Track Smack: Daytona

Regardless of what NASCAR decides to do to Tony Stewart, what is your opinion?

Lee Montgomery: Well, before we go off half-cocked, let's consider this case on its own merit. Tony Stewart reached in Brian Vickers' car and hit him. That is totally unacceptable, and he needs to be punished. Forget for a second everything else that has gone on the last year or so. Sit him down for a race and let him think about it. As Jimmy Spencer learned, the show can go on.

Ryan Smithson: I don't see how they can't suspend him for at least one race after what Jimmy Spencer did to Kurt Busch last August. It's the same thing, really. This is a good opportunity to be consistent. You know, boys, I know a lot of people will say, "Suspending the driver punishes the whole team for one man's actions," but it's the same as when an NFL linebacker is sat down for drugs. The team doesn't benefit.

Marty Smith: I think it's time they get his attention. He needs to sit on his couch and watch the Pepsi 400 with a bucket of popcorn. There have been too many instances this year where Stewart has acted out inappropriately, for whatever reason.

Lee Montgomery: Wow. We all agree. What's wrong with this picture?

Marty Smith: Smoke gets a bad rep, and it's because of instances like Sunday. Vickers laughed at his frustration, and that sets Stewart off to the point where he goes into the car? Brian France said it'll be big. I hope he doesn't retract that.

Ryan Smithson: I guess NASCAR already called him and gave him the "You need NASCAR more than NASCAR needs you." But Marty, I doubt he'd even watch the race! He'll go to a dirt track somewhere.

Send a nice letter Marty Ryan Lee

Lee Montgomery: Vickers has done the right thing in downplaying it.

Ryan Smithson: Vickers has done an awesome job dealing with this whole mess.

Lee Montgomery: But what if Stewart is parked. Do you think it'll work?

Ryan Smithson: No way. The Indy stuff seemed worse, didn't it?

Lee Montgomery: Depends on how you look at it, I guess.

Send a mean letter Marty Ryan Lee

Marty Smith: Yes, it was worse, Ryan, because it wasn't a competitor.

Marty Smith: Vickers could have jacked up Stewart's nose and everyone would've been cool with it.

Lee Montgomery: But it doesn't matter. You don't hit anybody.

Marty Smith: Boys, you've got to remember something here: POLITICS. I know it's total conspiracy theory, but I don't care. Stewart is 307 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson, and sitting him would likely jeopardize his chances at making The Chase. Remember, Home Depot is an official NASCAR sponsor.

Lee Montgomery: Tough.

Ryan Smithson: This is just all very disappointing. And it's proof that people really never change.

Lee Montgomery: Then Home Depot needs to do something, too.

Ryan Smithson: You know, guys, I think Stewart would make the Chase even if he sat a race. I mean, Stewart has rallied before. From things a lot worse than this.

Lee Montgomery: Remember, they fined him last year, too.

	I gave him my t-shirt, and all I got was this lousy tire. Credit: Autostock

Marty Smith: How many times does Depot have to try, Lee?

Lee Montgomery: I would've hoped it wouldn't have come to this. But ...No one can be blamed for this latest episode except Tony.

Marty Smith: Think about it: he got together with Rusty at California, where Rusty lit him up verbally. He got into Wimmer at Bristol, went the wrong way down pit road at Dega, had the on-air tiff with DW at Richmond, walked out of the drivers' meeting at Michigan, then the deal with BV last week?

Lee Montgomery: Doesn't paint a pretty picture.

Ryan Smithson: I got a Days of Thunder reference. You can hear Randy Quaid telling Greg Zippidelli, 'He ain't running good. Now, he's got sponsor trouble.'

Lee Montgomery: Ha. But you're right.

Marty Smith: We're being hard on Tony, because this time it's warranted. I like Tony Stewart. He's a good man. But he's got to corral his emotions.

Ryan Smithson: Tony is a good man. We've all seen that. But when he puts that helmet on, he's a different person.

Marty Smith: I went and hung out with BV Sunday after all that crap went down, and you could see the bewilderment in his eyes. He seriously had no idea why Stewart came after him. He said, "He wrecked me!"

Who should Joe Gibbs Racing hire for their third car?

Lee Montgomery: No telling. It's be nice to get Tony's side, but ....I'd be willing to bet it's a Roush guy. But maybe it won't be Greg Biffle like everyone thinks.

