And you thought you were a NASCAR fan. Credit: Brooke Hondros

Track Smack: The Glen

Ryan Smithson is vacationing this week in Mexico. Word is he's scoping out his seats for the Autodromo in Mexico City for next year's Busch Series race.

Are the drivers getting bigger than the sport itself?

Lee Montgomery: I think recent events make it clear that while NASCAR is still in charge, drivers are less willing to put up with nonsensical rulings than before. A lot of folks in the garage think it's almost time for a revolt of some sort from a driver, or a couple of drivers.

Dave Rodman: I honestly don't think I would have said it before, and I don't think I could say it now. You know me -- blame someone else if I can. So I will say that whatever they're doing, to whatever degree, they're being made to by the restrictions and dictates they're given. Kinda like, they're mad as hell and they aren't gonna take it no more.

Marty Smith: No, not at all. They've been bigger than the sport for years, though NASCAR would never agree to that statement. NASCAR levies foolish fines in a feeble attempt to keep their hands around the machine they've created. That said, fans don't watch NASCAR to watch cars go 'round -- they watch NASCAR to watch their respective driver compete. Personalities have always driven this sport.

Lee Montgomery: And if you string up a driver for no reason, that driver and his fans are going to be ticked off -- as they should be.

Dave Rodman: Exactly. And that's why they can't -- or I hope they won't -- try to stifle something like what Jeff Gordon did Sunday. He is the consummate professional -- and if he was duplicitous, shame on him -- but everything he's said about what he did, and everything he did, 1) involved his team and 2) involved the fans -- and we can't lose that.

Send nice mail Marty Lee Dave

Lee Montgomery: You know, a fan made a great suggestion for solving this whole "controversy." If a Gatorade driver wins, it's Gatorade in Victory Lane. If a PowerAde driver wins, it's PowerAde -- and nothing else. Makes sense to me.

Marty Smith: Amen, LeeMo. This whole Victory Lane deal is absurd. NASCAR has no right to look at Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson or any other driver and tell them that the sanctioning body's sponsorship agreements are more important than the teams' are. That's a slap in the face.

Dave Rodman: Look it at this way -- these Cup victories are so precious and so hard to get -- anyone who wins will earn it. NASCAR can't try to restrict a victory celebration solely for the good of the sport.

Lee Montgomery: Gordon's celebration was awesome. Like him or not, that was cool what he did.

Darn, I just know I'm forgetting something. I hate that! Credit: AP

Dave Rodman: My feeling on that celebration specifically is that NASCAR lost control. Of course, that ticks them off more than anything. I don't think Jeff was trying to do anything but soak-in the joy of a fourth Brickyard win.

Dave Rodman: Timing, and the layout of the venue screwed him and NASCAR -- but shame on them for not being able to control TV and everyone else. They let Victory Lane migrate to the frontstretch -- that wasn't Jeff's fault.

Marty Smith: Well said, Worm. Like I said in Last Lap yesterday, Jeff just won his fourth Brickyard 400 -- he should be able to celebrate however he pleases, so long as it does no one physical or emotional harm.

Lee Montgomery: Yeah, I don't see how that is in any way controversial. If they wanted to, let them push the car to Victory Lane.

Dave Rodman: They should have had the goon squad, both uniformed officials and state police, do that useful duty. What was up with them pushing people around -- and how did those people get on the frontstretch in the first place? Pandemonium!

GARAGE PASS Garage Pass NASCAR is still pondering how to handle Jeff Gordon's Brickyard celebration

Marty Smith: Did anyone complain when Junior spun down through the grass at Daytona in 2001, or when Mikey popped up through the roof hatch at Talladega? No. That was pre-Bottlegate. But the fact remains -- no one made a chirp about it.

Lee Montgomery: Amen.

Dave Rodman: Of course, sitting at home it was hilarious to see the "squad" on patrol, not to pick on them. What was that poor official trying to do to Jeff? I thought he was rotating him to get PowerAde bottles into the background, to tell you the truth.

Lee Montgomery: NASCAR has got itself in a corner. They lose either way.

Dave Rodman: They definitely do, Lee. But you know what, the fans are gonna lose again and I truly hope they keep their heads up and keep on watching.

Lee Montgomery: Funny, I saw a guy before the race carrying a PowerAde bottle. I wanted to knock it out of his hand. Wonder if I'd get fined?

Must... stay... awake! Credit: AP

Marty Smith: Double dipping has its consequences, gentlemen. Eventually, it'll get NASCAR. It may be 30 years, but eventually it'll bite 'em.

Dave Rodman: Oh heck, Marty -- I don't think it will take 30 years. I hope it goes away next year.

Lee Montgomery: I hope it goes away this weekend.

Dave Rodman: True.

Marty Smith: How about tomorrow?

The race to the Chase for the Nextel Cup goes on, and there was more drama at the Brickyard. Who do you guys think will be the first one to blink? Or who will keep rolling?

Lee Montgomery: Boy, we need Ryan to say something stupid here, don't we?

Marty Smith: I wish Smithson were here, so he could grace us with his idiocy. We think alike, LeeMo.

Dave Rodman: Poor ol' Ryan. He picked a heckuva time to go on a fact-finding trip to Mexico, didn't he?

