Track Smack: Offseason

CONCORD, N.C. -- Packman's on vacation this week but he will be back next Wednesday. At least, that is what he said.

What was the most memorable moment of the 2002 Winston Cup season?

Dave Rodman: Kurt Busch telling Jimmy Spencer to kiss his butt. You asked the question -- I cleared my memory banks and thought, "Winston Cup" -- and that's what came up. Actually, there were many, many significant events this season. You want to open the floodgates?

Ryan Smithson: The thing that really sticks out in my mind was late in the Daytona 500 -- when Jeff Gordon went spinning out of the lead. You could barely see the No. 24 Chevrolet spinning out of control -- but you knew what had happened.

Dave Rodman: That's a potent memory state, Ryan. I don't remember that as being significant even after you reminded me it happened. What was more a big deal there was that was what caused Sterling Marlin to get out of his car and tug on its fender. Now, that was a hoot!

Marty Smith: I know this a bit of an off the wall answer, but I really think it's Steve Park's wreck at Pocono. That was one graphic accident, and when Dale Jr. took off running across the infield to check on his teammate and buddy, I was pretty touched. That was a friend checking on a friend, genuinely concerned for his well being, and I thought it was cool as hell.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, I will never forget that. Mainly because that was the longest wreck we'd ever seen, right? I mean, it took forever to take place. You saw the whole thing.

Marty Smith: Yep. It also proved to everyone, as Steve has often said, that he's not as fragile as people think. I just remember that guardrail crumpling under the weight of the cars... Man, that was a seriously scary wreck.

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Ryan Smithson: Pocono is dangerous to begin with.

Dave Rodman: Chilling does not begin to describe the way I felt sitting in the media center at Pocono. When he hit that guardrail and bowed it backwards, I thought he was launched into the infield.

Marty Smith: It was close, Dave. Too close.

Ryan Smithson: Real close.

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Dave Rodman: That's why most guardrails went away in 1972 -- or should have.

Ryan Smithson: He's lucky Junior was the first one to the car -- it could have been a fan with a beer in hand.

Dave Rodman: Or a deer. Or a fan with a beer in one hand and a deer under his other arm.

Marty Smith: This is not a butt-kiss line here, because I truly believe it: As much as NASCAR does that makes me scratch my head, you can't fault their safety efforts.

	Dale Jr. runs to check out Steve Park's condition at Pocono. Marty Smith says that this was the most memorable moment of the year.

Ryan Smithson: Speaking of memorable, Park pacing the field at Darlington -- in his first race back -- was cool. But I don't think he led another race all year.

Dave Rodman: Ryan, let's leave Stevie alone. No sly digs, eh? I know you think he should be retired, right?

Ryan Smithson: No, I don't think Park should be retired at all. But I do believe that he probably should have returned to the track differently -- like running in a short track event in the Busch Series -- get warmed back up, similar to what Ernie Irvan did when he returned.

Ryan Smithson: I got to say, boys, that this year didn't have the number of barn-burner races that 2001 had. I was a little disappointed.

Dave Rodman: You're not going to get me to do a race-by-race analysis of either year. My general recollection is there were plenty of good races.

Marty Smith: I was using the facilities in the ESPNZone last night, and some guy beside was talking about how boring Homestead was. I about had to pee on his foot. I couldn't sit still during that one. That's the first race in a long time that captivated me throughout.

Ryan Smithson: That was a pretty good race for Homestead. Busch race was good too

Marty Smith: Damn good. It was dramatic, man. Stewart could've faltered at any second, you know. And Mark ran up front all day.

	Maybe I shouldn't have let DW drive the car. Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: Mark didn't get enough credit for the job he did working his way to the front. That had to have been tough. Mark was half a lap down all day.

Dave Rodman: See -- that's why there are always different strokes for different folks. I had a couple people tell me the racing there just isn't too good -- but I thought the last two years had plenty to offer. There are lots of dimensions to every event.

Marty Smith: I can hear the Stewart fans now: "Why do you always hate on Tony?" I woke up to 10 of those this morning.

Marty Smith: Hey, idiots. Guess what we're leaving out. Larry Hicks, boys. That was a pretty awesome moment in '02, too.

Ryan Smithson: Well, off the track, sure. We didn't see it. I am sure if we did, we'd be even more amazed.

	Larry Hicks (left) with Jack Roush Credit: Autostock

Marty Smith: True. But that man is an angel. Meeting him was one of the coolest things that's ever happened to me. Wonderful man, that guy.

