Track Smack: Phoenix

Marty Smith is on vacation. He'll be back in two weeks.

Were you guys surprised that Pontiac got the boot for 2004?

Ryan Smithson: I was extremely surprised but I guess we should have seen this coming. Joe Gibbs pretty much put the bullet in them when he left. And we know that Cal Wells, their only winner this year, will probably go the Toyota route. So unless they attracted more teams, they were going to be toast anyway.

Lee Montgomery: When a Pontiac driver (Johnny Benson) says he's surprised, then maybe we should all be surprised. It's weird that this comes a year after Pontiac rolls out a new car.

Dave Rodman: Like you say, Ryan, sometimes you roll with the flow so long you feel like the wave will never end. Yes, initially I was surprised, but if you think about it, it was probably inevitable. I think the biggest thing it is going to do is make a lot of people re-evaluate their programs. I think some borderline teams might be history as a result of this move.

Ryan Smithson: It's kind of a sad day. I had a soft spot in my heat for the old Pontiacs. I always used them in sim games because it was a good all-around car. And it still is.

Lee Montgomery: Dave, borderline Pontiac teams? Like who?

Dave Rodman: Borderline teams in general. The gist I got from listening to GM teleconference was if a team can't help them -- either win races or win championships -- they'll be pretty disinclined to do much to help them, either.

Lee Montgomery: I still love how Richard Petty says "Ponyac."

Send a mean letter Ryan Dave Lee

Dave Rodman: In that respect, I hate to say, the only team that is truly across the border is PPI -- they're the only one that's won.

Ryan Smithson: I wonder if Dodge or Ford will make a play for a team or two. Dodge has got to want to replace Bill Davis Racing. Now's their chance.

Dave Rodman: They did replace one of them, with BAM. But they might still be looking.

Ryan Smithson: I think the team this affects the most is Morgan-McClure. They already need a sponsor and driver. Now they need a dad-blamed manufacturer. There's not left that they do need!

Lee Montgomery: Dave might be right. Some of these teams might be screwed.

Send a nice letter Ryan Dave Lee

Ryan Smithson: Somebody's going to want Ward Burton, Lee. But not too sure about the 4 car. Unless Chevy takes them back. I can't see them running a Ford. That is sacrilege.

Dave Rodman: That's what I mean -- we could be looking at a bunch of short Winston Cup Series fields next year for simple lack of teams.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you always get all hyper about "short Winston Cup fields." Yet, it never happens. You cry that every week it seems. There won't be any short fields next year either. Or the year after that. Or the year after that.

Dave Rodman: Ain't just me, son. Things aren't all as rosy as they could be in Winston Cup land.

Lee Montgomery: Nothing against Dave, but it is funny to see some fields get filled with these hangers-on. NASCAR must have a department just to scramble to get teams to a particular track on a particular weekend.

Ryan Smithson: Of course not! People are broke these days! But 43 cars will still show up for $60,000 last-place checks!

Lee Montgomery: As long as NASCAR makes it worth their while, they will.

Dave Rodman: Well, if you think that's legitimate, you better keep stroking harder to keep up with the canoe -- you fell out a couple dozen strokes back.

	Man. I hate Monday races. I forgot to tape The View.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you can still be a field-filler for $3 million in the Winston Cup Series. Bottom purse money -- if you make 30-34 races -- is nearly half that, if not more.

Ryan Smithson: Anyways, back to Pontiacs, dudes. You reckon they didn't see the point since Toyota was on the horizon anyway?

Lee Montgomery: Why is everyone so scared of Toyota?

Ryan Smithson: Same reason they were of Dodge.

Lee Montgomery: And?

Ryan Smithson: Influx of cash at time when people need cash.

Lee Montgomery: What has Dodge done? Turned the world on its ear, haven't they?

Ryan Smithson: No, they haven't, and I see your point.

Lee Montgomery: I mean, really, Toyota will do a fine job, but if you think they're going to come in here and dominate immediately, you're dumber than you look.

Dave Rodman: They said that had nothing to do with it. Simply rebranding the brand and realigning their support program. They said Pontiac will still be in racing, they just don't know where. Problem is, if they ain't in Winston Cup seems they might as well not be much of anywhere else.

Ryan Smithson: Dave, that is the statement of the day, man.

Lee Montgomery: Pontiac wasn't exactly lighting it up anyway. So if GM drops them, who will really miss them?

Who is the man to beat at Phoenix?

Lee Montgomery: Pontiac goes out in style: Joe Nemechek. I'm kidding.

