"Rusty, I really look up to you. I mean literally." Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Track Smack: Richmond

Lee Montgomery is on vacation and Dave Rodman -- a Florida resident -- is cleaning up from Frances. Pinch-hitting today is our boss, Elliott Gordon and Mark Spoor, who is our TV expert.

Thoughts on the Chase as it stands heading into RIR?

Marty Smith: I love it. Absolutely love it. It's flawed in places, such as the fact that the Chasers will be using the same points system as everyone else in the last 10 races, but as far as the overall concept is concerned, it's genius.

Elliott Gordon: Well, RIR is going to be intense, that is for sure, but unfortunately for Bobby and Kevin, Fontana did them in. And like I predicted a few weeks back, Mark will make it.

Ryan Smithson: I think Jeremy Mayfield is kicking himself over that lost opportunity at Fontana even though he's got a lot of experience at RIR. Mayfield has had some very good runs at RIR, I remember he nearly won there last year, but he's so streaky.

Mark Spoor: Well, we're heading into unchartered waters. That's always exciting. Mathematically, there are nine guys fighting over four spots. Imagine if nine teams were still in the hunt on the final day of baseball or football season.

Elliott Gordon: MacMary is kicking himself for cheating at (spring) Bristol. Twenty-five points is going to hurt.

Marty Smith: Kasey Kahne and Mark Martin will make the show. They're arguably the two best teams in the deal right now, despite that fact that the 24 and 48 are more than likely running aggressive new setups.

EMAIL Elliott Mark Statboy MartDawg

Mark Spoor: Agreed, Marty, and it's tough to imagine Labonte or Harvick turning things around enough to get in.

Elliott Gordon: Jeff Gordon denied running aggressive setups after Fontana. But I don't believe it.

Ryan Smithson: Just once, I want to hear Mark Martin tell the world that he's one of the top drivers in the world. But he'd rather not.

Marty Smith: The thing we cannot forget, boys, is that if Gordon and Johnson falter this weekend, we may see more than 10 guys make it. The odds of that happening at the beginning of the season were virtually impossible. But right now, we're 45 points from having a ton of guys running for the championship.

Track Smack Audio In this week's audio edition, we debated the trying times at Hendrick -- is there really cause for worry? Marty says no. Listen to the audio

Ryan Smithson: That is a hard thing to ask, Marty, engines typically are OK at RIR. I doubt Gordon will be out of the top five at RIR.

Mark Spoor: Still, imagine the TV ratings if 12, 13 or 14 guys are in.

Ryan Smithson: Spoor, you are our TV guy, predict us a rating for Saturday night. Daytona is a 10, Bristol a 4, where will RIR be?

Marty Smith: Saturday night's show may be the highest-rated broadcast ever, man.

Ryan Smithson: Daytona is a 10, Bristol a 4, where will RIR be.

Mark Spoor: Maybe, but Saturday night races are tough to predict. It'll be high, no doubt. But highest ever? I'm not so sure.

Yo Adrian! I did it! Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Ryan Smithson: Marty, no way it eclipses Daytona. Saturday night is a dead night. Now, if the race was Fontana on Sunday primetime.....

Marty Smith: With all the drama surrounding it, I bet you it's at least an 8.5.

Ryan Smithson: Whoa man. That is asking a lot.

Marty Smith: No it's not, man. There are a gazillion fans out there, and every last one of them wants to see what happens to whom Saturday night. Even the pissed-off folks who say they don't watch anymore will be watching to see if Martin, Kahne, MacMary, Jarrett, Labonte or Harvick makes the show.

Mark Spoor: I do know this -- it hurts that it's on TNT and not NBC.

Elliott Gordon: The East Coast was asleep way before Sadler crossed the finish line in California.

Ryan Smithson: I'd love to see it, but extremely unlikely.

Mark Spoor: You wouldn't believe the amount of e-mail I get from people that don't have cable.

Elliott Gordon: No cable but internet access?

Mark Spoor: Exactly! Hilarious. By the way -- post-race coverage will last until midnight ET on Saturday.

Ouch!

Ryan Smithson: I know it's off the subject, but Benny said MacMary on PRN last night. He can't help himself.

Elliott Gordon: Question is, will anyone come back to watch the races between Richmond and Miami?

Ryan Smithson: I think they will, Elliott, easily, but as always, football hurts.

Mark Spoor: Good question, EG. I think there needs to be a lot of guys still in the hunt for that to happen. If one guy runs away a bit, probably not.

Ryan Smithson: With the points system, guys, it will be, it'll be tough for one man to run away. It's only 10 races.

Marty Smith: Man, if Kevin and Bobby miss the show, it'll be a blow to the marketing aspect of this deal. Kasey and Mark Martin are awesome drivers and have busted their tails to get a shot, but Labonte is a former champ and Kevin is one of NASCAR's most popular drivers. NASCAR wants those cats in there.

Elliott Gordon: NASCAR wants Dale Jr. there. Everyone else, thanks for playing.

Mark Spoor: Kahne's popularity is getting big. If he wins one of these things, it'll be even bigger.

