There’s no complaining in NASCAR.

Actually, there’s a lot of it. But if you complain about the cars this weekend at Talladega, it just means you don’t belong in Nextel Cup.

Say you drive your car to and from work every day, the usual 9 to 5. It’s the same car, the same route each time. You get used to this routine the sound of the road underneath your car, the traffic light that never stays green long enough, the radio stations and CDs to distract you from all this to the point of insanity. Not hard to envision, right?

Then imagine that one day someone takes away the spoiler off your car, slaps on something called a “restrictor plate” to slow it down, totally messes up the rear wing, then adds 75-80 horsepower to your transmission just for good measure. Your experience behind the wheel would feel dramatically different, no?

That’s essentially what they’re doing this weekend at the Nextel Cup race at Talladega. It’s the type of adjustment that separates the men from the boys: The men will drive, and drive well. The boys will not, and they will inevitably complain. (Hey Dale Jr., it’s time to step it up dude.) So keep your eyes out. In a sport that decreasingly rewards a driver’s pure talent, this weekend will reverse that trend. Should be interesting to see who comes out on top.

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.

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