Track Smack: Atlanta

What did y'all think of Kevin Harvick's gamesmanship of Matt Kenseth at Martinsville?

Dave Rodman: All's fair in a championship battle. The only ones that are really taking it to heart, I think, are thin-skinned, one-dimensional fans of a particular driver that can't see another side to anything. The Web site gaffe was, however, unfortunate.

Ryan Smithson: I thought it was pretty funny. Let's not sugarcoat anything -- this has been an exceptionally boring points race, and Harvick injected a drop of life into it. It won't make much difference, but it was comical.

Lee Montgomery: Let him play it. What's the big deal anyway? A lot of sports these days is mouthing off about someone else anyway, so who cares? Let him talk. I doubt it'll bother Kenseth too much. And it won't make a dent.

Marty Smith: I think it's hysterical. Kevin was torqued at having found Kenseth championship T-shirts online and chose to sound off about it. I loved it. Somebody needs to kick this points race in the pants.

Dave Rodman: I wasn't picking on Matt's fans, there -- that comment referred to any fans that take offense to anything anyone says that might seem like it is offensive to "their" driver.

Lee Montgomery: There is no points race. The only points race is for second. And Kevin better not look over his shoulder.

Marty Smith: I said the same thing, Lee, but it's wild to see how much ground these cats are making up. Newman's made up 317 points in five races. That's unbelievable.

Ryan Smithson: Heck, no, Lee, not with Atlanta coming up. Newman's trying to punch it in for 10 wins. Newman has every victory for Dodge this year. That is amazing. Or appalling. Which means Dodge would be blanked if Penske had stayed with Ford.

Harvick's comments  "It's a lot of confidence for an organization that has screwed up championships in the past," Harvick says. "You'd think Jack Roush would know better than to count his chickens before they hatch. But, it might all work out for him in the end. I know I sure wouldn't be selling championship merchandise if I were him. There's no way I'd jinx myself like that."

Dave Rodman: Matt can't relax an ounce. If the gang does what Matt allowed them to gain three races ago -- bingo! Horse race again.

Lee Montgomery: Well, I stand by what I said a month ago. It's Kenseth's to lose.

Marty Smith: Matt couldn't care less what Kevin says, though, boys. Hell, he may not even know Kevin said it.

Lee Montgomery: And that's the best way, the only way, to approach it.

Ryan Smithson: It ain't over until it's over. When you come to a fork in the road, take it. Ninety percent of driving is half mental.

Dave Rodman: All right, Yogi Smithson.

Marty Smith: Take your Ritalin, Smithson.

Ryan Smithson: Glad you got the reference, Rodman. Marty, you need to watch more SportsCentury.

Lee Montgomery: The last thing Kenseth should do is get into games with Harvick.

So Scott Riggs threw his hat into the Rookie of the Year ring. Who will be the top rookie next year?

Lee Montgomery: Lest anyone think I'm a Vickers fan (and by the way, who picked him last week to win the Busch title? and who took over the points lead?) Vickers.

Send a mean letter Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Ryan Smithson: I don't think it will be Riggs. Brian Vickers will have the advantage of better equipment, more resources and better teammates. Remember, Jimmie Johnson came in from the Busch Series and set the series on its ear.

Lee Montgomery: Good team, great equipment.

Ryan Smithson: I still think Riggs is doing a smart thing -- go to a smaller team, get it up and going again, finish in the top 20 two straight years, and write your own check to a powerhouse team.

Marty Smith: I'll go with Riggs. He's more mature to handle the off-track pressures. No one can prepare a driver for that, and Vickers will be under far more pressure than Riggs will.

Send a nice letter Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Dave Rodman: I still don't think Brian will win the Busch championship (that's my old school showing through), but unless someone or something comes in from the wilderness that we don't know about, Brian will win the Winston Cup Rookie of the Year title next year.

Ryan Smithson: I think Scott Wimmer's in for a big struggle. He has a steep learning curve ahead, and it doesn't look like he will even have a teammate.

