NASCAR's so called "Car of Tomorrow" officially became the "Car of Today" at the beginning of the 2008 season, but for the first time, the new car will be raced at a 1 1/2 mile oval Sunday in Las Vegas. The Car received mix reviews during it's trial run in 2007 (run in about half the races) but those races were all at tracks less than 1 1/2 mile. NASCAR has seven tracks that are listed at 1 1/2 mile, and with around 40 percent of the races coming on these "cookie-cutter" tracks, NASCAR needs these cars to perform well at the intermediates.

A huge test was passed last weekend, as the race at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana California produced some of the best racing at a two-mile oval in some time. Carl Edwards edged Jimmie Johnson and won a rain-delayed but competitive race. A good show at Vegas will quiet alot of doubters, a bad contest will fuel those same critics.

In a sport that promotes parity, Hendrick Motorsports won exactly half (18 out of 36) of the races in 2007. A ton of those victories came in the COT, and it was refreshing to see a team that struggled a large part of 2007 with the new car, Roush Racing, win in the second race of 2008.

The success of the new car depends on three things

1. TV ratings-stunk last year, and need improvement.

2. Parity- If Hendrick or any other team dominates again, it will likely start effect variable #1

3. Quality of Racing- The most important variable.... a boring race effects TV ratings, which effects sponsors, which effects the sport....

 Time will tell on the "New NASCAR" but one thing is sure... if you lose your base fan, you lose your heart... if the base doesn't like the new car, it's unlikely any new fans will be able to replace the old fans passion and love for the sport.

NASCAR car of tommorrow, tv ratings

Anyone who has watched ESPN the past two days may have saw Florida quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow not only granting ESPN reporter Erin Andrews an interview during a basketball game, but giving the ESPN College Gameday crew a "pep talk" as they prepared for their telecast. It's hard to argue against Tebow's overall talent, and his statistics during the 2007 season made him a logical selection for the Heisman Trophy. However, is ESPN taking advantage of the popularity of Tebow (a student-athlete) to gain a ratings bump? Let's examine the situation further...

Make no mistake, the media love athletes who are open and willing to grant an interview at anytime. Brett Favre, Jeremy Roenick and Shaquille O Neal are just some examples of media friendly athletes who have used their positive "Q" media scores to advance their publicity. The key to those athletes is the word professional. Tebow is a college athlete who has been made larger than life in large part due to major media outlets like ESPN. Tebow is what media folks call a "good story", with a solid foundation built around the three "F's", family, faith, and football. From all accounts, he is a solid young man who has been blessed with a talent for football that few have ever realized.

Tebow has several similarities with former Notre Dame and Washington Redskin quarterback Joe Theismann. While at Notre Dame, Theismann saw his name pronunciation go from THEEZ-man to rhyme with Heisman. While the name pronunciation came from students at Notre Dame, the “new” name was able to stick thanks in large part to the media. Theisman also broadcast Super Bowl XIX for ABC while still an active player with the Redskins. After his career ended with a broken leg, Theismann entered the broadcast booth for good and spent 20 seasons in the booth on ESPN's NFL broadcast. Theismann cashed in his media friendliness for his life after football, becoming a member himself.

Tebow appears like a bright young man and he may very well win another Heisman Trophy in 2008. However, what would happen if he struggles next season and doesn't have huge numbers like in 2007? The same people who are proclaiming him as the second coming may be asking "What is wrong?" Let's hope Tebow's story ends happily, both with the media and in football. College athletes are not professionals, but the media will treat Tebow as one if he continues to let them gain as much access as they have had in his early career. If for some reason Tebow’s career doesn’t pan out, he should shove most of the blame into the face of those who proclaimed him the second coming. Here’s hoping Tebow pulls a Theismann (minus the broken leg of course).

College Football tim tebow, florida, joe theismann, notre dame, washington redskins, espn, erin andrews, heisman trophy, abc, super bowl, college gameday

It's difficult to look at next season only one day after LSU thumped Ohio State in the Allstate BCS National Championship Game, but looking ahead is what pundits and analyst do best. So without further adieu, a look ahead to the top teams of the 2008 season.

(rankings in no particular order)

1. Florida - After finishing 9-4 and losing in the Capital One Bowl, the Gators will almost certainly be a title contender in 2008. Led by Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and running back/wide receiver Percy Harvin, the offense will once again be formidable. Added to the mix will be USC transfer Emanuel Moody, who should give the offense the consistent back they needed this season. The defense will return a majority of their starters, led by linebacker Brandon Spikes and a youthful core of cornerbacks.

2. Oklahoma - Bob Stoops team finished the season on a sour note with a 20 point loss in the Fiesta Bowl, but OU should once again in the thick of the BCS race in 2008. Sam Bradford will need to avoid a Colt McCoy like Sophomore slump, and running back DeMarco Murray will need to stay healthy after missing the last several games of 2007 due to injury. Bob Stoops could have his most talented offensive team in his 10 seasons as coach if wide receiver Malcolm Kelly stays for his Senior season. Big XII Defensive Player of the Year Curtis Lofton will likely test the NFL waters, but his return would solidify the defense.

3. USC - The Trojans were arguably the hottest team in the country during the last month of the regular season, winning the PAC 10 for the sixth straight season and the Rose Bowl for the third time in five seasons. The offense loses quarterback John David Booty, tight end Fred Davis, and left tackle Sam Baker, but talented running back Joe McKnight will be able to play a more significant role in the offense. The defensive line loses Lawrence Jackson and Sedrick Ellis, but Everson Griffen and Averell Spicer should be more than capable to replace them.

4. Ohio State - The Buckeyes have made two straight national championship appearances, and have a serious chance to make it three in a row next season. Only two starters will graduate (Kirk Barton and Larry Grant) and the offense should be better next season with Chris Wells a serious contender for the Heisman Trophy. The top ranked defense should not miss a beat, with Vernon Gholston and James Laurinaitis joining Malcolm Jenkins as three of the best defenders in the country. A key early season battle with USC will go a long way in determining how good the Buckeyes will be.

5. Georgia - After humiliating Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl, the Bulldogs go into 2008 riding a large wave of momentum. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno both will be mentioned as preseason All-Americans, and the defense will once again be one of the fastest in the country.

College Football flordia, oklahoma, usc, ohio state, georgia