Track Smack: The Rock

CONCORD, N.C. -- On to the final "home" race of the season -- this weekend's activities are located just a few miles down old Highway 74.

Looks like Ryan Newman is close to winning the Rookie of the Year title -- but if you guys had a vote, who would be your Rookie of the Year winner?

Tim Packman: Well, if I was on the committee, I would definitely have to give it to Ryan Newman. Yes, Jimmie Johnson has won more races, but Newman has been a bear in the last month or so and really moved up in the standings. But, they have both carried themselves in a respectful manner, too.

Ryan Smithson: I'd still give it to Newman, hands down. He scored a lot more top-five finishes than Jimmie Johnson and was only kept from doing more by bad luck (blown engines). He's your winner. People forget he won The Winston.

Marty Smith: Hello, Newman. He has more top-10s than anybody, and even the veterans are flabbergasted by his top-five tally. He makes that car stick where no one else can -- or will even try -- and it's paying off. He amazes me. Seinfeld sucks, by the way.

Dave Rodman: Last month, somebody scared the crap out of me when they suggested the "beauty contest" at the end of the year might result in there being a tie for rookie of the year. Outrageous. There's no question Ryan Newman would get my vote.

Ryan Smithson: I never watched Seinfeld and was confused at all the "Hello Newman" headlines.

Tim Packman: George was the reason not to watch that show.

Ryan Smithson: I was thinking about this today, boys, the whole rookie thing. I still think Dale Earnhardt Jr. should have been Rookie of the Year in 2000, even though Kenseth was more consistent.

Marty Smith: That show sucks. And why should Junior have been ROY, professor Smithson?

Tim Packman: Kenseth had the better year on the track than Dale Jr. did. It's about racing, not a popularity contest.

	Man! If I don't get a sunglasses deal soon, I will go crazy! Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: Dale Jr. won three races to Kenseth's one. Counting The Winston.

Marty Smith: Kenseth finished higher in the championship points though, Ryan.

Ryan Smithson: Right, and so will Johnson, Marty.

Marty Smith: It's the same old argument we have about the point system. Should winning be rewarded more than it is?

Ryan Smithson: Uh, yes, yes and yes.

Tim Packman: I think winning should get 20 more points than it does now.

Ryan Smithson: That would be a start in fixing it.

Tim Packman: Why should a guy that leads the most laps, tie with the guy who won the race. It's about winning. They don't give a trophy and checkered flag to laps led leader, do they?

Send us some love MartDawg Ryan Tim Dave

Ryan Smithson: People who don't watch NASCAR want to know why a second-place finisher can technically score as many points as the winner. It's downright stupid when you think about it.

Marty Smith: It seems to have rewarded the proper folk in the past few years. But with Sterling being out of the 40 car, it makes you wonder if it shouldn't be one championship, instead of owner and driver being separate. McMurray's been awesome in the 40, so they'd be right in the thick of the title hunt if it were one solitary title.

Ryan Smithson: He wouldn't "be in the thick of it," Marty, but it would be cool to see Jamie-Sterling-Mike get to make the trip to the stage for finishing third, fourth in the points.

Tim Packman: I always like how things get beyond Smithson, so he changes the topic back to something he knows about.

Ryan Smithson: You'd do the same thing, but there's nothing you know anything about, Tim.

Marty Smith: I just think the Coors Light boys are getting the shaft.

	Ricky, you can't borrow my sunglasses just because they match your uniform. Credit: Autostock

Dave Rodman: Earth to Ryan. Newman could pass Johnson in the points this weekend. In fact, it would not surprise me one bit if he did.

Marty Smith: Baseball teams don't forfeit the playoffs when the third basemen gets hurt. They bring in a substitute.

Ryan Smithson: The old system is outdated. Bobby Hillin didn't get the credit he deserved for keeping Davey Allison in the title hunt in 1992.

Dave Rodman: Owners' championship is what it is -- extreme second fiddle to the drivers' championship.

Marty Smith: Amen, Dave. But that doesn't mean it doesn't suck for the boys at Ganassi.

Dave Rodman: If Ganassi wins it, Coors Light can send them all somewhere cool as a reward.

