I’ll be the first one to tell you that I know little to nothing about law. However, it seems to me from working for a place where our customers have to sign a contract, some people seem to get screwed over a lot by not researching the contracts and making sure they are educated on their rights.

Now when a driver signs a contract to drive a certain amount of races, he is expected to show up for practice, qualifying and of course the race. However, sponsors and teams seem to be exempt from any and all rules or binding contracts!

I can’t even name them all, but good and not-so-good drivers alike have been shafted a lot. For instance, 2008 defending Camping World Truck Series champ Johnny Benson had his team fold early last season due to lack of sponsorship, and Casey Mears has lost several sponsors and rides.

Tonight on Next Time By, we were discussing how Kelly Bires, driver of Junior Motorsports' 88 car in the Nationwide Series, may be out of a ride during some races in 2010 in favor of JRM’s new gem, Danica Patrick. Bires had been scheduled to run a full schedule, pending sponsorship, with the exception of Daytona as Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be driving the 88 in that race. However, if Miss Patrick decides to run races other than the 12 she’s set for, Bires could have to say goodbye to his ride.

Now, it may just be me, but couldn’t that be considered a breach of contract? Now, JRM has signed a contract with a driver and what the stipulations of that contract are, one can only guess, but I’m certain it's got to be binding on both ends. Just like the wireless company I work at, we’re required to release customers from their contracts in certain instances. Say, if the wireless company changes something in the contract, then they are in breach of contract. If a customer doesn’t agree with it, they are automatically allowed release from their contract. Many customers don’t even realize this and end up thinking they are stuck in a contract for 18 more months because of a new charge they don’t agree with. I get the feeling this is a sort of flip-flopped version of what goes on in NASCAR.

With the recent announcement of Miccosukee possibly pulling their sponsorship from Kyle Busch Motorsports, there is now a lot hanging in the balance. They’d also been scheduled to run a Cup schedule with Aric Almirola and a full-time Nationwide ride with James Buescher. So what will happen to these already underfunded teams should this sponsor pull out of NASCAR? Has Miccosukee already signed a contract to run these races? If so, what penalty do they have to pay to pull out of the contract early? If these teams have to pay, then what does the sponsor have to pay? Along the same lines, Casey Mears, who drove the 07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet with Richard Childress Racing, recently lost his ride due to a sponsor pulling out of NASCAR. However, Mears’ contract was only a one-year deal. Still, it doesn’t seem right.

On the same note, what do teams have to pay when they pull a driver out of a car he’d been scheduled to drive for no good reason other than to replace him with someone they think is better? I get the feeling they will not suffer nearly as much as the driver will suffer. Bires stands to lose a lot more than Patrick or JRM do and it's not right. JRM has three cars and can afford to run a few races without sponsorship. The initial impression had been given that the 88 would be running a full schedule, sponsored or not. That doesn’t seem to be the case. At any rate, JRM seems to practice a lot of favoritism.

Whether you agree here or not, one thing is sure: it leaves a lot hanging in the balance when a sponsor pulls out or a team backs out of a contract with a driver.

I know a lot of you will enjoy these photos!

 Kyle Busch races RC cars in his hometown of Las Vegas, NV at a hobby shop where Busch used to be an employee. Busch was in his hometown to promote the local NASCAR cup race weekend Feb 26-28 at LVMS. Credit: John Bisci / Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Kyle Busch talks with fellow RC racer Edwin Flores Tuesday in Las Vegas at HobbyTown USA.

Kyle Busch and an out-of-control competitor during an RC race.

Kyle Busch says hi to Bandolero driver Austin Blair.

The off season has had no shortage of NASCAR news. In addition to the new baby announcements and changes to the schedule, NASCAR announced on Thursday that they will be making some significant rule changes.

NASCAR officials have announced that they plan to relax and let the drivers do what they do best without too much interference. However, it was stated on Next Time By internet radio today that in the past, NASCAR has made the same claim and it hasn’t happened. So will it really change this time?

Now, of course, with this announcement, all the fans are excited and hope for some good racing but we all wonder in the back of our minds: Will NASCAR really relax their grip on the races or will this be another empty promise?

Of course, we did see near the end of last season where this had already started to take place. The fiery feud between Cup series superstar, Denny Hamlin, and Talladega champion, Brad Keselowski sparked a great amount of excitement. NASCAR took it upon themselves to back off and let the drivers have their feud, which has been ongoing throughout the off season.

Some fans seem to have a bit of an issue with this due to safety reasons, but NASCAR CEO and chairman, Brian France states “NASCAR is a contact sport – our history is based on banging fenders.”

And it is so true. NASCAR is a true contact sport in the sense that the drivers thrive on on (and off track) rivalries to keep things interesting. Even with the inevitable safety issues that come up, fans and drivers always love a good rivalry.

“Over the past 10 years we’ve dramatically increased safety and that mission continues. However, it’s time for us to allow the drivers to drive. We don’t want the rules and regulations to get in the way of great racing and fantastic finishes,” said France.

One thing NASCAR fans can always count on is rule changes. And there have been plenty of them for 2010 already. Bump-drafting rules are null and void now at Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway. They will also implement a bigger restrictor plate at Daytona.

If you remember, right before the Talladega fall race, NASCAR announced the “no bump drafting into the corners” rule. That rule did not go over well with drivers or fans. The draft, especially the bump draft, is what makes Talladega more exciting to watch. During that particular race, the field was so widely spread out that it be came pretty dull for a good part of the race. Whether or not that is the fault of the lack of bump drafting in the corners is anyone’s guess.

The bigger restrictor plate for Daytona seems to be causing a great deal of excitement and debate in the NASCAR community. Some argue that the racing will be better due to the higher speeds and additional horsepower in the cars and others say that it will be far more dangerous. Whatever the case may be, its sure to make the races fare more interesting to see.

Perhaps the most significant change to NASCAR is the removal of the wing from the COT. Officials have decided to replace it with the spoiler from the old car. I’m not too well versed on aerodynamics, but if I understand correctly, the spoiler will give the car more downforce and hold it closer to the track.

Whatever happens in the next few months, be assured that NASCAR has only what they believe is best for the sport, drivers, and the fans in mind. The new rule changes are sure to make for a really interesting season.