Track Smack: Darlington

Our guest fan this week is Las Vegas resident Julie Harmon, who is a Hendrick Motorsports fan. She's an airline employee who has a higher IQ and more racing knowledge than the four of us combined.

Will the tough schedule coming up (Darlington, Bristol) bring the kids back to earth?

Dave Rodman: It might, but that would imply that you're giving them very little credit for achieving what they already have. It's not like Rockingham is a picnic ground, after all. And plenty of vets have bitten it at Darlington and Bristol, too.

Lee Montgomery: I don't think so. Remember, this isn't only about drivers, so if a team is running well, it will run well at Atlanta, Darlington, wherever. Darlington is difficult, no doubt, but everyone in Nextel Cup has talent.

Julie Harmon: Rookies are going to be given a lot of lessons. Especially the rubbin' is racin' one. How about a good chrome honk to get them educated? The seasoned citizens of the circuit still have it going' on. Look at Texas Terry's win last fall here. They aren't ready to let the kids rule just yet.

Ryan Smithson: The rookies and sophomores have definitely been the story of the young season, and yes, I think the next two weeks will bring them back down to earth somewhat. So much can happen at these tracks. But it's tough for everyone.

Marty Smith: Well one thing's for sure, we know Kahne is a beast on 1.5-milers. But Darlington and Bristol are different animals. This is real racing, where a guy has to manage tires, use a ton of patience and stay completely 110 percent focused for four hours. That's not an easy lesson to grasp. Especially considering that they'll have two less feet of racing room to work with than usual.

Ryan Smithson: The scary thing is, Kahne managed fine at Rockingham. But Darlington's a lot tougher than Rockingham.

Marty Smith: Rockingham is much wider than Darlington, Smithson. If attention wanes even momentarily at Darlington, you're in the fence.

Send a nice letter Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Lee Montgomery: Marty brings up a good point. Darlington will be different for everyone, so maybe rookies will be on equal footing.

Ryan Smithson: Well, the good thing is, this weekend is a 400-mile race. They'll be practically veterans by the time they are forced to run a 500-mile race at Darlington.

Julie Harmon: Makes the 'sperience of the veterans come out. The kids will just be getting it for the first time; easier adjustment.

Dave Rodman: Well, I think the kids are all right. Like I said, they have plenty of talent -- a Salem or a Winchester is as bad as Bristol or Darlington -- the only wild card, like you say, Marty -- is race length.

Send a mean letter Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Marty Smith: The Kids are Alright. Great song.

Ryan Smithson: The Kids Are not all right: Good Offspring song.

Marty Smith: I love Pearl Jam's cover.

Lee Montgomery: Who sang that?

Ryan Smithson: Offspring.

Lee Montgomery: No. Originally, dork.

Ryan Smithson: It was a remake? I had no idea.

Lee Montgomery: How old are you?

	We're pretty sure Brian Vickers wore the same shirt at the MTV appearance (above) and the IMAX premiere (below). Get the boy some new shirts!

Ryan Smithson: Same as Marty. And Julie, help me out here.

Lee Montgomery: Geez.

Julie Harmon: That's dang old.

Marty Smith: What? Smithson. The Offspring? Good Lord, son. The Who, son.

Lee Montgomery: Thank you.

Ryan Smithson: They Call Me the Seeker is the only The Who song I know, and only because I watched American Beauty.

Dave Rodman: Let's get back to racing.

Ryan Smithson: I don't want to get into predictions too early, but man, you know Kenseth's going to be tough again at Darlington. It's probably his best track.

	Credit: Eric Charbonneau/BEI

Marty Smith: Anyway, Darlington will be a landmark race, because with these tires, the downforce package and the SAFER walls, it'll be a far different race than we saw last year. Which, by the way, may have been the best in the sport's history.

Dave Rodman: At least the finish was spectacular. There have been a lot of dog races that had outrageous finishes -- just keeps 'em coming back.

Lee Montgomery: Out of all the tracks we run at, Darlington is probably the toughest. You don't back into a victory there.

Ryan Smithson: I just don't understand the new tire package. All I can tell is that teams' tire bills have got to be off the wall. Every time they come in, every 20 freakin' laps, they change four. $389 a tire.

Marty Smith: One thing's for certain: practice will be crucial. It'll be a fine line between learning the tires and wearing out the engines.

Julie Harmon: I think Kurt Busch will be strong there. Haven't heard much from him yet this year.

Ryan Smithson: Busch is due, you're right, Jules.

LISTEN TO THE SMACK  •  Uh oh -- SAFER barriers at Darlington? Hear what the Track Smackers have to say on this topic!

Marty Smith: Jules? Y'all go to high school together or something?

Ryan Smithson: No. I am not 37.

Julie Harmon: 36, Smithson. Get it right. Statboy.

Ryan Smithson: 37 this year. Sorry.

Julie Harmon: Not until June.

Lee Montgomery: I love it. Getting ripped by the fan.

It's early, but who is the man to beat in the Busch Series?

Julie Harmon: So many Bushwhackers this year. With all these cars running partial schedules due to sponsorship issues, its hard to say, I mean, a guy could be doing well, but only in a certain number of races...

	Man, I gotta get a sunglasses deal. Credit: AP

Dave Rodman: The biggest thing the Buschwhackers do is eliminate the variable you have for a bad race. If you finish behind five Buschwhackers in a combination race that you could have won, then finish 20th in a stand alone that your main competition goes top-five, that's tough to make up.

