Track Smack: Off week

Tim Packman, crew chief for the No. 85 Chevrolet in Track Smack, was fined $2,500 on Wednesday morning. The infraction was for having a hollow head attached to his neck during Friday night's Hardee's 250. Car chief Ryan Smithson was fined $500 for lack of common sense.

Packman said he would appeal, if he could figure out how.

Will Ricky Rudd retire at the end of this season?

Marty Smith: I don't think so. I think Rudd's got way too much game left to leave. He's rumored to be going all over the place, but the one place he won't go is to the house. I don't see him retiring.

Dave Rodman: That's a bolt out of the blue -- but on the other hand, you have got to wonder how disgusted some of these old dawgs get with the newfangled stuff that's flying around. But I have to admit -- that is a pretty extreme statement -- for the guy with Winston Cup's longevity record to say he's had enough.

Ryan Smithson: He'll either retire this year or at the end of next year. I don't think Terry Labonte will be around too many more years either, so I'd enjoy these guys driving for now. It won't last too much longer for either of them.

Tim Packman: First off, only he knows the answer to that question. From what I read, he sounds pretty frustrated with his season and how things have been going, yet he's still a top-10 point guy.

Marty Smith: I have to admit, the thought of Rudd, Terry and those boys in Speedo's prancing around did crack me the hell up.

Ryan Smithson: That was a great quote.

Dave Rodman: Everything he said makes sense. He loves Landon and Linda and beating around his property on his bulldozer. And the schedule thing -- too many races -- is a real thorn to the older fellas.

Marty Smith: Hell Dave, it's a thorn for us all.

Tim Packman: Flexing and wearing bathing suits like wrestlers, was what he said. Rudd can be funny, sometimes.

Ryan Smithson: That is why he is serious.

Ricky Rudd is one of four drivers in the top 10 that is over the age of 40. Credit: ASP

Tim Packman: Hmm, Dave has a point. They came into the sport when there weren't as many races. These "Young Guns" we hear so much about are coming into a 36-race schedule not knowing any better.

Ryan Smithson: I don't think Ricky Rudd says much without it having ring to it. He reeks of credibility.

Marty Smith: As for the youth movement deal, I can see Ricky's point. It's the old school guys that FOX and NBC fell in love with in the first place I reckon. When that TV deal was being brokered, Jimmie and Junior were in Busch cars.

Dave Rodman: That comment about NASCAR was hilarious on the surface, true -- but it speaks to a different, deeper issue. These cats that are installed in NASCAR aren't race people. So if they profane the racing in the name of the show, so what?

Marty Smith: Still yet, it's MTV that sells these days. You can't forget that.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, I remember a conversation we had about the young boys being the ones to sit on the poles at the 1.5-mile tracks.

Dave Rodman: Yeah, but I would give those TV moguls enough credit for knowing where the sport was going and who was gonna be on top in very short order.

Marty Smith: Right on Smithson.

Tim Packman: I'm a VH1 kind of guy, can't understand half of songs on MTV.

Marty Smith: Packy likes the Journey Behind the Music. He likes Steve Perry's mullet.

	Rudd last won last fall at Richmond. Credit: ASP

Ryan Smithson: I can see Rudd's point, really I can, but I remember in 1992, a guy like Dave Marcis was complaining that sponsors liked "young" guys like Rusty, Rudd, Kyle Petty. It's a cycle.

Dave Rodman: Definitely so, Ryan, on the cycles -- but a guy retiring due to disgust would be a new twist on it, for sure.

Tim Packman: The changing of the times is the nature of any sport. Pete Rose was the only one from the Big Red Machine Era of the Reds that stayed with the organization after he was done as a player.

Marty Smith: Rudd's not going to retire because he's mad, Dave. No way.

Ryan Smithson: I can buy the schedule being too long, but not because he's mad. Mad people still make $2 million per.

Dave Rodman: Not JUST because he's mad, but if he gets to getting down the stretch to the end of the year and the minuses outweigh the positives, I say sayonara.

Tim Packman: I wouldn't get too mad making that kind of money. You can let a few things go here and there at the price.

	Kyle Petty Credit: ASP

Ryan Smithson: I am sure Rudd wanted one more good chance to win a title. He gave a heckuva try.

Marty Smith: A few wins would cure his ailments, and reinvigorate him, too. I'd bet if he wins the 600 -- he was fastest in testing Monday, after all -- his tune might change.

Tim Packman: I could see Ricky doing a gut check during the last-quarter of the season weighing out his options.

Dave Rodman: He has more integrity than to go through the motions for the money -- which he does not need, I am sure.

Ryan Smithson: I know one thing -- Ricky could get a top ride whether he was 35, 45, 55, 65.

Tim Packman: Hmm, 65 might be a problem there, Ryan.

Marty Smith: Rudd's name is cool. Ricky Rudd. Just sounds cool as hell.

