Track Smack: Talladega

Special thanks are in order to Kevin Harvick, who created a lot to talk about this week. Surprisingly, it was a 50-50 split on the argument of how deserved Harvick's punishment was.

What did you think about NASCAR parking Kevin Harvick?

Tim Packman: I think NASCAR did the right thing by parking Kevin for a day. He was already on probation for the second time in as many years and just pushed it too far on Saturday after he was ordered off the track. If he would have just gone to the garage instead of pulling up and leaving his truck at the NASCAR trailer, things might have turned out differently.

Dave Rodman: Guys, Kevin was on probation in all NASCAR events -- that means if he pulls a bonehead move in a Truck race, he is liable to pay the same as if he did it in a Cup race. Parking him was the right thing to do -- I just hate it that it took NASCAR well over a year to do the right thing. As you remember, they should have parked Tony Stewart midway through last season. Too bad it took them a year to establish the precedent.

Ryan Smithson: At first I didn't agree with it -- and I still don't -- but after hearing drivers' comments supporting it, I changed my mind a little. I just wish they had found someway to penalize Harvick, and not Childress at the same time. That was a tad harsh.

Marty Smith: Absolute crap, and utterly uncalled for. Kick him out of the Truck Series forever, I don't care, but taking him out of the Winston Cup car for losing his temper in a truck is simply unfair. Sure, NASCAR got their point across, but I don't care, it's not fair. That deal affected sponsors, fans and the track, not just Harvick.

Tim Packman: Agree with you there, Ryan, that RCR should not have bore the brunt of Kevin's actions. But, NASCAR was aware the Kevin was going to compete in all three series this year and didn't want to separate the divisions from one another.

Ryan Smithson: I don't disagree that NASCAR had to do something to get Kev's attention, but that was taking it too far. Marty, I agree with you 100 percent, and Tim, I also agree that Kevin probably got barred because of lack of respect to NASCAR, not on-track behavior.

Tim Packman: The track had a full grandstand on Sunday. I felt for the fans that traveled and spent the money to see Kevin in the Cup car.

Ryan Smithson: You can't tell a NASCAR official "to come see you at the motor home." That just isn't right.

Marty Smith: Sure it's not, and once again I don't disagree that something had to be done. But that just was not the right way to do it.

Tim Packman: Parking his truck outside the trailer to talk to NASCAR right away instead of waiting until the end was bad, too.

Tim Packman: Well, Marty, what would you have done if you were in NASCAR's shoes?

Marty Smith: Make him run Winston Cup only for the rest of the year and put him under a fine-toothed comb. He's an emotional guy, intense as hell in most every facet of life, so I don't care if he's racing Zambonis, his intensity meter is pegged. He needn't worry about retaliation in a Truck when he has a Cup team to spearhead.

Ryan Smithson: You can't fine Harvick money, because it does not come out of his pocket. You can't suspend him, because you hurt the sponsor and the fans. So I guess we're just screwed, or Harvick is just above the law. Well, he was before Sunday.

Harvick: Hello Kevin. Hamlin: Hello Kevin. Credit: ASP

Tim Packman: The fine money gets earned back 50 laps into the next race. Points were taken away by parking him for the day. Those nine spots he lost on Sunday are going to be very tough to make up.

Dave Rodman: Kevin has to learn that he is responsible for his actions, whether in a street car, Cup car, Busch car or Craftsman Truck. Yup, it is a tough load to carry, answering to RC, GM, etc, etc -- but he is a millionaire thanks to all that and it comes with a price.

Ryan Smithson: It'll cost him a lot of Winston money at the end. I think Harvick will come back and finish, say, 16th, instead of the 5th-10th that he would have. That's about a $300,000 direct loss.

Marty Smith: Look, the bottom line is that NASCAR got their point across. I don't agree with the manner in which they did it, but it most certainly worked.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you should talk about actions in a street car! This is coming from someone who eats, talks on a cell phone and pricks himself with a diabetic needle while going 87 mph in a school zone!

Dave Rodman: I don't do any of that stuff in a school zone, and you know it. Anywhere else is fair game.

Marty Smith: No way, Smithson. Eating is one thing Worm does NOT do quickly. I swear, I've drunk six beers, ate an appetizer, a meal and desert before he's done his salad.

Dave Rodman: Savoring every bite, gentlemen.

Tim Packman: I read half of War and Peace while we ate in Daytona in February this year.\

Ryan Smithson: Tim, the only book you've ever read is a comic book.

Is Matt Kenseth really a title threat?

