Track Smack: Charlotte

What is wrong with Ryan Newman?

Ryan Smithson: I think he's having a rookie season in his sophomore year. And it's weird. I figured he'd wreck a lot of cars in his rookie season and perhaps win a couple races. Instead, he completed tons of laps last year. This year, he looks like a rookie. I can't explain it. But all is not lost. He'll turn it around in couple months and finish about 10th in points.

Dave Rodman: First off, forget about any stupid sophomore jinx. He is simply running into the walls he did not run into last year. He is no less on the edge than he was last year, but this year he's finding out what happens on the other side of the razor.

Lee Montgomery: Nothing's wrong with Ryan Newman. He's just run into some misfortune, that's all. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him lead 300 laps in the 600 Sunday. He's an awesome driver with a great team that has had some crappy luck.

Marty Smith: He could easily lead 300 laps, Lee. Then the motor will puke. That's been his luck. If not for bad luck, he'd have none. And Rodman, he is a poster boy for the sophomore jinx, because he's running into walls he didn't run into last year.

Ryan Smithson: He looks awfully frustrated, Lee. Sure, he might lead the first 300 laps and still finish 38th.

Send Hate Mail Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Marty Smith: Agreed, Smithson. He's tired of having to tell Jeannie Zelasko what went wrong.

Lee Montgomery: He should be frustrated. He knows he should be running up front, and he's not. Doesn't matter why he's not. It's just frustrating.

Marty Smith: I know why he's struggling, Lee. It's the Sports Illustrated jinx. SI picked Newman to take the Cup during the preseason.

Dave Rodman: Lee's right. He could lead 350 laps in the 600. I don't think he will crash in five or so like he did last year, but then again he is going to be all-out, so he could do that, too.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you straddle the fence too much. I am surprised you're not sore from doing so.

Send Nice Mail Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Lee Montgomery: It was hilarious what he did in The Winston. Walking down the frontstretch looking for Stewart -- who was stopped on the backstretch.

Ryan Smithson: That was painful.

Marty Smith: Lee and I were sitting together in the media center hunched over laughing. Poor Ryan, he can't even get mad without a hitch this year.

Dave Rodman: I don't think it's straddling anything when you tell the truth. He could crash on the first lap or win -- what's wrong with that?

Ryan Smithson: Anyone could crash on the first lap or win. That is not telling us anything.

Marty Smith: Todd Bodine?

Lee Montgomery: Larry Foyt?

Dave Rodman: Well, he's certainly proving it this year -- in multiplies. So it proves no one is immune.

	Salad Credit: AP

Lee Montgomery: Anyway, every good driver goes through these stretches. And Newman is clearly one of the top four or five drivers out there, if you ask me. He'll be fine.

Marty Smith: He's definitely the bravest driver when it comes to putting that 12 car where no one else can. I've said it 100 times -- 14.91 at Bristol? That boy must have trouble walking.

Ryan Smithson: I see a lot of similarities between him and Kurt Busch, except Kurt's skinnier. A lot skinnier.

Lee Montgomery: Ryan is a solid fella. Probably from all those Indiana meat-and-potatoes meals.

Ryan Smithson: I doubt he likes salads.

Lee Montgomery: Hearty Midwesterners. Stewart, Newman....

Marty Smith: Jeff Gordon. Oops.

Dave Rodman: Larry Foyt will be all right if the fender supply holds out. You want to talk about doing more with less, though -- you need to talk Tony Raines.

Ryan Smithson: Tony is a hell of a driver. Was in the Truck Series without the best equipment. Extremely clean. Maybe too clean.

	Steak Credit: AP

Marty Smith: Tony can shoot the J, too. In Sadler's hoop game last week, Raines lit us up. He hit about four three-pointers. It's in that Indiana blood.

Lee Montgomery: Tony and I have the same birthday.

Ryan Smithson: Raines or Stewart, Lee?

Lee Montgomery: Raines. He's three years older, though.

Ryan Smithson: You both are getting old.

Lee Montgomery: But we both can still get it done.

Ryan Smithson: He can. I doubt you can drive a race car very well.

Dave Rodman: There you go, LeeMo -- Ryan is just jealous.

Lee Montgomery: Given a chance. He's getting his now.

Ryan Smithson: You'd need an oxygen mask if you drove.

A fan's perspective  Not that we need another format change for the Winston, but I think the field inversion system is flawed. I would like to see the fans vote for how many cars make the final session. This would force drivers to race to the checkered flag and have to wait to see if they made it. It would also increase the chance that the fastest cars would race the final segment.   -- No Name Given

Lee Montgomery: I wonder if he can write. I wonder if I can write.

Ryan Smithson: You write well. Him -- I doubt it. People usually find their talents. Except me.

Marty Smith: you have a talent, Smithson. You can tell me the pole sitter of the 1988 Tyson Holly Farms 400 at North Wilkesboro without batting an eye. You're Rainman with a buzz cut.

Lee Montgomery: You have talent? Hey, you tossed me that softball.

Dave Rodman: That's what he meant -- he's still looking.

It's a shame if Darlington loses its September date, eh?

