Track Smack: Off week

We apologize for no fan guest this week -- we had two fans cancel on us (the nerve!).

Our driver guest this week is Casey Mears, who rallied to finish eighth at Fontana despite starting in a backup No. 41 Target Dodge.

Is Jeff Gordon back to 2001 form?

Marty Smith: Absolutely. He didn't have the best car at Talladega or California, yet still found a way to win both. That's how you win championships. He was awesome at Darlington and got caught up in that wreck, or he may be the points leader.

Casey Mears: Jeff has always been in 2001 form but they finally have the right combo. Jeff is a good friend and he has always been an excellent driver and now their team is finally getting back on top.

Ryan Smithson: You know, I used to think that Gordon was slipping because he didn't go out and lead 300 laps anymore, but in reality, with today's parity, no one does that anymore. You can't. Gordon's as good as he ever was.

Lee Montgomery: Let's look at the stats. He won six races and had 24 top 10s that year. That's pretty good. Will he win six times this year? I kind of doubt it, but I wouldn't put it past him. He's as good as there is.

Dave Rodman: I think it's unanimous -- he hasn't lost a lick. And I think between Rick and Robbie and he, they are a motivational trifecta, so no one else is going to falter much, either.

Ryan Smithson: With the last two weekend's results, he should have three straight wins.

Marty Smith: People may think I'm crazy by saying he didn't have the best car Sunday. He led the most laps (81, I think). But even Jeff said he didn't have the best piece. Thing is, compared to where they were during Happy Hour, the 24 bunch made that thing fast. 4-time said it was the best motor he's ever had. And when you're talking about Randy Dorton's equipment, that's saying something.

Track Smack Audio! Too lazy to read Track Smack? We hear ya. Check out the audio version, where we discuss the recent trend of teams signing drivers to long-term "development" deals. Special bonus audio from Casey Mears, who gives a nice insight. / 8:44 Listen

Ryan Smithson: Marty, you creating a new nickname for Jeffy? "4-time?"

Marty Smith: Hey Casey, you're a great friend of Jeff's. Is he as good now as ever?

Marty Smith: That's what folks in the garage call him, Smithson. Not that you'd know that.

Casey Mears: I have only known him for a year and a half, but for that entire time he has been the same-really good driver and really good friend.

Dave Rodman: Jeff could easily win six races this season. Two out of the first nine actually works out to 8, by my math.

Lee Montgomery: Makes me wonder, Casey, is it easy to tell the good drivers from the great ones?

	"Jamie, TV Guide here. Do you feel Fontana will be a three-groove track on Sunday, and if so, do you prefer a tight or loose race car?" Credit: Sherryl Creekmore/NASCAR

Casey Mears: I would say not always because different teams have different levels of equipment. Sometimes there are great drivers with not that great equipment and sometimes vice versa.

Marty Smith: Casey has a great view of Jeff's ability. He was with Jeff and Jimmie Johnson when they won that race overseas last off season.

Casey Mears: The guys that have been in the sport for a while have a great eye to spot the talent.

Lee Montgomery: But is easy to tell a good driver from a bad one, right?

Casey Mears: We like to think so.

Dave Rodman: Yes -- good call. A very subjective judgment, with an awful lot of factors in play.

Lee Montgomery: Like Rick Hendrick.

Dave Rodman: Chip Ganassi.

Lee Montgomery: Rodman, you suck-up.

Ryan Smithson: Gordon's getting a lot of motivation from Papa Joe Hendrick these days. That would fire anyone up.

Send a nice letter Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Marty Smith: Hindsight's 20-20 and what-ifs are useless, but I don't care in this case. Think about what the 24 bunch has gone through already. He knocked the fence down during qualifying at Vegas, got caught up in that deal at Darlington.

Dave Rodman: I typed it, then realized, "Hey, wait a minute -- we got Casey!"

Marty Smith: Jeff knocked the fence down during qualifying a Vegas, got caught up in that deal at Darlington. He's had it rough and is still kicking' rear.

Send a mean letter Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Was that the best race at Fontana since the place opened?

Casey Mears: I think the best races that have ever been there are the Indy Lights Races.

Marty Smith: Yes. Three racing grooves. A drag race for the lead between the 24 and the 9 in the last fourth of the race. And a thrilling finish.

Ryan Smithson: It was good racing. The heat helped a lot. It was slick and it really put the car in the driver's hands.

Dave Rodman: I have to make one comment and sit back. I don't remember last year, never mind 1997. I thought it was decent, that should be all that matters.

Casey Mears: I am not sure about the stock car races because I have not always watched them but since this was my best finish there then yes it has been the best race.

	"Joe, what was your reaction to the news that Dale Earnhardt Jr., like you a Chevrolet driver, was named as one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People?" Credit: Sherryl Creekmore/NASCAR

Lee Montgomery: Did you win in a Lights car there?

