Q: Is NASCAR falling into the trap baseball did? There are a few very good teams, and a bunch of wannabees. It seems like we can almost predict the results of races.
— Jay Thompson, Willingboro, N.J.

A: Well, this year we have seen too much of the very good teams winning races.

We have seen dominance by Roush Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, and Joe Gibbs Racing.

The question I think you are really asking is are multicar operations a bad thing for the sport?

Well, yes, as far as competition is concerned it would be better if there were no multicar operations, but that's a fantasy -- it's not going to happen.

Cars that are part of multicar operations do not race each other as hard as they do the rest of the field. And obviously, that can affect the quality of the racing, which isn't good for the sport.

Fans can complain about multicar operations, but I've yet to hear a solution to the competitive imbalance they create. 

NASCAR even has a rule stating no owner can own more than two Cup cars, but it's clear there are ways to get around that rule.

So while it's a good rule in theory, it's not being enforced.

Bottom line is single-car operations face a real uphill struggle, and I don't see that changing.

Q: I think the drivers who qualify for the Chase for the Nextel Cup Championship should begin the playoff with zero points instead of using the standings to separate them by five-point margins like is currently done. What are your thoughts on this?
— Michael Billington, Martinez, Va.

A: I think the system NASCAR uses to reset the points is fair the way it is.

The more dominant cars I feel have earned through the course of the 26 races leading up to the Chase at least a bit of an edge once the playoff begins.

Why should a driver like Tony Stewart who has five wins start dead even in the playoff with other drivers who may be in the Chase, but who haven't won any races -- or haven't won as many as Stewart.

I don't see anything wrong with the system in place, and that means that while I agree with the five-point margins, I'm also not in favor of increasing those margins.

If it's not broke, don't fix it, that's my take on it.   

Q: How are drivers and crew chiefs compensated?
— Bob Conneally, Cranston, R.I.

A: I believe that most of the crew chiefs have a set salary, but I also think they get a percentage of the team's winnings.

This percentage for crew chiefs would not be as large as that given the drivers.

There is no set standard for what percentage of a team's winnings go to the drivers and crew chiefs.

Every situation is different, but the more success a team has the more money will be made by the driver and the crew chief.

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