Track Smack: Charlotte

Can a track like Nashville survive without a Nextel Cup date?

Sterling Marlin: Yeah, as long as they pack the stands with other races that they run there. Like Busch, IRL and trucks. I think they are going to have to make it work because they aren't going to get a Cup date. I hate it, but I don't think they are going to get it, because it is already too saturated. I would love to race there, though. That is what NASCAR is trying to get away from.

Dave Rodman: I'm not privy to their books. On the one hand, you could say they look like they've been doing fine so far -- but that could only be that they hope they have enough blood to spill before they get a Cup date.

Ryan Smithson: Not one that cost over $100 million, like Nashville did. They built it for a Cup date, not for two Busch dates. But, the good thing is, the land is worth so much money that I doubt they will take a bath, but they built it for a date, not a subdivision.

Lee Montgomery: Of course it can. Look at Kentucky. They don't have a Cup date, but they seem to be doing OK. Nashville may struggle with money, but if done right, a non-Cup track can do just fine.

Marty Smith: I think so, yeah. Dover is doing really well financially with the track in Dover, sells out 140,000 twice, and if the Busch Series and Trucks go there they can make it.

Dave Rodman: Every time I hear about someone planning to build a racetrack -- I wish I had their money to throw away.

AUDIO CLIPS Did the media overdo the entire Greg Biffle-Kurt Busch incident? Click here for Track Smack audio, where Sterling and the boys have their say. / 6:03 Listen

Lee Montgomery: Sterling, you've got plenty of dough to start a racetrack, don't you?

Sterling Marlin: I got the land for it if anyone wants to buy it.

Ryan Smithson: In Spring Hill, Tennessee? Sell it to Saturn.

Lee Montgomery: I'm sure Bruton and the Frances would hook you up.

Marty Smith: Phillip Fulmer's Playland.

Lee Montgomery: Now you're talking.

Send a nice letter Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Marty Smith: Nashville has clamored for a date since they decided to build the place, but I don't see them getting one. NASCAR's played dodge ball with them for three years now. I know this; we'll see a Cup date in Seattle before we see one in Nashville.

Ryan Smithson: I think Kentucky will get a date before Nashville will though.

Dave Rodman: Bottom line for tracks like Kentucky and Nashville is that they could probably make it because they have a lot of other stuff going on -- heck, Kentucky probably makes nearly as much from its test programs as it does from its events.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, their testing fees are no substitute for a Cup date. It's what? $2,500 a car to test? That probably barely covers the track's expenses for the test days itself.

Dave Rodman: Last time I checked, dude -- they didn't have a Cup date -- so they're simply trying to stay afloat. And in this day and time, if you aren't SMI or ISC, I would say forget about getting a date.

Send a mean letter Marty Ryan Dave Lee

Marty Smith: Kentucky deserves a date. That place is stellar. Close to a large media market, awesome racing surface. But for now it'll remain the official testing facility of the Nextel Cup Series.

Ryan Smithson: The thing about Kentucky -- it could sell 150,000 tickets without even trying.

Dave Rodman: Have they fixed the access to that place? The last time I was there, I don't know if shocked was the right word -- but for being located where it is, they didn't seem to do too well with getting people into the facility...

Sterling Marlin: Nashville and Kentucky are good places to test, but the thing about Kentucky is that there are no hotels close by to stay at.

Marty Smith: Sterling. You have a motorcoach, boss.

	Anyone seen Kurt Busch?

Lee Montgomery: He's worried about us little folks. What a guy.

Sterling Marlin: I have never been there for a race, so I don't know, but they have good food down at the corner market there.

Dave Rodman: You're right there, Sterl -- when I was there I was in Cincinnati -- was great for going to the Reds, but kind of a pain in terms of track access.

Lee Montgomery: I'm sure there are some good places to buy Coors Light near Kentucky Speedway.

Marty Smith: If he's worried about me, I'll get the lifetime hookup on Coors Light.

Ryan Smithson: Hey Sterling, it is better than the Rebel in Mt. Pleasant?

	Hey, Tony, you coming?

Sterling Marlin: The corner market? Not hardly. Not enough grease.

Marty Smith: Sterling. Does Peyton deserve a $34 million signing bonus?

