Track Smack: Miami

CONCORD, N.C. -- Track Smack appears every Wednesday -- even in the offseason -- but we will need topic ideas, so keep those emails coming.

Was Chip Ganassi right to let Jimmy Spencer go?

Tim Packman: Chip is all about being successful and winning. He gave Spencer one year to see what he could do in his equipment and didn't respond to Chip's liking. So, he let him go. Chip has a great relationship with Target and I am sure he didn't want to mess that up real bad.

Ryan Smithson: Well, yes and no. I can see why he let Jimmy go, but I don't think Spencer's replacement -- unless they get a top-10 driver -- will make too much of a difference.

Marty Smith: There's so much to be said for chemistry in today's NASCAR, and there obviously wasn't much over there at the 41. Was Spencer solely to blame? No way. But there's no question they weren't getting it done. Something had to change, and Chip chose him.

Tim Packman: Maybe Chip will look to the Busch Series, again. Max Papis was in Phoenix, he's looking for a ride in stock cars. Jimmy Vasser was in Charlotte. So, who knows?

Send us some love MartDawg Ryan Tim Dave

Marty Smith: Hell, Pack. Papis has been everywhere since Indy. That don't mean jack.

Tim Packman: Well, if you're looking for a ride it sure does. Am sure he isn't in the garage to just smell the fumes.

Ryan Smithson: I swore up and down that Spencer would win multiple races. I stand corrected, I guess. What a disappointment.

Marty Smith: Me too, Smithson. I thought he'd be a rocket in that equipment. Wrong again, Marty.

Ryan Smithson: I am sure owners are careful to insert a CART star after the whole Scott Pruett deal. Pruett did fine, but it was an obvious learning curve -- a severe one.

Tim Packman: Yeah. He missed most of the curves.

Marty Smith: I bet Spencer cringed deep down inside when McMurray won. That was a major indicator of how off the 41 is.

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Ryan Smithson: He wouldn't be human if he didn't.

Marty Smith: Then Spencer got replaced by Pruett at The Glen.

Tim Packman: And, Spencer then failed to make the race.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, he not only was replaced by Pruett -- Pruett contended for the win. That was after Spencer's embarrassing performance at Sears Point. I really believe Spencer's fate was sealed when he missed the Daytona 500. That doesn't kill your momentum -- it napalms it.

Tim Packman: Yeah, look what it did to Tony Stewart when he finished last there. C'mon, Ryan you can bounce back from the 500.

Marty Smith: I wonder where he'll end up. Word is Jim Smith's stoked about the prospect of having him in the 7.

Tim Packman: Those two together would be very volatile, or very good.

Marty Smith: But, now that Ray ended the relationship with Ultra, that car really has some ground to make up all on it's own.

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Ryan Smithson: Spencer's still a good veteran driver. The No. 7 can't get any worse. Jim Smith has got the money to get a good engine program. They'll be fine. They won't win races though.

Tim Packman: Right, but the good thing now is that Smith can do and make all his own decisions with engines, personnel and etc. If it falters, he can only blame himself.

Marty Smith: He has to find a sponsor, though, right?

Ryan Smithson: Hey, Jimmy ain't got many choices.

	Sorry Scott, we thought you were Jimmy. Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: Marty, they think Sirius will return. I guess we will see. That's a pretty good-looking car. I liked the scheme. Never got on TV though.

Marty Smith: For some reason, Jimmy Spencer peddling digital radio seems odd.

Tim Packman: Yeah, he'll have to take a class on the stuff to figure out what it is all about first. Maybe they can get him to sing a few songs for them, too.

Marty Smith: My wife's friend just bought like 200 records and a record player. We're going to throw a 70s party next weekend and everyone's invited. Bring it.

Tim Packman: I think I still have some clothes tucked away I wore then, Marty. Of course, getting into them will be the trick.

Marty Smith: Trick? More like magic.

Tim Packman: Nice, real nice.

	Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: I mean, where else can Spencer go? Nowhere. He's in batter shape than some people, though. I am scared Schrader is going to get left out.

