While Hurricane Isabel dominated discussion this week there's plenty more to talk about heading into Dover.

The storm has passed but the winds of change continue to blow through NASCAR. In what might be considered Brian France's first official act as NASCAR CEO and Chairman of the Board, the sanctioning body has made a significant rule change.

Beginning this weekend, drivers will no longer be allowed to race back to the caution flag. Instead, their positions will be frozen as soon as the yellow flag flies.

"We needed to find a better way to do it rather than racing back to the yellow, and the new procedures we are putting in place are the first step in the process," NASCAR President Mike Helton said. "We will monitor and evaluate the new procedures and fine-tune them if needed as we move forward."

In the past, drivers have been forced to perform a balancing act between the rule, which allowed racing for position, and a gentleman's agreement, which discouraged it.

Invariably the contradicting policies created confusion and at times danger. Last week, Dale Jarrett's damaged race car nearly sustained a secondary collision when it sat idle on the front straightaway while the leaders raced for position on their way back to the flag.

The perception of right and wrong was, at best, hazy. This led to controversy at Infineon Raceway in June when Robby Gordon passed teammate Kevin Harvick on the way to the yellow. Gordon went on to score the win, but absorbed widespread criticism from his peers.

While the objective is to increase safety, the rule change will also impact competition. Drivers who find themselves a lap down will now have to fight their way back, as charity laps are no longer an option.

Speaking of competition, the starting grid for Sunday's MBNA America 400 has been established by points. Fearing Isabel's wrath, NASCAR took a proactive approach and canceled Friday's qualifying session a few days early.

As it turns out, the sun was shining in Delaware on Friday afternoon. All this proves once again that points leader Matt Kenseth -- who will start on the pole -- is catching all the breaks necessary to win his first Winston Cup championship.

Kenseth has recorded five top-10 finishes in nine Dover starts.

Last week marked the first time since Watkins Glen (Aug. 10) that Kenseth failed to expand his lead. Dale Earnhardt Jr. cut the margin, which still appears to be insurmountable, to 404 points.

While the championship seems to be out of reach, second place is still very much up for grabs. Three drivers -- Earnhardt, Jr., Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson -- are all within 68 points of the runner-up spot.

Johnson comes to Dover with the hot hand. One week after completing the New Hampshire sweep, he arrives at the track where he used the broom last year.

Ryan Newman was the master of the Monster Mile in June when he won the MBNA Armed Forces Family 400. It was the second of his six wins this season but it may have been the most impressive, as he was forced to fend off his foes without power steering.

"When we got home that night, Krissie (Boyle) told me I was going to get a better workout program going and I couldn't argue with her," said Newman with a laugh. "My rear end was whooped the next morning for sure."

Another driver who might be feeling whooped is Earnhardt Jr. Despite leading 120 laps last week and finishing fifth, he has little to show for it in the standings.

"Its been a strange string of races for us," Earnhardt Jr said. "I keep saying I'm excited before every race because I have confidence that I'm going to climb into a really fast car each week. Leading the race on seven cylinders (at Loudon) Sunday showed how good the car was handling. We got a top-five with a car we had to nurse around, which I suppose is a small consolation after having a potentially winning car at Richmond and then getting stung with a punctured tire."

Earnhardt Jr., who hasn't won since Talladega in April, is one of several drivers who are seemingly due for a victory. Tony Stewart hasn't won since June (Pocono), Jeff Gordon's been shutout since April (Martinsville), and Kenseth has been blanked since race three in March (Las Vegas).

By the time the emerald silk is unfurled in Dover, Isabel will be breaking up over Canada. Still, there will be plenty of thunder inside the concrete valley of Dover Downs.

"Every lap you come close (to hitting the wall) because you are coming up out of a hole and the straightaway is up on a hill, so it just kind of throws you up into the wall," explains Harvick. "There is not enough room for error.

"It's one of those places where you have to get up off the corner right every time, and if you miss your mark even a little bit, you are going to have a flat right side."

And that is NASCAR's own particular brand of lightning.

Mike Massaro covers NASCAR for ESPN and ESPN.com.