Man, we're glad your teammate didn't get in. That guy's tough! Credit: AP

Track Smack: Loudon

Guys, what was your reaction to Richmond and the cutoff for the Chase? Was it as expected, better, or worse?

Ryan Smithson: It was even better than I thought. I was wrong about the top 10 being set. I certainly didn't forecast the awesome performance put on by the 19 team, and I don't remember anyone else seeing that either.

Lee Montgomery: I must say, our live standings got killed that night, and with good reason. Who was in the top 10 and who was out changed almost every lap. I thought it was better than anyone expected.

Mark Aumann: It was like watching two completely different races once Jimmy Spencer stirred the hornet's nest. The second half was certainly more entertaining than watching them run single-file behind Mike Wallace.

Marty Smith: The race at Richmond was both as expected and worse. At first, everything was real calm like it was at Bristol, everyone minding their Ps and Qs. But once Spencer and Mears got together, it was on like Donkey Kong.

Dave Rodman: I felt like it pretty much had it all. You had a racing melee that took out a contender. You had guys in and out all night -- and guys in or out on the last lap. And guys begging for mercy!

Marty Smith: It was truly a wakeup call to those guys that it was time to get up on the wheel and get 'er done.

Dave Rodman: Well, you could argue that Jeremy has snuck up on a lot of people over the last 10 races, but they have been monsters so it was especially fitting they put it all together when it mattered most.

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Marty Smith: The drama near the end, when it was Newman in, McMurray in, Newman in, McMurray in, was the most nervous I've been as a fan in a long, long time. Jamie got so close, and Newman did what he had to do.

Ryan Smithson: I think at one point in the race, we had 14 guys in the Chase.

Mark Aumann: Well, Jeff Gordon sure saved NASCAR's "Top 10" list by keeping more than 400 points ahead.

Marty Smith: I thought it was fitting that Jeremy qualified with a victory. He's been very quiet this year. There's been so much hype around the 9 and Kahne, and Jeremy just did his thing and didn't say much. And bam, here he is.

Dave Rodman: You're right. Guys' cars came and went -- or they were dealt crappy cards by strategic ploys and cautions. Look at Jeff Gordon, or Ryan for that matter. And poor ol' Kasey Kahne.

I don't wanna hear that I didn't make the Chase. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Mark Aumann: The guys carrying the most momentum right now are Mayfield and Mark Martin -- and they're less than 50 points behind now.

Ryan Smithson: You guys are probably going to call me stupid again, and that is fine, but I don't see Ryan Newman all of a sudden running like it's 2003 again.

Martin's the dangerous one. All these years of bad luck might come back to cash in for this guy.

I don't want to hear that Dale Jr. is only 10 points behind me now. Credit: Autostock

Dave Rodman: Mark, I think you are right -- but this is shaping up, maybe, as 10 races of what we saw at Richmond. These are the 10 best teams in the sport -- right now -- so this will be 10 nail-biters.

Mark Aumann: Is anyone surprised not to see one Childress car in this group?

Marty Smith: Junior was funny as hell when asked about getting together with Kahne. He said, "I don't care if his guys think it was on purpose. It wasn't. And if I cost Kasey a shot at the Chase, I'm sorry about that." It was genuine.

I don't want to hear....anything. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Ryan Smithson: Marty, he did the old Bobby Labonte quote, where he goes, 'I like that boy."

Marty Smith: Smithson, by grannies, write this down. For the first time in my life, I agree with you.

Dave Rodman: Dawg, I read those quotes -- pure Junior. He honestly, genuinely felt bad about it -- but he didn't feel responsible, and he shouldn't have.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, Roush is going to be coming hard.

Marty Smith: You nailed it, Wormus. Martin is an animal right now, and Matt's Matt. Matt Kenseth will be a contender. He'll finish no worse than third.

Ryan Smithson: Kenseth will finish no worse than second.

Mark Aumann: Should Kenseth win another title, will NASCAR change the rules again?