Marty Smith: In a sport that has almost religious following, this is almost sacreligious. It's unacceptable as far as longtime fans are concerned. My daddy wants to puke. He went to the Southern 500 and ate chicken and drank shine with Junior Johnson and Curtis Turner. Losing Darlington is like losing a grandparent. That place is a cornerstone on which the NASCAR empire was built, and still produces the best racing in the game. .002 seconds. Need I say more?

Dave Rodman: Worse than that -- that's insane. I would say, as a lot of people (fans) have told me, I would give up on the sport -- but it's my job, I don't have that option.

Lee Montgomery: That's simply unbelievable. Is nothing sacred in this sport any more? That's like moving the Indy 500 from May, if you ask me. Crazy.

	Steve Park falls for the old "I am going to shake your hand before I slap you" trick. Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: I am real surprised Darlington's going to have two races next year. But I am real happy about it. I think losing the particular month is a small price. OK, y'all shoot at me. It's just a month, Lee. Better than losing the race altogether.

Dave Rodman: As it wasn't pathetic enough giving another date to California -- you would kill tradition like that?!?

Ryan Smithson: Maybe moving the Indy 500 from May would give it a shot in the arm.

Lee Montgomery: So traditions mean nothing in this sport any more, I suppose. Without traditions, we lose a part of our history. And without history, we lose all sense of ourselves. It's a joke that that race gets moved.

Dave Rodman: NASCAR is testing its fan base. God bless 'em -- they are trying to see how much they can tick off how many and still keep them coming around. Good luck to 'em.

Ryan Smithson: California is a huge market. NASCAR needs to be there. Texas too. Lee, they can build new traditions.

Marty Smith: Smithson, I always thought you were out of your mind. Now, I have confirmation.

Lee Montgomery: Why? The biggest market is TV? And TV doesn't care where you are.

Ryan Smithson: NASCAR needs 100,000 people at its races.

Marty Smith: NASCAR needs to remember its roots.

Dave Rodman: They can rebuild an old tradition -- why don't they go to California in January -- like Jan. 20 or so?

Ryan Smithson: I am all for that, Rodman. I don't see why not. Hey, I like change, sorry.

	I am just gonna reach in and take his hat.....Credit: AP

Marty Smith: Change is good. Very good. But in this particular instance, it is unacceptable. Darlington is like Yankee Stadium or Wrigley Field. You walk in and you can feel history.

Dave Rodman: I don't know if they could tweak the schedule back enough to test at Daytona in December, but they used to do that.

Ryan Smithson: They don't have to test at Daytona, period. Schedule two open days before the Shootout.

Lee Montgomery: And end Preseason Thunder? Perish the thought.

Dave Rodman: Hmmm. They are not going to eliminate that, but they could sandwich it around the California date. If they truly wanted to "fix" the schedule they could easily cut five days out of Speedweeks and move the Lowe's festivities to one long weekend.

Ryan Smithson: Good idea, Rodman. They could run The Winston on a Wednesday or Thursday night. Before the 600.

Dave Rodman: They're not particularly interested in fixing the schedule. Or they're not particularly smart -- I can't figure out which. They could sign in on Thursday and run one qualifying session. If you're a Winston car you have a speed for both The Winston and the 600.

	Damn kids. Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: Again, not a bad idea.

Dave Rodman: Run Busch qualifying and trucks on Friday.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, I'd appoint you NASCAR czar if you weren't so damn old. You got some ideas. Unfortunately, you'll forget them tomorrow.

Dave Rodman: Run Busch race Saturday morning, 600 Happy Hour in the middle and empty your stadium. Run The Winston at night.

Marty Smith: It would appear as if Rodzilla rememberd to take his Ginseng this morning.

Lee Montgomery: We have them in print now.

Ryan Smithson: You're hired.

Dave Rodman: The only thing that would screw you would be weather.

Lee Montgomery: Dave Helton.

Dave Rodman: I have 25 more years to qualify as National Stock Car Commissioner.

Ryan Smithson: Todd Helton of the Rockies was an awesome pitcher at University of Tennessee. He was a better pitcher than hitter.

Marty Smith: He was a senior when I was a freshman at Carson-Newman. We played those boys a home-and-home, and they beat us, combined, about 45-5. Helton hit about six bombs.

	Todd Helton Credit: AP

Lee Montgomery: Wonder if Mike Helton would do Smack in Worm's place?

Ryan Smithson: He'd have to type awfully quickly. Actually, an assistant can do that.

Problem solved.

Dave Rodman: Of course, SMI doesn't want to give up any money days -- any more than ISC does during Speedweeks; but you could swap your Speedweeks weekends around to run ARCA, Dash, Trucks and IROC the first weekend and make the second weekend all Cup and Busch. Wouldn't lose an event.

Marty Smith: Cold beers and souvenirs, Rodman. It seems that's what makes the sport go 'round.

Ryan Smithson: IROC needs to go away.

Ryan Smithson: They run cars that are at least 70 years old.

Lee Montgomery: We all need to go away.

Ryan Smithson: Done.

Track Smack appears every Wednesday on NASCAR.com at 11 a.m. ET sharp!

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.