Track Smack: Martinsville

Hope everyone enjoyed the off-weekend. We are honored today to be joined by Angela Thompson, an Elliott Sadler fan from Iowa. She is understandably still glowing over Sadler's win at Texas.

NASCAR's looking to cut costs for teams -- what is the first thing they should do?

Lee Montgomery: Eliminate testing. Ricky Craven has said that would eliminate a lot of expense, as teams wouldn't have to make extra trips. We could go in a day or two early to places, and everyone could test then. Of course, as soon as one expense is cut, teams will find another way to spend money.

Ryan Smithson: They should ban testing entirely unless the team has a rookie driver. If then, they should only be able to test at places the rookie needs help (Martinsville, Pocono, etc). Testing eats up a lot of money that could go elsewhere.

Marty Smith: This really doesn't cut costs, but NASCAR has got to start sharing the wealth. The sanctioning body has oodles of official sponsors, and more and more teams are unable to secure full-time sponsorships. To have a game, they must have cars. Without cars, racing is impossible.

Angela Thompson: The elimination of testing does seem like the best way to save money and not hurt performance. The rookies teams should be able to do a few tests, but everyone else has past notes to use, and so many have teammates these days, that they can have a starting point by using a teammate's notes if necessary.

Lee Montgomery: Wow. I had the same answer as Ryan. Maybe I need to re-think this.

Ryan Smithson: Nah, Lee, I just read that big fat head of yours. Not a problem. Go Cubs.

Lee Montgomery: I agree Marty, and sponsorship guys tell me NASCAR has finally realized that and is helping. It's a little late for the 7, 74 and 99, though.

AUDIO CLIPS Too lazy to read Track Smack? We know the feeling. Really, we understand. Check our audio version, where we debate whether Kurt Busch will keep up his hot start. / 8 long minutes, 15 short seconds Listen

Ryan Smithson: Marty, that is a fine idea as far as sharing sponsors, but I will believe that when I see it, I guess. Some companies benefit more from giving NASCAR their money as opposed to a single car.

Marty Smith: Boys, eliminating testing won't happen. Fatback McSwain said if they try to do that, he'll be the first guy in line at the bank to secure a loan to build a testing facility.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, that is scary, but I guess that is true.

Marty Smith: Is it me, or is it a conflict of interest that the same guys are trying to secure sponsors for teams and for NASCAR? They do a phenomenal job, Brett Yormark and his guys up in New York City. Great guys, but it just seems odd to me that they're trying to get sponsors for NASCAR while they're helping teams.

Lee Montgomery: Oh, it definitely is.

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Angela Thompson: I think that NASCAR taking sponsors is a shame - the deal with Nextel was huge. How many associate sponsors do they need? It's sad to see a great car like the 99 without a sponsor and Busch Series cars struggling in a big way for full-time sponsorship or any sponsorship at all.

Lee Montgomery: Or maybe it's a conflict for NASCAR to be going after the same dollars as teams. That definitely is a conflict of interest.

Marty Smith: Well said, Lee. Much better than my feeble attempt.

Send a mean letter Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Ryan Smithson: Do you guys think sharing the TV money will help?

Marty Smith: Uh, yeah.

Lee Montgomery: Well, yes. But how much?

Ryan Smithson: I don't see that as a long-term solution though, because it does not work in other sports.

Marty Smith: NASCAR and the tracks get the bulk of it. And considering how much it actually is, purses are paltry.

Angela Thompson: I just can't see them sharing from their pot. It's much more believable that they would help secure a sponsor for a team.

Lee Montgomery: I know one long-time sponsor told me the other day that he is about priced out.

Ryan Smithson: The cost of tires is ridiculous, why can't they limit the use of sets like they do on Saturdays?

Lee Montgomery: I like that idea, too.

	Cincy Reds players Denny Graves (left) and Sean Casey rejoice after learning Jimmy Spencer had been hired by Morgan-McClure Motorsports.

Ryan Smithson: I know that we've watched companies like Interstate Batteries fight to keep up. I'll bet their entire ad budget goes to Gibbs.

Marty Smith: Yep, I made a call to my buddy who's a tire specialist on the 18, and he told me they're $402 per tire. They use about 13 sets per weekend, on average, so you're looking at 21 grand, man.

Ryan Smithson: $21,000. $21,000. $21,000. $21,000. That is a fifth of the engine cost, when it should be 5-10 percent!

Lee Montgomery: It'd be tough on the teams to have a tire rule, but it would save them from themselves, as it were.

Ryan Smithson: Well, also, it would be interesting to see crew chiefs have to save the tires.

Angela Thompson: I think it would make for some interesting strategy calls. But it was flat-out dangerous at the Texas Busch race when Casey Atwood stayed out in front of the field because he was out of sets. They'd have to rectify that somehow.

Marty Smith: I give NASCAR credit. Proactivity in achieving cost-efficiency is vital, right now. I just hope something comes of it.

Ryan Smithson: It's kind of like the DH rule. It's in one league in NASCAR (Busch Series, three sets of tires) and not in the other (Nextel Cup, unlimited tires). At least NASCAR sees the light. CART didn't, and look what happened to them.

Lee Montgomery: Another good point. Are you sure this is Ryan? I'd love to see the same rules across the board. Like green-white-checker finish.

Angela Thompson: Same rules in all series' would be nice in some ways, although I don't know what I think about adding green-white-checkers to Nextel Cup.

Silly Season has already started -- what is next as far as driver changes go?

Ryan Smithson: I don't see how RCR won't make significant changes to the second or third teams before the season ends. And several other teams have sponsor contracts coming to an end, so this is probably going to be a big year for Silly Season.