Ryan Smithson: Sure they will! Top 30 make the Chase.

Dave Rodman: Honestly, I think only one RCR car had a pure shot, and I think that is maybe one of the worst "tragedies" of this whole Chase. Kevin would have made this thing even more interesting than it's going to be without him. Now, if Jeff Burton had been in the 30 all season...

Ryan Smithson: If Burton had been in the 30 all season, he would been top 15, but not top 10.

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Marty Smith: Y'all should've heard Felix Sabates after that race, cussing NASCAR blue.

Mark Aumann: Perhaps this will serve as a "wake-up" call.

Ryan Smithson: Felix cussing NASCAR? Is this 1994 or 2004?

Lee Montgomery: What else is new?

Marty Smith: It was classic. He was raising 40 kinds of hell about the X-measurement points deduction at Bristol. He's awesome. He might be the best quote in NASCAR. Heck, maybe one of the best in sports.

Dave Rodman: Felix needs to come around more. Then, when he comes off like that, we wouldn't have to call him a whiner. They cheated, they got caught -- they were the third ones to do it, so it's obvious they would get points deducted.

Ryan Smithson: The 42 team needs to look at their engine failures instead of the dad gum X-measurement penalty.

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Mark Aumann: Wonder if anyone at DaimlerChrysler was sweating bullets knowing they could have been shut out if Newman and Mayfield had missed?

Marty Smith: Yep. Jamie McMurray felt exactly the same way. That was what he said to us after the race. He talked about motors, not NASCAR penalties. Selfishly, I'm bummed Jamie didn't make it. He's one of the good cats out there.

Ryan Smithson: This system is bringing the cream of the crop to the title. We won't see a Kurt Busch-style-2002 deal where ninth goes to first.

Dave Rodman: Again -- it was as bad as I thought it would be. The class meter was pegged for Bobby Labonte, mostly; and Jamie was only a little bit below him, and I'm talking only one or two degrees.

Marty Smith: Well, Smithson, from here on out it's just like it's always been. Consistency will win.

Dave Rodman: As bad as I thought -- for pain.

Ryan Smithson: Jamie's had a real good year but no one will really remember that now unless he starts putting the puck in the net. He's got about 87 seventh-place finishes.

Dave Rodman: You're right again, Marty. Jamie woulda stirred it up as long as he had eight cylinders under the hood. But this is where it's gonna get real interesting.

Mark Aumann: Well, with the NHL about to shut down for an entire season, McMurray will have an open net at which to shoot.

Marty Smith: You know what'll be tripped out? When MacMary and Kahne combine to win about six of the final 10 races.

Mark Aumann: Lee, can you skate? The Thrashers need a defenseman.

Lee Montgomery: Sabates did plenty of shooting Saturday night.

Dave Rodman: If I'm teams 11th through infinity -- I am bound and determined to win a race -- to prove I belong. There you go -- that's what I'm talkin' about!

Ryan Smithson: I committed a cardinal Track Smack sin. I called him McMurray.

It's MacMary.

Lee Montgomery: I'm a goalie. Takes a good shot to get one past me.

Did you see where Jimmy Spencer went? Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: Keep eating, and that it'll get that much harder to score on you, Lee.

Lee Montgomery: That's what I mean.

Dave Rodman: Hey Lee and Marty -- I put you guys on the spot -- who did the best job of showing their butt Saturday night. On TV, I know where my vote goes, but what was it like in person?

Lee Montgomery: NASCAR.

Marty Smith: All said, the Chase field is stout. NASCAR has to be stoked about the lineup. Every make is represented and their superstar marketable drivers made the show.

Dave Rodman: Wow -- how did you figure that? They would have been a little bit down on my list.

Lee Montgomery: They locked down the top 10 for about 15 minutes.

Marty Smith: Considering where Harvick was a few weeks back -- he was solidly eighth, I think -- it's amazing he missed the cut.

Mark Aumann: So if you're in the top 10, how much of a temptation is there to just ride around and stay out of trouble for the next eight races?

