The number of emails I receive from readers on a weekly basis telling me how boring the previous weekend's NEXTEL Cup Series race was has been on the rise in recent years. It seems that race time has turned into nap time for many fans - and truth be told - reporters as well.

Here's an easy way to help fix the problem.

Shorten the races.

There is no need for 500 mile races at Pocono, Atlanta, Texas or Charlotte that drone on and on. Several tracks realized this some time ago - Michigan and Dover for example - and cut the distance of their events in order to ramp up the excitement. I'm surprised some drivers don't fight the need to cat nap during these drone-fests.

Less laps would mean more important laps and make things much more interesting to watch.

But don't listen to me, hear what a real driver has to say.

"There is that point in the middle of the race where it's sort of pointless,'' Earnhardt said. "We're just cutting laps is basically all we're doing to get to the end.''

I know, some fans will complain that taking away distance isn't fair based on the high price of tickets these days. But come on people, we're talking quality here not quantity. Shouldn't the race mean something, not just be a bunch of laps to meet an "advertised distance?"

Other sports have taken meaures to liven up their events and NASCAR should follow suit.

Shorter would be better.