Track Smack: Off week

Since we just raced at Rockingham, we figured we'd get a North Carolinian, Steve Matteo, to help us discuss last weekend's events. While we were at it, we grabbed Dodge's Kasey Kahne, who nearly won the damn thing.

Did we just witness the final race at Rockingham?

Marty Smith: I surely hope not, but I wouldn't be surprised. It was gorgeous on Sunday -- perfect temperature, sunny, just gorgeous. I hope ISC is willing to give Rockingham the opportunity to prove itself with a more favorable date, but it doesn't look good.

Dave Rodman: Tough to say. ISC is pretty clandestine in its moves. Chris Browning may find out they're out the morning of the announcement. But it seems a shame that they don't get a chance to stage a race -- which is usually spectacular -- in a reasonable date range for the area the track is located.

Steve Matteo: Somebody said that all the lights on the scoring tower didn't work. Not a great way to convince everyone that we'll be back there any time soon. It would be a shame to lose it, but the big question is: Who gets it?

Lee Montgomery: Boy, I sure as heck hope not. That was the first Cup track I ever went to, and I've got a lot of memories there. So, personally, I'd be pretty upset. Beyond that, it's a great track to race on, as most drivers agree.

Ryan Smithson: Well, the rumors are definitely flying, and the fact that they didn't sell out didn't help. But the TV ratings were outstanding. Maybe that will help. In any event, don't expect the track on the schedule in five years.

Kasey Kahne: I hope not. Rockingham is a great track to race from a driver's standpoint. It creates great finishes because (the drivers) move all over the racetrack as the tires fall off. Too bad they can't fill the stands. Doesn't help their cause.

Marty Smith: The level of racing Rockingham produces is second-to-none. I mean, how the hell can the reason be "it's in the middle of nowhere."? Bristol's in the middle of nowhere, too.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, if they were willing to give them an April or May date, they probably would have done it by now.

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Marty Smith: Not necessarily, Smithson. Not at all.

Lee Montgomery: Yeah, an empty grandstand doesn't really send the right message, Kasey. Not sure who you blame for that.

Steve Matteo: Middle of nowhere doesn't matter. Especially now that Nextel has the new mobile cell towers.

Ryan Smithson: Rockingham's got plenty of hotel space. They hold the U.S. Open right up the road.

Steve Matteo: Ticket prices were extremely reasonable $45 for a seat in the 30th row, that's good.

Send a nice letter Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Dave Rodman: They need to give them one shot, and they most certainly could do it. They can do whatever they want with the schedule, particularly since they own nearly half the racetracks.

Marty Smith: There were still 10,000 empty seats on the backstretch. It was sparse back there. Kasey, what'd it look like coming out of Turn 2?

Lee Montgomery: See any folks eating chicken like Carl Long?

Kasey Kahne: I just think if they could fill it up, NASCAR would want to stay there. The Busch race attendance was terrible.

Send a mean letter Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Lee Montgomery: One would think that if the Rockingham folks knew about the rumors, they'd be promoting like crazy. But they didn't.

Marty Smith: Financially, it makes little sense to stay. Especially considering the financial gain of moving it to Kansas City or Chicago. The big rumor is that it's either going to Phoenix or the date will be sold to Bruton Smith.

	Kasey Kahne sits down to do a little Track Smack.

Steve Matteo: Do you think it is a general "hangover" from Speedweeks? I mean if the fans perception is that they are not going to get the show they got in Daytona, they pass.

Dave Rodman: That's an ISC fault, I bet. When The Rock was a Penske facility, they promoted and did well with it.

Ryan Smithson: Matt, if that race was in May, the ticket prices would be doubled. Not having lights is going to burn them too.

Marty Smith: The word is that Phoenix's multimillion-dollar upgrades have enticed ISC to move the date out there.

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Marty Smith: Obviously, Phoenix in February is nice. See: Spring training.

Kasey Kahne: A different date would definitely help. The weather is at Rockingham in February is very unpredictable.

Dave Rodman: If they filled Rockingham up, they would not have to screw with ticket prices. Plus, being where it is, they have to take that into account with their pricing.

Ryan Smithson: They fixed Phoenix, Marty. It's 10 times better.

Lee Montgomery: I remember some spring races at the Rock getting postponed because of snow!

Marty Smith: Think about the added financial strapping of teams, though. Another West Coast trip costs a fortune, and we're already getting into short fields, etc.

Ryan Smithson: West Coast races just make it easier for the Western late model teams to fill the field up, Marty.

Dave Rodman: You look at the show at Phoenix vs. The Rock -- no comparison, and that's a big shame.

Kasey Kahne: I guess you can't run Phoenix, turn around and go back to Vegas the next week. Way too hard on the teams.

Ryan Smithson: The time difference kills the crews. They got to get up at 5 a.m. and it feels like 8 a.m. to them, so by the time qualifying rolls around, they are shot.

	Good Wally Hunting

Dave Rodman: What percentage of teams do you think could load the Vegas car as the backup for Phoenix, and make one trip out of it? And how many have twin transporters that could make it doable anyway?

Marty Smith: Matt, did you go to Rockingham Sunday? You live 90 minutes away. Did you go or sit at home?

Steve Matteo: I did not go. Definitely looked at prices and thought it was a great deal.

Marty Smith: Dude! Why not? That's why they're going to lose a date!

Steve Matteo: It shocks me that as many fans are in the area, can't pay that for tickets.

Ryan Smithson: See, Marty found the problem.

Steve Matteo: So I'm to blame? Great.

Marty Smith: Know this: Realignment 2004 and Beyond isn't over yet.