Dave Rodman: That was poor logistics, from what I understand -- but insider stuff -- nobody in the public cares about that.

Lee Montgomery: That's all I saw.

Marty Smith: That's my point, Aumann. Everyone's gonna try to finish fifth.

Ryan Smithson: I was more surprised that Harvick was actually interviewed.

Dave Rodman: I don't think anyone can afford to ride -- if you do, you'll be 150-200 points out, potentially, with five to go, and then you are screwed.

Lee Montgomery: Stewart was surprisingly honest about his chances. He didn't sound real confident.

Marty Smith: It's gonna be just like every other championship run from here on out. Taking chances won't be strategically sound.

Dave Rodman: He sounded like Mark Martin's cousin. Tony did.

Ryan Smithson: "Man, we got the best team in the world, but man, we ain't got a chance on Sunday."

Dave Rodman: But he is honest, and a realist. New Hampshire will tell a lot. Right off the bat, if you don't come out firing, you're not just racing the other Chase cars -- so if 15 other guys beat you, you're putting yourself in a hole.

I told you Middle Tennessee State was tough! Wait until we play Wofford! Credit: AP

Dave Rodman: Who you quoting, Ryan?

Lee Montgomery: Lou Holtz.

Ryan Smithson: He's not a realist, Rodman, a realist would say he's one of the best drivers in NASCAR. It's depressing sometimes.

Marty Smith: New Hampshire will eliminate somebody from the deal. There's no way all 10 of those guys will get outta there unscathed.

Ryan Smithson: Why, Marty? Wrecks are not too common there and motors and gears should last.

Dave Rodman: I'd say all but eliminate. Mathematics will do the rest, but screwing up at NHIS will dig you a hole through which you'd need an awful long hose to get oxygen.

Mark Aumann: Well, that's better than sucking carbon monoxide, I guess.

Lee Montgomery: Newman better run up front at Loudon. He's already 45 points behind.

Ryan Smithson: Lee, that is the key. No one has mentioned that. Newman's a huge hole already.

Lee Montgomery: Can't afford to get too far behind.

Marty Smith: It's 45 points, boys. Not 445 points.

Dave Rodman: Sorry. 45 points is not a huge hole.

Marty Smith: 45 points ain't nothing.

Ryan Smithson: It'll take Newman six races just to get 30 bonus points, Rodman!

Dave Rodman: More than 100 points is something to worry about.

Mark Aumann: Not like MacMary, who's 93 million points behind.

Ryan Smithson: Ask Jamie McMurray is 45 points is nothing. I did it again!

MacMary. Sorry. Not trying to destroy tradition here.

Marty Smith: You did that on Day 1, son.

Jeff, I would appreciate it if you and Jimmie could DNF tonight. I am a big Bobby Labonte fan. Credit: AP

Dave Rodman: He's in 11th. Pays $970,000 bonus and a trip to the stage. He'd take a 45-point bonus anytime.

Mark Aumann: Yeah, glad to see NASCAR's new Nextel Cup points matches the current Busch Series standings.

Lee Montgomery: Right. Forty-five is nothing right now. But lose 45 more against nine guys, an that's a lot.

Dave Rodman: Exactly, Lee

Marty Smith: That wasn't what was said, Lee. You and Smithson said 45 is huge right now. Which is incorrect.

Ryan Smithson: They could never use the chase format in Busch.

Dave Rodman: Why not?

Marty Smith: That wasn't what was said, Lee.

Ryan Smithson: Bobby Hamilton Jr., you're in the Chase! Um, Bobby? Are you here?

Mark Aumann: He's still ninth. But Ashton Lewis should catch him in two weeks.

Ryan Smithson: Well, we look forward to that, Mark.

Dave Rodman: He'd either get a car, or there would be only nine Chasers. There's no reason why the format would not work in either Busch or Trucks.

Lee Montgomery: Ryan said 45 points was huge. I said he better run up front at Loudon.

