That’s a welcome change. While most of us won’t have to worry about how hot it is or isn’t in SoCal — instead tacking in the action (or lack of it) from our couches — we should be concerned about driver, crew and official welfare.

Were it not for technology, Fontana and the surrounding area would be a mountainous desert.

So any relief that could be provided should be welcome.

The rub, of course, is that California now has an event in the Chase. It’s a net loss for the Chase schedule; with Atlanta moving to Labor Day, the Chase loses a fast venue that was a fair test for drivers (assuming, of course, that their tires hold up). In its place is a milquetoast, 1.5-mile track.

The Chase should be a difficult test. By sheer luck, NASCAR achieved that; it was sheer luck because it didn’t have to revamp the schedule to get the combination of races it has at the end.

The Chase should be a cauldron, a compressed schedule that features all of the best elements of the season: short tracks (Martinsville), mid-length tracks (Lowe’s, Kansas, Homestead) and superspeedways (Talladega). The road courses, to me, are negligible and don’t have a place in the Chase. The only gripe is that Martinsville is the only short track of the 10 events, a disproportionate amount considering there are five other short-track races on the regular-season schedule.

The driver that can navigate that cauldron best deserves to win a title.

But by exchanging California for Atlanta, something is lost. Yes, California and Michigan are different tracks and different elements of a car are needed to succeed there; but they’re close enough that it’s not a radical departure in the equipment teams will take to each.

Atlanta did provide a unique challenge: unbridled horsepower. It’s the fastest track in the Cup series, and races there test not only power but endurance. At Atlanta, you need a strong engine that’s going to hold up.

That’s true to a degree at every track, but it’s magnified at Atlanta.

Losing that will be a blow to the Chase in 2009.

• WE MAY SKIP OUT TOMORROW: Thursday night marks the end — for me at least — of the NFL preseason. The Redskins host the Jacksonville Jaguars, and finally, the games will start counting for real.

As usual, we’ll be out covering the game. My parents are also in town for a visit for my dad’s birthday tomorrow; he surprised me when he asked for tickets to the game. So we found a couple of StubHub and they’ll be there too.

I’ll try to get something posted during the daytime, but don’t be surprised if tomorrow winds up being an off day here.

(Photo by Mark Avery/Associated Press)