Track Smack: Atlanta

ATLANTA -- Let us rejoice in Dave Rodman's return. On to Atlanta Motor Speedway, the second home race in three weeks for the Track Smack gang.

Marty Smith said before the season that Kurt Busch would win two races -- did you guys think he was crazy?

Marty Smith: Any of y'all says no, you're lying. Every last one of you said I was insane. But guess what fools -- the Dawg was on point. Come on Dave, fess up. Smithson, let's hear it.

Tim Packman: Yes, I thought he was. I knew Kurt had what it takes to maybe win one. But two? No way. Then again, the way this season has gone with so many different winners, and a lot of first-timers, I guess two Busch wins shouldn't be that surprising.

Ryan Smithson: I never would have thought that Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon would have the same exact stats with four races to go. I was not sure Roush Racing would win four races as a whole. Shows how much I know.

Dave Rodman: My memory is not too good on two weeks ago -- nevermind beginning of the season. Looking at it now, if I didn't agree I would say I was pretty silly. But I can't swear that I wouldn't have called you a loon, MartDawg.

Tim Packman: Ryan, you prove how much you know every week in Track Smack.

Ryan Smithson: I do? Cool.

Marty Smith: Well, I'll cut you all some slack -- Smithson, who would have known Roush would have such an awesome resurgence? Dave, you've been chasing down stray kangaroos too long. Pack, just keep picking Rusty, bro.

Tim Packman: Run Rusty, Run!! Roush has bounced back this year quite nicely. Three out of four teams in Victory Lane is pretty good, these days.

Ryan Smithson: I don't think the media concentrated enough on how Busch won from 36th spot -- it's easier to put a Bodine in Victory Lane than win from 36th at Martinsville.

	Sir, I am going to have to ask you to leave. You must be 21 to be granted admittance to Victory Lane. Credit: Autostock

Marty Smith: Go read my lead, Ryan. That was what the entire story was based on.

Tim Packman: Heck, I even read it, Marty. And, I was covering Busch race in Memphis at same time.

Dave Rodman: These days, anyone can win from anywhere -- just ain't real likely.

Ryan Smithson: I think Jeff Burton will win one of the final four races.

Marty Smith: Burton will win Phoenix, Smithson. You're right.

Tim Packman: I don't think Burton will win the rest of this year.

Ryan Smithson: He's running a lot better. But I wonder if he worries about being the only Roush driver without a win. He's also got a nice little winning streak on the line. Back to 1996, I think.

Marty Smith: I talked to Roush at length Saturday afternoon, and he pulled no punches in saying that the No. 99 needs to improve.

Tim Packman: That team was picked as a contender for the championship two years ago, too.

Ryan Smithson: This year, too.

Dave Rodman: Jeff is solid with Roush whether he wins or not -- Rusty has got a lot more pressure on him to win.

	Would this guy (top) really land this girl (bottom)?

Tim Packman: Most of Rusty's pressure is self-imposed. When you're part owner of your team, I don't think you worry about losing your ride.

Marty Smith: I think it's safe to say Wallace and Burton have the luxury of job security.

Ryan Smithson: I feel like the girl in the commercial. Rusty, Rusty, Rusty..........

Tim Packman: She's much better-looking than you, Ryan.

Ryan Smithson: No arguing that. No way would that girl date the Rusty Wallace fan.

Dave Rodman: Talk about putting the cart before the horse (with Burton). Yeah, I think the Cup side needs to improve -- but his performance in the Busch Series proves there's not much wrong with Jeff Burton.

Ryan Smithson: Oh yeah, Burton in the Busch Series is a great analogy, Rodman. That is like saying Sandy Koufax could still pitch in the big leagues because he struck you out in wiffle ball.

Marty Smith: I love wiffle ball.

Dave Rodman: Burton in the Busch Series is like Koufax striking out 26 or 27 in an AAA game.

Tim Packman: I play in the AA league -- great keg parties after games.

Marty Smith: I hate that "Busch Series is like AAA" analogy. People use that all the time, but it's crap.

Ryan Smithson: I just don't see the comparison. A guy like Ricky Craven could win 8-10 Busch races a year in good equipment. Doesn't mean he can go out and win 1-2 Winston Cup races a year. Look at Jeff Green.

Tim Packman: The Busch Series have some awesome drivers that are driving sub-stellar equipment, it seems. Look at how some of them have done with good Winston Cup rides underneath them?

Ryan Smithson: The Busch Series isn't AAA, but it's a different ballgame. It's easier. You can't doubt that, Marty.

	Yes! I put Jimmy Spencer two laps down! Credit: Autostock

Marty Smith: That AAA argument is foolish. Hell, half the time there's 10 Winston Cup drivers in the Busch field. You don't see Barry Bonds in AAA, but you see Jeff Burton and Jeff Green in Busch cars all the time.

Ryan Smithson: Kurt Busch has zero Busch starts. How is that for irony? I think Roush didn't want any "Busch wins Busch race" headlines.

Dave Rodman: How do you explain Jamie McMurray coming to Winston Cup and winning after doing very little in Busch? It's equipment and combinations.

Tim Packman: Look at qualifying and the finish at Charlotte two weeks ago.

Marty Smith: Where'd you catch the Charlotte race, Dave? Over at the Crocodile Hunter's pad? Steve Irwin and Dave Rodman. Look out world.

Tim Packman: Dave wasn't in the Outback in Australia. He was just out back.

