That's right, Tony. Finished third on a road course. Don't sit all in there like you're shocked. Credit: AP
August 13, 2003
2:12 PM EDT (1812 GMT)
Was Dale Jr. serious when he said he was a "free agent" for next year?
Lee Montgomery: Do you think a driver would hint at that to simply drive up his contract demands? Perish the thought. Sarcasm, of course, but I seriously doubt he'd bolt at the end of the season. Maybe he will, but I don't see it. Of course, he has DEI over a barrel, and he should, given his situation. I'm sure they'll all wise up and keep Junior in the 8.
Ryan Smithson: I think he feels he is having a career year and wants a bigger piece of the pie -- maybe a little more control over himself. Which means he's already planning for the next 20 years, which is the right thing to do. But no, he'll drive for DEI next year.
Marty Smith: I don't think so. I think he was simply making a pointed statement that he's unhappy with the current contract he's been offered, that it isn't as beneficial to him as he'd like.
Dave Rodman: I think someone caught him at a moment. Don't ask me what kind of moment. With everything Junior has said through the years about staying with Tony and Tony Jr. for the duration of his career and winning championships, I can't believe he would go anywhere.
Marty Smith: It can't be easy doing business deals with family. Too many emotions involved.
Ryan Smithson: Now guys, correct me if I am wrong -- which, admittedly -- happens a lot. Dale Jr. does not drive for a family. He drives for a business. And he's just as much an employee as Jeff Green.
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Marty Smith: You're wrong, Smithson. He drives for his stepmother, and negotiating with family is a far cry from negotiating with a business partner.
Lee Montgomery: In a sense, yes. But when your dad's name is on the company, it's family.
Dave Rodman: That's it. And I know Junior has stressed over that aspect in the past. On the one hand, he wants to be agreeable and do the right thing, but on the other hand that's a good way to get taken advantage of -- even if it's not exactly intentional.
Ryan Smithson: He drives for a board of directors whose aim is to turn a profit for a company.
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Lee Montgomery: And that company will make the most money with whom? Some other driver?
Ryan Smithson: Not Jeff Green. Or Ron Fellows.
Lee Montgomery: No way. Junior is The Man at DEI, and everyone knows it.
Dave Rodman: Or 95 percent of the other drivers in the Winston Cup garage -- for better or worse.
Marty Smith: Agreed, Lee. Junior's the biggest moneymaker in this game by eons. DEI should, and I'm sure will, hear him out regarding his wishes. If he doesn't get what he deems necessary, then he's free to see who will pony up the loot.
Dave Rodman: Chip Ganassi might.
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| I am telling you, Yogi, 90 percent of driving is half-mental. Credit: AP |
Lee Montgomery: Wouldn't that be interesting?
Ryan Smithson: Dale Jr. in a Dodge. Yeah right.
Dave Rodman: Since he is the shooter of record right now, right?
Marty Smith: Childress? Shooooooot. Junior's earned the right to command top-dollar. I don't blame him for feeling that he should have a top-tier deal.
Lee Montgomery: Every car owner in the garage would be lined up to get Junior.
Ryan Smithson: I was surprised by Dale Jr.'s comments at Watkins Glen, he was surprisingly really critical of Jeff Gordon. And that is exactly what Winston Cup needs.
Marty Smith: He used to keep his mouth shut, didn't feel it was his place to speak out. No more. What he says carries a ton of merit.
Dave Rodman: No question, Marty. I think he has done thousands of miles worth this season in improving his credibility as a driver, and that, in turn has made him open up on other fronts.
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| Insert Russ Wheeler laugh here. Credit: Autostock |
Lee Montgomery: I agree. Let him speak his mind. All the top drivers should. Including Stewart.
Ryan Smithson: Jeff Gordon's opened it up a little this year, too. Baby steps, I tell you. They all can't be Jimmy Spencer though.
Lee Montgomery: Or Kenny Wallace.
Ryan Smithson: Lord no. If Kenny won 3-4 races a year, he could print his own money.
Lee Montgomery: He'd be Junior.
Will Robby Gordon finish the year in the top 10?
Lee Montgomery: At this point, sure, why not? RCR really seems to be on its game.
Ryan Smithson: No, because Tony Stewart is going to rally and bump him out, leaving Robby in 11th. Which is a really good year. Maybe next year.
