Roush feels singled out by car limit

AVONDALE, Ariz. - Roush Racing couldn't help but feel singled out by NASCAR's new rule that limits the number of entries.

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NASCAR announced late Thursday it would restrict the number of cars fielded by one team to four, although it said the rule would allow car owner Jack Roush, the only person with five cars, to reduce his fleet through normal attrition.

"I take it personally," Roush said. "They tell me it's not personal, but I'm the only guy standing here with five teams that is making them work. They've brought it out just at a time when we were starting our Chase. If they wanted to cause a distraction to my teams; if they wanted to create anxiety among my drivers; if they wanted to create question in my sponsors as to my viability and my commitment and the prospect for Roush Racing going forward, they would do exactly what they've done."

Roush Racing president Geoff Smith said his five teams have contracts with sponsors and drivers through the 2009 season.

NASCAR didn't specify the length of time it would allow Roush to conform to the mandate, and the sanctioning body didn't respond to Smith's claim they would continue to operate five teams for the next four years - if not longer.

"Our impression is if every one of those sponsors wants to continue past '09, they can," he said. "If some of the sponsors don't want to continue on but every driver wants to continue past '09, that would be OK, too. But it's unlikely all of that will happen."

NASCAR decided five teams were too many after all five - with drivers Mark Martin, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards - qualified for the Chase for the Championship.

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN: Add Phoenix to the list of towns that take advantage of racing fans.

Rental car rates soared past the $100 per day barrier for this weekend's Checker Auto Parts 500, moving Phoenix into the same class as towns like Daytona Beach, Talladega, and Dover as race cities that openly embrace price gouging.

The daily rate, including tax, for cars at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport is $150.46. The explanation given at every rental car counter was, "The race is in town."

According to several Web sites, the average daily rate is about $30 when the race isn't in town.

Reach Don Coble at doncoble@bellsouth.net.