Loomis: "Maybe Jeff will forget he was supposed to get this check."

Track Smack: Offseason

Why did DEI swap crews? Was this unexpected?

Ryan Smithson: I was really surprised, and I still am. I mean, they had just gotten done shaking up the 15 crew chief and gotten Rondeau settled, and bam, he's over at the 8. But I think this may be a good thing, because something needs to happen with Waltrip for 2005.

B. Duane Cross: Why -- with the new crew, it's make-or-break in 2005; someone else could be in the No. 15 Chevrolet in '06 if Mikey doesn't do better than he showed this year. DEI is determined to get Junior some help in the Chase, and this moves makes the most sense toward trying to accomplish that goal.

Lee Montgomery: Considering Dale Jr. said he'd rather lose with the Eurys than win with anyone else, yes it was unexpected. Maybe they figured they'd even out the teams, but that might mean Junior comes down.

Dave Rodman: Blew me away. Remains to be seen what flowers -- or bushes, or sticks -- grow from these seeds. But the comment from Junior at the awards ceremony, I guess, was the straw that broke the camel's back -- family or not.

B. Duane Cross: Anyone else believe Tony Eury just got tired of hearing Junior yakking and complaining in his ear for 10 months?

Ryan Smithson: Blood's thicker than water. Water goes down a lot easier. Duane, you answered your own question.

EMAIL Lee Dave Ryan MartDawg (vacation) Duane

Lee Montgomery: Could be. Maybe Rondeau doesn't hear so well.

Ryan Smithson: Personally, I think Tony Eury Jr. is probably happy he can actually wear his new, blue uniform in the garage and not get mobbed.

Dave Rodman: I think this is potentially a very ominous sign of some very, very big changes. Because family is big -- and it held things together when a lot seemed to be coming apart.

Lee Montgomery: Makes you wonder who was behind the changes. Dale Jr.? Richie Gilmore? Teresa?

Ryan Smithson: I'd imagine Teresa, Lee. Just a guesstimate.

Dave Rodman: If that were true, it would seem to be a make-or-break ultimatum for some people.

We couldn't find a photo of Pete Rondeau so we drew this composite from eyewitness accounts

B. Duane Cross: It'll also be interesting that if -- and that's a big if -- Mikey gets off to a hot start in '05 and Junior struggles whether there's another swap early next year, before the points race gets out of hand for Earnhardt.

B. Duane Cross: He is the face of DEI, so missing the Chase wouldn't be good.

Ryan Smithson: You know what, I think it's kind of cool. Shows they are not happy with finishing fifth.

B. Duane Cross: Or third, depending on which point standings you're looking at.

Lee Montgomery: I think it was less that than Mikey finishing 20th.

Ryan Smithson: I question whether he can finish 10th, Lee. Every day it seems.

Lee Montgomery: Well, clearly, this is a sign to Waltrip. Deliver a Chase spot or get out.

Dave Rodman: Look at it this way. If you add the 126 points-or-so that Junior himself threw away in the stretch of the Chase, then two guys within 10 points of Busch don't look too bad -- but sends a message now that these changes have been made.

Ryan Smithson: I think we need to get a feature done on Rondeau so people know who this man is.

B. Duane Cross: Sounds like an off-week story for you, Ryan.

Ryan Smithson: I am interested to hear his thoughts on it. I'll see what I can do.

Lee Montgomery: Boy, how has his life changed, huh? From unknown to Junior's crew chief.

Ryan Smithson: No pressure, Pete. Jeez. I wonder if he will stand up to Junior or not.

Rachel Hunter

B. Duane Cross: Yes, he will -- or he'll go the way of Rusty Wallace's recent crew chiefs.

B. Duane Cross: Rondeau just got voted onto the island -- for better or worse. Speaking of which ... how 'bout Rachel Hunter. After all these years, she's still got it.

Ryan Smithson: She's Stacy's mom, Duane.

Lee Montgomery: Good plug for our corporate cousins, Duane.

Dave Rodman: He's a New Englander -- he can take it. I'll vouch for him, all the way.

Who will have more impact: Steve Addington as Bobby Labonte's crew chief, or Slugger Labbe helping out at Evernham?

Lee Montgomery: Is this a glass half-empty or half-full question?

Ryan Smithson: I really, really like the Steve Addington hire at Joe Gibbs. Steve can be fiery and he'll be raring to go to get Bobby straightened out.

Lee Montgomery: Makes you wonder why more folks didn't try to hire away DEI folks.

B. Duane Cross: Addington -- if Bobby Labonte gets into the Chase; there's only one plate race in the playoffs. But getting Slugger will improve Evernham overall. No top-10s in plate races for Kahne or Mayfield in 2004. That has to change.

Dave Rodman: This could be one more step in a colossal DEI meltdown -- though I really don't think that will happen as much as it will bring Evernham, maybe, more into play on the speedways.

Lee Montgomery: Fiery? Wasn't Fatback a fiery guy, too? How is fiery going to help Labonte?

