Matt Kenseth prefers to qualify his Busch car on Thursdays -- he says it helps clear his schedule to qualify his Cup car on Fridays. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Track Smack: Fontana

Has your opinion on the Chase for the Nextel Cup changed since the Daytona 500?

Matt Kenseth: I think we'd have a pretty good points race this year even if they didn't have the playoff thing. We're only 260 points out right now with 12 races to go and I think they've got a pretty good point race under any system. Most of it, I think there's a lot of good things to the Chase, it just needs to be tweaked a little bit.

Lee Montgomery: I think absolutely my opinion of the Chase has changed. At this point in the season versus past seasons, we have no idea who's going to win this championship right now -- none whatsoever. Last year we all knew Matt was going to win it because he was so far ahead. He deserved it and I'm not taking anything away from his championship effort at all, but it's so cool to see so many guys with a shot, and all the different scenarios that could happen in the last 10 races, and I love it.

Ryan Smithson: I liked it from the beginning, but the good thing is, and I didn't think this was going to happen, but when you say that anyone could win it, that's true. You've got a guy like Elliott Sadler, who's only won one race, but he's been up front all year long, hasn't had many DNFs -- I think only one -- but then you've got guys like Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, who have been winning the majority of the races, but yet with the problems they've had, they're still in contention, and that's good.

Dave Rodman: Like I've been saying right along, I had to get all my old school NASCAR blood transfused out of me over the course of time this season, and it's hard to swallow that what once was just pure racing, is still pure racing, but it's been positioned as entertainment, and modified to allegedly improve its entertainment value -- as if it wasn't good enough, before. But I think the excitement and the drama is just great.

Marty Smith: It needs to be tweaked a little bit, I'll agree on that. One kind of idea that we've tossed around is to maybe give a guy who wins a race in the Chase a 500-point bonus right there for his first victory in the Chase, because that assures that a guy that wins the championship will have won a race in that final 10-race playoff. I don't care that NASCAR doesn't want us to call it a playoff -- that's what it is.

EMAIL Lee Dave Ryan Marty

Lee Montgomery: Winning one race or not, I don't see how that's an issue. And people are going to look back and compare the full season points versus the last 10 races -- which is kind of crazy because in baseball, if the team with the best record in the regular season doesn't win the World Series, nobody compares their overall record, including the playoffs, to the team that won the World Series -- that's nuts. So I don't see that making any difference.

Matt Kenseth: There's certain things about it I think that are going to be great and are going to generate excitement and all that. But to try to compare it to the World Series or to compare it to another sport doesn't work. It's incomparable. In any other sport, it's one team against another, while each weekend we're one team against 42, and that's a lot different. There still has to be a way of ranking all that, I think.

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Dave Rodman: Last year, as we got to be about this point of the season, you didn't care about anybody from about fourth in the points, to the end of the field. They were already preparing for next season -- along with maybe trying to win races. But now, there's all kind of excitement there, not only coming up to this cutoff race, but also looking at the final 10, so I think it's a big plus.

Lee Montgomery: I understand some of the arguments against changing the format, but I also think there's too many positives as far as the Chase goes, and that mostly revolves around having so many guys being able to run for the championship in the last 10 races. That creates a lot of excitement and a lot of things for us to talk about and write about -- and that's good.

Matt Kenseth: I think the hardest thing about is if someone is 600 or 700 points behind and has gotten the lucky dog thing a bunch of times to get free laps back and hasn't had a good year, to put them almost even with Jeff Gordon, who's won however many races he's won and done so great all year and has one DNF at the end and loses the championship, I don't know if that's fair.

Lee Montgomery: If you win the championship under the system that's in place then you're the champion. There's no argument against it.

Riding in the back of the golf cart -- as opposed to the front -- is 10 times more fun.

Matt Kenseth: There's another thing that might be kind of weird that somebody brought up to me, and I don't if it'd make any sense or not, but if they're only having the top-10 drivers eligible anyway, start 'em all out at zero and give 10 points for the winner and one point for whoever finishes last out of those 10 cars. That way, if you have a DNF and finish 43rd you're not totally out of it.

Marty Smith: Exactly.