Steve Matteo: Marty, where does it max out race wise? How many will they run in 2005?

Marty Smith: There's no way we can add more dates, Matt. We're maxed out now, bro.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, we're going to see more massive change, not just 1-2 dates switching around.

Kasey Kahne: I think ISC is building a track in my neck of the woods soon.

Ryan Smithson: I think you're right, Kasey.

Marty Smith: That's the rumor, Kasey. Seattle.

Ryan Smithson: Way too much smoke going that way.

	I gotta grab this! It'll fetch 100 on eBay!

Marty Smith: Too much rain, too. If they think it rains in Rockingham, wait 'til they get to Seattle.

Ryan Smithson: Could Washington fans fill up a 200,000-seat track at $75 a pop, Kasey?

Kasey Kahne: They would come pretty close.

Dave Rodman: If they go Northwest -- they need to build a Richmond clone. If they do anything BUT that, it would be a major joke.

Lee Montgomery: Yes, no more 1.5-mile tracks, please.

Steve Matteo: The Northwest should get a date.

Lee Montgomery: Build a Rockingham out there.

Kasey Kahne: If they ran out there in July and August, rain won't be a problem.

Ryan Smithson: Seattle's sunny all summer ling, Marty. Winter's what kills them.

	It's OK, Greg. I had Subway for lunch.

Ryan Smithson: Seattle gets less rain per year than Atlanta does. But it's cloudy a heck of a lot more.

Marty Smith: I guess I bought into stereotype. My apologies to ye faithful Northwesterners.

Marty Smith: I used to cover the Truck race at Portland. It rained like hell.

Kasey Kahne: What time of year was it?

Marty Smith: Mid-summer as I recall, though I'm not for certain.

Ryan Smithson: Road course, Marty?

Marty Smith: Yep. Greg Biffle won it.

Dave Rodman: Same weekend as the Indy cars, whenever that was.

Kasey Kahne: But that's Portland. Seattle in July in August is one of the nicest places I've been to and I've been all over the U.S.

Why the off-weekend so early in the season?

Marty Smith: Leap year.

Ryan Smithson: Give the teams a break from Daytona. Trust me, they already need it. They spent all January cutting bodies.

	I love doing interviews!

Lee Montgomery: Why didn't they do it the week after Daytona?

Ryan Smithson: Because they wanted it to be nice and cold for Rockingham. Didn't work though.

Steve Matteo: And rainy. But the weather was awesome.

Marty Smith: When I first saw the schedule I couldn't understand it. But now, I'm elated. Cold beers and chillin' for me.

Kasey Kahne: I think it would be good idea to have the first off-weekend after the spring Bristol race.

Dave Rodman: You're right, Kasey. Anywhere further into the schedule to account for possible postponements.

Lee Montgomery: Not bad. Give time for the tempers to cool off.

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Steve Matteo: I think Dale Jarrett did a great job in Daytona. Obviously, he has some ties to the booth.

Ryan Smithson: I am 100 percent sure we'll see Rusty Wallace somewhere. He's got major talent.

Dave Rodman: I thought of Rusty right away, but I don't know that he's ever shown much interest in doing it.

Marty Smith: Michael Waltrip and Kenny Wallace. Knowledgeable, and not as if we're listening to paint dry.

Steve Matteo: Of course, I would most want to hear Jimmy Spencer sounding off for a few hours. Maybe a Harry Carey-type thing where he calls the start, then goes in to the grandstand, and comes back for the finish.

Lee Montgomery: Michael, of course, but in five years?

Dave Rodman: Yeah, but I'd like to think in five years that both Mikey and Kenny would still be driving.

Ryan Smithson: The thing is, guys, it's profitable. Darrell Waltrip's making more money now than he ever did driving!

Steve Matteo: But DW is not making more than Dale Jarrett is now

Kasey Kahne: Doesn't matter to me as long as they're giving the correct information.

	Guys, have you seen my sunglasses?

Lee Montgomery: Nice. You know who did a good job last year? Kurt Busch. I was impressed. But he's a long way from retirement.

Dave Rodman: I think it's more a function of how many seats would or would not be available rather than who wants to do it.

Marty Smith: If they're both driving in five years that's cool, but this sport's getting younger and younger. I'd be surprised.

Ryan Smithson: Lee, they'd all been decent. But Busch is really good.

Ryan Smithson: How's the media crush, been, Kasey? This ain't Irwindale.

Kasey Kahne: I like it, actually. I knew what I was getting myself in it. It's good to be in demand, because that means you're running well.

Dave Rodman: When you got guys like Buddy Baker, who used to be a lot of fun to listen to, looking in from the outside, well, who you going to dump to give someone else a chance?

Ryan Smithson: I really miss Buddy, Rodman. That hurts.

Steve Matteo: I really liked buddy

Lee Montgomery: I loved it when Kasey said he was more nervous facing the cameras than he was in the car. Gave me the perfect lead to my story.

Kasey Kahne: I really liked Buddy, too.

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Steve Matteo: Why is he gone?

Dave Rodman: Hard to say, Matt. Maybe there's a perception by the producers, or whoever makes those decisions, that the people want "X, Y or Z." That's that they try to deliver, and all of a sudden, if the ratings aren't in the tank, that's what we've got.

Lee Montgomery: I miss Ned Jarrett. He was the best.

Ryan Smithson: Lee, if you played golf, you could see Ned every day if you wanted to.

Ryan Smithson: Kasey, is it distracting to be interviewed while you're in the car for radio or the networks before the green flag? You had to do that yet?

Kasey Kahne: It's not distracting at all. You just knock it out and then get back to what you were doing.

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.