I swear, Jeff has already sent me 500 of those AOL disks. Credit: Autostock

Track Smack: Michigan

Jeff Burton reaction?

Lee Montgomery: At first, I was shocked, mostly because of the timing. But when I thought about it, I wasn't so surprised any more. Burton had been with Roush for a long time, so maybe it was simply time to move on.

Dave Rodman: Free at last, free at last, Great God Almighty, I'm free at last! Whoops, sorry. Hard to imagine the stress Jeff has been under the last, oh, year or so. So for that alone, I'm glad to see him get into a secure situation.

Ryan Smithson: I have mixed feelings about this one. I hate that he left in the middle of the year. It does not matter whose decision that was, whether it was his or Jack Roush's, but I hope bridges weren't burned. He sure had a great run at Roush.

Lee Montgomery: Things don't last forever in this sport.

Dave Rodman: I think when you peel away the wrapping, everyone will realize how special the situation was. But under the specific circumstances they were operating under now, to hear Jeff tell it, it could not continue. Personally, I think Jack and them gave him the bum's rush -- but I hope when they sit back, they'll realize they had a special thing going, when it was going strong.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, it was anything but strong. Something had to give. I think that is what Lee was saying, too.

Track Smack Audio Track Smack: Michigan The Track Smackers discuss Carl Edwards' Nextel Cup debut

Ryan Smithson: This is the beauty of Silly Season though. We'll finally get a proven driver in the No. 30. None of their other drivers had anything more than a few Cup wins. I think Park had two, and he was the most successful in Cup racing.

Dave Rodman: I am pretty eager to see if Jeff is immediately installed into the "father confessor" role at RCR. I have a hard time imagining him as the elder statesman of anything -- and that is a slap in the face to me. Because there are few more thoughtful, articulate and accomplished drivers in that garage. Jeff is just too young to be an elder.

Dave Rodman: But he could be just the steadying influence Kevin, Robby and that whole team needs, if they let him take that role. I don't think it diminishes what anyone else has, there -- I just think Jeff can add that much to it...

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you're all talkative today. I had no idea you were such a wealth of Jeff Burton knowledge and enthusiasm.

Dave Rodman: It has been going on three years since they won -- I know that's a strain for your attention span, Ryan -- but if you think about it, Jeff was a title contender on a yearly basis, just like his teammate Mark Martin was -- except for the last couple years.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, that isn't a strain for my attention span. Maybe Marty's, but not mine.

Lee Montgomery: Well, Jeff's first priority is getting the 30 car running better.

EMAIL Lee Dave Ryan

Dave Rodman: Oh yeah, Jeff and them know that. I wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall at Kentucky this week. Carl Edwards is testing there first, then the new 30 team, and then Front Row Joe and Boris on Thursday. Never a dull moment!

Lee Montgomery: The 99 team was among the best there was in this sport for three or four years. But ... things change.

Ryan Smithson: RCR is a very interesting team. Their cars are never the fastest but they rarely break down. Their pit crews aren't lightning but they rarely screw up. It was the perfect team for Earnhardt.

Ryan Smithson: Did you guys see the article where they said Earnhardt wanted Burton to replace him after he retired? That surprised me.

Dave Rodman: That was in our conversation -- but obviously that was not the first place it showed up... That was such ancient history, shame on us -- how soon we forget! Big E did not hand his recommendations out that freely, so that should be the last word on RC's choice.

Great quote from Marlin, eh?

Lee Montgomery: I still want to know what a bug-eyed dummy is. That's in line with cue-ball headed fool and three-legged goat.

Ryan Smithson: Cue-ball headed fool was better, Lee. Pikes Peak, 1999, I think.

In case you missed it.... Biffle Spins Marlin Greg Biffle spins Sterling Marlin, sending him into the tire wall

Dave Rodman: Sterling must be fixated on Greg's Subway commercial. Greg's kind of got that shark-eyed deal going on -- y'know, they roll their eyes back just before they bite yah -- just like he's buggin' just before he bites the sandwich.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you're right. That is where he got it. Although, Biffle's sunglasses deal is similar. Those are like bug eyes too.

Lee Montgomery: Biffle certainly bit Marlin.

Dave Rodman: Well, I knew nothing about it -- visually -- until I saw Inside Nextel Cup Monday night. The fact that Greg never lifted until he knocked ol' Sterling out of his way was pretty incriminating.

Ryan Smithson: Why would you wreck Sterling? Why? And why do you wreck someone two weeks before Bristol? It's like Road to Perdition. You think he won't remember what happened and get revenge?

Dave Rodman: That's exactly what I was thinking -- good thing neither of them is in contention for the Chase!!!

Dave Rodman: I think it was just a mistake, impatience, whatever -- but it seems Greg coulda lifted and let him get gathered up, or even drop two wheels out to the left and gone on. Instead, he seemed to dump him.

I went to victory lane for my 10 minutes with Tony Stewart, but he wasn't there. Credit: AP

Lee Montgomery: Let's give Biffle the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure he lifted. But still, he hit him three times!

Dave Rodman: Hmmm, Lee. The boys on Inside Nextel Cup said he didn't, and when they played the clip, it sure didn't sound to me like he did, either. He just pushed him outta the way.

Ryan Smithson: Now Rodman. If Biffle wins the next three races and leads the most laps in each... Wait. I sound like a TV guy.

Dave Rodman: Well, he could do that, for sure. But to say that Sterling will never be near him under any circumstance is highly unlikely. And he could get him like NASCAR "gets" their "favorites." Balk him on pit road. Make his car three cars wide. Something arcane and creative. Heck, maybe he just put some sardines under his seat.

Lee Montgomery: Well, I didn't see or hear that. So who knows? Only Biffle.

Ryan Smithson: I still say Cue Ball comment was better.

Predictions for Michigan?

Ryan Smithson: I'll go with the 24 again. He's seems to tear up MIS in the second half of his career.

Lee Montgomery: Time for Jimmie Johnson and the 48 guys to bounce back

Dave Rodman: Negative. I pick Ryan Newman. I refuse to believe that they either are completely off-track -- or won't bounce back.

Ryan Smithson: Newman. What an enigma.

Only one available. Price starts at $10,000. Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: Some people bash Michigan, they say it's boring, and sometimes they are right, but I love that old track. Plenty of good finishes there.

Lee Montgomery: The best races used to be there.

Dave Rodman: Michigan is multi-grooved, plenty wide to dodge mishaps and, so what if sometimes you have to play pit strategy to win -- that's part of racing and can be really intriguing.

Lee Montgomery: The performance hasn't been there for the 12 guys lately. And that's strange.

Ryan Smithson: Why is that, Lee? I sure as heck don't know. So maybe you do.

VIDEO NASCAR Live Jeff Burton talks about moving from the No. 99 to the No. 30

Lee Montgomery: Because Newman and Borland are so good.

Dave Rodman: It could simply be timing. The things that did not catch them so much last year are simply catching them this year.

Lee Montgomery: I think the new tire messed them up more so than other folks.

Ryan Smithson: Last six races, they are 20th in the standings. Just ahead of a bug-eyed driver.

Lee Montgomery: StatBoy!

Dave Rodman: They had a top car at Indy and got wrecked. And speaking of that, you think anything is going to go around and come around on poor Brian Vickers?

Lee Montgomery: I wouldn't expect any immediate payback for Vickers. But drivers won't want to be around him if mistakes keep happening.

Track Smack appears every Wednesday at 11:04 a.m. ET.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.