Matt Kenseth: Just rank the top-10 against each other. Don't rank them by how they finish against everybody else, who isn't running in the Chase. The way this point system is set up, it's supposed to reward winning races and not necessarily so heavy on consistency. In my book, for these last 10 it's almost more weighted on consistency because the guy who has one problem and gets his 38 points or whatever it is for last, compared to the guy who finishes fifth or sixth every week, is going to have a real problem beating that guy, so I think it's still really weighted on consistency over the last 10.

Marty Smith: I could not agree more. Jeff Gordon could win three of the Chase races, but if he wrecks out of four of them he's still going to lose out to a guy who finishes fourth every single week and doesn't win once.

Matt Kenseth: If he drops out of even one or two of them he's going to lose to that guy.

Our only photo of Ryan McGlynn Credit: Autostock

Marty Smith: That's one of my biggest beefs on this deal is that when NASCAR announced the Chase they had built up so much hype of how they were going to reward winning races. Whatever. You get five points for winning a race right now and that's not going to change any once we get into the Chase. What kind of reward is that? When you really boil it down, it's nothing, essentially.

Ryan Smithson: I just hope that when we get to Talladega we don't get someone taken out in the Big One and it wasn't even his fault, and that's why he loses the title.

Dave Rodman: That's racing and that's part of it.

Matt Kenseth: There are some funny things about it that could work out, too. The guy that's 10th in points after all them races could go to the Bahamas for two months and still walk up on stage at the banquet and be 10th in points, and the guy who was 11th could win all 10 races in the Chase and not make the top-10.

Matt Kenseth: There are definitely some weird things about it.

Guys, with Rusty Wallace's announcement this week that he's retiring after next season make you think that the retirement age for drivers might get lower?

Matt Kenseth: I think it is for sure. It's definitely changing a lot right now. I don't know if, or when that would stop. For me, at my age I should try to talk NASCAR into making a rule that you can't start driving until you're 25, or something. That would help people like me.

But when you see Rusty retire, and when you see Jeff Burton get out of the 99 car and go to the 30, the first thing you want to do is replace him with Carl Edwards, who is -- I don't know how old Carl is, but he's not very old.

If Terry Labonte gets out of the 5, the first thing they'll want to do is replace him with a 19-year-old, so I think the retirement age is definitely going to be getting younger, if they keep giving younger drivers opportunities to get into the cars.

Scott Riggs, with goatee on Friday..... Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Dave Rodman: I think as the current crop of veterans gets out of the sport, the opportunities for guys not only to stick, but to have rides in the first place is going to be shrinking up. Just look at guys like John Andretti -- who's a winner in this league. It may be the classic case of early retirement, with no buy-out option -- or no choice.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, last week you wrote that somebody like Jimmie Johnson would retire at about age 40. Do you really think he'll only have like 12 more years to drive? That just doesn't seem like that long to me.

Marty Smith: He'll be done at 40. Jeff Gordon will be done at 40. Guaranteed. They love to race, that's why they're here; but the thing is that they'll be financially stable enough to where they don't have to do this circus any more.

Dave Rodman: I wonder to what degree the better financial picture in this day and time figure into that? Guys used to have to race a long career in the attempt to make enough to be able to live the rest of their lives. That's not the case today, so I wonder how that figures into it?

And clean-shaven on Saturday, when he was the top rookie. Credit: Autostock

Matt Kenseth: I don't think that figures into it at all, really. I think that it used to be -- probably at least a little before I got here -- but when I used to watch the races and pay attention to it, when there was a ride that opened up or you needed a substitute driver, they'd keep using the same people, that were recycled.

They were proven veterans -- maybe not people that were winning races or who had even won races -- but people that have just been around forever. And if there was somebody that had just won a race, he could stay around pretty much forever and float back and forth and keep finding jobs and getting opportunities.

But it's just not like that anymore. The owners and sponsors and everybody are so willing to gamble, on youth -- no matter if it's proven youth or not. If it's somebody that's young, they're willing to gamble on that, first. So I don't think it's necessarily going to hang in the future on whether it's your choice to retire.

I think it will be more like the owner wants to drive you out of there when you're younger and put somebody a lot younger in the car.

Marty Smith: If Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon wants to do a one-off race, that's fine -- they can do that. If they want to go race a soda truck out in the desert in the middle of Phoenix somewhere they can do that. If Jeff Gordon wants to go race a USAC Sprint Car, he can do that. They're going to be financially stable enough to do it on their own terms.

