Track Smack: Chicagoland dadgumit

The irony of it all -- the next stop is Chicago, where fans are supposed to throw things back.

Well, at least the objects the fans threw at the cars were padded.

Marty Smith: Padded or not, I thought it sucked. Sure, NASCAR has got to find some sort of consistency with their rulings late in the race, but you don't just throw stuff like a bunch of 10-year olds.

Dave Rodman: Not all of them. One cat back there took the film out of his non-disposable camera and hurled it over the fence. It was a decent-looking Sony before it took flight.

Tim Packman: I was embarrassed that happened last week with cars still on the track. I don't mind a fan stating his point of view, but to have people toss seat cushions, beer cans etc. on the track while "their" drivers were still on it was crossing the line.

Ryan Smithson: The scene on Saturday night was like 10-Cent Beer Night, except this wasn't Cleveland, this wasn't baseball, and it was not quite that organized.

Dave Rodman: Time for NASCAR to listen up, I think. In this case, the drivers were the unwitting pawns in the game. The fans were pissed, they were confused, and they made a statement.

Ryan Smithson: Well, maybe 10-year-olds did throw them, Marty.

Marty Smith: They can't throw that far, son. There was seat pads and beer cans and all sorts of crap flying out of the grand stands. That was just childish. They should feel ashamed.

Dave Rodman: It's unfortunate that promotional giveaways are now probably a thing of the past -- but I think it's a cinch Mountain Dew won't go through with its planned giveaway at Darlington. Green seat cushions. Although there was plenty more free publicity from the pictures of the stuff covering the backstretch.

Ryan Smithson: Darlington is so narrow, the fans probably couldn't hit the surface.

Jeff Gordon and Stacy Compton crush some cushions Credit: AP

Marty Smith: I do, however, think it's hysterical that Mikey thought they were cheering for his victory.

Ryan Smithson: Ha! I'll bet Mikey thought roses were coming next!

Marty Smith: He said that, man. He thought it was like a ticker tape parade.

Ryan Smithson: I don't think Mikey is next on the list for New York ticker tape parades, unless he can cross the Atlantic solo in his car.

Tim Packman: You do have a point there, Ryan.

Marty Smith: Wow, Packman and Smithson agreed. That's a first. Now, if only I could agree with Smithson. That ain't happening.

Tim Packman: NASCAR should just come up with a set or red flag rules so everyone knows the deal going in and there is no mystery at the end of the race.

Dave Rodman: Hey -- just goes to show you, you can never be thorough enough. I was gonna write a story about the red flag decision being made for NASCAR by the fans' backstretch celebration for Mikey's win. Judging by one set of comments I heard. Then, someone said, "those fans just might have been pissed" -- glad I took a stroll back there.

Marty Smith: You should have borrowed a crewman's helmet, Rodman. You could've gotten blasted by an errant pizza box.

Dave Rodman: One of our associates said we should have gathered them up and sold 'em on eBay --dadgumit -- at $2.50 a cushion that would be about a grand!

Marty Smith: Someone would have paid $500 for a cushion run over by Dale Jr.

Tim Packman: Sure, just have a few drivers sign them then sell them. Walla-- big bucks.

Ryan Smithson: I heard a guy say this classic line one time: "I honestly think fans would dive over stadium chairs for bags of medical waste thrown into the stands."

Tim Packman: Giveaways are a big deal to some fans.

Marty Smith: Racing fans are just so passionate, man. It's wild to see them get so fired up. I know better now. After that whole Bill Elliott fiasco I went through earlier this year. Half of Georgia wanted to kill me.

Dave Rodman: I tell you this -- you could tell who the showmen were Saturday -- my local paper ran a full-width image on Sports 1 yesterday -- Rudd and Schrader and Stacy over next to the grass -- Gordon running a 120. Right through the stuff -- flying everywhere -- priceless.

Tim Packman: There had to be some sort of fear factor for some drivers wondering what was going on as they went down the backstretch

Marty Smith: Tim, they have a car around them, bro.

Ryan Smithson: I'd have been more scared being Joe Nemechek than Stacy Compton.

Marty Smith: An elephant could have fallen outta those stands and not hurt them.

Dave Rodman: Well, I have mixed emotions about it -- you're right -- how did someone walk into a passenger terminal and shoot people? You had no idea what could out of the stands -- but it was pretty obvious it wasn't gonna reach them inside their cars.

Tim Packman: Thank you, Dave. It was the element of the unknown I was talking about. Not damn elephants.