Dave Rodman: In fact, if this Cup season was a test bed, I'd say count on it. However, I don't think NASCAR cares enough about Busch or Trucks to do the Chase deal with them.

Mark Aumann: The Houston Colt 45s are now the Astros.

Ryan Smithson: I can't believe you guys are going to let Rodman get away with saying the Chase would work in Busch and Trucks.

Mark Aumann: The Baltimore Colts are now in Indianapolis.

Marty Smith: I'm not sure I wouldn't delete LeeMo's statement about Smithson saying it was huge. That doesn't sound good.

The drive for five (second-place points finishes). Credit: AP

Dave Rodman: I have the perfect comeback on my lips, but will defer.

Mark Aumann: And Jeff Gordon likes Indianapolis.

Dave Rodman: Mark -- where are you going with all that?

Marty Smith: Aumann, where are you son?

Mark Aumann: There, brought it all back to NASCAR.

Lee Montgomery: He likes rambling like that.

Marty Smith: Did I tell y'all my Ed Zachary joke?

Dave Rodman: I hope Dale Jarrett wins a race or two in this last 10. He will be insufferable, otherwise.

Guys, whom do you think will win at NHIS? Chaser, or run of the pack guy?

Lee Montgomery: Chaser. Fella named Johnson.

Ryan Smithson: Chaser. Fella named Gordon.

Mark Aumann: Someone with the last name of Gordon. Jeff, Robby, Tina, Elliott.

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Dave Rodman: I'm gonna say Ryan Newman will come out of the box blasting. Score again in Lobster-land.

Lee Montgomery: Newman's a good choice, too, I think.

Marty Smith: I got my cash on the 17.

Dave Rodman: NASCAR will park someone for questionable driving.

Ryan Smithson: Kirk Shelmerdine?

Lee Montgomery: I don't think that'll happen Wormus.

Lee Montgomery: They didn't at Richmond.

Mark Aumann: The Red Sox have a better chance of catching the Yankees.

Marty Smith: Martin Truex will surprise some people. He's a wheelman and knows that place well. He'll run in the top 15.

Dave Rodman: No idea who. But Richmond pointed up just how squirmy the calls could get. At least they had the replay rule in effect.

Dave Rodman: Dawggus, I think you hit it, there. Little Martin will qualify top-20. Could easily finish there.

Mark Aumann: NASCAR should have given Spencer a bonus for spicing up that race.

Marty Smith: I was actually proud of NASCAR on that deal, y'all. They did what the should have done, looked at the replay and corrected their initial call.

Lee Montgomery: Yup. Just racing.

Ryan Smithson: Poor Mears though, man, he looked like a pinball.

Dave Rodman: And didn't unfairly, or unjustly park Jimmy, either.

Lee Montgomery: Mears blamed Spencer and Spencer blamed Mears. Perfect.

Dave Rodman: That's what Casey gets for chopping someone off with a run.

Marty Smith: That is unprecedented, isn't it, LeeMo? I don't ever recall NASCAR changing a call mid-race like that.

Dave Rodman: Well, Jimmy kept running and Casey was in the garage. If you ask me, justice was done.

Marty Smith: Man, Rodman's ruthless today!

Lee Montgomery: They've reversed calls before.

Mark Aumann: Hey, don't mess with Dave's Northeast drivers.

Dave Rodman: I hate that Jimmy got taken over the coals for simply trying to race into position for getting the give-back spot.

Marty Smith: Somebody take a whiz in your Cheerios, son?

Ryan Smithson: Dale Jarrett, after the race, he looked like Rodman when Rodman hasn't had any insulin in like five hours. He had that crazed look.

Dave Rodman: Somebody's got an image problem when DJ gets forgiven for gouging the heck outta someone, and then Spencer gets crucified for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time with a capable car.

Marty Smith: I hated it for DJ. He was driving hell-bent like I've never seen him drive. He wanted the Chase. Bad.

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

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.