Say When

Unlike Brandon Whitt, Jeremy Mayfield, A.J. Allmendinger and Mike Bliss survived the "three strikes you're out" approach and went on to attempt to qualify for Sunday's Nextel Cup race.

Mayfield and Allmendinger failed ... for the fourth straight week. (Ray Evernham and CHAMP Car fans everywhere are laughing their [insert preferred body part here]s off.)

Kevin LePage is also 0 for 4.

Ward Burton, Kenny Wallace and Michael Waltrip have all failed to qualify in three out of four attempts.

The KOBALT Tools 500 will be Brian Vickers' second race of the season and Mike Bliss' first.

At what point does a team say, "We have a problem?"

At what point does a sponsor say, "We can't afford to keep pouring money into your team without getting a return on our investment?"

Team Red Bull has an obvious advantage sponsoring their own team.

But how long can it possibly be before 360 OTC Team Green, et. al. decide to pull the plug?

How long before Napa tells Michael Waltrip Racing that they'd like to sponsor one of their Toyotas that actually makes it into the field?

My guess? Not much longer.