Track Smack: Bristol

Time to call Ryan an idiot for saying a single-car team wouldn't win this year. What is next for the single-car team drivers?

Marty Smith: Yep, you're an idiot. I'll say that any time I'm given the chance. Not only did a single-car team win, another single-car team finished third. Blaney's going to win this year, too, boys.

Ryan Smithson: Obviously, Blaney's probably next to win. And I apologize for saying Craven wouldn't win this year. That was stupid. With their in-house engine program, it's truly a single-car team, too.

Lee Montgomery: Ryan, you're an idiot. Now that we've got that out of the way -- Single-car teams are at a disadvantage, but that doesn't mean one won't win again. I think we all can see Dave Blaney is clearly a lot better this year, and don't be surprised to see Bootie Barker in victory lane sometime soon.

Dave Rodman: Dude, if we didn't say you were an idiot then, shame on us and call us something worse. Whether you're going to split hairs or not on who is a true one-car team -- I think it is safe to figure that Spencer, Rudd and Blaney will also all win this season. That would have been easy to predict in January, too -- maybe with the exception of Mongo.

Marty Smith: Uh, Lee? If Blaney wins, won't Bootie be there, too?

Lee Montgomery: That's what I meant, Dawg.

Send Hate Mail Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Ryan Smithson: You know what? I think teams will start lining up to hire away Bootie Barker. It's coming. That is the way the business is.

Dave Rodman: Well, I think they'll be barking up a tree for nothing. Bootie had his choice of places to go when he went to Jasper -- and knowing his commitment level -- not to mention that of that race team -- I don't think he's gonna leave until their mission is complete.

Marty Smith: People think Bootie came out of nowhere. That dude was on Jeff Gordon's championship teams, y'all. He's been around. He knows the game and is a shock-genius.

Ryan Smithson: I saw a picture yesterday of Bootie working on Gordon's car from 2000. He hurt Gordon when he left.

	I am real ashamed that Texas can't even get a second race date! Credit: AP

Marty Smith: Good shock guys set good teams apart from mediocre ones in today's NASCAR. Bootie is a top-tier shock guy.

Lee Montgomery: All the talk about Bootie might have him flustered.

Ryan Smithson: Well, they say crew chiefing is 50 percent knowing what shocks to run.

Marty Smith: They say? Who do you know that I don't, Ryan?

Ryan Smithson: Just saying, "that's what they say."

Lee Montgomery: Crew chiefing is 80 percent management.

Ryan Smithson: So I guess it's a job where you give 130 percent.

Dave Rodman: It's a case of having the knowledge to provide guidance to the best people that you have put in the best position to do the most for your team that they can.

Lee Montgomery: A great crew chief has to be as much a psychologist as anything.

	$9,000 worth of tires Credit: AP

Marty Smith: Good crew chiefs know how to properly delegate responsibility instead of worrying about every facet of the car themselves. It's too intensive these days to do that anymore.

Lee Montgomery: Way too much work to be done on these cars for any one person to do everything.

Ryan Smithson: I was wondering about that yesterday. Do the top crew chiefs even physically touch the car nowadays?

Marty Smith: I don't think so, Smithson. They want to, but they just can't. They have too many other aspects to worry about.

Lee Montgomery: Depends on the crew chief. These guys are still mechanics at heart, and a lot of them still do. But it's not very often.

Ryan Smithson: Seems amazing to me, Marty. But I know it's the truth.

Lee Montgomery: But actually changing a shock or spring? No way. They have enough people to handle that.

Is Bristol going to be just as exciting? Who is the man to beat?

Dave Rodman: What?!? How can you even ask that question? Bristol is non-stop. Will the finish be that good? Doubtful. But will it be exciting? Without question.

	I told ya these Yates motors are strong, Elliott. Credit: AP

Lee Montgomery: Bristol is always exciting. I can't wait to see who is going to argue.

Ryan Smithson: This race will tell us a lot about certain drivers. If Rusty comes out of the box and runs well, then he should be back. If not, it might be a long year for those boys.

Marty Smith: Bristol's always as exciting, but I don't think we'll see another finish like last week for years. Jeff Gordon said he would make up for last week's mishap. He wins Darlington if he doesn't hit the wall, so I think he'll take Bristol.

Lee Montgomery: Unless Jarrett punts him. Excuse me, unless Jarrett gets even.

Ryan Smithson: I think he will too, Marty. He's running real well. Maybe Jarrett will too though.

	Ricky Craven before winning........

Dave Rodman: I would love to see Spencer do a double there. Busch has become just relentless -- and there is no doubt he could challenge. Rusty. Gordon, Jeff. And don't forget, that's become Robby Gordon's favorite racetrack.

Lee Montgomery: That's one of my favorite tracks too. Doesn't mean I'm going to win.

Marty Smith: You know who's going to make some noise? Jeff Green. That dude is one of the best short track racers out there. People forget that.

Dave Rodman: Hmmm. Marty, you don't think either Sadler or Busch would have taken advantage of Gordon's dump truck at the end? There were a lot of laps left for him to hold them off. It was nice to see he's only human.

Ryan Smithson: Yeah, but he's struggling. Sometimes it takes more than a week to fix.

	And Ricky Craven after winning! 5 of 5 drivers recommend winning to boost moods! Credit: Autostock

Lee Montgomery: Mark Martin always seems to run well there, too. If he doesn't blow up.

Marty Smith: Speaking of, this Roush engine deal is getting interesting. Five motors in two weeks, boys. That's a serious issue.

Dave Rodman: Would be nice if Harvick and Todd Berrier just smoked 'em. I can't believe it's taken them this long to get together in Winston Cup.

Ryan Smithson: After last week, I am gonna stop making predictions. I mean, a $10 bet on Craven paid out $280. 25 different guys could win.

Lee Montgomery: $10 bet in legal gambling halls, of course.

Ryan Smithson: Cayman Islands. Legal as all get out.

Marty Smith: Prognostication has never been our strong suit, Smithson. Procrastination has.

Dave Rodman: Jack is never going to stop trying to get that last ounce out of his stuff. Sometimes that just means you go "poof."

Ryan Smithson: Bristol's easy on engines. They'll be all right.

Marty Smith: What?

	Whooooooooooooo! Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: You ain't asking them to go but 250 miles, Marty.

Dave Rodman: Everyone forgets that Burton blowing up was one engine -- right before that his other five cars were all in the top-16.

Dave Rodman: Don't be a dumbass, Ryan -- they're winding the proverbial bleep outta them things at Bristol

Marty Smith: But they're wide open the whole time, Smithson. You forget about qualifying and all those practices or what, fool?

Ryan Smithson: This ain't grandma. I realize nothing's easy. But this is easier on them than Atlanta or Darlington.

Lee Montgomery: Bristol should be easier on engines. But that track punishes equipment.

Hate Mail  Ryan,  And I quote, "A single car team won't win a race this year. Not even Craven."  You on 1/7/03. Eat your words sucka!!! I mean that in the nicest way possible.  Name Withheld  PPI Motorsports

Marty Smith: Look at what you just said. Bristol's easy on engines.

Ryan Smithson: Easier. Sorry.

Marty Smith: There you go.

Dave Rodman: No it isn't. We need to change subjects, quickly, before you smear your miniscule reputation even further.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, I will stuff your Social Security check down your throat is you don't ease up a bit. Try cashing it then.

Lee Montgomery: I'm sure he has direct deposit.

Track Smack appears every Wednesday on NASCAR.com.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.