[Don]

SITUATION: QUOTE:

" unprecedented 88 lead changes, 29 leaders and a 0.011-second victory by Kevin Harvick " But some drivers wonder if Talladega has become too much of a game of chance. Since a 2006 repaving, the track's glass-smooth surface has de-emphasized the need for fresh tires (teams often changed two instead of four, even on refueling stops Sunday). Sunday's return of the spoiler ".........

Note the comment on NASCAR Kit Cars by Earnhardt

*** Dale Earnhardt :

increased drag, which Dale Earnhardt Jr. says made it impossible for stronger cars to break away because slower cars could catch the draft to keep pace.

"It is a lottery, (and) racing for a championship shouldn't be a lottery," he said. "Harvick deserves a lot of credit for doing what (he) did to win

Earnhardt, a five-time winner at Talladega, led eight laps and ran in the top 10 for most of 500 miles Sunday but finished 13th because "when it counted, we just didn't make the right moves. It is not about someone's car handling or motor being better. The cars might as well all be kit cars for these two races.

There were four multicar pileups in the final 25 laps Sunday in the first Cup race to mark three attempts at a green-white-checkered finish Earnhardt suggested Daytona and Talladega be limited to one green-white-checkered attempt.

*** Kevin Harvick :

"From my standpoint, it's pretty hairball," Harvick said. "Anything more exciting, we'll have to go to the X Games."

*** Ryan Newman, :

who has crashed in consecutive races at Talladega, doesn't think the oval should count in the standings.

"If they want to have these races for the fans, just let us do this, but don't let it affect our championship because it's not racing," he said. "We should be here for the Talladega Event Marketing, or something like that."

*** Jeff Gordon :

drivers tried to balance putting on a show for fans "who pitch tents in the infield when tornados are coming" vs. the risks of racing hard early for no reward on a track where gaining or losing a dozen spots during a lap is commonplace.

*** Roger Penske : though, says "it's the game we're in" with restrictor-plate races."If we don't like it, I guess we don't have to come," Penske said. "I don't like to see it, obviously. The most important thing is we don't get anyone hurt."