Marty Smith: Riggs was certainly interested in DEI, but he can't commit to a team still trying hard to land a sponsor. Valvoline has ownership share in the 10, so he knows they'll be there. Very smart move for Scotty.

Dave Rodman: Best thing that could happen to Scott would be if Bill Davis could get Bootie to come back. No knock to Frankie (Stoddard), but Scott and Bootie had it going on in Busch at the end of 2002 and if they could recapture that, they could compete.

	Let's see: Milk, bread, butter......Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: Marty, I disagree with you on the Rookie of the Year prediction, but I know one thing -- the boys over there have got to be pumped about having Riggs in the car. He'll mash the gas for those guys. Probably sit on some poles.

Marty Smith: I agree with you about Wimmer, Smithson. Bill Davis Racing has fallen way behind the curve. They're struggling to stay above water right now.

Ryan Smithson: Wimmer's a fine pilot. But BDR has not been the consistent team of the late 1990s. And certainly not since they dropped Pontiac.

Lee Montgomery: Hard to believe, but that's the nature of this business now.

Dave Rodman: I think the 10 would get pounded next year, unless their driver and crew chief hit it off extremely well. They are struggling now -- with a veteran driver.

Lee Montgomery: I wonder what car they'll run next year.

Marty Smith: Disagree all you want, man. But I'm telling you, the outside distractions that Cup rookies face is unbelievable. Vickers is 19 years old. A mature 19, sure, but 19 nonetheless.

Ryan Smithson: Now, Rodman talked about Robert Barker earlier this year. I remember earlier in the year he enjoyed tremendous amounts of positive press about what he did for Jasper. And to see him leave was bizarre. That ship took on water quick.

Lee Montgomery: I wonder what car Jasper will run next year.

Ryan Smithson: Dodge.

Lee Montgomery: And Davis, all-knowing Mr. NASCAR?

	Did you buy your Matt Kenseth championship T-shirt yet, Dale? Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: Pontiac. Wimmer and Barker ran a Pontiac in the Busch Series in 2002. But it's all ball bearings these days, Lee. Everyone knows that!

Lee Montgomery: Don't tell me my business, boy!

Ryan Smithson: Sorry, that was on last night.

Lee Montgomery: Maybe you need a refresher course.

Marty Smith: One wonders how many manufacturers would be chomping at the bit to get BDR. They've fielded every make out there -- and left every last one of them at some point.

Lee Montgomery: Toyota?

Ryan Smithson: Good point, Marty. They are pretty much 0-for-4, right?

Ryan Smithson: They ran a Chevy in the Busch Series sometime. Forget when. Help me out.

Marty Smith: Bridges burn easily in NASCAR, boys.

Ryan Smithson: Bridges are napalmed -- not burned -- in NASCAR.

	Inmate No. 0000000018, turn to the front, please. Click.

Lee Montgomery: And Fords with Gordon way back when.

Dave Rodman: All they've done is won in just about every manufacturer. Don't think they ever ran Fords though, since the Busch Series with Gordon. And they won there. So to me, they're a proven commodity.

Lee Montgomery: That's one way to spin mediocrity, I guess.

Marty Smith: Well, they won Dodge the dad-gummed Daytona 500 and Dodge dropped them like a bad habit, Dave.

Dave Rodman: These guys demand absolute loyalty and that's not a totally bad thing. If they crossed the line, BDR deserved to get dropped, I guess.

Who will win at Atlanta? Y'all were 0-for-4 last week, idiots.

Lee Montgomery: Shows how much we care.

Ryan Smithson: I won, though. I said Dale Jarrett. Wait, Rodman picked Stewart. He was closest. I think everyone will agree that the 20 is the man to beat this weekend though.

Lee Montgomery: Sure.

Marty Smith: Naw. Harvick.

Lee Montgomery: Newman.

Dave Rodman: I just hope they replay that Gordon and Labonte fender-scraping duel from the spring. That was pretty thrilling -- though I have to confess I had completely forgotten about it until I saw a clip last night. Take a pick: Junior, Newman, Harvick, Stewart, Gordon, Labonte or Kenseth.

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

The opinions -- if you can call them that -- are solely those of the participants.