Ryan Smithson: I am going to honor Ricky Rudd by ordering the Six Pack DVD.

Marty Smith: I'm going to honor Ricky Rudd by naming my cat Ricky Rudd.

Ryan Smithson: Yeah. if he pisses on your carpet, put him in the wall.

Where will Elliott Sadler wind up?

Tim Packman: Well, first of all the Wood Bros. have to release him from his contract. But, before they do that, I bet they are going to want to make sure they have a good talent to put in that seat that can perform. I bet whoever does sign Sadler will have to send some money to the No. 21 team.

ESad. Credit: ASP

Ryan Smithson: Man, I have no idea, but I'd like to know whom the Woods will hire. I know it's still a single-car team, but hell, they got a sponsor, and it would be a good ride for a lot of people. I'd like to see Jason Keller get it.

Marty Smith: It's awfully early to ask that question, and after last weekend's rumor mill circus at Richmond it could be any of about 10 rides. I gotta believe he'll be in the 15. I'd love to see Scott Riggs in a Winston Cup car, too. That lil' dude is the real deal. Harold Holly might hunt me down and whoop my tail for saying that, too...

Tim Packman: That was quite the weekend for Richmond, wasn't it? Rain delays, rumors, sealer issues. The weekend had it all.

Ryan Smithson: I couldn't get why Elliott was bemoaning the fact that he had not done well. It's a single-car team, dude! You had three top-two finishes in a single year! Be proud!

Marty Smith: Someone who's been in the business for years told me that was the most rumor-filled weekend he's ever seen. And that guy's been around for a decade...

Sadler has four straight finishes outside the top 20. Credit: ASP

Dave Rodman: Scotty Riggs needs to stay in the Busch Series for another year... Just like Biffle is doing.

Ryan Smithson: Riggs has got major guts. Leading the Busch race at Nashville by a mile and still passing lap cars left and right. He's hungry. Bring on Clubber Lang.

Marty Smith: Talk about the real deal... Biffle's for real, too. That cat's a wheel man.

Ryan Smithson: Yeah, but Biffle's staying with Roush. No drama there.

Dave Rodman: Does ppc have any plans to go Cup racing?

Ryan Smithson: Call the shop and ask! I am sure they'll tell ya. Not.

Marty Smith: I thought it was awesome that Riggs got out of his car all pissed off at Kenny. Kenny felt terrible, and offered a real apology, which Riggs accepted wholeheartedly. Still yet, I love to see those boys want it so bad that they get all animated like that.

	Greg Biffle Credit: ASP

Dave Rodman: Good thing Scott accepted the apology -- I hope he got his bearings straight on how that Talladega wreck occurred.

Tim Packman: This sport will be real interesting in five years when Biffle and Riggs are in Winston Cup and Jeff Gordon will be in his mid-30's and Dale Jr. and Kevin Harvick will be in their 30's.

Marty Smith: There's way more talented drivers out there than there are rides to put 'em in. That's for sure.

Ryan Smithson: Right, and Rusty, Terry, Ricky and Kyle will probably be gone.

Tim Packman: A lot of guys out there with talent and proven records are looking for jobs. The tough part about this sport is the business end of it all

Marty Smith: The talent pool is deep, but the window of opportunity right now is awful small.

Ryan Smithson: I think it's fascinating how a guy gets 1.5 chances in Winston Cup. And that's it.

Marty Smith: It's a cutthroat deal man, for sure. You gotta run up front -- now.

Michael Waltrip tore this car up pretty good last year at Michigan. Credit: ASP

Dave Rodman: Huh? How many chances has Mikey had? Or for that matter, Bobby Hamilton? Shoot, or Bobby Hillin???

Ryan Smithson: I was gonna say Bobby Hillin but figured that would be harsh.

Tim Packman: Hillin's ears are still ringing from Kyle Petty hollering at him after their Daytona 500 wreck that year.

Ryan Smithson: I am predicting that Waltrip will enjoy a mild upswing in his performance. He's running so much better than last year. A cracked whip is a great motivator.

Dave Rodman: And if he can do that, he could save his 15 ride.

Tim Packman: Cracked whip and a stern talking took place there. But, after awhile a team gets tired of having to repeat itself to get the performance level up.

Marty Smith: So says DEI. The whole deal is based on performance. Run up front. Keep your job. If that's not mo to get it done, nothing is.

Dave Rodman: Everyone who gets to the Cup level has talent. But it is only who get in the right chemical and personnel balance that are able to excel.

Tim Packman: The end of May and early June will be very interesting in this sport.

Marty Smith: Chemical? Dude, did you mean chemistry? Chemical imbalance is not good, Dave.

Tim Packman: No, I heard it really messes you up.

Track Smack appears every Wednesday on NASCAR.com and the opinions expressed here are solely those of the participants. And we mean that. Really.