Casey Mears: I got second three times. And fourth in the CART race.

Marty Smith: Three seconds? Sure this isn't Kasey Kahne? Kidding, Mears, kidding.

Marty Smith: People were so frustrated by fuel mileage finishes last year, but I thought this one was really awesome. There was such an element of drama.

Ryan Smithson: I'd like to see Fontana knock it back to 400 miles though.

Casey Mears: I like California since it is my hometown and I have raced there a lot and it is always fun to go back.

Dave Rodman: I kind of think people that don't like fuel races are from that fringe fan element we saw rear up at Talladega -- getting good mileage is part of the sport, a legitimate part, and yup, it's drama.

Lee Montgomery: All a racetrack needs is time. Time for the pavement to get worn out so it develops into a two-groove track.

Fontana Predictions  We're awful. For the fourth straight week, no one picked the winner.  Marty picked Busch (23rd)  Ryan picked Johnson (2nd)  Lee picked Kenseth (4th)

Who is the top Busch Series regular as the series hits Gateway?

Casey Mears: Definitely Martin Truex. He has been on a roll and he has good equipment and a talented driver.

Ryan Smithson: Truex Jr. said he had a good test there and he should be good to go. Tons of momentum.

Marty Smith: Wow. Tough call. I'd go with Martin Truex Jr. He's impressed the fire out of me. He's got great instincts.

Dave Rodman: I would have to say for doing what he's done with what he has to work with -- which is not an awful lot of experience at this level, definitely Little Martin.

Lee Montgomery: Hmm. Good call. And decisive, too.

Ryan Smithson: It seems like it takes Bobby Hamilton Jr. until June every year to start getting out of the box.

Casey Mears: He is always a factor and always strong but not sure about his track record about when he starts to hit his stride (it's a short stride).

	And this here is the carburetor. Credit: Autostock

Lee Montgomery: Ouch. You been taking to Mike Bliss?

Ryan Smithson: I guess Bobby Jr. takes the short-man jokes well, because geez, he gets enough of them.

Lee Montgomery: Back to Truex. He has been impressive in that car. But like Casey said before, it takes the whole package. And they've got it.

Dave Rodman: From the veteran's side, for sure David Green has been impressive to come out so well with the manufacturer changeover they've had to go through.

Marty Smith: You know who else is super impressive? Stremme. He's done so well in the TrimSpa car. He's running far better than I anticipated he would. Isn't he under contract with Ganassi, too, Casey?

Casey Mears: He is a development driver with Ganassi. He has a lot of talent but I think the team is still growing and learning as well as him and it will take a little longer to get things just right.

Dave Rodman: Casey, how much do you miss running some Busch races?

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Casey Mears: I wish I could run as many Busch races as I could but I think at some tracks it helps to focus on just one car.

Marty Smith: I'll tell you who's dominant: Biffle. He can't buy a friggin' break. He's the leader every week and pukes a motor. You can tell he's tired of it, and has been tired of it for a while.

Ryan Smithson: Biffle's pretty mad right now. Can't blame him one bit.

Casey Mears: Biffle is not a regular in the Busch Series though.

Marty Smith: Yes he is. He's running the whole schedule.

Ryan Smithson: He will be until it rains one Saturday.

Casey Mears: Regulars can get provisionals and he can't. He is running every race but I would consider him a Cup driver.

Lee Montgomery: That's a good point.

Marty Smith: He can't get provisionals because of his Cup points status, but if he runs every race that's a regular.

Dave Rodman: Biff could set the dubious Busch standard -- six wins, sixth in points. He's bipolar, or something like that.

Plans for Mother's Day/off weekend?

Casey Mears: I will do something nice for my mom on Sunday-take her out to lunch. Just relax the rest of the weekend. Get ready for testing next week and the Richmond race.

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Ryan Smithson: Where do you guys test, Casey?

Casey Mears: Charlotte.

Dave Rodman: Is that one of those big, open tests? And how beneficial is something like that, instead of a more private session?

Lee Montgomery: Won't you buy her something nice? Say, at Target?

Casey Mears: I am not sure how many will be there -- should be quite a few since many test at Charlotte.

Dave Rodman: Do you like to compare yourself off the other cars that are there? Or concentrate on your own stuff?

Casey Mears: It is a lot better to have more people there to get a better gauge of the tracks true conditions with more rubber down and you can get good time comparisons.

Casey Mears: I already bought my mom something a week ago for her birthday and the mother's day gift was inside. She will be happy with lunch.

Lee Montgomery: Aw, how sweet. All I got my mom was ... well, it's a surprise.

Marty Smith: I'm going to do yard work, drink beer and call my mother-in-law... Not necessarily in that order.

Track Smack appears every Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET. Even on off-weeks.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.