Roger Diez: License application questions to be cleared up

There is an interesting meeting scheduled for Friday during NASCAR Thunder at Daytona, when NASCAR President Mike Helton and Competition VP Robin Pemberton get together with the teams for a "competition update."

I'm pretty sure that most of the questions will be about the new NASCAR license application, where drivers have to check a box indicating which of the top three series championships (Sprint Cup, Nationwide, or Camping World Trucks) they will compete in for points. 2010 Nationwide champion Brad Keselowski has already weighed in via Twitter, saying "Needed a good laugh tonight after being ruled ineligible for both Shootout and NW championship in one loooong week. Thanks for the support!" Based on recent history, Keselowski may find himself on double secret probation for that remark.

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His reference to the Shootout was based on the selection criteria recently announced for the Feb. 12 kickoff of the NASCAR season.

Eligible drivers include all 12 of the 2010 Chase competitors, all past Sprint Cup champions, all past Shootout winners, all past Daytona 500 and Coke 400 winners, and all Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year drivers from 2001 to 2010. The race will be run in two segments, the first 20 laps and the second 50 laps, with a pit stop in between. Caution flag laps will count.

It seems as though qualifying criteria changes every year for this event. A certain conspiracy theorist I heard the other day speculated that Budweiser demanded a change back when Junior was running for Bud, and wasn't going to make the shootout under the then current criteria. So they modified it to make Junior eligible, and continue to make changes so they couldn't be accused of rigging it so their driver ran the event. Hey, it's not my theory- so Junior fans, please don't send me nasty e-mails.

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Perhaps there will be more qualifiers for the 2012 Shootout, depending on changes to the Chase format, which will probably also be discussed in Friday's meeting.

I have a few modest suggestions of my own for topics for that meeting. For instance, given the recent weather situation in the South, perhaps NASCAR should ask Goodyear to develop a racing snow tire. Given the examples of rancor between drivers in the new "Boys, Have At It" Era, maybe drivers should be required to carry boxing gloves in their cars so we won't be subjected to any more slap fights between Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton.

And how about instituting a "48 Rule," giving Jimmie Johnson some sort of handicap? For example, a 500-pound weight penalty, a restrictor plate at all tracks, an allocation of only seven spark plug wires, or ear plugs and a blindfold for Chad Knaus to wear at all races.

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Not satisfied with his record-shattering five consecutive Cup wins, Johnson will once again be joining two-time Grand-Am champions Alex Gurney and John Fogarty to try and win the Rolex 24 Hours at Dayton on Jan. 29-30.

The team finished second in the endurance classic in 2005 and 2008, and if they succeed in winning this year, Johnson will join racing legends A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti as the only drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and the Rolex 24.

This past weekend the Grand-Am teams tested at Daytona in the "Roar before the 24" event, and Ryan Dalziel broke the track record with a lap of 128.194 miles per hour in a Ford/Riley Daytona Prototype. Defending DP Champion Scott Pruett also was under the old record with a lap of 127.940 mph. I'm sure the new oval paving had something to do with the speeds.

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Finally, if you are planning to attend the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix on Feb. 27, you have until noon today to get in on a special ticket deal. In honor of Jimmie Johnson's fifth Sprint Cup championship, Phoenix International Raceway is offering $90 tickets to seats in the Upper A.J. Foyt grandstand for just $48. You need to call 866-408-RACE by 11 a.m. today.