Track Smack: Richmond

If you are Rick Hendrick, would you have brought back Joe Nemechek for 2004?

Dave Rodman: Yes. Commitment and consistency count for something in this sport, and he and Peter Sospenzo won a race earlier this season. They have been better than anyone else ever has, consistently, in that car, so definitely yes.

Lee Montgomery: The question you have to ask in that situation is, "Is Joe the best guy I can get for that car?" If you believe he is, then of course bring him back. Can Hendrick do better? Well, Tony Stewart is already signed, so I'd have to say no. I'm not sure Brian Vickers is ready yet, and I know Kyle Busch isn't.

Marty Smith: Absolutely. Nemechek is a race winner and has helped return the 25 team to respectability. I'd have given him one more year in the car to get Brian Vickers and Kyle Busch ready for Winston Cup, and then send him off the right way.

Ryan Smithson: Tough, tough call. At this point, I am going to say no. I'd put either one of his two kids in the car and get that program jump-started. Saying that, I think Joe will always be able to find a job. He's better than a lot of guys.

Marty Smith: So, once again, Smithson stands alone. Imagine that.

Ryan Smithson: Man, Marty, get off my case. Someone's allowed to disagree with you from time to time.

Lee Montgomery: People say it's sad how we pick on Ryan.

Marty Smith: It's great to disagree, when what you say makes sense. Problem is, you open your pie hole WAY before you think about what you're saying. Example: Blasting me last weekend for saying CO is carbon monoxide.

Send a nice letter Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Ryan Smithson: CO is Colorado. Anyways, back to Nemechek.

Dave Rodman: Actually, Schrader used to be a awesome in that car -- but that was back in the day -- so Joe has been the best "modern era" driver for the 25.

Marty Smith: Exactly, Dave. That team has been abysmal in recent years. Nadeau won at Atlanta in it, but Nemechek has been good at several tracks this year. He deserved to be in it next year.

Ryan Smithson: That is a tad premature, Rodman, he ain't even been with them a year.

Lee Montgomery: Joe has been very good in that car, even though some of the finishes haven't been that great. He and Sospenzo are a good combination.

Send a mean letter Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Ryan Smithson: Joe's really struggled in the second half, and a poor second half does not help sponsor searches.

Marty Smith: Ryan, it's not like the 25 car is the only car with sponsor issues.

Do you guys remember when people suggested that Terry Labonte needs to retire?

Marty Smith: Sure. It was less than a year ago.

Lee Montgomery: Yeah, isn't that funny now?

Ryan Smithson: He's got a real shot at finishing 9th or 10th this year. Amazing comeback.

Marty Smith: Nothing could be more fitting for that event than for him to win it. But it's not like he fell into it. He's been strong all year.

	Mark, after you win the race, be sure to keep your head tucked in on the backflip, and you'll be OK. Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: Sure, Newman dominated, but Terry had qualified third. He was there all weekend.

Dave Rodman: You would have to be pretty deep inside the inner workings at HMS not to possibly come to that conclusion. Though if you did suggest that, you wouldn't be giving Terry much credit. That team was in pretty big disarray, though, and they've done a great job to come back and probably finish top-10 in the standings.

Marty Smith: The biggest thing for Terry and Jim Long was the new Monte Carlo body style. That got them back to even with the rest of the field. They were admittedly way behind, and they were no longer playing catch-up. They could be forward thinking, which is huge in today's Winston Cup.

Lee Montgomery: Doesn't hurt to have an owner who believes in you, either. Hendrick took some heat for not dumping Terry, and he should be commended for sticking with him.

Dave Rodman: I think it's a dead even horse race -- obviously being a point apart that's a superfluous statement -- but whoever is best over the last 11 races will be there, and I think both Terry and Tony will be there.

Marty Smith: Boys, Terry could win again this weekend. He said so himself in the post race interview Sunday. He wasn't looking at Darlington as the place he would have a shot to win. He was looking at Richmond.

	Chrisitian, when I lap you, be sure to move to the side, like this, OK? Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: I can see why Hendrick kept Terry, though. Sponsor loves him, and he is not going to go out and go through $2 million in equipment per year.

Ryan Smithson: Terry's really been good on plate tracks this year -- as have all the Chevys -- so he'll probably be good at Talladega, too.

Marty Smith: Well said, Smithson. There's much to be said these days for good sponsor relations and intact racecars.

Dave Rodman: I'll tell ya why I love the guy. Well after dark Sunday, he was in the garage area with the crew, pounding cold ones. That's old school -- my kinda guy.

Ryan Smithson: Labonte has improved in four straight races. And he has 18 straight finishes of 25th or better.

Dave Rodman: Whoa -- where's stat boy been these last few weeks?

Marty Smith: Speaking of old school, how cool was his victory lap with the checkered flag? No burn out, no standing atop the window in Victory Lane.

Marty Smith: Stay boy is back. Smithson should run for governor of California.

Lee Montgomery: I loved it when he took the flag. Act like you've been there before kind of thing

Ryan Smithson: I don't know. That sets a bad precedent. Next thing you know, Kyle Busch will want the checkered flag for finishing 10th.

Marty Smith: Dude, that burnout after finishing second sucked.

	This is the damage Jimmy Spencer inflicted on his car after it talked back to him. Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: What a joke. It's a good thing Brian Vickers doesn't have Jimmy Spencer on speed dial.

Lee Montgomery: Brian's a great kid. Kind of reminds me a little bit about Terry Labonte.

Marty Smith: That was Vickers' moment. Busch said the team's one-two finish warranted it. I say bull crap. Hopefully he was watching Terry Labonte Sunday.

Lee Montgomery: Vickers does his job, runs up front, doesn't run his mouth. Need more like him.

Will Terry make it two in a row?

Dave Rodman: If he can hold off Robby Gordon he will. I think Terry certainly could win at Richmond. Those guys have been building up to this all season. Momentum counts for a lot.

Ryan Smithson: Nah. He'll score a top five. Stewart's got to break out sometime.

Lee Montgomery: He very well could. So could Nemechek -- at Richmond anyway.

Marty Smith: No, but he'll get close. He'll finish in the top-five, along with the other three Hendrick cars.

	Dad gum it, Terry beat us to it. Credit: Autostock

Lee Montgomery: I'm going with Kenseth. He's due. Overdue. Like a library book.

Ryan Smithson: Kenseth will probably win Dover by 10 seconds.

Marty Smith: I'm driving to Dover. Ugh. This damn eye injury.

Ryan Smithson: At first, I was like, "man, the champ should have more wins than that."

But Kenseth's taking risks -- not coasting. He's trying his ass off to actually win. That changed my mind.

Dave Rodman: I think for the momentum factor, Terry would get the call over Joe. If you look at it that way, Matt definitely ought to defend at Richmond. Their season has been unconsciously phenomenal.

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

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.