Track Smack: Offseason

CONCORD, N.C. -- Keep those emails coming, because topics are scarce! And have a great Thanksgiving!

Which driver has the most to be thankful for?

Ryan Smithson: I'd say Elliott Sadler. He's been very fortunate to build a career, and now he has the opportunity of a lifetime to see what he can do. He'll have the resources to compete with Newman and Johnson -- so sit back and see what he can do with it.

Marty Smith: I am going to have to go with Tony Stewart, hands down. After the tumultuous year he had, with the off-track issues and hoopla surrounding them, for him to rebound and win it all is huge.

Dave Rodman: The entire Roush Racing stable of drivers should be the most thankful because they still have their team owner around to motivate and prod them on. They have to be thankful that if Jack had to crash that ultralight, he did so at the feet of God and Larry Hicks.

Tim Packman: This will be a make-or-break year for Sadler. But I'd have to say it's Tony Stewart for everything he went through to claim the championship. From last at Daytona, to Indy , to Bristol and then holding onto the lead until the end. He showed, again, what a champion's champion has to do to win a title in racing.

Marty Smith: Great call, Dave. I stand corrected. Jack Roush, though not a driver, certainly has the most to be thankful for.

Ryan Smithson: Shoot, after you guys' answers, I feel like mine sucks.

Send us insults MartDawg Ryan Tim Dave

Dave Rodman: Ryan, I think you are on the right track. Elliott should be thankful for that opportunity. The interesting thing will be to sit back this time next year and see how he was able to play it.

Ryan Smithson: Maybe the drivers themselves, because they don't have to race around Thanksgiving this year.

Marty Smith: Amen on that one, too, Smithson. Those boys can spend this Turkey Day with their families.

Ryan Smithson: Everyone wants to have the resources to succeed, and I am sure Sadler is thrilled and thankful. Those resources come with a price though. Ask Jimmy Spencer.

	You get on my hood (above), you become (below) lunch! Credit: AP

Dave Rodman: Tony Stewart is thankful it's Thanksgiving so he can race Midgets again. I hate to be a sickie, but it would be terrible if he bicycled one, dislocated his shoulder and had to go through next week in a sling. That would add injury to the pain and insult of having to spend so much media time.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you are a sickie. That comment proves it. You need to up the insulin intake.

Dave Rodman: Yup. I admit it. If it makes you feel better, I take it back. Actually, having to deal with New York City is enough of a chore without having to get someone to dress you on top of it.

Marty Smith: I get there Tuesday, Dave. Lord be with me.

Dave Rodman: I'll put you on the prayer list, Marty. Like most other events connected with Winston Cup -- people think that is nothing but a party. It's a lot of work in an environment that sometimes can verge on questionable.

Ryan Smithson: You know, this will be the first time since 1992 that an Earnhardt won't be on the stage. That won't happen next year though. Junior really impressed me in the second half. He just needs to put two good halves together. He's pretty tough to bounce back from that Fontana accident. That really was bad.

Marty Smith: Wow. Good stat, Smithson, but you're damn right it won't happen again. Junior and the boys were hitting on all eight near the end of the year. Next year, they finish in the top three. Chalk it up. Don't agree? See my Kurt Busch prediction.

Dave Rodman: Well, Junior will have to prove that he can put two halves together -- but I think he proved his capability in the Busch Series. He just needs to dodge all the additional high-powered bullets flying around the Winston Cup Series.

Ryan Smithson: It's possible, Marty, but something always seems to hold Junior up. I know this though -- the Pocono crash ended up costing him the top 10.

Marty Smith: You can't point to one race, bro.

Ryan Smithson: I know. But I do anyway. I know it's wrong.

Dave Rodman: Absolutely not.

	Dale Jr. wore a lot of hats in 2002. Here are some of them: January (above)

Ryan Smithson: Well, it's like an election, saying that Illinois was the reason Nixon lost in 1960. Same rationale.

Dave Rodman: It's a waste of time. You'd be better off spending your time taking a nap. Same as that conversation we had last week about why each one of the other 43 guys that did not win the championship, didn't win it. Everyone's got a reason -- or an excuse.

Ryan Smithson: Man Rodman. You are mad today. What happened?

Marty Smith: It's 11 and he just had his first cup of coffee. Cranky old man!

Ryan Smithson: Cranky old man. Three words, all of which are 100 percent accurate.

Dave Rodman: End of the season. Down in the dumps. Need to go back to Australia, or something.

	Feburary Credit: Autostock

Tim Packman: How can you be down in the dumps when the season is over?!

Dave Rodman: Because it's too much energy to think about coming up with things to do.

