyle Busch could win any race, in any division with four flat tires and only one gear. Rowdy is flat out the best driver in any era and his victory Saturday after losing two gears just proves that. I rarely look away from the number 11 car, but that Las Vegas boy is impressive. Okay, I'm being modest and understated....Kyle Busch flat out rocks!

• Jimmy Watts, the gas man from the No. 47 team of Marcos Ambrose, who idiotically ran after a tire that was loose in the infield grass area, isn't quite as stupid as I made him out to be yesterday when he forced Denny Hamlin a lap down. He was suspended by NASCAR after his bonehead move and is still waiting to hear if he will be able to return to his post at Bristol. I still think 42 guys deserved to high-five his face for that stunt but I will cut the guy some slack. Just let Denny Hamlin break his face's fall with his fist a couple of times and I'll let the guy off the hook.

• This is not going to be the season I expected. With guys in the Top 12 I never imagined would get close to it and ones I expected to be towards the top failing to even hint at it, this year is going to be interesting, to say the least.

• Facial hair and the grunge look is better left to those under 30. For young guys it is attractive, for those that have gray sideburns and a paunch, quite frankly it just looks greasy and unkempt. It's almost laughable except for the fact it's pathetic. Can we get a Gillette Young Guns display in Bristol and a barber to donate his services and fast. Nuff said.