Notebook: A different approach to testing

Also, these two tests will only help our racing. I think it's going to help more teams be better with this car, which obviously is why NASCAR scheduled the tests like they did.

I am really anxious to see — especially when we get back to Lowe's Motor Speedway for the All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600 in just under a week's time — how this extra test has helped teams. There's just no substitute for testing. As an example, look at the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team. After starting the year slowly, we know that testing is what turned that group around. When they fell on their face for about the fifth race of the year at Bristol, they left and for the next week and a half, they did nothing but test, test, test. All of a sudden at the next race, that bunch looked like a different race team — and I think that's the mindset for a lot of teams right now.

Even though we have had a major player fall in place, there are still a lot of guys that have not. And I think the piece of the puzzle that really and truly has to fall in place in order for the rest to start finding their place is Tony Stewart. I don't know that we will get that answer anytime soon — we may get it sooner than we think — but as I think Tony has said a few times now, if he indeed does leave Joe Gibbs Racing, he wants to be fair to that organization and give them the opportunity to latch onto somebody that they feel really good about.

Even though Tony's current contact is through 2009, whenever he decides what he is going to do for next year — whether he goes and becomes a part owner at Haas CNC or any number of different scenarios — you will see a lot of the remaining free agents dangling in the air.

There are still three or four awesome drivers that don't have a deal in place for next season and beyond and I think they will wait out for a while so that they can see what becomes available, what Stewart decides to do, and in some cases, see how the performance of their existing team goes.

Another variable to consider is that fourth Richard Childress Racing team, which is probably not just going to dive in and hire a driver nonchalantly. I know there were reports at Richmond that Bobby Labonte had re-signed with Petty Enterprises, but I know for a fact that Jeff Hammond went and spoke to Labonte just a few hours before Saturday's race and Labonte said, "The best thing I can tell you is that unless it comes from my mouth, it's probably not 100 percent true yet."

There's always some late surprises, but I think we know for the most part who the players are in the free-agent market: Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman, Bobby Labonte and possibly Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle — although Biffle said he is close to completing a new deal with Roush.

FOX race analyst Larry McReynolds has more than 25 years of NASCAR experience as a mechanic, crew chief and broadcaster. He and his fellow Crew Chief Club members take you behind the wall at www.crewchiefclub.com.

"How to Become a Winning Crew Chief" is on bookstore shelves, or you may order your own autographed copy from www.DWStore.com.