Lee Montgomery: You said it, It is early. I still think Bobby Hamilton Jr. will be the best in the long run.

Ryan Smithson: I just don't see how Bobby Hamilton Jr. won't win the title by at least 200 points. As far as week-to-week, it'll be Harvick, as usual.

Marty Smith: Bobby Jr. will be awfully tough, but I'm can't overstate how impressed I am with Truex. I thought it'd take him a while to get accustomed to racing at this level, but he's good everywhere.

Dave Rodman: Little Martin has got good bloodlines, and he came up, like a lot of guys did, through some tough racing environments. At DEI he has all kinds of resources and great influences.

Ryan Smithson: Truex can't win the title, Marty. You think he can?

Marty Smith: Sure he can. Why not?

Ryan Smithson: Team's pretty new. Still jelling.

Lee Montgomery: Of course Truex can. He's been good so far.

	Jeremy Mayfield is ready to play Major League Baseball now.

Lee Montgomery: Don't' forget about David Green. But that's probably what he wants us to do.

Julie Harmon: Truex is strong. Good Equipment.

Ryan Smithson: It's asking a lot from Truex to win the title, guys. Especially when 3-4 guys were in the fight last year. Even Harvick needed a warm-up year. That being said, man, he'll be top-five, easy. Maybe next year, if it doesn't move to Cup, he'll dominate.

But I am glad Marty brought him up, he's been forgotten so far.

Lee Montgomery: He won't dominate. But he'll be good. Remember, there's a guy named Kyle Busch who will run next year.

Marty Smith: I think the 25 is a more legitimate option, but there's no questioning that Truex is figuring it out. He was good at Daytona and Rockingham. Struggled a bit at Vegas, but qualified well. And they don't race road courses in the Busch Series. So I'd say he's getting there. In a hurry.

Ryan Smithson: Kyle's gotten off to a real slow start this year, but he'll be OK.

Cool letter we got  It's ridiculous for anyone to ask a driver in the heat of battle to get out of his car after a wreck or similar frustrating situation and expect him to always remain cool.  Put the guys on a five-second delay; don’t ask them to take the emotion out of it.  If there were 43 even-tempered, cool-headed drivers in the cars, it would make for lousy racing.  You want action, you want drama, and you’re going to get some fiery comments and actions. Sometimes those comments or actions will contain a few "bad words" or off color remarks.  Find a way to edit the show, not the driver.  Also, my wife likes Jeff Gordon "cause he is cute."  Airman First Class Joe Graber, currently in Iraq

Julie Harmon: It still cracks me up that Kyle is an official member of the Jeff Gordon Fan Club.

Ryan Smithson: Why? He was eight when Gordon won the inaugural Brickyard.

Marty Smith: Busch will win Darlington this weekend. He may win six, eight races.

Ryan Smithson: Kyle Busch will win 6-8 Busch races?

Marty Smith: Yep.

Ryan Smithson: That is a very bold statement.

Julie Harmon: Wasn't he second in the fall Busch race behind Vickers, Statboy?

Marty Smith: He was. That was the infamous double burnout.

Ryan Smithson: Yes, He was.

Ryan Smithson: That was so dumb.

Dave Rodman: He may win one or two, also -- but he certainly has oodles of potential.

Julie Harmon: Thought I hadn't lost my memory yet.

Dave Rodman: Easy to mingle youthful exuberance with ignorance. Easy to forgive it, too.

Ryan Smithson: Bobby Jr.'s always been a slow starter. He heats up when the weather does.

Predictions for Darlington?

Julie Harmon: Busch.

Ryan Smithson: I hate to beat a dead horse, but I will take Kenseth again. He could have won Atlanta.

Lee Montgomery: So hard to predict. But I can't get one guy out of my head there: Jeff Gordon. He has always been awesome there, and he might be due.

Julie Harmon: Kenseth's my second choice.

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Ryan Smithson: Gordon's a fall Darlington guy, Lee, not a spring.

Lee Montgomery: Doesn't matter this time around.

Ryan Smithson: He wears them out over that final 100 miles.

Julie Harmon: Gordon he wants a win bad

Ryan Smithson: You talked to him, Julie?

Ryan Smithson: I know you know those boys over there.

Julie Harmon: Not today. Just kidding. And yes, I do the Pit Crews For Kids charity there.

Dave Rodman: Jeff Gordon's been lurking along and Darlington is one of his favorites. He's got to make a breakout sooner or later and I like this weekend. Failing that, Kurt is also due -- and don't forget if he hadn't have had that mechanical issue last spring's finish might have never been.

Marty Smith: I'll take Jarrett. I just have a feeling it's his time.

ALSO  We love the NASCAR fans. That is why we want to include you in Track Smack. Mainly because the fans are smarter than we are. Want to be in Track Smack? Email us and tell us why!

Lee Montgomery: And a guy named Stewart is good at Darlington, too.

Marty Smith: Look for Sterling Marlin to excel, too.

Ryan Smithson: Sterling hasn't not run bad this year. His luck's been awful. But he's been overshadowed by his kid teammates.

Julie Harmon: Wow, we are talking all veterans here.

Dave Rodman: If bad luck doesn't take him out, Marty.

Ryan Smithson: Elliott Sadler loves this track. And he had a bad finish at Atlanta. With his inconsistency, that means a top-five this weekend.

Marty Smith: I was thinking about E, Ryan. He sat on the pole at Darlington last year, too. Right before the wheels fell off the team.

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.