This is kind of the first generation where that is the case. Guys that are Jeff Gordon or Matt's age, Jimmie Johnson or Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. -- that class of driver can do it on their own terms.

Dale Jarrett and guys of his era could not. They are now getting to where they are wealthy enough that they could retire, financially stable, but they were racing to put food on the table. Matt and those guys don't have to do that.

Matt Kenseth: I think we all started racing because it's fun. That's why we all do it. I think what you're saying about Jimmie and Jeff and some other guys (is true). When it gets to be too much of a pain, and it's not fun any more, then they are financially well off enough to be able to retire, quit or just not do it all the time -- if it becomes more of a pain than it is fun.

Marty Smith: It seems like back in the day, guys like Dale Jarrett had to pay dues, and pay dues and pay dues. They didn't get into good equipment until they were 34 or 35 years old. Now, Brian Vickers is 20 and Kyle Busch is 19 and they're getting into the best equipment.

But at the same time, those young kids come into this sport with so much work put on them, and so many responsibilities to sponsors, etc. -- that that wears a driver out, I would think.

Matt Kenseth: If you're starting at 20 years old, I could maybe see them wanting to be retiring younger, but for a guy like me, I grew up racing in Wisconsin and didn't get my first chance in a Busch car until I was 25 or 26 -- or however old I was.

So I can't see me wanting to get out when I'm 40 years old. But the way the sport's going right now, I might be forced out when I'm 40 years old, or 42 or 43 -- something like that. But I don't know if you'll want to be out by then. It's hard to say.

Dave Rodman: Matt, you got to wear the young gun hat when Bill Elliott put you in his car at Dover for your debut, but now you're wearing the veteran's hat as the Cup champion. Which do you like the feel of, better?

Matt Kenseth: That's a hard thing to say. Everything changes, and it's fun, but it's a different kind of fun. I can't think of very many times in my life, or anything I've done, where I've had more fun than that day that I drove Bill Elliott's car at Dover.

That was just fun, because there were no expectations, there really wasn't any pressure. I mean, there was but there wasn't because I didn't have any idea what I was doing or what I was getting into or how big a deal it was that we ran sixth with that car, that day.

To just have so much fun with Mike Beam, who was a legendary crew chief that I used to watch on TV all the time, was totally unexpected and a lot of fun.

Ryan Smithson: I'm glad Rusty is going out at a good time. He didn't do the Darrell Waltrip thing where he goes eight or nine years without winning. Rusty's already won a race this year and he probably will next year.

Marty Smith: I agree with you, Ryan, in that Rusty's going to do it the right way. It's kind of like the Michael Jordan kind of deal. He's going to go out and people are going to remember him as a champion. John Elway kind of did the same thing in football. Rusty is going to get out, rather than hold on too long.

Dave Rodman: I would question, to a great degree, whether a lot of today's fans even remember that Rusty won a championship or that he as the damned man at one time. Just like DW was, in his day. At least they know Rusty is a competitive son of a buck and one hot sketch, too.

Matt Kenseth: Is Rusty going to come back like Jordan?

Marty Smith: Man, I hope not. Maybe he'll switch sports and go try baseball.

Lee Montgomery: Rusty going out the way he is, is perfect. He probably might be able to win his last race next year, sometime. But as far as going to other sports, it would be cool to see Rusty up on the senior circuit in golf. Though, I don't know if he's good enough.

Matt Kenseth: I would never say Rusty's a senior.

Ryan Smithson: Rusty looks young for his age.

Lee Montgomery: He looks young and he acts young. He's always been that way. He acts like he's 16 years old sometimes. But that's what's so cool about Rusty. He's always been wide open and optimistic and that's cool.

Matt Kenseth: That is cool. It's cool to see all that energy and he's not always complaining about something -- he's always happy, you know? He's always looking forward to going to the track and he always believes, in his head that he's going to win that weekend.

Dave Rodman: Rusty sure cusses like he was 16. If you pick your spots, I like that. Of course, he slipped up and uttered a finable word on the live TV shot. Lucky it weren't live.

Marty Smith: Rusty is doing it the right way. Like Bill Elliott did. Bill Elliott left everyone wanting for more. He almost won his last full-time race in Cup racing. All those Bill Elliott fans know that he still belongs in that seat, and that's got to feel good.

Matt Kenseth: That's cool to see how good Rusty runs and to be able to retire with some dignity is pretty cool.

