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Parity! They talked about it during the broadcast on Sunday. I believe its true and I like it. Though Nascar gets their share of criticism and I will admit, I’ve expressed my displeasure in one form or another. But I will also give credit where credit is due.

I agree with all those naysayers from just a few years ago that Toyota will outspend everyone and make the rising costs in housing a racecar go even higher. I don’t have any hard statistics on that, but so what! Do I have to foot the bill? I suppose I do when I purchase a bottle of Coke, or when I’m eating my cheerios in the morning. But then again, those companies already have an advertising budget, and they just choose to take part of it and give it to Nascar.

So if Toyota is the cause of higher costs, it also could be the reason for increased competition. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a Toyota fan, never have been, never will be, but I do appreciate the fact that they are in Nascar. Toyota also provides the opportunity for four automobile manufacturers to show their stuff to America. With the 2008 elections here, aren’t we all about choice anyway? So if you like Toyota. Great! If you don’t like Toyota. Great! It give us something to write about, complain about, praise about and I guess some of us even turn about face and watch sports that use a white ball. See what I mean, choices.

With Nascar allowing Toyota aboard last year and Gibbs driving around the block in a Camry this season. All four manufacturers can compete and as a matter of fact all have shown their bumpers in victory lane this young year.

In the meantime HMS suddenly found some competition in all directions. Roush has made a statement saying something to the effect; “We’re back!” Penske won the 500, while RCR has a victory under their belt and Evernham is right up there. Who knows what DEI, Ganassi, MWR, Petty (with Bobby), and even Robby Gordon can do. But I truly believe any of those teams can win some form of race in cup this year.

With Nascar’s increased competition there are probably thirty teams that could win a race in 08. I don’t believe 30 teams could have won last year, especially with Hendrick dominating that way, but even so, sixteen different drivers still did splash themselves with a cold one at the end of the day. That is a whole bunch more than years past. I know I promised you earlier in the year that I wouldn’t bore you with stats, but hear me out on this one.

This year we already have five different winners, might have been six if the 99 car wasn’t naughty and didn’t have their screws loose. Just ten years ago there were only eleven different drivers winning (Jeffy won thirteen times). Twenty years ago when Bill Elliott won the championship, fourteen different drivers won. Then in 1978 only seven got their picture with the Winston Cup girl after the race was run. Though they ran a handful less races back then, it just wouldn’t have mattered much.

I know that Nascar isn’t perfect and some might say they have some screws loose as well, but who in the world is perfect (except for my wife)? For the most part though, they are doing some great things to level the playing field.

With Nascar’s equality philosophy, it makes it a lot better than watching someone hit a little silly dimpled white ball with one person dominating every week. Now what fun is it knowing that Tiger Woods will win each time he participates in an event? Heck, if he gets worse than fifth place money, suddenly he’s in a slump according to those writing a few words in newspapers. What about baseball and those [darn] Yankees spending 220 million dollars on just their salaries? Heck one of their players alone makes more money than the total of the whole Florida Marlin team. Fun???? Tennis, not sure about you, but if I want to hear grunting, I’d just go up the road and visit one of my farmer friends and watch his hog pen for an hour. At least there wouldn’t be any commercials.

Other proof that Nascar is doing things right to equalize the sport is the fact in 2007 the twelfth spot was 316 points out of first after six races. This year 316 points behind the leader would put you in the 22nd spot.

Besides allowing Toyota to spend a buck or two in Nascar, the other reason I believe things are so “Even Steven” is due to the COT. With Nascar setting parameters of the COT, the success or failure of a team is mainly placed in the driver’s hands instead of behind a desk with highly paid engineers. Now it’s just highly paid drivers and the real ones will finally show up. Its just too bad some of them complain about the COT because they have to work a little harder nowadays (Kyle “Crybaby” Busch for example).

I realize that my articles are suppose to be about fantasy Nascar and I haven’t really touched on that subject this week. But the same holds true in BONFIRE. So far in our league of twenty, we have six different winners in the first six races. Last year at this point the person in last place was 1261 points from the top and 685 points from tenth. This year things are tighter with last place being only 507 points from first and 303 points from the all-important tenth spot.

Fox sports were correct in their assessment of parity. I also believe that is one of the reasons that the ratings are up this year, as you’ll just never know who will win. So when someone is complaining about this or that, let them be. That means they care and at least they’re watching and talking about Nascar and not about some silly little sport that uses a ball that bounces, rolls, or gets thrown. Then again, maybe that’s also why we love Nascar. You just might get to see someone bounced, rolled or thrown if he doesn’t show respect to his fellow drivers this upcoming week (I.e. McDowell).

Keep the fire burning.