Dave Rodman: Definitely. I think he showed some good toughness wedging DJ out of his way after I am sure he felt Dale violated the Gentleman's Agreement by passing him under caution.

Tim Packman: I'll be honest, I didn't think he would be where he is in the points right now but was hoping his third year would have been better than his second one. But man, he's got it going on right now, it seems.

When will Matt Kenseth come back to earth? Maybe never. This could be a permanent thing. Credit: ASP

Ryan Smithson: Not really, but he will finish deep in the top 10 in points. That's amazing. This time last year, there were rumors he was leaving Roush. Now, he's the toast of Winston Cup. It goes back to last year. Kenseth really started running well in October.

Marty Smith: Totally. It's odd, he comes out of nowhere and finishes in the top-five every week. Plus, he's winning. That's how you win it all these days.

Dave Rodman: The organization will rally around him since right now he is their best title hope. He has been consistent on a wide variety of race tracks, so I think there is no reason why he would not be the best Roush car all season -- and since this looks like quite a good year for Roush Racing, I would say Matt will challenge for the championship most of the season.

Ryan Smithson: I guess I am just thinking that Stewart and Gordon will mount one hell of a title rally.

Tim Packman: I'd put a few nickels on that, Ryan. Stewart has been the best at making the rally to the top of the points chart.

Tim Packman: The top 10 in points this year has been very interesting to say the least. Guys have gone in and out of it a few times, others have been up in top five and dropped right out of it.

Dave Rodman: His bad year last season was a big anomaly -- but all of Roush's cars running like crap was, too. I think after he won rookie of the year two years ago, taking into account the knocks he took last season and what he learned, it is appropriate he challenges this season.

	Jarrett Before the Turn of the Century

Ryan Smithson: Leading now does not mean much really. Mike Skinner led the points for a month in 1999. That tells you something.

Tim Packman: Yeah, it tells me he led the points for a month.

Ryan Smithson: It also tells me that Dale Jarrett probably had a better second half than first half that year.

Dave Rodman: And I think you have to look at a team's tendencies and how consistent they can be. Ryan, you're right in that the 17 started this tear down the stretch last season.

Ryan Smithson: The real key -- I think -- is that Kurt Busch has fit in really well at Roush. They have four top teams instead of two top teams and two R&D teams. Somewhere, Chad Little is upset.

	Jarrett After the Turn of the Century

Marty Smith: Little returns to Cup this weekend. You reckon he'll make the show?

Ryan Smithson: No.

Dave Rodman: He actually comes back at California.

Marty Smith: Oh really? Whooooops. I thought it was this weekend.

Ryan Smithson: That is why I said no. Can't make the show if you don't enter.

Tim Packman: Hillenburg made nine laps of the Martinsville race. What's up with that?

Ryan Smithson: He had a "bad clutch."

Tim Packman: Oh, is that what it was.

Ryan Smithson: I had a bad clutch too, but it lasted 100,000 miles, not 4.5.

Dave Rodman: Yeah, Dave Marcis saw the light and pulled out of Talladega. Melling's team did also -- prepping DW's truck used up their manpower too much.

Tim Packman: Melling pulled out of Dega and left Pressley hanging?

Ryan Smithson: No, he just pulled out of 'Dega.

Tim Packman: Well, that's just not right! There ought to be a law.

Ok, enough Pressley. Give us your Talladega predictions.

Dave Rodman: I put my coin on Dale Jr. -- that boy was flying at Daytona with a car that was half torn to pieces.

	It's Dale Jr.'s week to shine. Credit: ASP

Ryan Smithson: I am gonna use Dale Jr. on my fantasy team for the first time this year.

Tim Packman: Marty, you can't pick Dale Jr. until you've paid everyone off from your errant Daytona 500 bet choice.

Ryan Smithson: Well, I guess he ain't picking Dale Jr. then.

Tim Packman: That's what I thought.

Marty Smith: Very true, Tim. I've told Smithson time and again that he'll get his money -- in my will.

Ryan Smithson: Yeah, Talladega sucks when it comes to predictions. Phil Freaking Parsons won there. So did Greg Bleeping Sacks. Or maybe Sacks won at Daytona. Yeah, Daytona.

Tim Packman: I'm going to say Tony Stewart is going to redeem himself from last year at Dega and what happened at the 500 this year.

Dave Rodman: Ryan, Sacks and Parsons deserved to win. They had cars good enough to do the job -- that's why I will defend to the death Derrike Cope winning the 1990 Daytona 500. But there is a lot of stuff you have to dodge to get there -- and that is no accident.

Track Smack appears every Wednesday on NASCAR.com and the opinions expressed here are solely those of the participants.

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