Track Smack: Richmond

What do you think Petty Enterprises will announce at Richmond this weekend?

Tim Packman: From what I've heard, it seems that Petty Enterprises is going to drop a team and go to two Winston Cup teams and allow more time and resources on the development of Christian Fittipaldi.

Dave Rodman: I am drunk, I'll admit, but I think they will announce Bobby Hamilton in the 43, Georgia Pacific on the 45 and Christian Fittipaldi in the 44 -- when sponsorship allows it to run.

Ryan Smithson: I think Bobby Hamilton will come back to drive for Petty Enterprises. Kyle Petty has always thought a lot of Bobby and would like to bring him back. That would be my totally uneducated guess.

Marty Smith: This is a total shot in the dark, but what the hell -- Bobby Hamilton in the 44. He's been there before and wants to align himself with a Dodge Winston Cup team. His Truck Series operation runs Dodges, so he wants to do the same in Cup to keep uniformity.

Tim Packman: It kind of makes sense, too. With Sprint leaving the No. 45, that leaves Kyle without a sponsor. And, since he runs the show....

Marty Smith: Man, Smithson and I agreed. What's that all about?

Tim Packman: Folks, mark this day on your calendars.

Rodman's Word of the Week Proviso (noun) A contractual stipulation. Like Jeff Gordon must say the word "awesome" at least 10 times in interviews.

Ryan Smithson: I know NASCAR.com took a little bit of heat for saying Petty might drop down to two teams, but it makes sense.

Tim Packman: It does make sense, Ryan.

Marty Smith: Sure it does, especially if Andretti jumps ship.

Dave Rodman: If you looked at Kyle's quote package for Richmond, he said sometimes two and two does not add up to four. It'll be interesting.

Marty Smith: Word is Andretti's really pondering a departure. Apparently he's been talking to Ganassi, which would be a sweet ride for him.

EMAIL MartDawg Ryan Dave Tim

Ryan Smithson: Hopefully, Bobby Hamilton won't go to Kyle next March and ask to run the Indy 500.

Dave Rodman: It will be interesting to see if John's desire to run the Indy 500 is enough to make him swap over to Chip Ganassi's third team -- provided the proviso is there to run Indy.

Tim Packman: Andretti's contract is up at the end of this year. I don't think they'll announce he's out so early in the year. Then again, with the way things have gone this year, who knows what can happen in NASCAR.

Marty Smith: That's his ticket, Dave.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you idiot. I am sure Andretti is drooling to run Indy for Ganassi.

Marty Smith: Chip would gladly put him in the Indy 500. Don't speak to elders that way, Smithson. He'll pull out the whoopin' stick on your scrawny lil' tail.

Ryan Smithson: Well, shoot, MartDawg, Rodman thinks Dusenburgs still run at Indy.

	Marty's truck before the attack.................

Dave Rodman: I am speechless. I got in trouble last week for pointing out the obvious about Ryan -- which someone who doesn't know him as well as we do took the wrong way. I was wrong, though, to use that reference about his lack of IQ.

Marty Smith: Got in trouble? From who?

Dave Rodman: A reader decried my lack of sensitivity. She was right.

Ryan Smithson: As long as my IQ is greater than Rodman's age, I am in good shape!

Tim Packman: What's an IQ?

Dave Rodman: Informational Quarantine.

	.........and thousands of dollars later. That's right. Marty's spending $3,000 to fix a truck that has a Kelly Blue Book value of $4,000.

Dave Rodman: Ryan, as far as the IQ-to-age thing, I figure I will surpass you in two years, bro -- so you better hit the books.

Marty Smith: A kinder, gentler Dave. You been hangin' out with Tony Stewart lately, Rodman?

Tim Packman: Dave would be like Sam Kinison in that Back to School Dangerfield movie if he was a professor.

Ryan Smithson: Hey MartDawg -- give us an update on the Pink Panther.

