NASCAR is toying with rules

Well, the season hasn't started yet, and already NASCAR is tweaking the Winston Cup rules.

The sanctioning body threw a bone to the Ford teams

earlier in the week, reducing the height of the rear spoilers by a

quarter-inch. Ford teams claimed that they needed a 6-inch high spoiler to be equal to the Chevys and Dodges, but they'll have to be satisfied with the 6.25 inches NASCAR has allotted them. Pontiac and Dodge teams will have a 6.5-inch spoiler, and Chevys will have 6.25 inches, just like the Fords.

Spoiler width for all makes is 57 inches.

The Blue Oval boys pointed out that Chevrolets won all four restrictor plate races last year, and GM products have won 12 of the last 16 plate events.

NASCAR has not cast its latest ruling in stone, indicating that further modifications could be made right up to the February 17 Daytona 500 race date.

NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch teams will be testing this week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, checking out performance of their mid-size speedway cars (Daytona aero rules don't apply anywhere else except Talladega). Most of the Cup regulars will be there, preparing for the March 3 race.

Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) teams were in Florida last week for pre-season testing at Sebring, on the 1.65 mile road course. This will be the last season for turbocharged engines in CART, as the 2003 rules call for a 3.5 liter normally aspirated engine virtually identical to Indy Racing League

(IRL) specs. Teams were wringing out new equipment in preparation for the season opener in Monterrey, Mexico in March.

The first major race of the season is only a week away, as the Daytona Rolex 24 kicks off next Saturday. One of the cars to watch is the Rocketsports Racing Jaguar XJR, which will boast three former Trans-Am champions at the wheel: Paul Gentilozzi, Brian Simo, and Scott Pruett. A number of NASCAR,

CART, and IRL stars will also take part in the race, including Kyle Petty, Kevin Harvick, Scott Sharp, and others. Last year's race featured the Winston Cup father-son duo of Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jr., driving a Goodwrench-sponsored Corvette C5R. Sadly, that pairing won't be repeated. I know I'll be glued to the TV set for as much of the coverage as possible.

If you are looking for some potent street machinery, check out a new dealership on Kietzke Lane in Reno. Located in the Kietzke Auto Center just east of Gentry Lane, Desert Classics features vintage and late-model cars to drool over. I dropped by last week, and checked out a couple of AMG Mercedes, a Cobra replicar, an MG-TC, a 450hp supercharged Studebaker Golden Hawk, and a mildly hotrodded 1937 Packard. If you're a car enthusiast looking for something unique, by all means check this place out.

Finally, with the NASCAR season right around the corner, I've borrowed a few lines from comedian Jeff Foxworthy so you can determine if you really are a NASCAR fan.

You might be a NASCAR fan if:

You think the last four words of the National Anthem are "Gentlemen, start your engines."

You've ever written Richard Petty's name on a presidential ballot.

You're not actually able to read The Richard Petty Story, but you sure do like to look at the pictures.

You have the word NASCAR in your wedding vows.

You go to a stock car race and don't need a program.

You know who is actually leading the Winston Cup series.

Your favorite NASCAR souvenir was a direct result of a crash in turn three.

You spell out NASCAR in Christmas lights.

You can remember the entire NASCAR series schedule but can't remember your wife's birthday, kid's birthday, or anniversary.

You can remember every NASCAR driver and their car number but can't remember how old your children are.

The word "Bank" makes you think of turn three at Daytona.

Your wife's nickname is "Lugnut."

You've spent more time on the top of a Winnebago than in one.

You can change a tire faster than you can change a diaper.

You make engine noises while watching racing on TV.

Roger Diez is the Nevada Appeal Motorsports Columnist.