NASCAR has been asking some of the older drivers to consider retiring or at least going into semi-retirement, following the path of Bill Elliott who will be running just a handful of Cup races this year. In fact Elliott made his first appearance of the season this      
past Sunday in the Daimler-Chrysler 500 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The plan for him and car owner Ray Evernham was to run about 15 races this season but they have only come up with enough funding to do five or six.
Elliott was not asked to cut back. He decided that it was time on his own. He was not enjoying the Cup racing as much. He wanted to spend more time with his family on weekends.
"One main NASCAR official suggested,' Why don't you run a partial schedule? There's nothing wrong with a partial schedule,'" said Rusty Wallace. "NASCAR has suggested to many, many people that some drivers cut back to partial schedules. That might happen one of these days."
In an article penned by Lee Spencer -Sporting News.com - it was pointed out that it had been 100 Cup races since Wallace had visited victory lane. His last win came at California Speedway in 2001. So what? Michael Waltrip went more than 450 Cup races before winning his first Cup race.
Wallace is one of the veterans that helped bring NASCAR Nextel Cup racing to where it is now. It was drivers like him, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett, Terry Labonte, Ricky Rudd, the late Dale Earnhardt and other veterans who made Cup racing what it is today. The young drivers like Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman and others have the veterans to thank for paving the way, creating the interest that brought the billion dollar TV contract, and created the Cup phenom.
And what more can be said about seven time Cup champion Richard Petty. He is to stock car racing what Arnold Palmer has been to professional golf. Petty, attired in the cowboy hat, the sunglasses and a belt buckle the size of Rhode Island, still attracts the fans and still knows how to treat them.
Personally I have seen many times when Petty has spent long periods of time signing his autograph, the one that looks like a piece of artwork, for fans. I remember a night at nearby Grandview Speedway when Petty made a personal appearance. Rain shortened the activities but there was a long line of fans hoping to get an autograph from "The King." He did not disappoint anyone. He stood under a roofed area, sheltered somewhat from the rain, and signed autographs until there was no one left that wanted one. That is what helped make Cup racing successful. You would not see the young drivers of today do that.
Dale Earnhardt, though not as accessible as Richard Petty, still had a great impact on the sport. Most people didn't realize just what an impact that was until the seven time Cup champion was killed on the final lap of the Daytona 500 in 2001. 
As Spencer pointed out in her article it is doubtful that anyone would have suggested to Earnhardt that he consider retiring…..or cutting back on his schedule.
Today the young drivers come across as arrogant spoiled brats who look at autograph signing as an intrusion on their privacy. When the races are over they are sneaking out the back gates to avoid fans…..and the media.
NASCAR should not be trying to chase the veterans away. They just may need them to keep the fans interested and to sign the autographs for those fans ignored by the young lions.
MANY FANS FROM THIS AREA head to Richmond International Raceway in May for the Nextel Cup weekend. If you don't have your ticket for the Nextel Cup race then don't bother to head down South. The event is sold out. That is the 25th consecutive Nextel Cup race to be sold out at Richmond.
HERE IS A FACT YOU MAY NOT FIND ELSEWHERE. The Gillette Young Guns program includes six of the top young talents in Cup racing including a clean shaven Dale Earnhardt Jr. Not included is Tony Stewart. We are told that he did like the part of the deal that said he had to be clean shaven.
PENNDEL, PA'S ANDY BELMONT had a sponsorship deal fall through and that forced him to pass on trying to qualify for the Sunday Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Belmont does plan to be at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Darlington Raceway in coming weeks.
NICK SCHLAUCH, JR., starting his 7th year of driving race cars, will be racing at Trailways Speedway in Central Pennsylvania on Saturday nights. The eighth grader, who attends St. Bede's School in Holland, finished his rookie season of 270 Micro Sprint racing with a feature win at Greenwood Valley Speedway in Bloomsburg, PA.
The youngster, son of former modified racer Nick Schlauch Sr. who now operates S&S Auto Repair in Oakford, PA started his career in quarter midgets and was a winner in every class of competition that he competed in. He raced at eight different tracks in 2003 after moving up to Micro Sprint competition traveling more than 20,000 miles and running in 37 events.
The 14-year-old racer had a successful rookie season with a win, five runner-up finishes and 20 top tens. Schlauch has goals in 2004 to finish in the top five in points at Trailway Speedway and to win as many features as possible.
Like many racers Nick is looking for additional sponsorship so that he can expand his schedule. Current support comes from family owned businesses and Ray's Auto Repair of Trevose.
Schlauch's goal is to be a full time racer when he finishes his schooling.