Marty Smith: Panther Update. Boys, I took her to get an estimate this morning. I need a new headlight, and could use some work on the left rear, too. All in all, she's okay. A bit more than $200 damage. My sister, however, is up the proverbial creek. Her little Nissan sustained $2800 worth of damage. She has to replace entire left rear quarter panel. The lesson kids? Don't mess with the Panther. She'll bite ya.

Tim Packman: Or, don't park near Marty.

Dave Rodman: Or back up with your eyes open.

	Andy Petree Credit: Autostock

Marty Smith: Pack's been in the Panther. He's knows what a fine piece it is.

Ryan Smithson: Watch out for the innuendo.

Can y'all make some more bold predictions about who will end up where?

Dave Rodman: Well, if John Andretti does not go to Ganassi -- I think Bobby Hamilton will, given the Dodge connection Pack referred to earlier.

Ryan Smithson: I really think Ken Schrader ending up in the No. 55 Chevrolet, mainly because Andy Petree likes him so much.

Tim Packman: Kenny is close to signing a sponsor to stay in the No. 36, Ryan. So, look for someone else to head there.

Dave Rodman: But right now, as much as I hate to say it, the 55 car is a dead end because of the sponsorship situation.

Marty Smith: I just hope Andy can field the 55 next year. He got screwed by the Jones deal.

	Billy Sundiff of the Cowboys reacts to the news that the Andy Petree deal has fallen through. Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: I thought the 55 had SquareD until 2004! I coulda swore one of y'all wrote a story last year saying SquareD was staying in 2002 and 2003.

Marty Smith: There ain't a nicer guy in the garage than Andy Petree.

Tim Packman: You say that about everyone, Marty. Someone has to be the nicest, they all can't be.

Dave Rodman: My interpretation of what Andy said Friday was that they quite possibly would stay -- but that the money was not sufficient for what you need to contend in 2003.

Tim Packman: I think Jones gave Petree the end around and up-the-middle play all at the same time.

Dave Rodman: Ouch! Pass the Vaseline. Can we say that in Track Smack?

Tim Packman: No, we should say pass the Valvoline, not Vaseline.

Dave Rodman: That's about as greasy.

Ryan Smithson: I never really bought the idea of a sports team buying space on the hood, anyway. Worked really well for U of Nebraska. Not.

Marty Smith: Jones saw all that merchandising money, y'all. Cashing in on all those diecasts.

Tim Packman: I bet he did, Marty. I was looking for a few of the Dallas cheerleaders to show up at a race or two.

Dave Rodman: Here's a Silly one for you -- who's gonna be the next team to switch to Pontiac? They said they weren't done, yet.

Ryan Smithson: Some media member will have Penske switching to Pontiac if they ain't careful. That'd be a laugh.

Dave Rodman: Never in a million years. I can guarantee you that.

Tim Packman: No way, Ryan. Won't happen.

Marty Smith: Dodge is the hot rumor at Penske, y'all. Pontiac? No way.

Ryan Smithson: That is what I meant.

Dave Rodman: And would we say that Jerry Nadeau is a lock for Cal Wells' second team -- if it comes off?

	If Jerry Nadeau goes to drive for Cal Wells, then both his drivers will be from New England.

Marty Smith: I just can't see Rusty Wallace in a Dodge.

Ryan Smithson: You better get used to it, Marty!

Tim Packman: If they switch, it will definitely be to Dodge. But, Ford is ready to fight to keep what they have. Look what they did for the Wood Brothers and Ricky Rudd.

Dave Rodman: You know what the Silly Season plum ride is, at this point? That 25 car -- and it is looking wide open.

Ryan Smithson: That's not a ride. It's a curse!

Dave Rodman: That could be -- Joe is definitely a few worlds better than what he has shown over there, so far.

Tim Packman: Hendrick said he is looking for someone with experience to drive the No. 25 and will let the Busch program be his place to watch for up and coming drivers.

Marty Smith: I agree, Dave. Nemechek is a good driver, he's just been wreck a lot in the 25. Seems like he's in the wall every week.