Tim Packman: I bet a few of them are going somewhere hot, Dave.

Ryan Smithson: I am sure they'd rather go to New York than a beach somewhere.

Marty Smith: New York is gorgeous at Christmas. I'm excited about it.

	Kid, if you show me up one more time......Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: It's Christmas already, Marty. Retailers are gearing up. Shameless.

Dave Rodman: True, it is a shame for them, because they obviously have not lost one lick of momentum, whether it was Sterling, or Jamie, or even Mike Bliss driving that car.

Marty Smith: By the way, Kurt Busch now has three wins, boys. As we used to say in the sixth grade -- FACE!

Ryan Smithson: You guys got to admit it though, Jamie McMurray has been aided by the rained-out qualifying. That has got to help.

Marty Smith: More so by awesome racecars, I'd say, Ryan. You're plenty right, though.

Tim Packman: Sure, but he still has to drive the car and have good pit stops.

Dave Rodman: I think not. If he sucked, he would have just gone straight to the back and been forgotten about.

Ryan Smithson: McMurray's an awesome talent, but he's very fortunate not to have to qualify the car at Charlotte and Atlanta.

Marty Smith: I love it! Well said, Rodmania.

Tim Packman: Car or driver? The bar room debate of the year in 2002.

Ryan Smithson: It's a lot easier to drive a car running fifth than a car running 35th.

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Tim Packman: And you would know because?

Dave Rodman: Because I have seen plenty of guys take chicken salad race cars -- as the 40 is -- and turn 'em into turnips.

Marty Smith: I like chicken salad. Too much mayo, though.

Ryan Smithson: I would agree with that, Rodman. It's all about chemistry anyway I am sure. And luck.

Dave Rodman: Luck can only carry you so far.

Ryan Smithson: Luck's better than skill, old man.

Dave Rodman: Not for long, there, my little greenhorn buddy.

Tim Packman: Right, but the driver's skill comes to the top, eventually.

Marty Smith: Luck's a trip. If you had told me Stewart could win the title with six DNF's, I'd have laughed in your face. But it looks like he's gonna do it.

	Please rain. I need a Bud Pole. Credit: AP

Dave Rodman: Are you saying Stewart is lucky?!?

Marty Smith: Hell yes, Rodman. Bad lucky. Who blows up two laps into the Daytona 500 at wins the championship?

Ryan Smithson: Tony Stewart does.

Marty Smith: His bad lucky is good lucky. So yes, he's lucky.

Dave Rodman: As opposed to an awesome racer?

Marty Smith: Awesome racers need luck, sometimes, bro.

Ryan Smithson: Well, it's like golf. If you bogey the first hole, it's going to be a good day. If you birdie the first hole -- it'll be your last birdie of the day.

Dave Rodman: The Daytona 500 is ancient history. Another century, feels like.

Marty Smith: Lord, yes.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you are ancient history.

What has been the biggest surprise of the second half?

Ryan Smithson: I'll admit it: I am wrong a lot. I never thought Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a chance to get back into the top 10. He's driven his ass off. That boy needs to put two good halves together, and you've got a Winston Cup champion.

Tim Packman: That Ryan is still allowed to be in Track Smack.

Marty Smith: Me going to SportClips to get a hair cut.

Dave Rodman: Yeah, but that's an inside joke.

Marty Smith: I look like Jeff Burton.

Dave Rodman: Kevin Harvick. Jimmie Johnson not folding. Casey Atwood never getting out of the woods.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, if you look like Jeff Burton, then you've been doing an awful lot of worrying. He's 10 years older than you.

	Yes! Four Bud Poles in a row! No, wait. That's not right. Credit: AP

Tim Packman: I checked out Great Clips, they did good. The second-half surprise for me has been the crew chief changes.

Marty Smith: Biggest surprise? Junior admitting he drove half the year with a concussion.

Ryan Smithson: That's another one -- how quiet Silly Season has been. Poor Jayski has nothing to do because there have been so few driver changes.

Tim Packman: The Dodge downfall in the second half has been noteworthy, too. There have been some races where 15th has been the best showing for them.

