"Kevin, you can let go now." Credit: Courtesy NASCAR. Be sure to catch NASCAR Week on Family Feud, which kicks off Nov. 15.

Track Smack: Darlington

Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn't have the greatest record at Darlington and Miami. Is that a cause for concern?

Marty Smith: No. He didn't have the greatest record at New Hampshire before the Chase started, either. The No. 8 team is better than it's ever been. They're not just a threat on plate tracks any longer. They're legitimately fast everywhere.

Ryan Smithson: No. I think this weekend will be a lot like the spring race -- more grip -- and that plays to Dale Jr.'s strength, and he'll have tested extensively at Miami. He should be OK. The bad thing is that so will the other four guys.

Lee Montgomery: What's of bigger concern is that Dale Jr. is 47 points behind with only two races to go. He'll be fine at both places, but so should Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

Dave Rodman: They are not the same team they were, so I would not be too worried -- or not overly worried. But, having said that he is in the midst of a hornet's nest, so they will need every bit of their currently raised game.

Marty Smith: That's the key, Smithson, is how Kurt, Jeff and Jimmie fare. I think we'll see this shootout go down to the final 30 laps of the season.

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Ryan Smithson: Marty, Dale Jr. deserves a title -- it's a career year -- but man, he's going to want those Atlanta points back. Bad.

Lee Montgomery: Don't look back.

Ryan Smithson: Tough not to, Lee. That wreck cost him what, 75 points? Or more? I mean, one flick of the wrist.

Lee Montgomery: Why worry about it now? He can't do anything about it.

Ryan Smithson: I know but you know what I mean.

"Now Hermie, don't out-qualify me like you did at Martinsville." Credit: Sherryl Creekmore/NASCAR

Dave Rodman: I was figuring he better lose the title by more than about 125 points if he doesn't win it -- or it's really going to be painful -- I don't care what Junior says.

Marty Smith: It was the most costly mistake of his career, from a championship perspective, guys. He knows that. At least he's man enough to say it, you know? A lot of guys would've called for Carl Edwards' head.

Lee Montgomery: A few did.

Ryan Smithson: Dale Jr. admitted it at Phoenix. It's in his head, not the penalty.

Ryan Smithson: I am starting to think Dale Jr. will never lose his candor. I was scared he would after he got dinged for his Bristol comments in March.

Dave Rodman: The hugest aspect of his newfound maturity is that he obviously can put mistakes such as those behind him. That performance at Phoenix certainly proved that.

Greg Biffle has officially given up trying to break into the Gillette Young Guns. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Marty Smith: That's what's so great about Earnhardt, boys, as I said in Last Lap Tuesday -- his willingness to speak with Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes the very same way he speaks with his buddies in the backyard. That's a very rare and enamoring trait.

Ryan Smithson: Well, I guess Dale Jr. has proved that you can get two mulligans, not just one, in the Chase.

Marty Smith: You know who deserves a helluva lot of credit? Tony Eury Sr. He essentially told Junior to shut up and drive on that last caution.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, I used to think that family on a pit crew was bad news, bad idea, etc. I was wrong. They make it work. I figured they would have split by now. Now, I am sure everyone else wishes they would!

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Dave Rodman: Well, you can get away with it if you drive like a badass the rest of the time -- or if your team is so tight you can overcome ridiculous happenings on the track. Each one of the top four deserves the title -- I almost hope Junior wins it just to prove they can come back from that double jeopardy.

Ryan Smithson: I still chuckle when I think the Eurys walking a mile to get to the track at Bristol in their T-shirts because if they wore their Bud gear, they'd get mauled.

Lee Montgomery: Are you saying there are Junior fans in Bristol?

Marty Smith: I'll be honest, as much as Dale Jr. and Tony Jr. used to cuss each other blue, I'm surprised they've made it this long. But when Junior discussed his love for his family at Indy, when he said those relationships mean more to him than any championship, it was obvious who he wanted running his race team.

Why has Silly Season been quiet? Will it pick up much?

Lee Montgomery: A lot has already happened. Besides, with so much money invested in drivers, it's hard to move some of the top guys around.

Dave Rodman: Across the board, I don't think it's been quiet at all. If you look at all three series, there has been a move about every week, going back to March. That is more constant than quiet.