Marty Smith: With sponsorship dollars so scarce, you might be right, Ryan.

Ryan Smithson: Petree loves Schrader, though. Maybe they'll find someone.

Tim Packman: Well, if Hamilton goes to Ganassi or maybe Petty, that seat opens up for Kenny.

Ryan Smithson: That's another thing. Schrader's really had an off-year. He was so consistent before. This year? Nothing.

Tim Packman: You and he have a lot in common.

Does Mark Martin have a chance this weekend?

Tim Packman: Sure, he has a chance. But, how much of a chance is the real question. It will take a mechanical meltdown by the No. 20 team, or someone taking him out, to put Stewart out of the deal. I don't think it will be a mechanical problem, either.

Ryan Smithson: Stewart is going to have to get into an accident to really stir things up, and that won't happen at Homestead. Stewart will qualify well and avoid anything hairy. It's over.

	Credit: AP

Marty Smith: To win the race? Yes. To win the championship? No. It's over. First off, Homestead is Tony's best track. Moreover, he's better than any other driver there. He'll finish in the top-five. As genius said in Title 411, Homestead doesn't lend itself to a whole lot of trouble.

Tim Packman: Genius. With a crystal ball and all.

Ryan Smithson: I'd would be confident Stewart would have it even if he and Martin entered the last race in a dead heat.

Marty Smith: Good call, Smithson. Stewart's in a class of his own at Homestead. It's funny, though, he was just saying earlier this morning how awful he was in the Busch Series there. Him in a Cup car there, though -- unmatched.

Tim Packman: A one-groove track at Homestead doesn't make for much excitement. The only thing making this race exciting is the points battle and it's the last race of the year.

Ryan Smithson: Being good in the Busch Series does not matter anymore. Newman, Johnson and Stewart won a grand total of two Busch races among them.

Tim Packman: Newman ran a limited schedule, too.

Marty Smith: Kurt Busch hasn't ever so much as started a Busch race, either.

Ryan Smithson: I wish they'd end the season at Daytona. Shakes things up. That would be a title finale.

Marty Smith: Lord help us!

	Man. What a long season. Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: I am sure the teams are glad to end at Homestead though. Daytona would be too much work.

Marty Smith: Could you imagine a restrictor plate race being the determining event?

Tim Packman: That would really put the tension meter off the chart if they ended there with a good points battle.

Tim Packman: Not too much work, Ryan. Some teams would already have two Daytona raced cars in the shop to pull from. They only race once at Homestead.

Ryan Smithson: Tim, you're crazy if you say it would not be more work. They would have to test at Daytona late in the season to prepare.

Tim Packman: Whatever you say, genius.

Marty Smith: Where's Rodman? He could offer some off-the-wall solution to your quarrel.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman would have 'em racing in Suzuka.

If Rusty Wallace can't extend the streak this weekend, who will win?

Tim Packman: Well, I'm going to save Rusty for a pick, or two, next year. So, let's just say Stewart will be in Victory Lane holding two trophies in his hand.

Marty Smith: Stewart wins the race, wraps up the championship and burns out a huge middle finger in the infield grass.

	I didn't mean what I said about the car, Frank. Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: I really think a Pontiac will win this weekend. It's a good car right now. I'll go with Labonte. He's due.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, a middle finger would be pretty hard to do.

Tim Packman: Not if you're determined.

Marty Smith: Quite difficult, but everyone always talks about what a great wheelman he is. Let's put him to the test.

Tim Packman: It's not like he needs the car for next weekend, or the next.

Marty Smith: Or ever. He's not even driving Pontiacs next year.

Tim Packman: Thank you, I was hoping someone would catch that.

Ryan Smithson: Pontiac wins two of three titles! See ya, we're going to Chevy!

Tim Packman: It's all in the same GM family.

Ryan Smithson: Tim, again, you're stupid. Pontiac is a stepchild. Chevy does not exactly celebrate with Pontiac. It's a competition like any other.

Tim Packman: Man, you just don't bring a sense of humor to Track Smack, do you?

Track Smack appears every Wednesday on NASCAR.com.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.