Track Smack: Loudon

Did you guys have any warning that Ganassi was about to hire Jamie McMurray?

Tim Packman: For me, that one came out of the blue. But, after talking with Chip a little bit on Saturday night, I can see where his thinking was regarding a young driver. He likes the heart and desire that Jamie will bring to the table.

Dave Rodman: I don't see much of any reason why anyone would have. That is surely a long shot in the dark that, if it pans out will certainly pay off. But if you're talking about long shots -- how far away is China?

Marty Smith: I'd heard some rumblings that they were interesting in some Busch talent, but didn't realize it was Jamie. I think the news shocked the entire industry, honestly.

Ryan Smithson: I was surprised, but then I wasn't. There are not too many drivers available -- none, really -- and if you wanted a good, young driver, you had to go to the Busch Series.

Tim Packman: There are a lot of drivers available if Chip Ganassi calls, I think.

Ryan Smithson: This is a win-win situation for Jamie, even if he falls on his butt. He'll have a full year of experience in a Winston Cup car, and even if he fails, he can do a Leffler and simply sign with a good Truck or Busch team.

	One of the only known photographs of Jamie McMurray Credit: ASP

Marty Smith: The more I think about it, the more I think Jamie will do well. He's a shoe, and with such good cars, if they can find any chemistry at all, they'll be okay.

Dave Rodman: I hope Chip has just an ounce of patience. I would hate to see Jamie's career get adversely affected due to making this move too quickly. You want to talk about pressure cookers: You got a quick-triggered owner and a pushy sponsor.

Tim Packman: I don't think Chip is that quick triggered. He's been around racing long enough to know that his decision was made with patience in mind.

Ryan Smithson: He's been patient with Jimmy Spencer, hasn't he?

Marty Smith: And then some, Smithson. Jimmy's had an awful year, but Chip's sticking with him.

Dave Rodman: Jason Leffler had a lot more going than Jamie has ever accomplished -- and he was a goner by midseason.

Tim Packman: It's the first year for that team. Now, if they continue down the same path next year, I could see something being done there.

Dave Rodman: I would not say Jimmy is out of the woods yet. In fact, if he doesn't make a remarkable turnaround by October, I would be real surprised to see him back in that car in 2003.

Marty Smith: McMurray has a lot more going for him, too, though, Dave. Leffler was in a first-year Dodge program that had many flaws. McMurray's getting in championship-caliber equipment.

	Jimmy Spencer is 26th in points despite missing two races. Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: But I know one thing -- we simply can't predict anything. Anyone who figured Jimmie Johnson would be 72 points out of the championship lead is not telling the truth.

Tim Packman: I hear that. Jimmie was looking for a few top-15 finishes this year. Guess he got that--- and then some.

Ryan Smithson: MartDawg, I thought Spencer would win five races. I really did. Shows how much I know.

Marty Smith: I'm surprised Packman didn't pull out a typical Packy joke, something like, 'Yeah, Spencer hasn't been quite on Target.' Get it, Target?

Tim Packman: Oh, that's so pun-ny of you, Marty.

Ryan Smithson: Or: Marlin has really Coors off lately.

Marty Smith: See there, way to pick up the slack, Pack.

Will Tony Stewart be indicted?

Tim Packman: No, I think this latest one has too many B.S. factors in it to be pursued any further than the questioning and taking of statements.

	Tony Stewart was questioned by Tennessee law enforcement officials last weekend. There is no word on whether they asked for autographs. Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: No way in hell. If that woman was serious, she would have filed charges right away. Instead, she messed up her case. I knew all that Law and Order watching would come in handy.

Tim Packman: No, she "thought about it for a few days" before coming forward. Ten damn days of thinking, too.

Marty Smith: To me, I think it's a situation where a fan was trying to make a name for herself. She knew Tony was a target, and tried to make something out of nothing.

Tim Packman: Is it the fan, or the officer who witnessed it and asked if she wanted to pursue this further?