I hope Coach Gibbs gets me an Ipod for Christmas. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Ryan Smithson: Lee, that's the main thing, especially with top 15 drivers, which is why none of those guys has changed for next year. Yet. And I guess they won't (in the top 15).

Marty Smith: It's been quiet because new teams have hired non-Nextel Cup full time drivers. Dave Blaney got the 30, Jason Leffler got the 11. Had those rides gone to employed drivers, it'd have been a huge domino effect.

Dave Rodman: It's a different atmosphere than it used to be. Now you have weeks to get it done -- not a season, or even a half-season.

Marty Smith: Ward Burton just got let go from the No. 0 and Mike Bliss is taking it, yet another example of a non-Nextel Cup guy getting the ride. That opens no seats.

Ryan Smithson: Marty's right about the Joe Gibbs deal, which, if McMurray had gotten that one, who the heck knows what would have happened.

Dave Rodman: Nice to see that contracts sort of still mean something. Though in a lot of cases, that's not very much.

Lee Montgomery: I wonder what will happen to the No. 0 car long-term. And Ward, too.

Ryan Smithson: I wish they wouldn't have torched Ward the week of his best track. That makes little sense. But I guess if Ward took the sponsor, then don't let the door hit you.

Ryan Smithson: Did Ward seem worried when you talked to him, Lee?

Lee Montgomery: Ward is never worried. He wants to race, but if he doesn't get a top ride, don't be surprised to see him send 60 hours a week with his Wildlife Foundation.

That 70s Show Credit: Autostock

Marty Smith: Word is Ward's headed to Bang Racing, and has NetZero in tow. I'd be surprised if that panned out, honestly.

Ryan Smithson: If it does pan out, Marty, for how long? A lot of good teams never make it to Daytona.

Marty Smith: That's the (multi) million-dollar question, Smithson.

Dave Rodman: God, it is tough to see our heroes fall on such desperate times.

Ryan Smithson: I don't think this is a desperate time for Ward.

Lee Montgomery: That'd be a big gamble on Ward's part, and I'd be surprised. But in this sport, nothing is surprising anymore.

Ryan Smithson: He's got other fish to fry, like Lee said. Pun intended too, I guess.

Guys, what will happen at Darlington? Will the weather make much difference?

Lee Montgomery: No, they slip and slide around that place after 15 laps no matter how hot or cold it is.

Ryan Smithson: Until someone else proves differently, Hendrick owns Darlington.

Marty Smith: That place is so hard on tires I'm uncertain weather plays that much of a role. Jeff Gordon will win this race. He's been caught up in wrecks there lately, but he's due to dominate that joint.

Dave Rodman: Someone's gonna hit it (the setup), someone else's gonna hit the wall -- maybe a buncha somebodies -- and this win will no doubt be one of the most cherished of the season.

Show run good Credit: NASCAR

Lee Montgomery: Predicting a winner there is an exercise in futility, if you ask me. But I'll go with Kasey Kahne.

Ryan Smithson: I know Brian Vickers hasn't done much this year but one of these weeks he's going to win a shocker.

Marty Smith: Miami, Smithson.

Ryan Smithson: Kahne will win Miami, Marty.

Marty Smith: Vickers was good at Miami last year, but I think he blew a tire.

Dave Rodman: Yeah man, Marty -- I would see Homestead coming for Brian a lot sooner than Darlington.

Marty Smith: Brian will be bad to the bone at Miami. Guaranteed.

Ryan Smithson: Certainly wouldn't be an unpopular win, would it?

Marty Smith: Great kid. Tough times. Absolutely not. It'd be awesome to head into the off-season on a note like that.

Lee Montgomery: He'd deserve it.

Ryan Smithson: I still wish old Hut Stricklin would have pulled out that Darlington win in 1996. Sorry, random thought.

Dave Rodman: That's the case for a lot of people. Unfortunately only one can win.

Lee Montgomery: But Kahne will win at Darlington and Homestead, making him an early choice for Nextel Cup 2005 champion.

Dave Rodman: And at Darlington, I say the win goes to Jeff Burton. For tradition's sake, I would love to see that.