We'd love to see Jimmy Spencer give this a shot. Credit: AP
July 16, 2003
10:55 AM EDT (1455 GMT)
Note: Marty's on assignment and will return next week. We'll have to make do with three idiots instead of four.
What do y'all think of the latest round of controversy surrounding the gentleman's agreement? How come the media didn't blow it up like the Robby Gordon-Kevin Harvick incident?
Lee Montgomery: I think this may be the last we hear of the gentleman's agreement. Mike Helton said NASCAR would step in if they had to, and it appears as if they'll have to. No more racing to the caution, period, is what I vote for.
Ryan Smithson: Well, the Jimmie Johnson-Michael Waltrip deal was not for the win. But it's the same pretense. But I also think the Sonoma incident raised way more of a stink simply because Robby Gordon was involved.
Dave Rodman: What? Do you think the media could ever be accused of selective enforcement? I think the parties involved had a certain amount to do with it, of course.
Lee Montgomery: As to why it didn't get blown up, good question. Frankly, there was no mention of it after the race, and the first I heard of it was Tuesday after Waltrip sent out a statement. Even Waltrip's post-race comments didn't mention it.
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Ryan Smithson: I agree, Lee, NASCAR will probably issue a rule change soon. But I think it's a shame it was changed because a few men didn't honor it.
Lee Montgomery: I guess Jeff Gordon likes Waltrip and Johnson more than Robby Gordon.
Ryan Smithson: He definitely likes Johnson more.
Dave Rodman: It is an out-of-date standard, Ryan. Just like the whole concept of racing back to the yellow.
Ryan Smithson: I swear, not sure what Robby has to do to get some damned respect. He's not a golden child, so he's screwed, I guess.
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Lee Montgomery: But there was no media conspiracy, I can assure you. If I would've heard about it, I would've written about it.
Dave Rodman: NASCAR has trashed tradition enough -- they ought to keep the ball rolling and just make the rule change right now. When the caution comes out, you stop racing, period.
Ryan Smithson: This will create confusion, though. We're going to have some questionable calls. Like the whole Indy 500 debacle in 2002.
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Dave Rodman: Over the last several weeks the core of the premise has gotten lost in the Jeff-Gordon-did-this and Robby-Gordon-did-that argument. The bottom line is the whole thing is a safety issue, and to make it safer, racing needs to cease when the caution comes out. End of story.
Ryan Smithson: Man, Rodman, your blood work must have come out great. You're actually making sense.
Lee Montgomery: They'll have to revert back to the last green-flag lap, looks like. Which is a little unfair, but it's the driver's fault. If they had adhered the gentleman's agreement, we wouldn't be talking about this.
Dave Rodman: And if NASCAR's GPS technology cannot freeze positions on demand, then they need to start looking for someone else to administer the series.
Lee Montgomery: Of course, they're drivers, and they want to race hard every lap. So I can't say I blame them either.
Ryan Smithson: Or, they can just make it no-holds-barred, and say, sure, you can race back to the line.
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Lee Montgomery: No way. That's nuts. Bobby Labonte's on fire, and guys are going to race past him?
Ryan Smithson: That's nuts? So is not having a roof hatch.
Dave Rodman: Ryan, that's a good one. In this day of liability fears, I can't believe you would say that.
Lee Montgomery: So is not having a traveling safety team.
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Ryan Smithson: They travel, Lee. Just not very far.
Ryan Smithson: I swear, good thing that was Bobby Labonte -- a veteran -- in that car. You don't want a rookie on fire.
Lee Montgomery: You don't want anyone on fire.
Dave Rodman: Ryan Newman did not do too badly when he caught fire so that is a somewhat inane statement. No one is a rookie racer when they get to the Winston Cup level -- and virtually every one of them has experienced a fire to some extent.
Ryan Smithson: Sure, but I am sure a Bobby Labonte is a tad more familiar. Experienced, etc.
Lee Montgomery: And Ryan Newman's burnt car did all right, too. It won Sunday.
Ryan Smithson: But I see what you mean. Fire is fire.
Dave Rodman: A traveling safety team would hardly be a requisite if the safety equipment could move when the yellow came out -- not have to wait for minutes while the racing ceased.
Ryan Smithson: I guess bottom line, the rule will go into effect, the whole world will rejoice.
Lee Montgomery: A traveling safety team is still better than what they have now. A lot of the drivers want one.
Dave Rodman: Make it like the sales tax. Ding everyone's race purse by a percentage point and use the tax to pay for a traveling safety team.
