NASCAR's powerful allure struck again this week.

A.J. Allmendinger, the lone American driving in the Champ Car World Series, signed Tuesday with the newly formed Team Red Bull to drive a Toyota for the 2007 Nextel Cup season.

This comes on the heels of another open wheel star, former Indianapolis 500 champion Juan Pablo Montoya, leaving Formula One and joining Chip Ganassi Racing's NASCAR lineup.

Motocross legend Ricky Carmichael is even trading in his bike for four wheels, signing with the MB2 Motorsports NASCAR team two weeks ago.

Is it surprising that stars all across the auto racing universe are taking the road to NASCAR?

No.

Is there any doubt about the money that awaits in Nextel Cup competition?

Absolutely not.

Should we expect the three NASCAR newbies to find victory lane anytime soon?

Don't hold your breath.

Recent history has shown the stock car world usually provides a rude awakening for those who cross over.

Christian Fittipaldi, Jimmy Vasser and Paul Tracy are just three drivers from the open-wheel ranks who have stumbled, whether it was due to poor performance, economics or a combination of the two.

And before you offer up Tony Stewart, an open-wheel guy who made the switch and has won two Nextel Cup titles, understand Stewart is the exception—an incredibly talented guy who goes looking for a race in any type of car he gets his hands on.

Not that Montoya, Carmichael or San Jose's Allmendinger can be blamed for searching out greener pastures. They've proven successful in their respective leagues and simply want their slice of the NASCAR pie.

In that respect they differ from Danica Patrick, who flirted with moving to NASCAR during the summer even though she still has lots to prove in the Indy Racing League.

But anyone expecting NASCAR's latest converts to challenge for spots in the "Chase"—and this includes their team owners—had better show some patience.

Just ask Boris Said, who has competed in various forms of racing and is still trying to master the full-time switch to NASCAR.

In Formula One "you have so many engineers, so much data to look at," Said explained. "(In Nextel Cup) it's communication between you and the crew chief to get it right. It's so damn competitive ... and there's 43 cars. You just don't do that in Formula One. (Montoya) will be racing fender to fender all race.

"There's 18 cars in Champ Car, but you're only really racing against four or five guys who have a chance to win. A.J. is going to have a tough road. He's a great driver, but he doesn't have a lot of experience, either."

But Said also believes all three drivers, including Carmichael, can make a successful transition because "they've gone from zero to the best in their sport."

Said, who owns his own Nextel Cup team, also revealed he'll be tutoring Kevin Windham, a top motocross racer like Carmichael, in one of his Cup cars in the near future.

So don't expect motor sports' biggest stars to stop flocking to NASCAR. Just don't expect them to upset the balance of power, either.

Nitro nail-biter: Just two events remain in the National Hot Rod Association's drag racing season, and 11 drivers remain in contention for the four professional titles.Doug Kalitta leads the Top Fuel standings by 83 points over Brandon Bernstein and 89 over Tony Schumacher. John Force will try to hold off Ron Capps and Robert Hight for his 14th Funny Car title. Just 54 points separates the three.In Pro Stock, Jason Line leads Greg Anderson by 119 points. Antron Brown holds a 27-point lead over Andrew Hines in Pro Stock Motorcycles, with Angelle Sampey 64 back.The NHRA hits Las Vegas for this weekend's competition and finishes up in Pomona, Calif., on Nov. 12.