Ryan Smithson: Maybe not, Lee. He wins the most random races.

	Best tag line of the week, from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: You've got rail

Lee Montgomery: Tony Stewart. Then he bails on the winner's interview.

Ryan Smithson: That would be classic.

Ryan Smithson: At least he'd have the money to pay the fine.

Lee Montgomery: I'll go with Matt Kenseth. Roush has won three in a row there, and Kenseth is due.

Lee Montgomery: Fine? What fine?

Ryan Smithson: No fine, yet, but I'll bet they'd fine him.

Lee Montgomery: Like it would help. What's so hard about answering five or six questions anyway?

Ryan Smithson: I'll play Tony Stewart for you. Why do I have to answer questions? Most of them are stupid anyway.

Lee Montgomery: It's part of your job.

Ryan Smithson: "Hey, Tony, so talk about your win."

Lee Montgomery: Most of the answers are more stupid.

Ryan Smithson: Not arguing there.

Ryan Smithson: Golf and baseball reporters ask dumber questions though. Some reporter asked Josh Beckett why Texas pitchers are the best. I wanted to reach through the screen and choke him.

	Can I have a corner of that umbrella, Ryan? Credit: AP

Dave Rodman: If you've never asked a dumb question, quit throwing rocks.

Lee Montgomery: No such thing as a dumb question anyway. I also don't understand why so many folks think people in the media are out to get them.

Ryan Smithson: They asked Don Larsen if it was the greatest game he ever pitched. If that isn't dumb, not sure what is.

Dave Rodman: Like Lee said, there is no dumb question. You have to give someone an opportunity to phrase a response. It's not our job to imagine what they're feeling.

Lee Montgomery: Ryan, I'm not sure you should be sitting there criticizing reporters. No offense.

Ryan Smithson: I can't surmise whether a question is stupid or not?

Lee Montgomery: Get off your high horse. Like you've never asked or said something stupid. And it's easy to be critical from where you're sitting.

Ryan Smithson: I have asked plenty of dumb ones. Just not as dumb as the ones asked Larsen or Beckett.

Lee Montgomery: Like I was always taught, there's no such thing as a dumb question.

	I swear, I have to do everything around here.

Ryan Smithson: All I am saying is I can see why Tony didn't want to go to the media center. If his sponsor doesn't have a problem with it, then we shouldn't.

Lee Montgomery: Then you aren't a reporter. Tony doesn't want to go in the media center? Tough. That's his job.

Ryan Smithson: Why, Lee? Why in the world? I am really trying to understand your point, Lee. You ever covered a baseball game? Some of those guys are tough to run down, no?

Lee Montgomery: Look at it from the other perspective. Next time Tony wins, suppose no one feels like talking to him. Can't have it both ways.

Ryan Smithson: Football game? Basketball? What makes a race driver different?

Lee Montgomery: Racing is no different. Athletes need to realize dealing with the media is part of their job. Period.

Dave Rodman: If you are a professional, every aspect of the job comes in the description. A true professional like Jeff Gordon has made that adjustment very well, thank you very much.

Lee Montgomery: And if you don't want to deal with the media, go back to the Indianapolis Speedrome.

Ryan Smithson: I agree with what you said. But we've never been on their side either, so I don't want to judge, you know?

	Bill Elliott checks out the latest Vegas odds on his retirement Credit: AP

Lee Montgomery: What difference does that make?

Ryan Smithson: You can't see it just one way.

Lee Montgomery: There is only one way. So a driver is supposed to ignore the media?

Ryan Smithson: Nope. But not have to grovel to them either.

Ryan Smithson: I like what Rodman said. Jeff Gordon has a nice balance.

Lee Montgomery: Who said they have to grovel? Not me. Just answer questions and be professional. And most drivers are professional.

Ryan Smithson: Lee, which ones aren't?

Dave Rodman: It's not that they're unprofessional -- they're unbalanced, as you put it. I understand they don't much want to deal with the media at times, but it simply comes with the territory, and if you want to be in the territory, you got to deal with the ants.

Lee Montgomery: Media = ants?

Ryan Smithson: Well, Lee, maybe you didn't want to answer my question. I guess I can issue you a fine for not being professional.

Dave Rodman: No. Not exactly. I actually spun myself out on that one. Should have said, if you want to have a picnic, you got to deal with the ants. But that would still make us ants, wouldn't it?

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you're not an ant. You can't lift half your weight, much less four times your weight.

Lee Montgomery: No, I didn't answer it because I am professional. No need to stir the pot.

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.