(dis)believe the dialogue: Weekly news in review

With Dale Jarrett clearly stuck in harm's way during a caution at Loudon, it is pretty clear now that NASCAR should finally have enough incentive to put an end to the so-called "gentlemen's agreement" and put driver safety first. (Full story)

Further, as Terry Labonte recently stated during a chat, "I don't think there are quite as many gentlemen as there used to be." Amen to that.

And who is hotter than Kevin Harvick? In the last seven races, Harvick's average finish is 5.8. Watch out Junior, here comes Happy.

Before we get canceled because of the hurricane, here is this week's analysis ...

See if you agree with the "DIS" of what has been reported, or maybe you "BELIEVE" everything you read, because if it is printed, it is true ... right?

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Elliott: DIS

This is where I stand on the soapbox again for the little guy and continue to preach that something needs to get done about "major league" drivers participating in minor league sports.

EMAIL Email Elliott Email Marty

What does Jimmy Spencer have to prove by dominating a Truck Series race?

That he can win one? Same goes for Tony Stewart or Kevin Harvick.

Listen, the Truck Series championship race, as well as the Busch Series race, have competitive, regular drivers within points of each other. Why are we not letting their regulars fight it out without outside, Winston Cup interference?

NASCAR is tainting the crowning of a champion in these lower series by allowing Winston Cup drivers to steal away points from regulars. Period.

If Kvapil or Vickers fall short in their respective title hunts by a couple dozen points due to what I term "interference," they should take the time to run the points standings statistics after removing the non-regulars. It might be an eye-opening experience.

Marty: BELIEVE

	Spencer, the latest truckwacker. Credit: AP

Goodness, Elliott, who peed in your Cheerios, man? I understand your point, but whoa it down a bit and see it for what it is - an intelligent business decision. Jimmy Smith, Spencer's boss and owner of Ultra Motorsports, was placed in a difficult position when Jason Leffler departed Ultra in favor of the No. 0 Winston Cup car. Suddenly, Smith was left without a pilot for the team's bread and butter, its very foundation -- the No. 2 truck.

Therefore, Smith called on Spencer for help. Makes sense. Smith is already paying Spencer to drive a Winston Cup car, and the Trucks were running tandem with Winston Cup at both Richmond and Loudon.

So why pay the extra money -- or take the time to draw up a contract -- to bring an outside entity along? I'd rather see Hank Parker, Jr. in that thing, to be honest, but I understand Smith's thinking. Hell, Spencer won the race. Who would question it? (Besides Elliott, anyway.)

And that whole Buschwhacker/Truckwacker deal? It's played out, man.

Shut up and race.

For those of you complaining about the points system, let's take a deeper look at Ryan Newman's season (remembering that he has also won 6 races).

He had a bad stretch back in April of four straight finishes of 39th or worse, but even if he had finished 20 positions higher in each of those races, he would still be just under 400 points out of the lead (382), but in second in the standings rather than fifth.

Even if NASCAR awarded a ridiculous 50 bonus points for a win, he would still be 132 points out. If Matt Kenseth is crowned Champion with just one victory, he clearly deserves it, and the points prove it.

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Marty: BELIEVE

This can be summed up very quickly -- this is the smartest move Petty Enterprises has made all year. I have long been, and continue to be, of the opinion that Jeff Green is one of the best short track drivers alive.

And considering the abysmal season the No. 43 team has experienced, he'll help them tremendously.

Plus, for the first time ever in Winston Cup, he can go out and just get on the throttle. He'll have no pressure. He has absolutely nothing to lose.

Elliott: BELIEVE

	How many driver uniforms does Jeff Green have now? Credit: Autostock

WOOHOO! Way to go Petty Enterprises! It only took six straight finishes of 31st or worst (including a recent stretch of two straight 43rds) to make a driver change, even if it is just for Dover.

We all know Jeff Green has experience -- heck, he has even driven for two of the top teams in the Winston Cup garage this season (Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Richard Childress Racing).

Green has been passed around like a hot potato in 2003, but he should be able to give the No. 43 Dodge a good run for The King this weekend.

In the last two fall events at Dover, Green has two top-20 starts and a top-15 finish. Certainly that would be a vast improvement over the recent performance of the Cheerios Dodge.

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Elliott: BELIEVE

It is a shame it took Ricky Rudd and the Wood Brothers this long to click, but things are definitely looking up for the No. 21 team.

	Is Rudd on the rebound? Credit: Autostock

I know, he is still 23rd in the points (even behind Sterling Marlin and Ward Burton, neither of which have a top-5 finish in 2003), but he has two straight top-3 finishes.

Further, Rudd is no slouch at Dover. Since 1996 (15 total starts), Rudd has finished outside of the top 20 only twice. He also recorded a win back in 1997, and has accumulated an average starting and finishing position rank of 12th.

Look for Rudd to again challenge for the checkered flag this weekend, and perhaps sneak into the top-15 before the season is out, which would be a big victory after a rough season.

Marty: BELIEVE

Want to know the biggest reason Ricky Rudd has prospered the past two weekends? Two words: Short track.

Aside from the fact that Rudd is an established short track talent - seven of his 23 career wins have come on tracks one-mile or shorter -- venues such as Richmond and New Hampshire nullify the aerodynamic advantages enjoyed by larger teams at intermediate tracks and superspeedways.

Wood Brothers Racing needn't concern themselves with aero push or counts of drag. Just build a car with some horsepower that handles and hand the wheel to ol' Rooster. I'll agree with you about Dover, too. There's great potential for Rudd to excel yet again. His four career wins tie him for third all-time, and three of those four have come in the fall event.

The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writers.