Dave Rodman: Indicted for what? I think the best thing everyone could do would be to stand back, let the investigation play out, and then forget about it when it is over.

Marty Smith: The Bristol infield is a huge mosh after the race anyway. Everyone knows that. Watch the hell out, I say.

Ryan Smithson: They need to outfit everyone with riot gear in Bristol.

Tim Packman: From the press box, it looks like ants at a picnic with the watermelon left out.

Dave Rodman: I hate to say it for whatever "honest" fans might be in the garage -- but I hope this is the straw that broke the camel's back in terms of garage access.

Ryan Smithson: I think it will be, Dave.

Dave Rodman: End it, I say.

	Hey Robby! Can you sign my big Viagra sign? Thanks! Credit: Autostock

Tim Packman: If this deal does go down and something does get pressed on Tony, the garage will not be so accessible as it has been. One bad egg ruins the whole deal.

Dave Rodman: Set up mandatory autograph sessions. You go to the back if you don't make it. Fans have to pay a fee to get in line. Of course, the money goes to charity -- chose by the drivers.

Ryan Smithson: NASCAR needs a paddock system like they have in CART, IRL.

Marty Smith: Hell, in August, I was running to get a reaction from Robby Gordon, and I almost got killed by the pit cart. I nearly fell down, a guy pushed me outta the way -- trying to save me from getting killed. I'd bet that shove was 100 times worse than Stewart's. If he even did it in the first place, and witnesses said they saw "nothing out of the ordinary," according to Coach Gibbs.

Ryan Smithson: Jeff Burton's car ran over my foot when someone pushed me. Didn't even hurt because they had no air in the tire.

Tim Packman: You already told us that story, Ryan. It happened months ago

Ryan Smithson: Well, you got to go with what works.

	Jeff Green is not wanted by Florida authorities despite running over Marty Smith's foot earlier this year at Daytona. Smith later made a full recovery. Credit: Autostock

Marty Smith: Yeah, I got ran over by Jeff Green during the Daytona 500. They took his car behind the wall and I couldn't move in time. Ran right over my left foot.

Dave Rodman: Well, Dawg -- you were probably off balance dodging some straphangers anyway.

Ryan Smithson: What is a straphanger?

Dave Rodman: Ham and egger.

Ryan Smithson: What is a ham and egger?

Dave Rodman: Useless people, Ryan -- I am sure you can imagine that.

Tim Packman: At Indy, I got claustrophobic in the pits with so many people squashed in there that I just left the area.

Marty Smith: Imagine being a driver, Tim.

Tim Packman: Hell, then you're in the car by yourself. I liked that the few races I drove in -- actually, I loved it.

Ryan Smithson: That must have been some creative imagining.

Marty Smith: Even though the Stewart nation hates me, I'll say this on his behalf. If I had to face all those people 30 seconds after I parked the car, I'd probably have a tough time restraining myself, too. NASCAR's got to look long and hard at a solution, or it's going to get really, really bad. It's already awful, and it's going to get worse unless they do something soon.

Tim Packman: This latest deal could bring out some guidelines, Marty.

Rodman's Word of the Week  Straphangers (noun) Useless people in the garage area. Sometimes disguised as accredited media.

Marty Smith: It's going to, I think, Timmy. NASCAR cleared the garage at Richmond after the race started.

Marty Smith: That was pretty wild to me, to go out there and there wasn't a soul.

Tim Packman: Yeah, I heard it was for safety reasons. My question is was it for the fan's safety, or the driver's and team members?

Ryan Smithson: At Bristol, they need to do something simply because teams can't even work on the cars.

Tim Packman: Pocono was so bad after the track sold pit passes, not garage, to fans that some teams had trouble rolling the cars out to the grid.

Dave Rodman: It's too bad but very few of the people who are in the garage for no good purpose have very much sense -- consequently the small percentage who might be sensible are going to be hurt the most. But when it gets to the point that they closed credentialed working media out of the garage because they could not control the useless dolts wandering around -- that is way too far gone, if you ask me.

