NASCAR, Brian France aren't celebrating just yet

This NASCAR season so far is like an intricate ice sculpture. It's lovely to look at, but you don't want to handle it, or even get too close to it, lest the whole thing collapse.

So far, we've had a storybook Daytona 500 ending, the return to prominence of one of NASCAR's legendary drivers, the marked improvement of two of the sport's most marketable stars, and the rise of a legitimate new championship challenger. It's led to across-the-board ratings improvements, sellouts or near-sellouts at all three tracks, and a genuine feeling of optimism that perhaps the worst is behind the sport.

But nobody's busting open the champagne yet, not after several years of decline and frustration. "We're obviously pleased we're up dramatically in our ratings, but we know that is an ebb and flow thing," NASCAR chairman Brian France said Wednesday in a conference call. "We're focused on a lot of things that will give us growth down the road. We're going to work on those, not get too excited or too down."

France noted that the rise in prominence of Trevor Bayne, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Danica Patrick has contributed to an increased interest in the sport. And while NASCAR has had difficulties when placing all its eggs in the #88's shotgun seat, the trend seems indisputable -- as Junior (and, to a lesser extent, Patrick and others) goes, so goes the sport itself.

But it's not just the marquee drivers; competition is up across the board. As the AP notes:

The three winners in three races is the first time since 2007 there hasn’t been a repeat winner through the first three events, 32 different drivers have led at least one lap, and both Daytona and Phoenix set records for lead changes.

That's not bad. And, adhering to the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" maxim, NASCAR also announced Wednesday that there would be no major changes to the All-Star race format. The race will be three segments totaling 90 laps, with a final 10-lap shootout.

The biggest news, if it can be considered as such, is that Earnhardt is not an automatic qualifier for the All-Star race. His 10-year exemption for winning an All-Star race ended after last season. That means he'll have to either win a race between now and May, finish first or second in the race-in competition, or -- get this -- win the fan vote to get in. So, yeah, you can plan on the 88 still being there.

Bottom line: no major news. And since everything's humming along well, that's just fine.

Hayden Panettiere Jules Asner Whitney Able Kelly Clarkson Natalie Portman