Lee Montgomery: Or a sponsor. NASCAR can find one for everything else.
Ryan Smithson: If it's like the sales tax in Tennessee, then Jeff Gordon's going to owe a ton of money. Literally.
Ryan Smithson: Obviously, you want a doctor with their medical histories on his PDA. That's the key.
What did y'all think of the Tony Stewart-Ganassi rumor? Is Stewart a "lifer" at Joe Gibbs Racing?
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Lee Montgomery: If you think Joe Gibbs is going to let Tony Stewart go, you're crazy. Sure, every car owner would want Stewart, but he isn't going anywhere. Joe Gibbs won't let that happen.
Ryan Smithson: Let's see. Joe Gibbs has made exactly one driver change in the 17 years (combined) with his two teams. So chances are excellent that Stewart will finish his career there, and I think he will, as long as Gibbs lets Tony drive at Indy.
Ryan Smithson: People forget that these "rumors" drive up salaries, so it's not like Stewart is going to lose in the long run.
Lee Montgomery: So you're saying Tony's people are floating the rumors?
Ryan Smithson: Lee, not sure. I've seen stranger things.
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Dave Rodman: I have seen too much happen to never say never to anything. I am sure Joe will be very careful his contracts protect him. But will Tony never leave? I would never say that. Whoops -- how could I say "never?"
Lee Montgomery: Some people think Tony won't be in Winston Cup too much longer. He wants to win Indy too badly.
Ryan Smithson: It's awful tough to turn down $7 million per year -- guaranteed -- to stay in NASCAR, Lee.
Lee Montgomery: Not sure I believe it, mind you.
Ryan Smithson: He has 10 more shots at Indy! That's crazy.
Dave Rodman: If you believe what Tony says, Indy won't be an issue while he is consumed by his Winston Cup career. But Lee, you're right -- since he has nothing to prove to anyone, he could make that decision at any moment.
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Dave Rodman: Tony Stewart is not driven by money -- but given your salary I could see why you would say that.
Lee Montgomery: But let's say he signs a three-year extension, which keeps him in Cup until 2007. Then, maybe he does bolt for the IRL, just to win the Indy 500. I'd believe that.
Ryan Smithson: I'd buy that, Lee.
Ryan Smithson: That would give him 10 years in NASCAR. Enough.
Lee Montgomery: But that's speculation. Who knows?
Who is the man to beat at Loudon?
Dave Rodman: Tony Stewart tested the new surface. Maybe that's not going to mean anything, but if him and Zippy figured anything out, I would say they might be tough to beat.
Ryan Smithson: Jeff Gordon dominated at Martinsville, so I'll say he'll win Loudon.
Lee Montgomery: Too unpredictable. New pavement always throws in a big monkey wrench, but I wouldn't be surprised if Tony won there. He tested there, so he might be the man to beat.
Ryan Smithson: Loudon always has new pavement. Jeez. If they had a bigger crack problem, they'd be in prison.
Lee Montgomery: One more race before the SAFER barrier. Thank God.
Dave Rodman: Dark horse is another testee: Ricky Craven. Well, you have to hand it to Bob Bahre -- he will not fail to do anything that might make his race track more appealing to his fans and competitors. You have to have a lot of respect for that kind of attitude.
Lee Montgomery: Yes, just about everything NASCAR has asked, Bob has done. You can't say the same about a lot of other tracks.
Ryan Smithson: I think Bob Bear sounds tougher than Bob Bahre.
Lee Montgomery: You never met Bob Bahre.
Ryan Smithson: No. He tough?
Lee Montgomery: Bob is a great guy, the epitome of a curmudgeon.
Dave Rodman: Bob Bahre is the real deal. A lot of track owners could learn a lot from him.
Ryan Smithson: What is a curmudgeon?
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Lee Montgomery: Bob Bahre.
Ryan Smithson: I looked it up. An ill-tempered person full of resentment and stubborn notions. Wow. Harsh words, Lee. You want to make a retraction?
Lee Montgomery: Bob doesn't go by the book, so I'm not either.
Ryan Smithson: To quote from Full Metal Jacket -- I admire your honesty.
Dave Rodman: Lee, I think I know where you were going with that one, so you're right -- we throw the Daniel Webster's away on Mr. Bahre.
Lee Montgomery: A curmudgeon is a stubborn person who plays by his own rules and doesn't care what anyone thinks.
Ryan Smithson: That is better than my version.
Dave Rodman: Definitely.
Track Smack appears every Wednesday on NASCAR.com at 11 a.m. ET sharp.
The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.
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