Track Smack: All-Star

Considering how well he's been doing on Fridays recently, it comes as no surprise that Scott Riggs qualified for Track Smack. Joining us today is Bill Purcell, a Tony Stewart fan from San Diego.

Rockingham thoughts or memories?

Scott Riggs: As far as Rockingham, for selfish reasons, I'd like to continue to go to Rockingham because it provided great racing. There were a lot of different lines around the track, and it was close to my house. But, as far as other racing venues, we have standing room-only crowds versus not filling the stands at Rockingham. If you can't fill the stands, you're going to lose your date.

Bill Purcell: My memories of Rockingham are limited to the last couple of years because I am a New Generation fan. Short track racing generally kills me in fantasy leagues. But I do love the heart-pounding excitement it creates.

Dave Rodman: The Rock: For better or worse, most of my memories were accrued from afar. I covered both events there in '84 -- then I don't think I was there again until 2001! The "biggest" memory I have, though I don't know that I'd call it the best, was when Bobby Hamilton dominated a race there, and then Big E gouged him out of the way and stole it. I sincerely hoped that Bobby would have caught him and planted him. The only upshot to that was Bobby came back the next year and won.

Ryan Smithson: It was probably the 1995 fall race. I was listening to the race on the radio and Ward Burton was leading, and it was shocking, to say the least. But he held on and beat Earnhardt, I think, despite a late caution.

Marty Smith: I just got done writing this for Last Lap. My favorite memory was not made on a Sunday afternoon, rather a Tuesday. I took a ride with Dale Jr. around that puppy a couple years ago, scared the ever-living crap out of me. Gave me a new respect for what Scotty and the boys do every weekend.

Ryan Smithson: Dave, being around Nashville at the time, I can't tell you how mad Middle Tennessee was at Earnhardt for doing that.

AUDIO CLIPS Why didn't we talk about the Stewart-Waltrip tiff? Glad you asked. It's because we debated it in our Track Smack Audio. 8:27 / Listen

Scott Riggs: My first Busch race there, I drove from the back of the pack to the front and got a top-five finish.

Ryan Smithson: Scott, did you go to Rockingham and sit in the stands when you were a kid?

Scott Riggs: Yes. I have a lot of memories of going there. I remember going when they had first repaved it. It was such a good race.

Bill Purcell: MartDawg! Good point. I doubt I want to climb in a car and take a few laps, even as a passenger!

Marty Smith: Too bad LeeMo's not here. His first race as a youngster was at The Rock, as well. He's quite saddened by this decision. I am, too, really. I love the people there, and it saddens me what may become of the area. They have a thriving golf tourism market, but NASCAR was a substantial portion of their economy.

Send a nice letter Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Ryan Smithson: I heard someone say that they wished they could just take The Rock and place it in Seattle, and I don't think I could have said it any better.

Bill Purcell: My secret desire is that Nextel will put a short track out west, near me!

Marty Smith: Nextel has nothing to do with it, really, bud. It's NASCAR all the way.

Bill Purcell: I'd drive 8-10 hours to attend a short track event.

Send a mean letter Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Marty Smith: NASCAR may consult Nextel on such decisions, but it's not Nextel's call to make.

Scott Riggs: I think before it's all over we're going to have one date at each venue that is equally spread out across the U.S.

Bill Purcell: Actually, I meant NASCAR...My mistake.

Marty Smith: I hope so, Scotty, but that'll take one helluva sell. These tracks that have had two dates depend on two dates so much.

Ryan Smithson: Scott, you mean, you don't think anyone will have two dates?

	This reporter is not very aggressive.

Bill Purcell: As it stands now, I went from three races available two years ago to five races available in 2005.

Marty Smith: Jeff Gordon agrees with Scott. That's JG's perfect schedule. Everywhere once.

Scott Riggs: Everyone's building new venues, so the only way everyone's going to keep two dates is if we run more races.

Ryan Smithson: I don't know, guys. We don't have 36 tracks yet that can seat 100,000 people.

Bill Purcell: MartDawg, I love the new show on Speed Channel. Pitbull rocks.

Marty Smith: Thanks so much, man. We have a good time, try to preach what's really going on.

Bill Purcell: I don't always agree with you but it is fun to watch.

Marty Smith: You shouldn't always agree with me, man, that'd be no fun!

Scott Riggs: But that's what everyone wants. And they want to be sure they can fill the stands with 100,000 people.

	There ya go, boys. Lost another one to DiTech. Credit: AP

Marty Smith: I don't see NASCAR adding dates, Scotty. 38 weekends already. Jeff Gordon says if they go to 40 races, he's done!

Ryan Smithson: Even with the TV money, tracks have got to have two dates.

Bill Purcell: Is that where NASCAR is going? 100,000 fans or lose a date?

Ryan Smithson: Bill, afraid so.

Bill Purcell: Even out west, I feel sorry for some of the tracks that are being squeezed out by the pursuit of the almighty dollar! On the other hand, I am thrilled to see more events within a few hours drive of San Diego.

Scott Riggs: I don't think any person on any team wants to run more races.

Ryan Smithson: Scott, do you think teams will have to build a satellite shop on the West Coast?

Bill Purcell: I don't see how y'all do 36. Adding more races is going to be a logistical nightmare.

Ryan Smithson: It would make a lot of sense to have a small shop out there with eight employees and a handful of cars. For an added $3 million a year, of course.

Dave Rodman: The schedule changes were expected, but I was happy to see at least one sensible move I expected -- California in the No. 2 spot in the schedule.

