I should have been born in Florida if they are going to throw me a parade in December!
January 1, 2004
11:11 AM EST (1611 GMT)
Was changing crew chiefs the answer to Rusty Wallace's problems?
Ryan Smithson: Not sure. But I know that changing the driver is not an option, so this was something that had to be done. The whole "two winless season" thing has been beat to death in the media, and for good reason. Everybody, it seems, wins these days. Except Rusty.
Lee Montgomery: Probably not. But we all know that when things don't go as well as teams want, the crew chief is usually the first to go. I don't think Wilburn was the problem.
Marty Smith: I don't think so. I think it's bigger than that. Billy Wilburn and Rusty went back a long way, so they knew each other's quirks and tendencies. One thing about Rusty is he makes the final decisions on that racecar, and the crew chief has to be willing to relinquish that responsibility.
Dave Rodman: He went from Fords to Dodges just fine, so I don't think the racecars will be much of an issue -- but what will be, is whether there is enough trust there for Rusty to let go and let Carter run the program.
Lee Montgomery: By the way, Larry Carter is a homeboy, so I'm pulling for him. We went to the same high school and college. He'll certainly be in the spotlight this year, and I hope he makes Garner, N.C. and N.C. State proud.
Ryan Smithson: Larry Carter did a fine job this year, but changing to Dodges will be an adjustment. I don't expect them to get out of the box quickly.
Marty Smith: Heck yeah he did a great job at BACE, Smithson. Sponsorless team that ran well several times. I remember at one point last year, I think it was Chicago, the 74 was slower than the team thought it should be. So Hendrick Motorsports let them borrow a motor. They went to sixth on the speed chart.
Ryan Smithson: I don't think Rusty is getting too old though. Not like D.W. did. I think Rusty still has five years left in him.
Lee Montgomery: Funny, but Larry was crew chief for D.W., too.
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Ryan Smithson: Sure was. 66 team.
Dave Rodman: Larry needs to get in the same position that Robin Pemberton was in before he left Penske. He and Rusty had a lot of mutual respect but if Rusty needed to be put in his place, I think Robin neatly put him there -- and Rusty accepted that. As close as they obviously were, I don't think Rusty ever let Billy into the same position.
Ryan Smithson: So what is Wilburn going to go do now, guys?
Dave Rodman: He said he was staying at Penske's, and with his history there and the fact that he maintained a good relationship with everyone, I don't think that's too much of a stretch. Their "third team," if it comes to fruition, may be an option.
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Marty Smith: Rusty will win in 2004. He's been begging for softer tires. Now, he's got them.
Lee Montgomery: Yeah, no more excuses.
Ryan Smithson: Three major beer cars in 2003, only two wins for the lot.
Lee Montgomery: Mercy. You have that written down somewhere?
Marty Smith: Wilburn will catch on. He's way too credentialed in this gig not to have people blowing up his phone daily.
Lee Montgomery: As for Wilburn, who knows? I know he's a smart guy, and I thought he did a good job.
Marty Smith: And he's a good guy, too.
Ryan Smithson: He won't stay with Penske? That is sad that he would have to move.
Marty Smith: Pride is big, Ryan. And when a team says 'We don't want you,' it's tough to stay around.
Dave Rodman: I don't think Billy is an egomaniac -- he's a racer and I think he would be happy enough to stay at Penske.
Lee Montgomery: Hard to go from crew chief to something else.
Ryan Smithson: Raymond Fox did it. Then again, he's family at Yates. Had to say that before y'all opened fire on me.
Marty Smith: Shawn Parker is a better example. They brought in Mike Ford and Shawn said, peace, I'm gone.
Ryan Smithson: Where's he going?
Marty Smith: I haven't heard, but he's the man.
Dave Rodman: RYR is a case of two many egos and not enough programs. It's too bad, if they were going to go Frankenstein like they did, that they did not have a third team to install under Todd Parrott, then reunite Raymond and Shawn on the 38 car. If you remember, they had it going on at the beginning of the season, and it's a shame NONE of them showed much after it got dismembered.
Ryan Smithson: You know, I can't imagine the stress Parker endured in 2003.
Marty Smith: No one can.
Ryan Smithson: I saw a sheet one time that listed different stress factors. Losing a spouse was listed 100, changing jobs was like 70, etc. Anything that added up to over 150 was Job-like stress.
Dave Rodman: Huh? That makes the assumption that working equals stress. Some of us happen to really enjoy our jobs, don't you think?
Lee Montgomery: Find that in Cosmopolitan? Did you take a "How to be a better lover" test?
Ryan Smithson: No, a sociology book. No, but I probably need to take it.
Marty Smith: Statboy has taken his knowledge to another plateau. He has now gone from Mel Kiper Jr. to Dr. Phil.
Ryan Smithson: I got another, Marty.
Lee Montgomery: Dr. Statboy,
Ryan Smithson: In 2000, Sports Illustrated said that Shawn Parker was the crew chief of the future.
Dave Rodman: Obviously, they didn't take into consideration team or organizational stability.
Jerry Nadeau tested last week. What are your thoughts on his recovery?
Lee Montgomery: Sounds like he is taking his time getting ready, and that's a very smart thing. You can't rush a recovery from a head injury.
Dave Rodman: It seems like he has a pretty good focus on the big picture, and that is the best thing. If he comes back, it will be huge, because so much in racing is pure frustration when you don't have the extraneous factors working against you.
Ryan Smithson: I am thinking that I hope he has a Ricky Craven-type comeback.
Marty Smith: I'm excited for him that he's back in the seat. It's got to be so invigorating after a slow, frustrating recovery. I'm glad he's not rushing, as Lee said.
Ryan Smithson: Ricky Craven's success post-injury did a lot to quell sentiment about hiring guys who have been hurt.
Dave Rodman: But it said everything about the amount of time it takes to do it right.
Lee Montgomery: It's got to be hard on Jerry to have to do this so slowly, but that's got to be the way to do it. Listen to the doctors. They're the ones with the degrees on the wall.
Marty Smith: Ricky Craven is a walking miracle.
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Ryan Smithson: I think a guy with a wife and kids will be more patient about returning to the sport. If a driver is single, then his driving is probably 1-2-3 in his life. Makes it tougher to be patient.
Marty Smith: Valid point, Smithson. Every decision is far less self-centered when you have a family.
Ryan Smithson: Glad y'all didn't rip me. Again. But if Nadeau had been single, he would have tried to come back already. A wife and kids makes you realize that it's just a sport.
Marty Smith: I don't know about that, Smithson. I think, honestly, he'd have come back in '04, but not during the '03 season. I don't know that the guys at MB2 would have let him.
Dave Rodman: Exactly, Marty. I don't think Jerry has the means to do anything on his own, and the team, rightfully so, is keeping a pretty good rein on him.
Ryan Smithson: That is what I meant, Marty, 2004.
Ryan Smithson: We nearly lost him. I still shudder. That was a long weekend. Thank the Lord he made it.
Track Smack appears every Wednesday on NASCAR.com at 11 a.m. ET sharp. Even in the offseason.
The opinions -- if you can call them that -- are solely those of the participants.
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