Beginning in 2007, NASCAR will be racing COTs. Just picture Jeff Gordon racing a COT at 200 mph.
COT, of course, stands for "car of tomorrow."

I know, I know. They are supposed to be racing Fords, Chevrolets, Toyotas, and Dodges. But the truth is that they will just stick some decals on the COT and make it look like a particular brand of car. There will be decals that look like headlights, and decals that look like radiator grills, and decals that look like logos. Maybe they can get decals that look like drivers. A face decal for the windshield and a profile decal for the side windows. Maybe not.

Anyway, the reason for the COT is to level the playing field. That's a sports anology from a different sport, but it means that all race cars will have the same stuff under the decals. The result will be equal aerodynamics and such and therefore closer racing.

Think restrictor plates. Those are the little gadgets that make all cars run the same speed on tracks where somebody might go too fast.

With the COT, we will get to see 43 cars in a tight pack going around a half mile track like marching soldiers. Or just like restrictor plate races They already do it at Daytona. It's racing with a rigidly enforced speed limit.

On the other hand, the COT will be larger and safer. Drivers can switch from car to car and feel right at home. Teams will spend far less money of R&D, because all of the research and developement will have already been done.

So in the future, if you see a Ford or Chevy racing, look closely. It might just be decals.

Still my favorite sport.
Howard