Sub drivers, sub-par finishes

Count me among those who just don't care that some teams will use road course ringers this weekend at Infineon Raceway.

A decade ago, sure, it was a big deal. Then, those part-time drivers, even with teams that weren't frontrunners on ovals, had a shot at top-5 finishes or even visits to victory lane.

But welcome to Nextel Cup Series racing, circa 2007. It costs upwards of $20 million annually to run a team, and these teams take races -- even two road course races each season -- very seriously. Cars are built specifically for these tracks, and cars and drivers test at places like Road Atlanta and Virginia International Raceway to fully prepare.

For those drivers who still aren't comfortable turning right, too, there are driving schools and 1-on-1 instruction.

Chase-eligible teams aren't taking their drivers out of the seat for a weekend, and those teams that are willing to do so at Infineon or Watkins Glen are so far removed from contention that a race or two will hardly have an impact on their seasons.

Take Hall of Fame Racing, for instance. They're replacing Tony Raines with Ron Fellows in the No. 96 on Sunday, and there's two problems with that. First, they're 27th in the standings, almost 200 points ahead of 35th and the last automatic qualifying spot -- enough that they could skip Infineon altogether and still be in the top-35 come Monday. Second, they're cheating Raines out of valuable seat time. In two or three years, what if this becomes a Chase-eligible team that needs a good finish at Watkins Glen to solidify its position? Raines lack of experience could one day bite the team in the hindquarters.

Ringers? Not these days. The Gordons, Stewarts, and even the Earnhardts and Montoyas, are far better suited -- and equipped for success at Infineon.