This kind of headwear is not legal in the pits. Credit: AP

Track Smack: Vegas

I've noticed that the amount of time between the posted "race time" and the dropping of the green flag seems to be increasing. At Fontana, it was over an hour after the posted time until the green flag was dropped. In the past, I thought it was closer to half an hour. I know that this time is used to conduct interviews and discuss strategy, but an hour seem a little excessive to me.
-- Nick French, Peoria, Ill.

Dave Rodman: Not at Mexico. I don't think it was much past 3:15 - 3:20 when the race went off --- though I care so little I did not even pay attention. Classic case of separate and widely divergent agendas. TV wants to sell ad time. NASCAR wants to satisfy TV. People should cut their grass until 10 minutes after the listed start time, and then sit down.

Ryan Smithson: Interesting e-mail we got about this. At NASCAR.COM we try to guess every week what time the green flag will be and we always, without fail, guess wrong by about 20 minutes. Usually at the posted green flag time, the anthem is just ending.

Duane Cross: I agree with you, Ryan. The pre-race has become one long talkfest that doesn't bring a lot to the table. Getting on the air at 2 p.m. for a race that is supposed to start at 3 ... and then the green flag doesn't fly until 3:20. Enough of that already. Start the broadcast at 2, let's go racing in not more than 30 minutes.

Marty Smith: It's about cash, boys. The longer they stretch it, the more room for commercials. $2.8 billion isn't easily paid off. Moreover, NASCAR wants the broadcasts to conclude in primetime on the east side.

Ryan Smithson: Well, NASCAR wants day races to end about 6 p.m. ET and have the lengthy pre-race shows helps accomplish that. Duane, they can't fit everything into 30 minutes, can they?

Marty Smith: They used to fit everything in 30 minutes.

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Duane Cross: I understand selling commercials and all that, but sheez -- it seems there are enough commercials during the race to pay the bills. And dare I say there's enough money being made?

Marty Smith: What changed? The investment required to have television rights, that's what.

Dave Rodman: Anyone who would complain about that needs to diversify their time usage skills a little bit.

Duane Cross: As for fitting everything into 30 minutes -- they have a 3-hour race to fill! Enough of the talking heads. Does DW get paid by the word?

Ryan Smithson: Yes, Duane, he does. By his seven-figure deal, but it would equate to about $5 a word.

Marty Smith: Agreed, Duane. Fans complain incessantly about commercials, and I'm not sensitive to it until I sit and watch a broadcast. It is more than slightly annoying to miss every restart.

Ryan Smithson: I think fans are still shell-shocked over the whole Daytona-let's-get-every-washed-up-singer-we-can-to-perform pre-race show.

Dave Rodman: Did anyone watch ESPN's Homestead Indy car broadcast?

Marty Smith: Uh, no.

Dave Rodman: From what I have heard, they did something with ads to split the screen with racing action. I watched a little bit of it before the Busch race started -- and I did not notice they were doing it.

Marty Smith: We broached that idea last year, Dave.

Dave Rodman: Yeah -- I know it's been done.

Ryan Smithson: Advertisers do not like the split-screen process at all. That is why it hasn't been used again.

Marty Smith: It seems to make too much sense, but I guess if you give a half-screen of action, no one will see any ads.

Duane Cross: IndyCar can afford to make those concessions to ESPN. No one is watching open-wheel, so just to get it on the air they can agree to cut-rates for commercials and a split-screen presentation.

Ryan Smithson: Conversely, I wish we had more post-race coverage than pre-race coverage.

Dave Rodman: Well, if it resurfaced it's not a totally dead issue. But you're right -- the ones paying the bills ultimately would have to sign off on it.

Mexico rules Credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Duane Cross: I don't see NASCAR advertisers drinking that Kool-Aid.

Dave Rodman: True, Duane.

After two strong showings in Daytona and Fontana, do you think that Kyle Petty has at least one more win left in his career, and could he actually be a contender for the Chase this year?
-- Chuck Miller, Albany, N.Y.

Dave Rodman: Kyle and PE would have to make some remarkable strides to get to the point of achieving either -- but could he and could they? Most definitely.

Ryan Smithson: Man, I doubt it. For one thing, Kyle has got to qualify better first. He was pretty slow at Fontana and stayed out of trouble.

Marty Smith: Hell yeah, Kyle Petty could win given the right circumstances. It's far-fetched, sure, but could happen. He's been a top-20 car this year. He hasn't been that good since the mid-90s.

Duane Cross: I'd pay to see a Petty in Victory Lane again. Kyle has made 294 starts since his last win (June 4, 1995 at Dover). But until Petty Enterprises gets more consistency, it's moot.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you think Morgan Shepherd could make the Chase under the right circumstances.

Dave Rodman: Ryan, I bet you don't remember when Morgan Shepherd was a fixture in the Winston Cup top 10. It wasn't 20 years ago -- wasn't even 15.

Marty Smith: Good Lord, Rodman. Are you serious?

Ryan Smithson: I do remember. But he's 85 years old. Won't and can't happen.

Marty Smith: But making the Chase is a pipe dream. They're better, but they're not Chase contenders by any stretch of the imagination.

You ever seen that famous photo of Elvis Presley meeting Richard Nixon? This one reminds us of that. Credit: Darrell Ingham/Getty Images

Ryan Smithson: Marty, one of the best lyrics ever is Beck's "get out your lead pipe, pipedream."

Dave Rodman: All you have to do is watch Kyle wheel that Rolex car to know he's still got some desire -- and ability.

Duane Cross: True, but they are way behind the front-runners. It's going to take more time before Petty is a contender on a weekly basis. It takes baby steps (and they're making 'em, sure), but the Chase is a dream right now.