Kurt Busch receives a parking ticket during last week's visit in New York. Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: I really think Bobby Labonte will bounce back big-time in 2005. Not sure what in the heck 2004 was, but it wasn't Bobby. Yeah, Lee, he was fiery, and he helped Labonte. It was a mistake letting him go.

B. Duane Cross: This is a sport where the behind-the-scenes guys may begin to make some serious cash, more so than many other sports. The "guys at the shop" can make or break a team in a hurry. Why not try to hire the best in the business?

Dave Rodman: Bobby needs to get with somebody that is totally on his wave-length -- and if he does, and Bobby gets comfortable, look out -- a championship is not out of the question.

B. Duane Cross: That's right on target, Dave. Bobby Labonte can still drive; he needs to have a crew chief that is on the same page from Day 1 of testing.

Dave Rodman: I think overall, Steve has the potential to make much more of an impact with Bobby because he's there all the time. If you take the plate races and multiply them times two Evernham drivers, that still only adds up to eight races.

B. Duane Cross: Exactly -- and that may be enough for both Kahne and Mayfield to make the Chase, but I'll take my chances with the guy who's going to be there for 36 points races.

Lee Montgomery: Boy, two statements right on the mark, Dave. You OK?

Ryan Smithson: I think Steve Addington is now probably the tallest crew chief in the Nextel Cup Series. That's a very important stat.

B. Duane Cross: Maybe he should crew chief for Waltrip -- they'd at least be talking on the same plane.

Interviews are a blast! Credit: Autostock

Dave Rodman: I could just not believe, speaking of whining, what I heard while randomly scanning, on the 18's channel. Now, let me say one thing first --

Dave Rodman: I am randomly throwing out the "whiner" label not so much because I believe in it, but because it seems to be a favorite of letter-writers.

Ryan Smithson: Dave, if I had bad racecars, I'd whine too. Give the man a break.

Dave Rodman: I never heard more "F" words out of anyone than Bobby while describing his cars' handling characteristics and how he felt about it. And yes, that "s" and apostrophe are in the right places -- this happened way more than once or twice.

B. Duane Cross: "fun" ... "fantastic" ... "fabulous" -- those type "F" words?

Ryan Smithson: Fine. Car was handling fine. What word, Dave? Say it!

Dave Rodman: But having said that, if you're putting it on the line at 195 or so, you have every right to use what might be interpreted as "whining" but the by-and-large uninvolved.

Dave Rodman: I am not opening myself up to gross fines by the FCC -- or whoever regulates us.

B. Duane Cross: One word, four letters, begins with 'F' ... FINE! We have it!

Ryan Smithson: I regulate you. So say it.

B. Duane Cross: FCC -- Federal Computer Checkers ...

Ryan Smithson: I won't fine you. I'll just make you write a Larry Foyt "Where is He Now" feature.

Lee Montgomery: I can answer that: IRL.

Wait until the guys back home hear about this at the 10-year high school reunion! Credit: Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR

Dave Rodman: I'd have to find my notes. I used to get a kick out of writing 'em down -- even though I knew I'd never use 'em --

Dave Rodman: Because I know a number of Bobby fans and I always thought I'd say, "Man, you shoulda heard your guy Sunday..."

Dave Rodman: Funny thing is, they ended up buried in a notebook and I never looked at 'em again. But they were funny at the time.

B. Duane Cross: Now there's a feature for 2005: Overheard -- and we print the quote (cleaned up, of course; don't want the FCC on us) and string together about 15 of 'em

Ryan Smithson: I'd be mad if I were an owner and my driver didn't cuss.

B. Duane Cross: Ditto -- it's about the only southern thing left in the sport, and I can say that, being a dyed-in-the-wool redneck.

Dave Rodman: well, the problem always seemed to be there was no constructive criticism, like: "those bleeping shocks didn't change a thing..."

Ryan Smithson: All right boys. Time to wrap this up, someone say something funny for once.

Dave Rodman: "Let's try a bleeping 350-pound spring in the left rear."

B. Duane Cross: "Something funny for once."

Lee Montgomery: Yeah, he should've said, "You're the bleeping crew chief. You fix it."

Bond. James Bond. Credit: Autostock

B. Duane Cross: These guys are genius behind the wheel, no doubt. Sound like a bunch of Cole Trickles.

Ryan Smithson: Yeah right Duane. Like a real driver would say "the transmission is screwed."

Ryan Smithson: All right, time to wrap this up.

B. Duane Cross: So everyone's making plans to watch "3" on Saturday night? Got to love the "Darryl" Waltrip reference in the Timeline on the "3" site.

Dave Rodman: I may solely scan Junior and Pete -- at least for the Gatorade 125s.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you sponsor shill. It's the Twin 125s. Not Gatorade.

Dave Rodman: Hasn't been "Twins" since mid-1990s, you antique.

Ryan Smithson: Always be the Twins. Forever.

B. Duane Cross: I like the Twins -- maybe Coors can get 'em into a NASCAR commercial.

Lee Montgomery: Boy, takes us 200 words to say goodbye. You bleeping guys.