Associated Press

Mark Martin has three wins already during the Sprint Cup season, but is currently outside the Chase for the Cup in 13th place.

Rain shortened the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600. There have been fewer passes for the lead per race on average. A lawsuit is challenging NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy.

It's easy to think that the first half of the Sprint Cup season has been awful but then one recalls some other noteworthy events.

Mark Martin, at age 50, winning three races. Tony Stewart, with his own team, leading the points. Four races ending with drivers exchanging the lead within the final two laps.

And then there's Kyle Busch, who has mocked Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans, smashed a guitar trophy after a Nationwide win, blamed Tony Stewart for a last-lap crash last week at Daytona and won three Cup races.

This season has been a mixture of good and bad not typically seen in the sport. The economy has forced teams to cut people. Tracks have cut ticket prices to entice fans. Even so, attendance is down, as are TV ratings.

NASCAR responded a few weeks back by meeting with drivers and car owners to discuss key aspects of the sport. Double-file restarts came from such meetings and have added excitement this season. Still, questions remain.

As the series competes in tonight's race at Chicagoland Speedway, the second half of the 36-race season begins. Eight races remain until the Chase and then the season ends with 12 drivers vying for the title during the final 10 races.

Who will win is almost as important and what will happen to the sport these next few months. The biggest question for NASCAR, though, is will you be watching what happens?