Rule Changes, Driver Contracts and Danica: NASCAR Preseason

CONCORD, N.C. -- Not so long ago, NASCAR preseason interview opportunities used to consist of a few local Florida writers who roamed the Daytona International Speedway garages during winter test days and joined the drivers for lunch and informal chats in the back of a team trailer.

It has since morphed into the current "Media Tour" which boasts three busloads of journalists from as far away as Germany -- representing outlets from USA Today to the tiny newspaper in Johnson City, Tenn.

Bloggers and broadcasters also gathered this week at a hotel a half-mile from Charlotte Motor Speedway, where formal question-and-answer periods are held in grand ballrooms. The highlight of each day is a trip to one of the race team's shops or a local landmark like Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Whiskey River nightclub or the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which is under construction in downtown Charlotte. On Tuesday, Roush Fenway Racing drivers gave reporters e-ticket rides in Mustangs around the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course.

The season-ending banquet was just five weeks ago and already the drivers and team owners are in full 2010 mode.

"Optimistic" is the word of the week.

And there's the news that's been made already.

On Monday, for example, Denny Hamlin talked about his Los Angeles Laker courtside seats. Ryan Newman announced his father will no longer spot for him.

Later that evening, Roger Penske introduced new sponsors Ruby Tuesday and Magellan to the sport while formally assuming his team's position as the only Dodge entries in the Sprint Cup ranks. "I wouldn't trade places with anyone,'' the legendary owner declared.

On Tuesday, talk turned to the impending replacement of Cup Series Director John Darby, who is being promoted to manager for competition of NASCAR's three professional series as well as it's touring series. An official announcement from NASCAR took place at the sanctioning body's suburban Charlotte headquarters on Thursday, but Darby will remain the sport's chief referee until a suitable replacement is found. It remains to be seen if that's six weeks or six months from now.

Also on Thursday, NASCAR announced changes to the Cup car, replacing the rear wing with a spoiler, similar to pre-2008 cars, and postponed for the time being any decision on the possible elimination of the yellow line rule at Daytona and Talladega, Ala., designed to keep cars "in bounds."

On Tuesday, impending free agent drivers Kevin Harvick (Richard Childress Racing) and Kasey Kahne (Richard Petty Motorsports) talked about their futures. Neither claimed to have made a decision about 2011 yet.

Kahne, who drives the No. 9 Budweiser Ford, insisted that he's going to "wait and see" whether to re-up with his ever-evolving Richard Petty Motorsports team. He said the team has offered him a contract, but Kahne wants to see what the performance will be as now that it has merged with the two-car Yates Racing operation and switches from Dodge to Ford power.

RPM co-owner Foster Gillett said re-signing Kahne was a priority. What would it take to keep the 29-year old perennial contender?

"We need to race well,'' Gillett said matter-of-factly.

And of course throughout all four days of interview-after-interview, Danica Patrick has been a constant theme. You won't find anyone around these parts who doesn't think it's a good thing for NASCAR to have the famous IndyCar driver among their ranks.

"Anytime you can bring excitement -- whether it's criticism or someone like her or even rivalries, it's healthy for the sport, it shows the diversity of the sport, it's good,'' said 1988 champion Bill Elliott. "She'll be fine. More power to her.''

The 28th annual NASCAR media tour concluded Thursday afternoon, which can only mean one thing: Daytona is now all that much closer.