Some of you may not have experienced this yet, but as you get older, occasionally you’ll find yourself looking around and saying in certain circumstances, ‘man, they keep getting younger and younger’.

I’m surprised we don’t have more fans with broken ankles…with all the jumping to conclusions I’ve been hearing.  In fact, just hum Van Halen’s “Jump” while you’re reading this.

By and large, we’re big-hearted people.  We like giving people second chances.  Especially when they’re honestly contrite regarding their previous actions.

What did you expect? Race car drivers didn’t get to the top of their sport by being passive once they got behind the wheel.  Nor are they, by nature, generous and giving when they’re behind the wheel.

Kyle Larson has certainly had a great year, one that he’ll remember for a long time, whether he wins the championship or not.

What a weekend it was at Talladega.  All three national series ran, all three had first time winners, all three had winners from outside of the playoffs.

All that was missing from Bristol last weekend was Russell Crowe on Colossus, hovering over the track asking, “are you not entertained?”

If it’s true that absence makes the heart grow fonder, we should have quite a show at Bristol this weekend.  After all, it’s been a year since we saw a traditional beating, banging and “moving him up the track” race at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile.

A thrilling end of the Cup regular season; battles at the top and bottom of the playoff standings.  A Cup playoff opener that has turned the playoff standings on its collective ear. A three-wide Xfinity finish at Daytona and a battle for the regular season title there with two races still to go.

This is exactly the kind of regular season finale-NASCAR was hoping for when they went to this playoff system a few years ago. That it ends at the wild card that is Daytona, only makes it better.