In a perfect world, every NASCAR Winston Cup track would have at least three racing grooves so fans could be treated to three-wide racing.

Blocking would be virtually impossible. But there is something to be said for imperfection. There is something to be said for variety.

Every year, when the Winston Cup series converges on New Hampshire International Speedway, there are expectations that a second racing groove will emerge.

Bob and Gary Bahre, owners of the track and former owners of Oxford Plains Speedway, have bent over backwards to try to create that second groove. And it finally appears that they have thanks to a comprehensive repaving job done last fall.

That’s not to say fast cars can simply blow by slower cars like they can on high-banked tracks.

Faster cars still require at least 15-20 laps to pass a slower car on a flat track like NHIS unless the driver in the slower car makes a mistake.

Flat track racing boils down to track position and fuel mileage. It will always be that way at NHIS.

Newburgh’s Ricky Craven and Cherryfield’s Andy Santerre were perfect examples over the weekend.

Because Craven’s Tide Pontiac wasn’t receiving the fuel mileage the other cars were, he needed an extra pit stop. That came with 66 laps remaining. He was second when he went to the pits, came out 23rd because most of the other cars had pitted for the last time on lap 207, and he finished 21st.

So it will be up to the PPI Motorsports Team to figure out why they were getting inferior fuel mileage and correct it in time for the Sept. 14 New Hampshire 300.

The previous day, Santerre chased winner Martin Truex Jr. for 79 laps in the Busch North New England 125 but couldn’t pass him without bumping him. So the classy Santerre settled for second.

Unfortunately, auto racing has become more about blocking than passing. When you come right down to it, it is the same in all sports.

Balls that clear the Green Monster in Fenway Park would be outs in other ballparks.

And vice versa.

Every racetrack, like every ballpark, has its own characteristics and teams must make the necessary adjustments.

Blocking can be compared to the neutral zone trap in hockey. It enables an inferior car to hold off a superior car. The neutral zone trap allows inferior teams to compete with superior teams.

In both cases, the superior teams must be patient, wait for their opportunities and capitalize.

Despite finishing second, Santerre still managed to increase his points lead in the Busch North standings.

Craven knew he had a top 10 car but he can’t dwell on Sunday’s race. After three top-five finishes in his first eight races, he has now gone 11 races without one.

But there is an up side.

The PPI Motorsports Team’s pit crew has emerged as one of the best around. It used to be a weakness.

There is a first-year crew chief (Scott Miller), the transition from Ford to Pontiac and the new engine program.

You could compare this to an NFL team adjusting to a new coach, a brand new offensive scheme and an influx of new players. It takes time.

But it is important to show progress and you can expect that from the PPI Motorsports Team over the final 17 races.

Don’t be surprised if there is another win and three more top-five finishes.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.