Ryan Smithson: Kyle was a very good driver in his prime, but those days are over.

Marty Smith: They've made great strides in power, having secured Evernham Engines. That's a huge step in the right direction. Thing is, they need structure. Kyle has worked awfully hard to get the right people in the right places, and fortunately it's starting to pan out.

Ryan Smithson: That is the thing, Marty, Kyle is busy running that joint.

Duane Cross: But c'mon, as for Petty making the Chase, that's about as likely as Lindsay Lohan winning an Oscar.

Dave Rodman: Duane just capped it and said it all, right there.

Do you think DEI made a mistake in trading crews for 8 and 15? Will they recover from the bad start?
-- Sharon Sutton, Sheridan, Ind.

Ryan Smithson: People are already throwing Dale Jr. under the "won't make the Chase" bus, but he will make the Chase in his sleep. And then escort Lindsay Lohan to the Oscars.

"Ashton, Demi is 10 years older than me, dude!" Credit: Bob Badalucco/Getty Images

Marty Smith: Naw, it's not a mistake. Junior is content with Pete Rondeau, and raves about the pit stops his boys produce. But that's a drastic change. I said it two months ago -- this is a transition year for the 8 car.

Duane Cross: It's too early to throw DEI under the bus. Sure, both Junior and Waltrip are off to bad starts, but there's still time for those guys to ensure a spot in the Chase. Remember: You don't have to be top-10 -- just within 400 points.

Dave Rodman: I don't think it was a mistake. But circumstances certainly have not been in their favor. I hate it for Michael -- being in such a make or break situation. He has been running well for two races when he broke.

Ryan Smithson: I feel for Waltrip, boys. His luck has been awful.

Marty Smith: Waltrip had the best car at Daytona, and was top-15 last week before it bit him again.

Dave Rodman: Anybody who thinks they can sleepwalk into the Chase better wake up sooner, rather than later.

Ryan Smithson: You think Waltrip has got to make the Chase to keep his job, Marty?

Marty Smith: No, absolutely not, Ryan. Michael just needs to run competitively and close the deal. If he finishes top-15 and legitimately competes for a win or two, he'll be back in the 15.

"I know Chip said he'd put a kid in the car if I didn't have a good year, but this is ridiculous." Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Ryan Smithson: Those two mishaps turned Waltrip's Chase chances from 5-to-1 to 15-to-1.

Marty Smith: I agree Junior will make the Chase, but he'll finish outside the top-five.

Duane Cross: I still like Junior's chances better than Michael's -- for whatever reason, I believe E can do more with a car -- but this year we'll see the 400-point barrier come into play. I think teams will race to stay within that parameter.

Ryan Smithson: Man, Dale Jr. is going to be fine once we get to short track season.

Marty Smith: You don't know that, Smithson. Junior's the best short track driver out there, but who's to say he's not in the fence, or breaks a rear end gear like he did last year at Martinsville?

Duane Cross: I'll take my chances with Junior not getting into the fence or breaking another rear-end gear; he knows it's time to turn up the wick and he can beat and bang on short tracks with the best of 'em. 8 fans need to relax.

Marty Smith: Michael has a lot to offer. He's a better driver than people give him credit for, and he's a walking commercial.

Ryan Smithson: "Walking commercial." Truer words were never spoken.

Dave Rodman: That is like Russian Roulette with stock cars. I don't see anyone doing that, because the leader controls that -- not the guys from eighth to 15th. Anyone who doesn't race hard for the top-10 is looking at going McMurray.

Duane Cross: Mikey comes across schilling QVC-type items much better than Junior does, though I want one of those ball-bearing belts.

"Bathroom's over there, Elliott." Credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Ryan Smithson: I wonder if Waltrip will ever get that non-plate win. He won't want to retire without one.

Dave Rodman: I think he will, for sure. He has run well enough at a lot of places.

Dave Rodman: And I agree he doesn't have to make the Chase to stay in his ride.

Marty Smith: In order to truly legitimize his career, and show people it's not all car, Michael needs that non-plate win.

Who is going to win at Las Vegas?

Dave Rodman: Considering how well the Roush gang ran at California, it's hard to go against 'em -- but I forecast a bounce-back win for Jeff Gordon.

Ryan Smithson: Since it's a Roush bandwagon these days, y'all better make Kenseth your fantasy superstar this weekend.

Marty Smith: Head to the sports book and place that teeny wad of loot on Mark Martin, y'all.

Duane Cross: Roush has the stable to beat -- and I like Kenseth, too, Ryan -- but as for Dave's "bounce-back" by Gordon, think about this: He has finished 15th or worse in his last three races at Las Vegas.

Marty Smith: Stats like that are moot, Duane. Counting out Gordon is foolish.

"I really wish my foot wouldn't get stuck." Credit: Darrell Ingham/Getty Images

Dave Rodman: Way to have a "backhander browser" ready to cuff me with, Duane. ... But I still feel like you can't keep a good man down.

Duane Cross: I'm not counting out Jeff Gordon -- I'm just saying that if we're picking a winner, he's not my first, second or third choice.

Ryan Smithson: I can't get over how much better Kenseth looked last week. Was like old times. He's really been struggling. His pits were perfect.

Marty Smith: Talk about awful luck. Kenseth is kicking tail this year, but bad luck has crushed him points-wise.

Ryan Smithson: I wouldn't expect Biffle to repeat -- his Vegas test was awful.

Duane Cross: Sterling Marlin is making some noise, too. Anyone notice ol' Sterling is ninth in points? He's kinda sneaking around in the weeds.

The opinions here are solely ours. Scary.