Dave Rodman: The Roush episode was probably the most compelling, significant event off the racetrack this year -- or maybe in several years. And the neat thing was, Larry doesn't think he is, or did anything, special.

Dave Rodman: Definite American hero.

Marty Smith: Well said, Rodzilla. It's still mind boggling to ponder the chances that Roush would land in the pond of a 22-year Marine trained in underwater rescue -- that the man had just finished undergoing chemotherapy treatments and just gotten his strength back. I just can't fathom it. Had it not happened, I swear I wouldn't believe it.

Ryan Smithson: It's beyond chance. They need to put that story on Lifetime -- although I don't watch Lifetime. Well, maybe a little bit.

Marty Smith: Sure you do, Smithson. It's Television for Women or whatever. Right up your alley.

Ryan Smithson: I don't watch it near as much as Packman. He loves the movies.

Who will end up in the No. 41 Dodge?

	The No. 41 received a fiery final ride from Jimmy Spencer. Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: That really has me stumped. Now that Blaney does not want it -- and that Andretti is nearly signed -- who knows? I will bet that Ganassi picks a Busch Series driver, like McMurray. That worked out, right?

Marty Smith: Who knows on the 41 deal. Word is, as Smithson said, that Andretti's close to inking a deal with the Pettys. But at the same time, if he signed at Ganassi, that'd free him up to go back to Indy, which Kyle disallowed this year.

Dave Rodman: You would think that if an Indy ride was part of the deal, Johnny would already be signed. If you ask me, he is messing with a loaded howitzer playing the Pettys against Chip's ride. He may end up racing Midgets.

Marty Smith: You reckon, Dave? I want Hank Parker, Jr. to get in the 41.

Ryan Smithson: He better get it. I don't anything else out there.

	How come no one has mentioned Casey Atwood's name as a candidate for the No. 41 Dodge? Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: There's not even many Busch rides open, except at Brewco.

Marty Smith: What about Atwood? Nobody's said anything about him in the 41.

Dave Rodman: What I don't understand is if Johnny really had a contract for the 28/42 -- whatever -- and didn't sign it then... And his deal with the Pettys was "done" at Atlanta and just not on paper -- yet it hasn't changed yet, as Kyle told me at Homestead -- something else, pretty ominous, to me -- is holding that deal up.

Ryan Smithson: Money! Money!

Marty Smith: It's unbelievable that a Petty car hasn't won since '99.

Ryan Smithson: Greg Biffle proved that the Petty cars are good cars. Jerry Nadeau did too.

Dave Rodman: Hanker could be a possibility. I think Chip is in the driver's seat, though. He has a plum ride and there are more drivers floating around than seats.

Ryan Smithson: Always is, Dave.

	Hank Parker Jr.: Seeking work for 2003 Credit: ASP

Dave Rodman: He can choose from stock car drivers, short track drivers, Indy car drivers... Heck, they were all at Homestead. I met a French driver at Homestead who had come over and was trying to hook up with an owner to do a Busch deal.

Marty Smith: Hank's a shoe, and as marketable a driver as there is in NASCAR. Someone will scoop him up if they know what they're doing.

Ryan Smithson: Key word: Marketable.

Dave Rodman: Homestead was open wheel central. Max Papis. Juan Pablo Montoya. Gil de Ferran. Scott Sharp. The neatest thing I did all year was meet The Professor last Friday. You know who he is, Ryan?

Ryan Smithson: The Professor? Casey Stengel?

Marty Smith: Dr. Jerry Punch?

Dave Rodman: Alain Prost, you ignoramus. Four-time Formula One champ -- owns most of the records Schumacher is breaking now.

Ryan Smithson: Alain Prost ain't gonna drive, you idiot. He's older than you are. And that's tough to do.

Marty Smith: Must be an old dude, Smithson, before our time.

Marty Smith: I bet David Pearson could whoop his butt, Rodman.

Dave Rodman: In a Matador or a Williams BMW?

Ryan Smithson: I know David Pearson could. I'll bet he could go out there now and be better than some of the people they put out there.

Marty Smith: In a 50-lapper, no doubt. Endurance aside, sure.

Dave Rodman: They ought to bring back the Legends races at Lowe's. Would keep the body hangers in business, at least.

Track Smack appears every Wednesday on NASCAR.com, even in the offseason.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.