NOTEBOOK: Transparent? Compared to what?

            HOMESTEAD, Fla. – The Lords of Daytona are up to it again.

            Upset that Brad Keselowski criticized the impending move to fuel-injection engines, NASCAR officials apparently fined $25,000 in one of those secret fines that seldom remains secret long.

            NASCAR chairman Brian France, all self-righteous and all, said, “In the last couple of years we’ve taken the position that drivers are going to be able to speak their mind and criticize the sport way more than any other sport would allow.”

            Hah!

            When a reporter followed up, France said, in part, “We’ve never been more transparent.”

            The modern, politicized definition of that word is “open” and “visible.” By that definition, NASCAR has never been “transparent.” Until recently, calling someone or something transparent meant you “could see right through them.”

            Bingo.

            Quite the test – Wouldn’t it be interesting if the Ford 400 – and the championship – came down to this scenario?

            Said Tony Stewart’s teammate and employee, Ryan Newman: “I am racing for a win, and he is racing for a championship. If he has to pass me to win and, yeah, that is part of it. I’m not going to pull over for him and … he would not pull over for me. We were not raised that way. Do what you have to do, man.”

            But, perhaps Newman left himself some wiggle room.

            “In the end, he owns my race car, so whatever he wants to do is fair game.”

            Surprising fairness – Kevin Harvick, like Stewart a Chevy driver, hopes his friend wins the championship.k But Harvick, who has been prone to gamesmanship in the past, had some kind words for Carl Edwards.

            “He (Stewart) has a lot of experience, but in the end, I don’t think Carl (Edwards) is going to crack, though. It’s fun to watch, but I think Carl, obviously, knows what he needs to do here, but we’ll see how it all plays out.”

            The right tone – Stewart has been playful, saying he’d run over his mother to win the title and chiding Edwards, who has seemed relaxed but a bit more formal.

            “I believe we’re raising each other’s level of performance,” said Edwards. “We’re pushing each other, and this race isn’t going to be any different. I’m going to go hard, and he’s going to do the same.”

Monte Dutton; 704-869-1841; twitter.com/montedutton