Marty Smith: What I wonder is this: I know NASCAR is elated to be taking their Daytona 500 champ straight to the LA media market, but that's going to be hell on crewmen.

Scott Riggs: As centralized as all the teams are on the East Coast, maybe ten years from now with the schedule spread out across the country, the teams will migrate toward the center of the country to be more accessible to all the tracks.

Marty Smith: I hate to keep using Jeff as my source, but he's a great one. He told me, Smithson, that teams would have to stay located in Charlotte.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, please elaborate. This is really interesting.

Bill Purcell: I am curious as well, Marty.

	Hurry! Put it on him before he wakes up! Credit: Sherryl Creekmore/NASCAR

Marty Smith: I asked him (Jeff Gordon) that very question, Smithson, because with all the west coast racing now, it makes sense to just build the west coast cars out there. Those shops would pay themselves off in a matter of years. But Jeff said the answer is hiring more people, not moving the operation.

Bill Purcell: Since the scheduled is being re-tooled, wouldn't Texas be a better fit as a home base of operations?

Ryan Smithson: I know one thing. Since we are located in Atlanta, I don't get to see Charlotte much, and I was shocked to learn in the late 1990s just how many businesses are there that merely serve as feeding outposts to the teams. It's probably 10,000 jobs.

Bill Purcell: As a TV technician, I am kept on the west coast as much as possible. I am sure I have a counterpart on the east coast as well. So why not a West Coast regional shop?

Scott Riggs: I think the first thing teams are going to have to do is hire more people. Have more trucks, more drivers. But down the road, to save on those expenses, moving to somewhere like Texas may be the answer.

Marty Smith: Banking and NASCAR drive the economy in Charlotte, Smithson. And not necessarily in that order.

Ryan Smithson: Heck, we have a lot of people in Atlanta who rely on NASCAR for employment. Which probably surprises some people.

Scott Riggs: Because you can't separate your team that way. You need to have everyone under one roof, communicating to be better as one.

Marty Smith: Hey Scotty. You guys, as drivers, already have to do so much away from the track. Will this new schedule add more appearances to your schedule?

Ryan Smithson: I think Scott just gave us our answer, boys. One roof.

Marty Smith: I gave you that answer 10 minutes ago, Smithson. Just kidding, man. I know Scotty's answer is far more viable than mine.

Scott Riggs: There are a lot of things that can't be communicated by just words. There are things that need to be measured, examples made, and tested.

Bill Purcell: Mr. Riggs, is it your contention that a west coast manufacturing shop would be too difficult on the teams?

Scott Riggs: I just don't think you can be as efficient with having your resources split up into two shops.

Ryan Smithson: I'll bet someone will try it eventually though.

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Bill Purcell: Well, as a fan on the outside looking in, I suppose there are subjects that I will never comprehend or appreciate...

Ryan Smithson: OK, Marty, I got to do a U-turn here, 24 said he would quit if they went to 40 races?

Marty Smith: In jest, Smithson, but I think he meant it. He's said it to me on several occasions.

Scott Riggs: You have cars and setups that relate from one track to the other. And these cars and setups don't know if they're on the east coast or the west coast. So you're not going to have guys that build cars and race only on the west coast, you have to have everything under a common roof.

Bill Purcell: Forty races? If that were to ever come about, NASCAR would have to find a way to set up divisions or leagues of some sort. It is the only solution I see.

Who will be the dominant cars for the Open and the Nextel All-Star Challenge?

Bill Purcell: I see the Gibbs drivers, DEI etc. But my dark horse candidate is Kasey Kahne.

Ryan Smithson: Rookies do great in the All-Star event, so I will go with Kahne. He's due anyway.

	Darrell Waltrip gets an honorary degree in Broadcasting from Stewart University.

Dave Rodman: Given his history at the race, how adept he is at tracks such as Lowe's Motor Speedway and the level to which he, the Tonys and the crew have raised their game, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will win the Challenge.

Marty Smith: Open: Heaven knows. I'll go with Kasey Kahne. Challenge: Jimmie Johnson all the way.

Scott Riggs: If we could guess who would be the strong cars every week, it would put some of us out the window.

Bill Purcell: Now Jimmy is a San Diego native (El Cajon). Still, my heart says, "Go Smoke!"

Marty Smith: Come on Scotty! Hammer down!

Ryan Smithson: Scott, we never pick correctly, so if we don't pick you, that means you'll win the Open.

Scott Riggs: If you want me to sound more arrogant, then I think the 10 car is going to turn it around and be dominate every week.

Marty Smith: That's my boy!

Be on Smack  We've gotten tremendous response to our effort to include the fans in Track Smack. Keep those letters coming. And it helps tremendously if you have an AOL account. Want to be in Track Smack? Email us. Then email us again.

Bill Purcell: I love it. Self-realization that writers and fans are not the experts we claim to be! Scott, would be nice to see the 10 car make it back down to Victory Lane! Still, I want to see the 20 car in the circle at the end of the race!

Ryan Smithson: I am sure D.W. does too, Bill.

Scott Riggs: We knew that we had a lot of building blocks to put in place on this team and you have to do it from the ground up. People only see what's at the tip of the iceberg every week. So when the foundation gets stronger, you'll see a brighter peak.

Bill Purcell: No offense to Mr. Riggs and the 10 team.

Bill Purcell: D.W. Do not even get me started..

Marty Smith: Man, Scotty. You write poetry on the side, bro?

Ryan Smithson: Sure, but his sonnets stop at 10 lines.

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

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.