I think there are a lot less rental rides than you think. I've always thought that people make a lot bigger deal out of it than it really is.

As we've seen, Darren Hagen is really the only one to make it work so far. And how could you blame them? The kid was fast and his dad didn't know anything about race cars. He went through the boot camp of Jack Yeley and the "racing college" of Keith Kunz and Pete Willoughby. Now, he's one of the few winning on dirt and pavement, and he's good in midgets and sprint cars.

I've heard a lot of people accused of renting rides this year, even Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.! Actually, most of the successful young racers out there right now have come from racing families.

Can you complain about the guys who have gotten the bona fide rides in USAC? Jerry Coons, Jr. has Hoffman and Wilke. Levi and Tracy have TSR. Bacon and Sweet have KKR. Darland has Pace and Lewis. Hunter Schuerenberg is with J.J. Yeley. Damion Gardner has a good sprint car deal. Shane Cottle has a full sprint car deal with Larry Contos. And Kody Swanson is your new driver at Nine Racing.

I really think the "state of the union" is about as good as I can remember...