	My kid's got a pen if you want an autograph.

Angela Thompson: I would bet money that it's the 30 or 31 that changes first (if you don't count the 4 team). It seems like most of these rumors do pan out in the end. There were rumors about Steve Park last year weeks before it happened. It's usually based on something.

Marty Smith: Word on the street is that Robby Gordon is on his way out of the 31, and Jeff Burton is on his way in. Now, I've not discussed it with Robby, so it's hearsay. But it's been swirling since Darlington.

Lee Montgomery: Since Darlington? Wasn't Robby fifth there? That's odd.

Ryan Smithson: I don't see why it's Robby's job on the line, to be honest. I mean, he has one fewer win than Harvick.

Marty Smith: Hey may have finished fifth in the race, Lee, but in case you've forgotten, we show up at the track on Friday.

Lee Montgomery: I didn't say it was wrong, just odd.

Ryan Smithson: Yeah Marty, you got me there, because he's got to qualify better.

Lee Montgomery: There are several drivers who have been terribly disappointing, but I doubt they're on the hot seat, like Ricky Craven, Ricky Rudd, Michael Waltrip.

Ryan Smithson: It's sad to see Rudd struggle like this.

	Uh, guys, not sure I know how to drive a car with an automatic transmission.

Marty Smith: Jeff Burton is the key player. If that dude hits the market, it'll be a ripple effect throughout the garage. Jeff Burton wouldn't be out of the seat for long. He's a mystery. Rarely do you see a team get to the verge of championship status, and then just seemingly fall apart. I don't get it.

Ryan Smithson: I was reading that book last night, Marty, Men and Speed, and man, people have already forgotten how good that team was.

Angela Thompson: That's a great book! And it is baffling to see the 99 fall from such great heights. I hope the recent crew chief change will shake things up enough to get them moving.

Marty Smith: I haven't forgotten, Ryan. In 1997, '98, Burton and those boys were as good as it got.

Ryan Smithson: No more crew chief (Stoddard) no more sponsor (Exide) and now, maybe no more driver.

Marty Smith: I used to love the Exide car.

Lee Montgomery: See how fast things change in this sport?

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Ryan Smithson: Did something happen? Did they have major car chief changes, crew changes, etc? I am as baffled as y'all.

Marty Smith: I think Jeff is, too, Ryan.

Lee Montgomery: It's been a couple years. They've changed everything but Jeff.

Marty Smith: I remember the first time I saw it in person under the lights at Richmond. It had those reflector numbers. Dude, that car was bad.

Ryan Smithson: My guy feeling though is that Burton won't simply fix things by moving to another team. This fix will not be overnight. But he's still such a young guy. But I am very curious to see what he does in a different car. I mean, we've never seen Burton in a top Nextel Cup ride for anything other than Roush.

Marty Smith: There's never been confirmation on this, but it's pretty much common knowledge that Burton would already be in the 30 car, had AOL agreed to more than one year.

Predictions for Martinsville?

Ryan Smithson: Harvick's going to break through this week.

Lee Montgomery: I know it'd be hard to pick against Jeff Gordon since he won there twice last year, but that's what I'm going to do. Dale Jr. will win his first Martinsville race Sunday.

Texas Predictions  Not a good week. We didn't even notch a top-five finish. Be sure to click on the name and tell us we're idiots for not picking Sadler or Kahne.  Marty picked Vickers (12th)  Ryan picked Newman (37th)  Lee picked Mears (7th)

Marty Smith: Jimmie Johnson wins Martinsville. Finished 10th there a year ago, then second to Gordon in the fall. And at his test there last week went so well, he left a day early.

Ryan Smithson: It's tough to pick a winner for this place. Our picks usually end up getting punted. I love this place though. I hope it's on the schedule for 50 more years.

Lee Montgomery: Nobody picked Jeff. Interesting. Or Elliott Sadler.

Angela Thompson: Can I pick Sadler? I would have to go with Dale Jarrett, though. He is ready to have a good run. Or Greg Biffle. He's been right there for quite a few weeks. If you discount that blown engine.

Ryan Smithson: Lee, I don't know about Sadler. It's so tough to win two in a row.

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Angela Thompson: Back-to-back wins are pretty rare, but you can't discount the effect of momentum. I could that Texas win being a huge breakthrough for the 38 team this year.

Marty Smith: As do I love Martinsville, Ryan. It's home. It's the absolute bomb. And Clay Campbell and those guys deserve a ton of credit. They've continually upgraded the place. And it's sold out Sunday. I love it.

Marty Smith: Some folks are lumping Martinsville into the Darlington/Rockingham discussion. Hear this: Martinsville is in no danger of losing a race. They sell out, and the France Family, not ISC, owns part of the track.

Lee Montgomery: Martinsville is easily the best place to watch a race.

Marty Smith: Gordon did win two in a row, Ryan. He swept last year.

	This cat fell asleep while reading Track Smack

Ryan Smithson: I meant week-to-week, Marty. Like Elliott winning Texas, then Martinsville.

Lee Montgomery: Uh, does Matt Kenseth ring a bell? There's the Ryan we know and love.

Ryan Smithson: No, who is that? You mean Lars' dad?

Marty Smith: That's more like it, Smithson.

Lee Montgomery: Don't be hating on Lars.

Ryan Smithson: Lars needs to be on Track Smack. Can we make that happen, Marty?

Lee Montgomery: My cats have been on.

Marty Smith: I'll discuss it with Matt this weekend. I'm sure Lars could make a cameo appearance, with the right appearance fee.

Lee Montgomery: Appearance fee: Iams for life.

Track Smack appears every Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.