Dave Rodman: Too bad corporate America doesn't feel as strongly about Bill as the fans. He wasn't retired, last time I checked, but like Matt said, if no one steps up to pay the bills, you might be, like, put out to pasture.

Going to Fontana this weekend for a hot, afternoon into early evening 500-mile race. What do you see happening in the points and the race itself?

Matt Kenseth: At California, you kind of always get kind of a Michigan race. The track is turning more into what Michigan is, though it is not quite as good as Michigan, for how wide that it is. But it's a good track with a lot of room to move around and I think whoever you saw strong at Michigan last month are going to be the cars that will run good at Fontana.

Marty Smith: So in other words, you're saying the Roush cars will run good?

Matt Kenseth: You know, I forgot about that but I hope so. I didn't run so good compared to the rest of them so I wasn't really thinking of that. But basically our stuff is pretty close. Kurt Busch won Michigan and California one year and ran the same car and did all that, so I think that the tracks are very similar and you can run a lot of the same stuff. I hope that's the case and I'm glad you brought it up.

Lee Montgomery: Matt, what effect will it have in 90-degree heat, going from the day into the evening? I don't know how much it will cool off, but I imagine it will cool off some. Do you think it will be like Charlotte, or Richmond?

Matt Kenseth: I don't know. The race starts at 4 o'clock. Will it even be dark before it's over? I don't think it will even be dark, so I don't know?

Ryan Smithson: Hey Matt, remember how hot it was there in the spring?

Marty Smith: It was unbearable. I honestly think this might be a weekend where the Evernham cars break through, because I remember Kasey was really, really good at California in the spring. Bobby Labonte might be good, but I think this might be the time that Kasey Kahne really makes a statement and a push towards his qualification for the Chase for the championship.

Ryan Smithson: And Ray said that, too. He knows that when they get to Richmond they better have some cushion or they're really going to be in trouble.

Marty Smith: This is going to be a pivotal race as far as Dodge, overall is concerned. You've got Ryan Newman who, right now is 10th in the standings and clinging on by a thread. If he doesn't fare well at California and the Evernham cars don't fare well at California, then Dodge may get shut out of the Chase, and by golly that's NASCAR's worst nightmare, to have to answer to a manufacturer who gets shut out of that deal.

Dave Rodman: Well, for one thing, I wouldn't totally sell Jamie McMurray that short. He's driving a Dodge, too. And it won't be NASCAR's fault if no Dodges fail to get into the Chase.

Marty Smith: Are you kidding me, Rodman? Don't be naive. C'mon, man -- what are you talking about? Are you trying to tell me that Chrysler, or Dodge ain't gonna raise all 40 kinds of Hades if one of their cars isn't in that thing?

Dave Rodman: They ought to raise it with their race teams, not with NASCAR.

Lee Montgomery: I'm with Dave on this one. I can't believe I'm saying that, but no.

Dave Rodman: Lee, two weeks in a row, buddy. I appreciate the support!

Lee Montgomery: It's tough. That's why they call it racing. I don't see how it would be any different. What's NASCAR supposed to do in that situation? They can't play favorites?

Marty Smith: Who has the new shock rule hurt the most? The 9, 19 and 12 -- all Dodges. Are they not going to go to NASCAR and voice that opinion? C'mon boys, where are you?

Lee Montgomery: That's a completely different subject, about changing rules. I don't see how that's an argument. Has it hurt the other Dodge teams, too? Has it only hurt Dodge?

Marty Smith: They sucked anyway.

Dave Rodman: If they were smart enough to get there, they should be smart enough to deal with it.

Matt Kenseth: Marty's had too much coffee this morning.

Marty Smith: It's good for yah, Matt. There's nothing like a couple strong cups of Java to hook you up.

Matt Kenseth: I don't think it's NASCAR's problem. On the competition side, NASCAR has kept everybody extremely even the last couple years, and you know, when Dodge first came in and they couldn't win a race, NASCAR kept giving them more offset on their nose and kept giving them concessions until they won.

That's when they used to change rules all the time in the middle of the year.

Thank goodness at least from the competitors' side the last two years, even if you think your manufacturer has a small disadvantage, at least they're not changing the rules so you're working with the same car all year and everybody's under the same blanket, basically.

Track Smack appears every Wednesday at 11:10 a.m. ET.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.