Dave Rodman: I completely missed it. Didn't stay up for RaceCast -- fell asleep for the replay at 11 p.m. Monday. On the other hand, I thought Talladega was going to be on live TV at 1:30 a.m. -- woke up for that, had RaceCast and MRN wide open!

What is up with NASCAR taking away points all of a sudden?

Tim Packman: I really think they are trying to send a sterner message to teams that may be trying for some extra advantage in a race.

	A Ward Burton fan protests his loss of points. Credit: AP

Marty Smith: That's pretty easy -- they're trying to regain control of teams pushing the envelope.

Ryan Smithson: Wow, that really hurt Ward Burton's title hopes! They taught him a lesson!

Dave Rodman: They said they were going to do it at mid-season and made Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick the first example. They've been consistent, at least, which makes me baffled at how Rusty could seem so set-upon when he was docked.

Tim Packman: I don't think Rusty and the No. 2 team should've been penalized points when they didn't even use the spoiler in the race. You don't get points for "winning" practices.

Marty Smith: If you ask around, most every team is illegal every week. It's just up to NASCAR whom they charge and whom they don't.

Ryan Smithson: Why not push the envelope? Why not cheat to maybe score a top-10 finish? The fine will pay for itself.

Send us some love MartDawg Ryan Tim Dave

Tim Packman: Right, but adding points sends a stronger message.

Ryan Smithson: Not when you're 27th in points, Packman.

Dave Rodman: Yeah, but if Johnson puts a run on and loses the championship by 20 points, won't they feel great?

Marty Smith: Well said, Rodman.

Tim Packman: You can't "earn" points back like you can money in one week.

Ryan Smithson: I am not talking about Jimmie losing 25 points. I'm talking about teams with little to lose.

Dave Rodman: Everyone loses the same credibility when they get caught cheating.

Ryan Smithson: No they don't. I am sure Frankie Stoddard isn't worried about his rep. Like Marty said, everyone does it.

	Jimmie Johnson lost 25 points in July after his car failed post-race inspection. Credit: Autostock

Dave Rodman: "Everyone's doing it" never knocked much off anyone's jail sentence.

Tim Packman: The credibility is with the fans. In the garage, it's more like "look who got caught" thing. All it does is change how a team might "concentrate" on another area for the next race.

Ryan Smithson: If I were Brett Bodine, I'd run some "special shocks" for Atlanta. Maybe he'd finish 12th -- that would pay his tire bill for a month. So what if they dock him 25 points? It would be worth it.

Marty Smith: I don't think, for one second, that teams are going to refrain from pushing the envelope, regardless of what NASCAR does. It's so close these days, you almost have to.

Tim Packman: And, another reason, Marty -- why stop now?

Ryan Smithson: It's nothing new. Spitballs. Corked bats. It goes on and on.

Tim Packman: It's not like pushing the envelope just started in the last two years. Smokey Yunick was so good at getting things by he went above the envelope

Tim Packman: Ryan, this is racing. Why do you insist on forcing baseball into every Track Smack?

Ryan Smithson: Because baseball sucks.

	Who needs tickets?! I got four, great seats! Credit: Autostock

Tim Packman: And, you talk about it the most. Irony?

Marty Smith: I bet Smokey Yunick spent half his life's earnings in starch. That man's clothes were ironed like a mug.

Tim Packman: Best damn garage in town. Great motto.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman's asleep again. Everything's back to normal.

Marty Smith: Jet lag, bro.

Tim Packman: He's still on Australian time.

If you had to bet your life on three drivers this weekend at Atlanta, who would they be?

Dave Rodman: Bobby Labonte, Jeff Gordon, Bill Elliott.

Ryan Smithson: Bobby Labonte, Bobby Labonte and Bobby Labonte.

Tim Packman: First, I wouldn't bet my life --- it's just racin'. But, if I had some spare change... I would go with Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte.

Marty Smith: Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch.

Ryan Smithson: Leave it to Packman to mess up the rotation. Remind me never to smoke with you. And no, rotation is not a baseball term in this sense. Puff, puff, give.

	Bobby Labonte is always glad to see Atlanta. Credit: Autostock

Tim Packman: I still have no clue what you are talking about.

Marty Smith: Holy cow. Smithson's talkin' 'bout ganja.

Tim Packman: Well, just bong me on the head with that one!

Ryan Smithson: I saw a caption one time that said: "Dick Trickle enjoys a cigarette during Happy Hour." I love it.

Tim Packman: He enjoys them for breakfast, practice, lunch, qualifying, the race and dinner.

Dave Rodman: Ryan, I bet you were in Darwin for the druggie smoke-in a couple weekends ago -- wish I had known. Though it would not have been worth the 12-hour Ute ride to get there.

Ryan Smithson: Enough with the Australian vacation crap. You're back already, old man.

Marty Smith: I'm going to start calling Rodman, Mick. Wasn't that Crocodile Dundee's name?

Ryan Smithson: Mick Dundee. Yep. And Donk was the guy who took punches to the gut without spilling his beer. I tried that on Packman. The beer is still flying.

Marty Smith: Speaking of smokin...that chick in that movie was smokin...

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Ryan Smithson: I tried that on Packman. The beer is still flying.

Tim Packman: Bring it on, office boy.

Marty Smith: I got one on order from Jack Roush, already. It's all Rodman, all the time.

Ryan Smithson: Is he really going to give you a straw hat?

Marty Smith: It's all Rodman, all the time.

Tim Packman: That, could be dangerous, Marty.

Marty Smith: Welcome back, Davey.

Track Smack appears every Wednesday on NASCAR.com.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.