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| You're still not as soft as Jimmy Spencer. Credit: Autostock |
Dave Rodman: He has been very consistent since he won at Infineon. Today, he is on the verge of falling back to 15th very easily. But I have no reason to believe he and Hamlin won't continue on the roll they're on, and that means top-10 is not hard to imagine.
Marty Smith: Yes. I'm as impressed by Gordon's season as anyone's. RCR is back, and Gordon has emerged as a legitimate weekly threat.
Lee Montgomery: By the way, Robby did ask a question in the drivers meeting Sunday. You should have heard how quiet it got in there.
Ryan Smithson: Yeah, about rain tires, right.
Lee Montgomery: It was about rain tires, not racing to the caution.
Ryan Smithson: He's a smart guy.
Dave Rodman: I think Robby will be closer to top five than 15th, though, Ryan. Despite Tony Stewart rallying back to the top-10.
Ryan Smithson: Rodman, I disagree. Jeff Burton's going to come back -- their team is coming together -- and you know Rusty won't have many more bad races.
Dave Rodman: Well, it's hard to disagree with anyone you've mentioned, but as long as Robby doesn't do much to put people in a position to pay him back, I like the way that team has come together and contends on a weekly basis.
Ryan Smithson: I am very impressed at RCR's durability. They have the most reliable cars in the garage. That has got to be a major comfort factor for a guy like Harvick or Gordon, knowing he can abuse the car and know that it will take it.
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| Robby picks up win, Miss Winston Credit: Autostock |
Marty Smith: He obviously trusts Kevin Hamlin's instincts, which is huge. That call to pit Sunday was ingenious, won him the race.
Dave Rodman: And those guys are combination cowboys and brain surgeons.
Lee Montgomery: It's funny you mention paybacks. Have we seen any? I mean, besides Mike Bliss and Bobby Hamilton Jr.?
Ryan Smithson: Biffle vs. Gordon at The Glen, maybe? It's a stretch, but it happened.
Marty Smith: How was that payback, Smithson?
Lee Montgomery: No, that wasn't payback.
Ryan Smithson: From Loudon.
Dave Rodman: Now Lee, that is a question that is impossible to answer. Did Greg Biffle run in too deep in the first corner Sunday or figure he owed Jeff one?
Ryan Smithson: No, I know, hence the world stretch.
Lee Montgomery: It might have been if Gordon and punted Biffle, but no. But that wasn't payback.
Ryan Smithson: These road courses are short tracks. Except Kurt Busch ain't winning 'em.
Who is the man to beat at Michigan? Which team do you pick to rebound?
Ryan Smithson: Jamie McMurray picks up win No. 1 of the season, dudes. Write it down, take a picture, whatever.
Lee Montgomery: You know, this might be the weekend Matt Kenseth quiets the critics.
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Marty Smith: I'm going with Bobby Labonte at Michigan. He finished second to Kurt last time around and was strong all weekend long. Sterling will be good, too. He had the last race won, but missed that shift late in the race to kill an awesome day.
Ryan Smithson: If Matt Kenseth has critics, then to heck with 'em.
Dave Rodman: Dale Jarrett is creeping up on it. He is the defending champion. A win there would be huge and maybe the difference between salvaging the rest of this season and who-knows-what.
Marty Smith: Kenseth had an awesome car at Michigan last time, Lee. Rodman, it'd be awesome if Jarrett won, but those boys are struggling so bad these days. They need a good run terribly.
Ryan Smithson: So does Ellliott Sadler.
Marty Smith: He knows how to get around there, obviously. He's won there and always run well. But the same can be said for Indy, and Pocono. Hard to pull out a victory from nowhere, which is where Jarrett has been lately. Good finish at Watkins Glen, though.
Dave Rodman: Actually, they are in worse shape than I even thought -- but that doesn't mean they're not capable. But, by the same token, Kurt is due and a sweep would be something he would dearly love.
Ryan Smithson: He would dearly love, you say. You've been watching too much Bravo.
Dave Rodman: What's that?
Ryan Smithson: Queer Eye for the Old Guy.
Dave Rodman: I try not to watch TV too much.
Ryan Smithson: Yeah, your eyes can't handle it.
Lee Montgomery: West Weng on Bravo now. Woohoo! Weng? Nice, Lee
Dave Rodman: Thought that was latest Oriental sitcom.
Marty Smith: My wife loves reality television. She watches every show religiously. She damn near cried Monday night when those kids picked that chick to marry their Daddy.
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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