Marty Smith: They won the Brickyard 400, though. That was pretty huge for Ray Ray and Awesome Bill. They won Charlotte, too.

Ryan Smithson: Dodge won Daytona and Indy. Success personified.

Dave Rodman: Yeah -- quiet second half Silly Season -- because all the bullets were fired in the first half.

Ryan Smithson: Elliott has fallen off the dadgum map. I mean, he's gone.

Tim Packman: I think Silly Season is going to crank up some once the banquet is over.

	Hi, I'm Ryan Newman. I'd really appreciate your vote on Nov. 5th. Credit: AP

Marty Smith: Silly offseason. Ugh, this truly is a year-round deal, ain't it boys.

Ryan Smithson: We'll have a few driver announcements in the next few days though. Nadeau can't keep it holed up forever. Schrader too. Nadeau to drive go-karts full-time in 2003!

Tim Packman: It started at Vegas when Kelly Denton was tossed from the No. 54 BGN car and Kevin Grubb was put in. That, gentleman, was race No. 3 of the year.

Dave Rodman: There is precious little else left to settle, I think.

Marty Smith: This Fatback deal is pretty big, Dave.

Marty Smith: Whether he ends up at the 18 or stays with the 38. That's a big deal, because he was big in getting Sadler to Yates.

Dave Rodman: Yeah -- about the biggest left to be settled. Get it?

Tim Packman: Sounds like he and Elliott Sadler had a real love fest at their first test.

Ryan Smithson: I remember when McSwain was an anonymous crew chief for the No. 77 Ford. Now Joe Gibbs courts him. Amazing.

	If this fits you, you can drive at Rockingham. Credit: AP

Tim Packman: You just never know where you'll end up in this business.

Marty Smith: I was told by the team that those reports are completely false, Tim.

Tim Packman: About the test, Marty?

Ryan Smithson: This whole Rudd-Sadler deal will solve the car-driver debate.

Marty Smith: Yes, Tim. A source close to the team told me that reports that Sadler was four-tenths off were false.

Tim Packman: Just goes to show, don't believe all your read even if it has quotes in it.

Ryan Smithson: You wouldn't quit a team over a lousy four-tenths anyway.

Who are your top two guys for Rockingham?

Dave Rodman: 1) Steve Park 2) Jeff Burton.

Ryan Smithson: I am picking Joe Nemechek to repeat. No, just kidding. I'll go with Jeff Burton and Dale Jarrett.

Tim Packman: Joe Nemechek and Steve Park.

	Hey buddy! Wait your turn! Credit: AP

Marty Smith: Mark Martin wins the Popcorn 400, just ahead of Dale Jarrett.

Ryan Smithson: Steve Park? You guys crazy? This ain't spring 2001.

Tim Packman: That car finished second last year and Park won in the spring. So, why the hell not Steve Park?

Dave Rodman: Well, shoot -- you weren't serious about Joe having a shot -- shows how much you know.

Ryan Smithson: Because he has not run well at all this year. Maybe you don't read the papers.

Tim Packman: Maybe you just don't have a clue, Ryan. What you think isn't the gospel of this sport, Mr. NASAR.

Ryan Smithson: Ok Rodman. I'll give you $100 on Nemechek if you give me $20 on Jarrett. Deal?

Tim Packman: Take the bet, Dave.

	Somebody get this spider off the roof! Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: Dave, you get your Social Security check next week. You can cover it.

Marty Smith: Either way, whether Park can or can't win, you needn't badmouth him, Smithson. Dude's been through the ringer.

Ryan Smithson: I am not bad-mouthing Park. He's actually running a lot better. But to ask him to win is premature, don't you think, Marty?

Tim Packman: Stand on your own, don't go to Marty for support.

Ryan Smithson: I need it. C'mon, Marty.

Marty Smith: C'mon what?

Tim Packman: He's crying for your help, Marty

Marty Smith: About?

Ryan Smithson: Hey, if you guys think Park can win -- great. It would be the feel-good story of the year. But he needs some more seat time.

Tim Packman: Right, being that he's a rookie and all.

Track Smack appears every Wednesday on NASCAR.com.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.