Is Sterling Marlin lucky or what?

Tim Packman: I don't know if he's trying to give the championship away or make it more interesting.

Dave Rodman: I said several weeks ago that this championship was wide open because no one wants to step up and throttle it. I can't believe it happened again last weekend.

	Sterling Marlin pops the top on his Coors Light Dodge.

Ryan Smithson: I think Marlin will keep the lead again this week.

Marty Smith: Lord yes, he's lucky. He needs to get a Lucky Charms associate sponsorship and make some flow. I thought Gordon was going to take the lead for sure Saturday night. How Sterling can finish dead last and maintain the points lead is beyond me.

Ryan Smithson: People forget that Sterling has consistently maintained an 80-point lead, which is a lot more than it seems.

Marty Smith: When I think Loudon, I think Gordon. I don't think Sterling.

Tim Packman: He needs to crank it up real good the next few weeks if he wants to distance himself from the others.

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Dave Rodman: Before Richmond, I had written off Ricky Rudd and Rusty Wallace. Now, I ain't cutting them too much more rope, but if they have another good week they are still there. We had a poll up that asked last week when Sterling would lose the point lead. I still think it will be this month -- but that's just the point lead -- the championship is still wide open.

Ryan Smithson: I think if Marlin can win one of the final nine races, he'll win the title, and vice versa is he doesn't.

Marty Smith: Oh yeah, fellas, I forgot . Some fan emailed me cussing us all blue because we never pick Matt Kenseth. Said we're up Gordon's rear, etc. Wasn't Kenseth really good at Loudon last time, before Ward won? This one's for you, irate fan. I'll go with Kenseth this weekend.

Tim Packman: Kenseth is a sneaky driver. He just races around and then slowly starts to come forward. Next thing you know, he's in Victory Lane.

Marty Smith: Boom? Go ahead there, John Madden.

Tim Packman: Hey, it's football season!

	Monday Night NASCAR! Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: Ok, irate fan: Kenseth will dominate the rest of the season, win the final nine races, finish fifth in the points.

Dave Rodman: I think one of the Burton boys will win this weekend.

Ryan Smithson: Here is what amazes me: Matt Kenseth 4, Jeff Burton 0.

Tim Packman: I'm not picking Kenseth. So, keep the fan irate. I couldn't even begin to pick for NH because it's a tough track.

Tim Packman: Can I take the fifth this weekend? Or drink one?

Marty Smith: Jeff needs a win bad, Dave. It'll be interesting to see how the Paul Andrews era unfolds.

Ryan Smithson: I think Andrews is brilliant but I want to know if his style of crew chiefing can fit today's needs. Anyone know that answer?

Tim Packman: Paul is smart enough to keep up with what's going on.

Marty Smith: I'd bet It'll work with Burton. He's a veteran that doesn't have to be pumped up as much.

Marty Smith: Frankie is so damn intense. Paul is the ultimate chilled out crew chief. They're complete opposites.

Ryan Smithson: Seems that way for sure.

Dave Rodman: I think a bright guy who commands respect can get the job done. Unfortunately, Richmond did not prove anything so I guess I am going off ancient history to opt for Jeff, and not just Ward as a potential winner.

Tim Packman: It's that Midwest attitude in him. Did you know Paul once sold real estate?

Ryan Smithson: Yes, I knew that.

Marty Smith: Frankie Stoddard is not done as a Winston Cup crew chief, y'all. He'll catch on somewhere. When I did that interview with him last week, he was adamant he wants to get back and prove himself.

Ryan Smithson: Getting dumped sure does motivate you. Unless it's a girl.

Tim Packman: Many a woman dumping me has motivated me -- that's for sure. To do what, I won't tell in Track Smack.

Marty Smith: You ever dump a girl, Smithson?

Ryan Smithson: Only once. I tended to let them do it. I would do weird things, like shave my head, so they'd get rid of me.

Tim Packman: So, what's changed?

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