Let me first say that where it was an entertaining race as NASCAR races go, there were a couple points of the race that need some fine tuning. For instance, it was an All-Star race, what are rookies doing in the race that have never even won a Cup Series race. Specifically, I am talking about Sam Hornish Jr. and Joey Logano. However, there is the alleged rule changes that even the TV guys didn't know about. It is time we cleared up some things and protected the integrity of the term All-Star.

First, we will look at the people in the race. Most end up using the Showdown/Open event as a practice session for the 600 that followes the next weekend. I don't have a problem with that as the teams in the All-Star event are doing that as well despite having the desire to capture the win and the million bucks.

My problem with this is that the race is basically full of those that have not won in quite a while or ever in the Cup Series. For instance, Carl Long was scheduled to start on the front row for the race and while he is accomplished enough to run Cup races, he has never won one. I don't have a problem with him or others in the race, except the possibility of them winning the race and transferring to the All-Star event.

This year Sam Hornish Jr. won the race and the fans allegedly voted in Joey Logano. Both are very new to the series and have never even won a Cup Series race. Hornish is well accomplished racer and will probably win some point races before his Cup career is over, but he is not an All-Star of the Cup Series, at least not yet. Then, there's 18 year-old Joey Logano who probably made the race based upon his sponsor being Home Depot and them otherwise not being in the race. Logano though is definitely not an all-star yet in his Cup career.

I propose that in 2010 that only past winners be eligible to compete in the Showdown event to protect the integrity of the All-Star event. Ask yourself, how would NASCAR have explained Dexter Bean in the number 51 Livewire Dodge (above) and Carl Long transferring into the All-Star race because of a wreck and then Dexter Bean winning the All-Star race because of another wreck in the All-Star race?

Next, let's look at the rule changes nobody knew about until after they were needed to be used. First, there was the attempted pass on the outside during the restart by Kyle Busch on Matt Kenseth. Kenseth blocked him and Busch may have brushed the wall as a result of the block. The Speed TV crew said it was a legal move and were quickly corrected by NASCAR in the neighboring booth that because they were using double-file restarts for the All-Star race that it wasn't legal to pass before crossing the start/finish line.

Then, in the final ten laps the caution laps didn't count so that they could have 10 green flag laps to decide the winner. However, when the three leaders wrecked off turn four and Ryan Newman came out of the wreck as the leader the Speed TV crew said that they'd have to go back to the most recent scoring loop to determine the leader. NASCAR once again chimed in and told them that they were wrong again. Only green flag laps counted so the leader is the leader of the last completed lap. After checking the video again, I determined that since the wreck was as they exited turn four that NASCAR had turned on the caution lights less than a second before Newman completed the lap as the leader. But, that Kyle Busch was the leader because he was leading the lap before. Well, Gordon was racing Kyle Busch for the lead that lap, but he was wrecked and out of the race so it went to Busch.

The first point here is that the need for NASCAR to correct the Speed TV crew twice during the All-Star race and during other races where similar events took place would not be needed if NASCAR told the TV and radio crews the rule changes in a broadcasters meeting much like they have drivers meetings before each race. However, they didn't seem to make it clear in the drivers meeting before the All-Star race that passing to the outside after the green flag is displayed on restarts, which is allowed normally was not allowed during the All-Star race. You would think they'd go over rule changes during the drivers meeting, but the fact that they didn't leaves the impression that NASCAR made that rule change on the fly as Kyle Busch attempted it. This makes you wonder, about when they decided to not use the scoring loops during the final ten laps of the race.

Rule changes on the fly not only make the TV and radio guys look foolish and unprepared to do their jobs, but also makes NASCAR look foolish. Fans like to know what is going on and knowing what the rules are in advance is a big part knowing what is going on during the race.

I propose for the 2010 All-Star weekend events that only past winners be eligible for the Showdown event and all rookies even if they've won during the current season not be eligible for the Showdown race, but their wins in their rookie season should make them eligible for the following season's All-Star race.

The actual All-Star race should include winners from the year before and current season, excluding current season rookies with victories in the current season, also eligible for the All-Star event are all past champions.

I also propose at all races starting immediately that NASCAR think through all rules and make them clear during the drivers meetings and also start a broadcasters meeting before the races to brief them on rules and rule changes to better convey the sport to the fans.