Can anyone tell me why the GOOD folks at Budweiser want to kill off the Bud Shootout? It isn't that they want to, but the new scheme someone dreamed up makes you wonder if he isn't dumb as a stick. Don't get me wrong, the new plan isn't all BAD. It makes sense to change the invite to the party from being based on those who win Coors Light Pole Awards. I'm sure a few folks from Bud have chugged back a Coors from time to time, but they try to avoid doing such things publicly. No, my problem stems from the fact the new plan calls for the top six cars of each manufacturer in owner's points qualifying, with the drivers a non-factor. That is just plain dumb.

There was a time, way back when, a guy like Smokey Yannick would tool around with a car, get it all GOOD and racy, and take on all comers. That was then. Now, we don't have a single #48 car. What we have now is a fleet of cars that wear that number and carry those colors. There isn't just a single #88, there is a garage full of them. So, to most fans, the car means squat. It is the driver for whom we come out and cheer for. There might be a dozen #20 cars lined up at the shop, but there is still only one Tony Stewart. How Tony, or Jimmie, or Junior might do on the track is what attracts us, not so much the high powered beasts under their butts. To put it real simple, if you remove the drivers, you could wind up removing the fans.

So, having the invites go to the best six (fleet of) cars of each manufacturer based on owner's points, and not necessarily including the drivers who got them there, could wind up turning some fans rather UGLY. Based on today's standings, among those in we would have the #44 and #84 Toyotas (27th and 31st in points), while the #8 and #1 Chevys (17th and 18th) would sit. No Tony Stewart. No Ryan Newman. No Clint Bowyer. That trio moves on in 2009 to rides not in the Top 35. No former race winners, such as Ken Schrader, Mark Martin, or the aforementioned three-time winner Tony Stewart. Under the former rules, we still would have seen Joey Logano in the #20 in 2009, but you would also have seen Stewart included in his new ride. Instead, they plan to kick him to the curb, which does not strike me as progress. GOOD Lord, if Stewart wins the title we could have the Bud Shootout take place with the Cup champ parked on the sidelines. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Fans? I guess they don't need no stinking fans. As I said, dumb as a stick.

So, they rip the Southern 500 date from the fans in Darlington in favor of all those empty seats under the hot California sun. I couldn't believe how much vacant real estate was evident up in the stands last Sunday, as each lap showcased a who's who of who wasn't there. Then again, if you got pieces of the raceway raining down from time to time, maybe I'd stay away from the place, too. Funny, when the yellow came out on one occasion, a caution light did not flash at all. After falling down and just missing a few cars, it just laid there on the track in a heap. I guess it was broken.

As they head to the final pre-Chase race, Kyle Busch, Edwards, Johnson, Junior, Jeff Burton, and Greg Biffle are GOOD to go. Kevin Harvick can only be denied if David Ragan wins Saturday night, leads the most laps, and Harvick finishes dead last. I like his chances. Meanwhile, a Top 35 moves Stewart to the post season, while Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, and Denny Hamlin only need a Top 20 to be sure of a place at the table. The real action will be watching to see if Bowyer can hold off both Ragan (17 points behind) and Kasey Kahne (48 back).

By the way, did you notice that only 79 points separates the 31st place auto driven by A.J. Allmendinger from the 37th positioned car of Mike Skinner? There is a GOOD battle going on, with Sam Hornish Jr 18 behind Robby Gordon for the final free pass to Richmond, and 37 in arrears to Michael Waltrip, 38 behind Scott Riggs, and 39 to Dave Blaney. There might not be a Chase in their future, but a Top 35 this season ensures them a Daytona 500 entry come February.