NASCAR can learn something from F1's barely-avoided financial crisis

NASCAR is looking at several options -- crate engines appear to be one likely solution -- but nothing that's a permanent answer. To solve this problem it may take a group effort the likes of which the sport has never seen before. NASCAR just had a town hall meeting with all of its participants -- perhaps it's time for a second one with just the sport's multi-car giants in the room. Roger Penske, Jack Roush, Rick Hendrick, Joe Gibbs Racing, Richard Childress and, yes, Michael Waltrip either own or supply chassis and engines to over half the Cup Series garage. Until these men can come to terms on a spending cap, they're going to keep finding ways to make the cost of competition increase: and in doing so, they'll risk pricing the sport they love right out of business.

Joey Logano may be running away with the Rookie of the Year chase, but he's only the third-best first-year driver on the circuit. Not only has Brad Keselowski won a race already (Talladega), but also Tasmanian Marcos Ambrose is having a more impressive full-time season. With two top-5 and four top-10 finishes -- including a third at Infineon -- he's up to 18th in points and has a slight chance to make the Chase. So why is Logano so far out in front? Keselowski never applied to run for this year's award, while Ambrose ran too many races last year (11) to be eligible. That's a little confusing to the casual fan, though, and you wonder if the rookie program won't get itself a revamp prior to 2010.

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With Kevin Harvick enduring the worst Cup season of his career, there's been talk he would bolt RCR and start his own team next year under the Kevin Harvick, Inc. banner. But with GM cutbacks to both the Nationwide and Truck Series, that's far less likely as Harvick's cars were among the hardest hit. How can you fund a Cup team when you need to scramble to save your lower-tier programs instead?

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With all due respect to Tony Stewart, through 16 races Jimmie Johnson remains the clear favorite to win his fourth straight title. He's scored more points at this stage (2,207) than in two of the past three years he took home the trophy, and he's shown no signs of vulnerability heading into the sport's summer stretch.