Sterling Marlin: He's a great quarterback, but I don't write the checks for those professional players. He has worked hard for it though.

Marty Smith: I know this, UT needs to be playing my Hokies. But they're skeeeeert.

Lee Montgomery: Oh, lord. Them's fightin' words Marty.

Sterling Marlin: Last time I checked the score, Vols won.

Which races need their mileage scaled back? If any?

Sterling Marlin: Pocono.

Ryan Smithson: I like having the 600 because it's unique. But there's nothing unique about 200 laps at Pocono. It needs to be 150.

Lee Montgomery: And what about one of the two races at California. No reason to have two 500-milers there.

Ryan Smithson: Lee, good point about Fontana. Both Michigan ones are 400 miles.

Sterling Marlin: 200 is just too long. I would make them both 400 milers if it were up to me.

	Mr. Shrek, care to comment?

Marty Smith: Pocono and Martinsville. Pocono needs to be 300 miles, Martinsville 300 laps.

Lee Montgomery: Or 400 laps.

Marty Smith: Naw, New Hampshire is great with 300 laps. Martinsville needs 300 laps, too.

Dave Rodman: Maybe 400 laps at Martinsville for at least one of the races -- and maybe the same at Bristol. Sterling, do you think that would change anything about either of those races?

Lee Montgomery: Some guys are just getting going after 300 laps at Martinsville.

Sterling Marlin: We need more time at Martinsville to eat hot dogs. 500 is fine for Martinsville.

Lee Montgomery: More time to digest them, too. I guess (Ganassi team manager Tony) Glover spends more time at the hot dog stand there then he does on the pit box.

Sterling Marlin: I might have won two or three of them by now.

	Tony Glover

Marty Smith: Speaking of, Mr. France has assured us all that Martinsville hot dogs are safe, despite Ball Park becoming the official dog of ISC. I can hear the collective sigh of relief from media types nationwide.

Marty Smith: I have a ton of ideas about shortening races, but that's what I wrote my column on for tomorrow, so I'll save 'em for that.

Ryan Smithson: Y'all saying Glove eats a lot of hot dogs? I don't think he ever won there as a chief -- maybe he did with Ernie.

Sterling Marlin: Nope, he never did win there.

Dave Rodman: I'm missing the connection, Ryan?

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, we're saying Tony Glover never won Martinsville because he was too busy eating hot dogs.

Dave Rodman: I have a lot of bad habits, but fluorescent pink torpedoes ain't one of 'em.

Who will win the Coke 600?

Sterling Marlin: Besides me, my picks are: Kenseth. He has won there before and he won the other night. The Hendrick cars look good, and so did the 12. But the Ganassi group is also running good there.

	Tony Stewart at Indy

Ryan Smithson: I think the 20 will be awfully good. He won there last fall, but more important, he was so strong on Saturday.

Dave Rodman: I will make you a strong dark horse pick, based on that two-tire run --- but it's hard to pick against either Matt or Newman, based on how they ran in that short stretch.

Marty Smith: Matt Kenseth. He's easy on equipment and extremely focused. And has a very focused pit crew, which is crucial coming down to that last 100 miles.

Dave Rodman: Sterling, did you get a chance to run much around those new Ford engines?

Sterling Marlin: No, we didn't.

Lee Montgomery: I like Kenseth, too, Marty.

Lee Montgomery: Sterling, did you run your 600 car in the all-star race?

Marty Smith: Let's hope not. That thing's killed.

Sterling Marlin: Yup. Not using that car anymore. We will use the car that I won with in 2001 and Jamie won in 2002.

Dave Rodman: Well, I think I will go with Jamie based on his save in the Open. Sterl -- how wide did your eyes get when you saw him save that one?

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Sterling Marlin: I was just concerned about getting the Coors Light Dodge by him. I was hoping he did not cross back in front of us

Lee Montgomery: I heard you had a good-luck charm in the car before the race.

Marty Smith: Rarely does anything happen during a race that gets media folk out of their seats. We were all standing up after Jamie's save.

Sterling Marlin: Yeah, I had my grandson checking everything out for me before the race.

Lee Montgomery: He's almost old enough to drive these days.

Marty Smith: Good thing lil' man didn't hit the ignition. He'd have poo'd all over your seat, boss.

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

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.