	Hey Rusty, I heard we're switching to Dodge next year. Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: They ought to just put Nadeau back in it. Couldn't be worse.

Marty Smith: I'm not sure about that, Ryan. Hate to say it, but some folks over there told me he wore out his welcome.

Ryan Smithson: Easy to do these days.

Tim Packman: I can back Marty on that one.

Dave Rodman: I think a problem with that 25 car is that is Ricky's ride when he is ready to move from the Busch Series -- so anyone who got into it might not have the long term stability he would desire.

Ryan Smithson: I'd really like to be a fly on the wall in those Monday morning meetings they have. Just once. Sponsor calls.

Tim Packman: I'm sure they aren't pretty in some shops each week.

	So Rusty, I hear you guys are switching to Dodge next year. Credit: Autostock

Dave Rodman: On the one hand, Penske would be a pretty awesome catch for Dodge -- but how much do you think that would blow their "one-team" concept apart if Roger seized control of the direction of Dodge's program?

Tim Packman: That, Dave, would be a factor that Dodge would have to consider.

Dave Rodman: And you know he would. I can't really see Roger being in that position without having some kind of lead role.

Ryan Smithson: He'll order Ray Evernham around.

Tim Packman: Talking about taking the Ram by the horns, huh?

Marty Smith: Didn't Larry Wallace move to Evernham?

Ryan Smithson: Taking Ray by the horns.

Y'all got any stupid predictions for Richmond?

Marty Smith: Gordon wins third straight.

Ryan Smithson: Rusty Wallace bumps Gordon, wins at RIR.

	Packman: Look for Johnny Benson to win this weekend. Yes, the Winston Cup race. Credit: Autostock

Marty Smith: I'm sure Pack will agree. Pack loves him some Rusty Wallace.

Tim Packman: Let's make one prediction for all three races. Trucks, Tony Stewart, Busch, Jimmy Spencer, Cup, Johnny Benson.

Ryan Smithson: You picked Johnny Benson. You suck at math.

Marty Smith: Interesting concept, Pack. Trucks, Harvick. Busch, Scott Riggs. Cup, Jeff Gordon.

Tim Packman: See, if I pick Rusty, it doesn't work. So, this time I'm trying the ol' reversal.

Ryan Smithson: Riggs needs a good run bad.

Marty Smith: Lord, Smithson. It's not like he's running 30th every week.

Dave Rodman: Trucks: Bobby Hamilton; Busch: Greg Biffle; Cup: Ryan Newman.

Ryan Smithson: Picking Newman at Richmond is awfully brave.

Who will win the post-race brawl?

Ryan Smithson: Harvick. He's a good brawler.

Marty Smith: Ward Burton -- he'll come equipped with the potato gun this time.

Ryan Smithson: Harvick looks like he'd be really hard to punch.

Dave Rodman: He has to win sooner or later. And I think they had a good enough handle on the place in the spring -- even though it's going to be a lot different, I think they'll seriously contend.

	Can you hear me now? Good!

Tim Packman: Spencer follows through on his confrontations, Harvick just grabs and yells.

Ryan Smithson: I'd rather fight Spencer than Harvick. Jimmy's not too mobile.

Marty Smith: Have you ever even been in a fight, Ryan?

Dave Rodman: Yeah, but he can take a punch and keep right on coming -- Haystacks Calhoun in Nomex.

Tim Packman: Are we talking outside of grade school, Ryan?

Ryan Smithson: Baseball. Marty knows what that's about.

Marty Smith: Yeah, got cleated in the sternum once. I had six little slits in my chest.

Marty Smith: That deal hurt like hell. Better than my face, I guess.

Ryan Smithson: I don't see how Dale Earnhardt drove with a broke sternum. I bruised mine -- not broke it-- and you can't breathe.

Tim Packman: Did he confuse you for the baseline, or something, Marty.

Marty Smith: Earnhardt was tougher'n woodpecker lips.

Dave Rodman: I guess he was a helluva lot tougher than you -- or me, for that matter.

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