Marty Smith: You can be depressed for both of us, Dave. I'm stoked to be home for a while.

Tim Packman: Hey, leave Dave alone. He's upset because I just sent him my Christmas wish list for the office exchange. C'mon, what's one 85 Corvette convertible amongst co-workers?

Ryan Smithson: The 1985 Corvette convertible was a terrible car in Corvette standards. Me and Marty each prefer the 1971 version. I do miss my racing though. I am glad the NFL is just now starting to get interesting. Titans win wild card.

	June Credit: Autostock

Marty Smith: Totally, Smithson. Mid-70s Stingray...talk about gorgeous. Anyways, the Chicago Bears. Nevermind. I'll just get mad.

Dave Rodman: Marty, I was scanning the standings the other day -- the Bears are one of the two worst teams in the league. What's up with that?

Ryan Smithson: The Bears were supposed to be so good. Great defense, good young running back, good staff. Never mind.

Tim Packman: I won't even bring the Buffalo Bills into this, not after the last few games.

Dave Rodman: I was stunned to see that the Bucs actually had the best record in the league. Me and Rip Van Winkle been sleeping awhile, I guess.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman still thinks the Rams are in L.A.

	October Credit: Autostock

Tim Packman: I wonder what "Chucky" Gruden would be like as a crew chief?

Ryan Smithson: Oh man. Great question. He'd be good, Tim. He has the right ethic and attitude.

Dave Rodman: The second coming of Jake Elder, probably.

Marty Smith: Boys, it's best if we just skip the Bears discussion. I'm on vacation, and I want to come back eventually.

Tim Packman: Just what I was thinking. I'd hate to screw up a pit stop and have to deal with Gruden afterwards. But, on the other hand, he might motivate me to be my best at all times.

Ryan Smithson: Gruden would be the type of crew chief that would go over the wall himself. Tommy Baldwin style. Andy Petree style.

What was the funniest moment of the 2002 season?

Marty Smith: Kurt Busch at Indy.

Tim Packman: I would have to go with the Busch/Spencer deal at Indy.

	Here's to twins Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: Probably the spring Busch race. You had Harvick charging after Biffle, calling him everything but a child of God. This one rookie got in everyone's way and that was pretty entertaining.

Tim Packman: The picture of the way Kurt was standing there patting his butt as Spencer went by made him eligible to be a Solid Gold dancer.

Dave Rodman: Since that was my most memorable last week -- I would have to say E Sad at Lowe's during The Winston. Great right arm.

Ryan Smithson: Man. Good one, Rodman. He goes: "Damn it, I wanted to win The Winston."

Marty Smith: GREAT one Dave! "First, I'd like to apologize to my sponsuhs Motacraffft."

Ryan Smithson: His spon-suh!

	When your opponent's number appears sideways through the window, it's never good.

Tim Packman: A close second was Ward Burton tossing his big, bad booties at Dale Jr's car and Jr. asking his crew what he threw and if they made it into the car.

Dave Rodman: You know, most of those altercations were pretty danged amusing -- it's just too bad that something truly traumatic on the race track had to happen first, to prompt them.

Marty Smith: Burton said he wished he had something to shoot Junior with. I almost wet myself...

Dave Rodman: Marty, I thought you were from Virginny? You mean, you really thought Ward was talking about shooting Jr. with a gun vs. throwing something at him?

Marty Smith: Uh, yeah Dave. Burton has an arsenal son.

Dave Rodman: When Ward said he wished he had something to shoot through Jr.'s window, I thought he was wishing for the second coming of Nolan Ryan's arm.

	Ward wished he had something stronger to hurl those pads with.

Tim Packman: That's what he said, Dave. He wished he had something to shoot through his window. Being he's all into hunting, it was an easy connection.

Dave Rodman: And maybe a piece of lead ballast.

Marty Smith: Tim Packman: World-renowned Ward Burton translator. From Buffalo, N.Y., no less.

Tim Packman: Well, someone needs to do it.

Dave Rodman: Ah well -- perspectives -- that's why this world is so interesting.

Ryan Smithson: Ward ain't that bad, guys. He's pretty good now. In 1993, he struggled. He's practically T.S. Eliot now.

Tim Packman: I guess Dave's comment about perspectives is true.

Marty Smith: And I'm Hunter S. Thompson, according to Mike Mulhern.

Community  Track Smack Message Board!

Ryan Smithson: Really? That's you? For real? I like your writing dude. Big fan.

Tim Packman: Oh sure, everyone knows who both those guys are, too.

Marty Smith: About 15 times as many as know who you are, Pack.

Ryan Smithson: T.S. Eliot also would have been a great crew chief.

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

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.