As the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series prepares for Sunday’s Carfax 400 at the Michigan International Speedway, it is almost certain that the team that ends up in Victory Lane at the end of the day will have done so thanks to great pit work and excellent fuel mileage. Each time the series heads to the back yard of the manufacturers it seems fuel mileage is the deciding factor. Does this strike anyone as ironic when looking at the current state of the auto industry?

The U.S. government has lured consumers back to the dealerships by offering a ‘Cash for Clunkers’ deal in which they can trade in an older gas guzzler for a newer, more efficient model. With a renewed emphasis on creating cars that get the most bang for their buck in terms of fuel mileage, Sunday’s race will be one in which numerous drivers will not have enough gas to the last to the end. With the manufacturers watching intently this weekend, shouldn’t they be doing more to ensure the field has enough fuel to race for the win?

Recently, the fresh out of bankruptcy General Motors announced the Chevy Volt, which is scheduled for release in 2010, will get roughly 230 miles per gallon. Granted this model is a flex-fuel, electric car that plugs into the power grid, but is proof that the manufacturers are attempting to find ways to remedy the gas guzzling industry. With NASCAR as one of its biggest and best testing grounds for safety and performance, why hasn’t fuel efficiency or alternative fuels been explored in the sport?

Here’s a challenge to NASCAR, the manufacturers and engine builders in the sport, make an engine that performs well enough to compete in the Sprint Cup Series, yet burns less fuel and ensures that races such as Sunday’s end with the leaders racing each other, not the fuel gauge.

When NASCAR implemented the Car of Tomorrow, this writer feels as if they missed a golden opportunity to make the transition to more fuel efficient competition. The new car improved safety and competition –some may argue the latter point – but wouldn’t a ‘Car of Tomorrow’ be one that got better fuel mileage?

A recent HardcoreRaceFans.com poll asked fans “Would you prefer to see the race with fuel strategy playing a part in the outcome or see all-out racing to the finish?” Overwhelmingly, fans voted they preferred all-out racing to the finish 81.5% to 18.5%. The fans want it, the drivers want it and the American consumer wants it. Isn’t it time for the manufacturers and NASCAR to take the next step towards the future and make NASCAR more fuel efficient and allow the competition to race each other and not the fuel gauge.

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