Lee Montgomery: Well, getting back to business, that's a good question. Kahne, Mayfield and Jarrett are looking pretty good right now. But whom do they replace in the top 10? Harvick? Newman? Labonte? Those are the obvious candidates, but it won't be easy.

Send mean mail Marty Lee Dave

Dave Rodman: Exactly. I can't imagine Ryan Newman not being in contention for the championship, but whether it's running not so great or just having terrible luck, I see them showing little sign of erupting as they did last year.

Marty Smith: Ryan Newman's been struggling pretty badly of late, but he's awesome at Michigan -- and Bristol is a crapshoot.

Dave Rodman: And Bobby? I don't know how bad he thought he had it with Fatback, but I can't help but think that move might cost them a spot in the Chase.

Marty Smith: I think Mayfield's going to qualify. I just have a gut feeling about him.

Lee Montgomery: Yates was awesome at Indy, so I have a good feeling about Jarrett.

Dave Rodman: Like you said, Lee, I see Kahne, Mayfield and Jarrett continuing to march forward -- and Mark Martin has got to shake that monkey. But unfortunately, that means someone needs to fall out. Like I said last week, that is more pain than I want to wish on anyone.

Lee Montgomery: And Kahne has been terrific all year, too.

Marty Smith: Jarrett is, what, 55 points out of the Chase right now? Smithson, he has no chance, right?

If I'm gonna make the Chase, I need to start some sort of training program. Credit: AP

Lee Montgomery: This weekend might shuffle a few guys out.

Dave Rodman: Watkins Glen's potential for craziness is huge. Look at poor DJ last year, was it? He took a random trip to the gravel and boom -- outta there.

Lee Montgomery: That could happen to anyone.

Marty Smith: Yes, this could be a very important race. It could be huge for good road racers like Harvick to gain ground and solidify their position. Newman must perform this weekend.

Dave Rodman: Did y'all hear A.J. opining about Indy car road racing the other day? He said Watkins Glen and Sonoma were the two worst places to road race. I wonder what he meant by that? The fans seem to like 'em.

Dave Rodman: For Cup cars, at least, I don't think Watkins is half bad.

Lee Montgomery: A.J. was never much of a road racer, by the way.

Dave Rodman: Whaddya mean -- he won Le Mans, Daytona -- plenty of road races. But then again, like he himself said, he's a cripple because of two road course wrecks.

Who's the favorite at Watkins Glen? Will an "interloper" finally win?

Lee Montgomery: I'll never pick an interloper. They're great road racers, but to win a Cup race is such a tough thing, even for regulars. That being said, Jeff Gordon will kill them this weekend. Kill them!

LISTEN UP Track Smack Audio Is NASCAR risking its fan base? The Track Smackers tackle that topic in this week's audio.

Marty Smith: No. Robby Gordon avenges his hellish Sonoma experience and wins WGI for the second consecutive year.

Lee Montgomery: Gordon's race last year was awesome, after getting punted in the first corner. Then he got punted in the last corner. They're fired up this weekend.

Dave Rodman: Well, I broached the subject, and based on the fact that they tested the best -- the question becomes, who'll do it? Based on what I want to see in a Victory Lane celebration, I think Boris Sheetrock will be the man.

Marty Smith: So LeeMo and I go with the two best road racers among full-time drivers, and Wormus goes with Said Head. Sorry, Wormy -- I just don't see it happening, man.

Lee Montgomery: Nope.

Dave Rodman: Having said that, it is pretty hard not to imagine Jeff Gordon continuing his march -- or Robby not bouncing back -- or for that matter Mark Martin not catching a break. He once won three straight at WGI from the danged pole!

Marty Smith: It'd be awesome for MB2, though. I'd love to see ol' Jay Frye raisin' cane in Victory Lane. Hey, that rhymed!

Lee Montgomery: Marty's a poet and doesn't know it, but I'd take Pruett before Said. Even though I love quoting Boris: "I'm going to win," Said said.

Dave Rodman: The only thing that leans me away from Scotty is how beat up he is after last weekend. That being said, he's got the best recent finish by a roadie -- and the boy is red-danged-hot in Grand-Am.

Smithson's in Mexico? Can you picture him with a sombero on his head? I crack myself up. Credit: AP

Marty Smith: Pruett was awesome at Sonoma, and helped Jamie McMurray have an awesome finish there, too. He adds a ton to Ganassi's Cup road racing effort. He can wheel it, for sure.

Lee Montgomery: But Worm's right. He killed that 09 car at Indy. But he wasn't limping on Sunday, unlike Junior.

Marty Smith: Lord, did he. I was eating lunch in the garage when they wheeled that thing by. The left front was killed.

Dave Rodman: Well, I saw him get levered out of his car after he won the Rolex Series race at Mid-Ohio Saturday evening. That was almost painful to watch. He was in Victory Lane, though -- which makes a difference.

Lee Montgomery: Always helps.

Marty Smith: Speaking of Jeff Gordon, I picked him at Indy. FACE, boys.

Dave Rodman: Whoa -- isn't that two in a row, brother?

Marty Smith: Yes sir. Call me Nostradamus Earnhardt.

Track Smack appears each Wednesday morning. The opinions expressed are solely of the participants.