Make your prediction: What will Ricky Rudd do?

Marty Smith: He'll stay in the 28 car. He'd be crazier'n a wombat not to.

Tim Packman: Ricky Rudd is probably getting a big kick out of running the media with his decision. I am fairly confident he will stay in the No. 28 for at least one more year.

Dave Rodman: He will stay in the 28. They are too competitive; I think that bunch is too tight and too committed to each other. I think all things consider he would not go anywhere else at this stage of his career

The 28 is still one of the top three most-coveted rides in Winston Cup. Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: At first I was sure he would retire. Now, I think he will go somewhere else for one year.

Marty Smith: He's still a championship contender in that car. Now, he wants to walk away at the top of his game, but don't quit when that elusive championship is attainable. He'd be nuts to quit now.

Dave Rodman: Ryan -- he will retire before he will try to rebuild what he has at Yates'.

Ryan Smithson: Dave, he wouldn't have to build all over at certain teams.

Dave Rodman: Yes he would -- at any rate that is a chance I would not be too anxious to take.

Marty Smith: Now, I understand that things could be going on behind closed doors that we're not aware of, but from the outside looking in, he's got a dream gig right now.

	Robert Yates

Tim Packman: With Doug Yates filing business papers to open a race shop, I do believe Ricky will stay right where is and a third RYR team will be added.

Ryan Smithson: Tim, that could mean absolutely anything. Maybe they need extra space to handle their various businesses.

Marty Smith: They just built a brand new motor shop that's 10 times the size of my house.

Tim Packman: Then he would need a building permit, not a business license to expand an existing business.

Ryan Smithson: Maybe Doug wants to sell used cars.

Tim Packman: He should hire you.

Ryan Smithson: I am a terrible salesman.

Dave Rodman: Yeah, Ryan -- because you have a bad habit of talking out of both sides of your mouth at once.

Marty Smith: Break it down, Dave. Tell that boy the real.

Tim Packman: You go Rodmania!

Ryan Smithson: This is harsh. I feel like Robby Gordon. No respect. So Marty, I guess you're Kurt Busch, cause you are skinny, and Packman is Jimmy Spencer. And Rodman is Dick Trickle.

Tim Packman: Ricky still has the desire, fire and talent to get the job done. Take away his awful luck this year and you could have a different point leader, or at least a top-five order.

	Ricky Rudd: Should he stay or should he go? Credit: Autostock

Marty Smith: I know this, if Ricky does get out of the 28, Elliott Sadler will jump all over that deal like white on rice.

Ryan Smithson: I still think that's possible, Marty.

Marty Smith: It is possible, Ryan. Entirely possible.

Tim Packman: He can jump, but Yates still has to catch him.

Ryan Smithson: My position lies with this: The whole Irvan-Yates deal in 1997. It kept going on, on, on. Finally, it was over, and Ernie was out.

Marty Smith: I reckon I'll take skinny as a compliment.

Tim Packman: I remember those days.

Marty Smith: So does Ryan.

Ryan Smithson: I am still skinny.

Dave Rodman: Yeah -- you pencil-necked geek.

Will Harvick defend at Chicago? If not, who will win?

Dave Rodman: Mike Skinner. He's got a vendetta going with that place.

Ryan Smithson: Like I said, I am going to keep picking Jeff Gordon until he wins.

	Marty Smith says Kevin Harvick will defend his title this weekend. Credit: Autostock

Tim Packman: Tough call with it being only the second race there. Tough to pull from the history like we can with other tracks.

Marty Smith: I'll say Kevin can repeat. He's fired up about his new teammates, man.

Marty Smith: He tested there, too. So he's quite prepared. Sure, Harvick to Victory Lane.

Dave Rodman: Ryan -- if you are gonna get on like that, we could retire you from Track Smack right now -- just insert your pick for the rest of the year and be done with you.

Tim Packman: Jimmie Johnson did the deal in his only Busch Series win there last year. I'd like to think he could come back and do it again in the Cup race. I've hit the winner three times this year.

Ryan Smithson: Pardon me while I order your plaque.

Tim Packman: Spell my name right.

Dave Rodman: I would love to see Mike Skinner win because he is one of the garage area's straight shooters and after getting beat up again last week when he was fully innocent -- and when Morgan-McClure was gonna get a long overdue up-front finish. I would love to see it.

Ryan Smithson: Go back to sleep, Rodman. It's just a dream.

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

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