Marty Smith: I can't go anywhere in Huntersville N.C. without seeing Kasey. Restaurant, he's there. Store, he's there. I swear there's two of them.

Kasey Kahne Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Mark Spoor: Next time you see him, ask him when he's going to cut his hair.

Ryan Smithson: The funny thing is that Kasey weighs 98 pounds and his brother is this big husky guy. Like the Sadler brothers. They don't match.

Elliott Gordon: Kasey Kahne vs. John Andretti -- cage match.

Ryan Smithson: I think Kahne has the potential to be the No. 3 man in the sport after Gordon and Earnhardt.

Marty Smith: Smithson, you're off your rocker, son. He's got a long way to go to surpass Johnson and Stewart. Kasey's a good looking dude and a straight-up wheelman, but he ain't as popular and Jimmie or Tony.

Mark Spoor: But he's gaining.

Marty Smith: And I know you said potential, but still.

Guys, give us a gut feeling -- what is going to happen to Ricky Craven?

Mark Spoor: I think he'll do this Truck Series race at Loudon and then quietly go away. I just don't think his heart is in it.

Ryan Smithson: I wouldn't be shocked if he wasn't in Daytona next year. This year would have burned anyone out.

Bobby Hamilton Jr. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Elliott Gordon: I tell you what, Bobby Jr. just didn't look right in that Tide uniform this weekend. I hate it for Craven.

Marty Smith: He's the nicest cat in the world, so he'll land somewhere. But it won't be with a high profile Cup team, even in a mediocre ride. He may take the Bobby Hamilton, Ted Musgrave, Mike Skinner route and go run the Truck Series. There's no doubt Craven can still wheel it. See: Darlington, 2003.

Mark Spoor: Yeah, but do you think he still wants to?

Marty Smith: Yes. Absolutely.

Elliott Gordon: He likes to spend time with his kids. No reason not to just do that.

Marty Smith: Look at the Truck schedule, boys. He can have both.

Ryan Smithson: Craven looks like a kindly, pasty man from Maine but he's more intense than people think he is. He also has a lot of pride and won't just step into any ride.

Don't leave us, Ricky.

Marty Smith: Don't hate on pale folks, Smithson. I'm so white I'm translucent.

Elliott Gordon: Me too.

Mark Spoor: Me also.

Elliott Gordon: I used SPF 500 at Fontana.

Ryan Smithson: I am trying to think of a more pale driver than Craven. Still thinking.

Marty Smith: I use SPF 50 every single day.

Mark Spoor: That's what happens when you're in front of a computer all day.

Marty Smith: Junior's white as me. Same fair skin.

Ryan Smithson: Not whiter than Craven though. Keep thinking.

Ryan Smithson: I think Craven wins this contest.

Marty Smith: I challenge Ricky Craven to "Who is whitest?" contest. We will decide the title over lobster at New Hampshire.

What will happen this weekend?

Elliott Gordon: Lots of sheet metal up for auction on eBay.

Mark Spoor: I think the top 10 stays how it is right now. McMurray kicks himself and Junior wins.

Ryan Smithson: I agree with Spoor -- I doubt the top 10 will change any.

Elliott Gordon: I agree with Spoor. The field is set.

We have seen this fan at most of the West Coast races. Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: Remarkable comeback by Martin.

Elliott Gordon: I called it.

Mark Spoor: Wow -- not bad for a Smack rookie, huh?

Marty Smith: Joe Nemechek will win the Rock n' Roll 400, Kahne and Martin will take the final two slots in the Chase and there will be one helluva post race fight.

Ryan Smithson: Joe Nemechek! Same guy who made you wait two hours for an interview one time!

Marty Smith: Yep. However he seems to like me now, since I'm hard on NASCAR on television.

Marty Smith: He told me so at Michigan, for whatever reason.

Ryan Smithson: Joe's had a very good season but jack to show for it.

Marty Smith: What! He has a new contract to show for it, son. Try again.

Ryan Smithson: I didn't mean money or contracts. I meant top-fives, etc.

Elliott Gordon: Do you think some changes will come to the 29 and 18 now after falling down?

Mark Spoor: I think there has to be changes, EG. Two great drivers in an absolute freefall at the biggest time of the year.

Elliott Gordon: Dawg? Are heads going to roll over at JGR and RCR?

Mark Spoor: Someone has to be held accountable.

Marty Smith: Not at the 18. They'll change some stuff, but they won't stray too far from the formula that's worked for them. The 29, however, may be a different story. Kevin doesn't like running badly. At all.

Elliott Gordon: My prediction: Sadler goes back-to-back and continues growing that Afro.

Mark Spoor: Does anybody like to run badly?

Marty Smith: And when you look at what Jeff Burton's doing in the AOL car, it's obvious they have what it takes. I haven't asked, but I'd say Kevin's looking at that and wondering why he isn't running that way.

Ryan Smithson: Some are good at running badly, but I doubt they like it.

Marty Smith: Ha! I guess not, Spoor.

Ryan Smithson: Even Robby is outrunning the 29 these days.

Mark Spoor: And that may bother Harvick worse than anything else.

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

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.