Bobby did not follow D.W. and Michael into NASCAR racing, although he did work with D. W. when D. W. owned his own team. Bobby was well know in the go-kart circles, however, and was considered a "major force" in karting. Rest in Peace, Bobby.

I also learned, in working on some research as to race broadcasters, than Allen Bestwick will be leaving the world of NASCAR coverage with the beginning of the 2015 season when he will focus his talents on the Indy Car Circuit. In my opinion, Bestwick is one of the good ones and I hate to see him leaving NASCAR, but it is understandably frustrating for one with his talent to be overshadowed by those with no talent. Enough said on that subject.

What a weekend of racing we just witnessed in both the Nationwide and Cup! While I am still not happy about all the Cup guys interloping into the Nationwide series, the race at Fontana on Saturday was an awesome race. It has been a long time since we have seen passing like that, more than once four wide, and racing so hard for the win. Even though Kyle Larson is a Cup driver, he is a rookie over there and I didn't so much mind him winning on Saturday. He really put it on the boys winning that race the way he did. And he beat Kyle Busch! Yep, he sure did beat the perennial winner of the Nationwide races at his own game. I did think it was a class act on the part of Busch to come to Victory Lane and congratulate Larson. In my way of thinking, when you race like that, win or lose, you have fun and it's great to congratulate your competitor.

I do have one question for young Mr. Larson, however. What was the deal with doing your burnout without the steering wheel on your car? Was that some kind of kamikaze move on your part? Just didn't impress me much as there were folks around in close proximity that may not have been paying attention. Regardless it was a great win and a well fought victory.

Ok, let's fast forward to Sunday's 400 mile Cup race. I saw the beginning where the Muppet, Gonzo, gave the command to start engines. I went through the Muppet stage with the grandsons and even went in and saw their show at Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios. I was never a fan, nor a detractor. However, I must state that seeing just a few minutes of the Muppet Special with Lady Gaga leads me to believe that the Muppets are no longer intended for child entertainment. Oh, I know Fontana is next to Hollywood and I know NASCAR tries to intertwine the magic of Hollywood with their trips out there, but the use of Gonzo for the "most famous words in motorsports" (on how that phrase disgusts me) shows to what audience NASCAR must be catering. Or, perhaps, Brian Z. was deprived of watching the Muppets when he was small so that was his chance for a Muppet encounter.

I had to leave shortly after the command to start engines to watch my Grandson, Michael, play soccer. I missed the supposed interview Mikey did with Donna Summers. I have, however, been inundated with comments today (Monday) asking how he could interview someone who has been dead for awhile. I have no answer for that. I don't know why I get asked the question, but I am supposing folks think of me as the Waltrips' top critic around these parts and wanted to have some fun with me in that regard. I could mention that, perhaps, a dead diva is the only one who would consent to an interview with Mikey. Oh, and did anyone else notice the silver tinted "spikes" in Mikey's well lubricated mane? Is he trying to imply intelligence through age?

But, leaving the Muppets and the Mikey behind for now, how about that race Sunday. Other than the tire problems some teams were having every 25 laps or so, and yes I got home in time to see the last 70 laps, there was some really good racing. There have been mixed answers to the question of the tire problems, some, (NASCAR and Goodyear) blaming the problems on car set up by the teams. Some teams, including Jeff Gordon, stating clearly the problem was with the tire. Guess it all depends on which side of the steering wheel you're on.

I hated to see that late caution fly for the spinning Bowyer. Hey, he is getting good at those self-induced spins for a purpose, huh? Jeff Gordon would most likely have won the race had it not been for that caution, but then you can never really say that. The spin by Toyota driving Bowyer certainly enhanced the Toyota's chances right there where the Toyota Racing Development has their headquarters, but I'm not going to jump on the conspiracy theory on that one. Maybe Bowyer should just consider taking some courses in how to spin out without making it look so obviously intentional.

And here we are, second week in a row, with NASCAR coming up with an excellent excuse why the lights, this time the pit entrance light, was not operated as it should have been. At Bristol, it was someone in the flag stand accidently leaning on the override switch that brought out that late race caution. The excuse for the pit road flagman/green light mess at Fontana was that the flagman got caught in the fence! Caught in the fence!. That would have been worth a ton of time on FOX Sports just showing that. Would have loved to have seen it, but, in all fairness to the gentleman in question, as clumsy as I am, that could just have easily have been me. My best screw up as a NASCAR/track official was when I took the Pace Car out in front of the hard charging pack at Columbia Speedway. That was almost a disaster, but at least I didn't get caught in the fence. True story. Ask David Pearson. He came the closest to hitting me.

Five races, five different winners. If this keeps up, we are going to have our 16 qualifiers for that infernal chase before the Firecracker in July. Then it will be fun watching to see who will win two or three. As for grading the season so far, I would give Daytona a B+, Phoenix a C, Las Vegas a C, Bristol an A- and Fontana an A+. That's pretty good for Fontana when you consider that I have never really liked that track and don't especially care for it even now, but the racing there was good. So now we are on to Martinsville where the racing is always good and I am excited about the upcoming race. Things are getting better but the television ratings keeps slipping. Fontana alleged a "sell out" after reducing seating capacity to only 68,000 but even so there were plenty of empty seats on a day with beautiful weather. Apparently either the track or NASCAR put a "spin" on the numbers. I truly thought spins were the sole property of politicians and Clint Bowyer.

Now we have the next season, 2015, to which we can look with greatly anticipated eagerness at the changes being proposed by NASCAR. According to published reports, engine size will be reduced, thereby reducing horsepower by 75 to 100. Currently, according to Robin Pemberton, horsepower ratings run between 860 to 900. Pemberton went on to say that they have been running the same engine for 20 to 25 years. There are also discussions regarding more ground clearance, a different aero package, and a narrower tire, all expected to decrease speeds at the major speedways and make the racing more competitive. I am anxious to see how these rules will work and I am very hopeful that NASCAR will continue what they have started in trying to reach a level of racing much like it was when I was younger and in attendance at most of the races. I would love to see more ground clearance, less aero and cars requiring more effort on the part of the driver. We are watching a new class of rookies coming into Cup this year and from What Kyle Larson has shown us with the Nationwide race at Bristol and BOTH races at Fontana, we know we have some good ones coming along for the sport. I am a big Cole Whitt fan and I think he has done an admirable job this year, especially when the difference in his financing and that of say, Danica Patrick, is considered.

To say I am looking forward to Martinsville and Darlington would be a mild statement of absolute fact. I hope the racing is great as I expect it will be.  I hope the one to intone the most famous words in motorsports for those events is not a Muppet.  Leave the Muppet to count attendance figures that are surely as mythical as the land of the Muppets.