Ryan Smithson: Greg needs to try to get that ride, because he's clear he isn't the happiest guy around, and he'd go to the front in that car.

Lee Montgomery: It's not a secret that Kurt Busch isn't the happiest guy in the world at Roush Racing.

	Probably not the sign of confidence you want in the cockpit.

Marty Smith: Paul Tracy. He's an open wheel star who's very marketable and very Canadian. The Canada market is huge, so it'd be a big score for Gibbs from a marketing perspective.

Ryan Smithson: Interesting you say that, Marty. There are worse candidates, for sure.

And Tracy needs to move to NASCAR before he's too old, like Pruett did.

Marty Smith: Paul Tracy will be in NASCAR, soon, boys. Whether it's the 30, Gibbs' third car, whatever. He belongs over here.

Ryan Smithson: I hope you're right. I guess it all depends on whom FedEx wants.

Marty Smith: Sources in the garage say it's Biffle, but Biffle and other Roush Racing sources are awfully adamant that he's not going anywhere.

Ryan Smithson: Pruett would have had a fine NASCAR career had he moved over at 30 instead of 40. But hindsight's 20/20.

Marty Smith: He's a shoe on the road courses, for sure. And you could see how his influence helped Jamie and Casey Mears Sunday.

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Ryan Smithson: Well, Biffle can say he's staying at Roush all he wants, but until he calls the reports to Gibbs a bald-faced lie, it's a tough one to call.

Marty Smith: That's a great information pool for Ganassi.

Ryan Smithson: Lee, wake up, son. You getting coffee?

Lee Montgomery: Waiting for Godot. Or something like that.

Marty Smith: Biffle's not the only one saying it's not true, Smithson. I asked several parties involved with that team Sunday whether or not the rumors were true. They may have been lying to my face, but they all denied he was leaving.

Ryan Smithson: A non-denial denial, Marty?

Lee Montgomery: Who knows?

Predictions for Daytona?

Lee Montgomery: Tony Stewart. OK, not funny. Or maybe it is.

Sonoma Predictions  One of us picked the winner for the second straight week. We're on a roll.  Marty picked Robby (34th)  Ryan picked Harvick (14th)  Lee picked JG (1st)

Ryan Smithson: Waltrip's got an awful lot of momentum, and he's got the distinct advantage of driving a car that isn't sitting in a museum like Dale Jr.

Lee Montgomery: It's easy to say Waltrip or Junior, so I'm going to take the easy road and say Junior. Though this race will be an awful lot more like Talladega than the 500.

Ryan Smithson: But yes, Lee, that was funny.

Marty Smith: This is the toughest plate race to pick in years, because Jeff Gordon had an awesome car at Talladega, Jimmie Johnson seems unflappable right now and, of course, Junior is the master. I picked Junior in the fantasy preview, but I'm gonna go with JG.

Ryan Smithson: It'll be like Talladega, Lee? It'll end under caution?

Marty Smith: Lord, I hope not.

Lee Montgomery: No, tires won't be as important.

Lee Montgomery: Remember the way everyone was sliding around in February?

Marty Smith: It won't be seat cushions they're chucking.

Lee Montgomery: Since it's under the lights, it won't be that way.

Marty Smith: But it's 20 degrees hotter, Lee. That has to mean something for tire wear.

Though I see what you're saying. Direct sunlight vs. stars is a huge difference.

Ryan Smithson: I know it's a random thought, but since we mentioned Vickers earlier, he hasn't gotten quite enough credit for seeming a lot more comfortable. He has an outside shot at finishing in the top 15 this year.

Marty Smith: He's a wheelman, son. Got cojones as big as basketballs, too. He rivals Ryan Newman in that department.

Lee Montgomery: He'll be a star in this sport one day.

Ryan Smithson: He's only had two finishes out of the top 30. That is half as many as Kahne's got.

Marty Smith: Word in the garage is this new shock rule will hurt Kahne worse than anybody. That's interesting to me...

Lee Montgomery: Couldn't make it through an entire Smack without a Statboy appearance.

Ryan Smithson: I remember when they banned bump stops and it hurt Johnny Benson worse than anyone.

Marty Smith: My buddy in NYC called the other day and asked me if Johnny Benson still drove the Cheerios car. I spit coffee out on the screen.

Ryan Smithson: Ugh. Man, that was like 1998. Did he ask if Clinton's still the president? Monica Lewinsky was skinny when Benson drove the 26 car.

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The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.