DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Gosh, I know it's worse in the Carolinas, but it's not exactly "Surfin' Safari" here where banners make the claim "World's Most Famous Beach."

On Friday, Daytona Beach might as well have overlooked the English Channel instead of the Atlantic Ocean. The surf was angry, the ceiling low, the winds high and the mood surly.

A few miles inland, Daytona International Speedway was similarly awash in liquid gloom.

Nothing beats weather at casting a pall.

After an entertaining debut (Danica Patrick), a lively Budweiser Shootout, a popular front row (Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt for the Daytona 500) and side-by-side finishes in both Gatorade Duel qualifying races ...

... It rained.

Speedweeks had Big Mo until Mother Nature intervened.

So far, NASCAR's decision to lessen the restrictions on carburetors and let boys be boys has worked like a charm. All the cars are running at what was once dubbed "ramming speed" in the movie "Animal House."

The jury is still out. NASCAR might be living dangerously. A crash-marred 500 could raise a public howl comparable to the evil winds blowing in off the Atlantic. The latest relief bill - three tries at a green-flag finish! - might make the race better and it might turn it into an object of ridicule.

Best drivers in the world! Can't run a lap without a half dozen of them wrecking!

So far, though, the only thing anyone could ask of Speedweeks would be warmer weather.

In truth, racing at the two restrictor-plate tracks has been fine and dandy since world's largest Matchbook cars were implemented. The problems are elsewhere and nowhere more evident than at the next two stops on the tour, Auto Club Speedway (Fontana, Calif.) and Las Vegas, Nev.

Daytona is both wonderful and unreal. At some point, a letdown is bound to occur. Ultimately, it won't have anything to do with the weather.