Happy Hour: When will Kyle move his team up the ranks?

Welcome to the latest Happy Hour mailbag! You know how these work: you write us at nascarmail@yahoogroups.com or on Twitter at @jaybusbee, we respond to your messages, everyone goes away with a smile on their face. Today, we're talking Kyle Busch Motorsports, favoritism, mullets, poetry and more. Away we go! Kasey [Kahne] sure made KHI and Childress look bad at Darlington, and he sounds like he's willing to pay to drive Rowdy's #18. Question: since KBM is the best NASCAR team in truck, how soon do you think it will be until Rowdy moves KBM up to Nationwide and Sprint Cup?— Capt Red Legs DaleParts unknownThe 7th of Never. (Great handle, by the way.) Well, maybe not “never,” but there are several good reasons for Kyle not to move his own motorsports team upward. In ascending order of importance: Kyle recently signed a long-term contract with JGR, and so wouldn't be able to get out of that any time soon. Second, he's already stretched pretty thin, focus-wise; one of the bigger knocks on Kyle is that he divides his attention too much between series. Finally, and most importantly, running a team is phenomenally expensive, and Kyle already regrets getting involved in trucks. Check out what he had to say less than a year ago when asked about the most frivolous thing he spends money on:"Right now it's the truck team. I am definitely not making any money there, that's for sure. I am going to be in the negative here for a couple of years on that deal."That doesn't sound like a man ready to make the leap to a higher series, does it? If Kyle can wheedle in his famous friends to take turns behind the wheel, that'll help, but at the moment, KBM doesn't appear to be the next great team superpower.More follows.I was looking at the current standings today and I thought of something that has never been done before and [could happen] with this new point system. The Nationwide and Camping World Series Top 25 in points do not have a win yet so far this season. Granted, both series only have raced no more than 3 races, but none of the regulars have won yet. Could it be possible that this year's champion in those series might go win-less because of Cup regulars? This might not be big as of a deal for the Truck Series, but for the Nationwide series in 2010 only one regular won a race. A Championship is a Championship, but that driver will be known for not winning a race in his run. — Thomas EmanoffDanielsville, Pa.The current top 5 in the Nationwide series are Reed Sorenson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Jason Leffler, Danica Patrick and Justin Allgaier. Realistically, can you see any of them beating Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer, among many others, in a given week? Maybe Allgaier can run with them. Maybe. I'm thinking you're exactly right, that the Nationwide champion won't win a race. But you know what? I'm fine with that. I'd rather the Sprint drivers help prop up – er, promote – the Nationwide series but not be able to run for the championship. Next, this:This picture from Bristol sums up everything I love about NASCAR and about being at the track. Dressy-ish shirt. Stoic look. Drinking beer. And...well, yeah. People watching is always a blast. — Tony MannParts unknownRacing is serious business, sir. Business in the grandstands, party in the infield. Though that mullet is indeed epic. (Remember to send in your own track pics to the email address below.) How can NASCAR inspect a car, impound it, and then penalize the driver/owner/crew chief when they find an infraction (unapproved thread pitch or improperly color-coded safety wire) that THEY missed the first time... yet just say 'we blew the call on Edwards; sorry, Smoke.' NASCAR isn't 'fixed', but they sure are selective in who they give the benefit of the doubt to.— BobPalm Springs, Calf.Well, as Jay Hart showed last week, it wasn't a case of Edwards committing a penalty. And think for a second; why would NASCAR penalize Tony Stewart, one of its most popular drivers? Didn't NASCAR give the benefit of the doubt to Stewart at Talladega over unknown Regan Smith a few years back? The problem with thinking that there's bias against one driver or another is that soon enough, there'll be bias for that driver. Do superstars get the calls? Sure they do, like in every sport, but that's not indicative of some overarching conspiracy. And now, as requested, some poetry for the Chase:I want excitement in every race.I want the best drivers in the Chase.The question is how to make it fair.The real question is how to make everyone care.The competitors are even as the season begins.The top ten of the Chase are set by the number of wins.If there is a tie for number ten,The highest points total will get in.Don't fret if you didn't get into the Chase,We have two more entrants to place.The two highest points total, not already in the Chase,Will be included, so we will have twelve for the Race.And how to seed the competitors in the Chase?We treat the regular season as a race.Points are awarded by the points finishing position,And wins receive points like laps, in addition.In this scheme, wins count and points do too.So I ask you, is this what you want NASCAR to do?— Michael MillerChester, Va.That's lovely AND logical! Next challenge: somebody put that one to music!I like "win and you're in"May even get races watched by next of kinThe only problem I seeWith this remedyIs why winners race hard after February?— "nairbsod"Origins unknownHey, beats "There once was a man from Nantucket..." And the point is a good one: a "win and you're in" approach would allow winners to check out for the rest of the regular season.Long time reader, first time writer. I heard a comment on TV how Jeff Gordon practiced the whole off season on restarts. I have noticed also he is much better. My question is; how did he practice restarts without running races?— DavidParts unknownHey, my first long-time first-time! I feel just like a talk radio host. Next up: why Washington hates you! But to your point, sir: the main issue on restarts is that you have to have enough grip and acceleration that your tires don't spin when the green flag drops, costing you time and the lead. And you don't need to be in race conditions to practice that. Heck, you don't even need to be at a track. Do like I do and practice at every green light. Just don't try that Daytona 2x2 push with motorcyles. And on that note, we're out. Thanks to all our writers this week. You want in? Fire up the computer and hit us with whatever's on your mind, NASCAR-wise, at nascarmail@yahoogroups.com, or hit us up on Twitter at @jaybusbee. We'll make you famous!

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