"At least my car is sponsored!" Credit: AP

Track Smack: Bristol

Carl Edwards' success just cast a shadow on Jeff Burton. Will he be joining Ward on the sidelines or will Ward be entering a Cup race soon?
-- Danny Kuzma, Erie, Pa.

Marty Smith: According to a source close to Ward Burton, he's been holding out for a quality Nextel Cup opportunity, turning down some quality Craftsman Truck Series and Busch Series opportunities. He'll be in the seat soon, so y'all don't need to worry.

Ryan Smithson: Everyone knows by now that it's a good thing Burton left Roush Racing. For his part, Carl has given credit to Burton for helping jump-start his career, and Richard Childress Racing is about to return to respectability in the series. It will start at Texas.

Duane Cross: I don't see it as Carl casting a shadow over Jeff; that No. 99 team is at two vastly different places between last season and now. I think Jeff's doing as well as RCR had hoped, and I think Roush is pretty pleased with Carl. Let's call it a push -- both got something out of the change, and now everyone has moved on to bigger and better things. As for Ward, I really miss him. He needs to land a ride soon!

Dave Rodman: Since Carl's success is just the latest iteration of a personnel change igniting a team in a favorable way, I don't think it reflects badly on anyone. Jeff Burton has stepped up the performance of the 31, so that ain't failing.

Ryan Smithson: It feels like Ward has been gone 10 years already.

Duane Cross: Maybe Robby Gordon could concentrate on being a car owner -- three DNFs in three races -- and hire Ward as driver; that pairing would be a hoot!

Marty Smith: As for Jeff, I disagree with the notion that Edwards' success casts a shadow of doubt on Burton. That move was very beneficial to both sides. Jeff says he needs better cars, but I'll say right now he'll win a race in 2005. ... Edwards is a special talent, and a special personality. He may even make a run at the Cup.

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Ryan Smithson: I think Blaney will win a race before Burton, Marty. Not sure why in the heck I think that. But I do.

Marty Smith: Blaney before Burton. Naw. I disagree, Ryan.

Duane Cross: I agree with Marty (I'll give you money for the T-shirt at Bristol, MartDawg). I'll take Burton winning in '05 -- and sooner than Blaney, Ryan.

Ryan Smithson: We'll certainly keep up with that. Blaney's about to get on a modest roll here.

Marty Smith: Kevin Harvick is on the brink, though, for certain. The 29 is one of the few teams capable of running with the 48, 16, 99, 6, etc. ...

Dave Rodman: Ryan, I hate to say I agree -- but I would say, considering where they started -- which is just this season -- and where they have gotten to I would give Dave at least neck-and-neck with Jeff towards that first win in their respective programs.

Ryan Smithson: The funny thing about Atlanta was I wondered what Burton thought about Edwards winning with his old crew chief.

Marty Smith: I'd ask him this weekend at Bristol, Smithson, but I'm uncertain I feel like getting punched.

Ryan Smithson: He's human. He probably wished it was him instead, Marty. Besides, Jeff is like 5-foot-7. He ain't gonna punch you.

Marty Smith: A competitive human, at that ...

Ward looking all natty! Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: Unless you tell him Duke sucks. Which they kind of do, but that's another story.

Marty Smith: A fulla pee and vinegar 5-foot-7. He's a Virginia boy, son; born to scrap ...

Dave Rodman: Duke. They're not the latest loser, but ...

Duane Cross: How 'bout them Lady Vols, boys! ... Women's hoops over that crap the guys play any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

Marty Smith: Whoa, Duane. That's a serious statement. Do you realize three regional finals went to OT?

Duane Cross: Yeah -- because those guys don't know how to stop Showtime and put away the opponent.

Marty Smith: Excellent rebuttal, my good man.

Why is it that Ryan Newman seems to always qualify well yet can't finish the races at least in the top five?
-- Mike Smith, Ballwin, Mo.

Dave Rodman: The 12 bunch might be in the same boat with the rest of the Dodge teams and trying to figure out this new package for the duration of an event. I think Ryan's history shows he knows how to close the deal.

Ryan Smithson: None of these Dodge guys have finished a race in 2005 and then marveled about how well the car handled. That is key.

More fun with Photoshop ...

Duane Cross: Good question on Newman. Last week when I was crunching numbers for the Jimmie Johnson piece, I noticed that Newman's average finish (16th) is double his average start (8th). That won't win you a championship.

Duane Cross: Newman also has made mention of the Dodge grill -- it vacuums in debris. There'll be a change there, sooner rather than later.

Ryan Smithson: Newman can't get his car to handle at all this year. That is fine on Fridays, but in traffic, he's bobbing and weaving.

Marty Smith: Tough question. Newman has no fear whatsoever, so he has no reservation diving that thing deeper than anyone else in the corner. That said, the No. 12 car is engineered so well for two laps it's mind-boggling.

Marty Smith: But for the long haul, there are a ton of necessary changes throughout the day to contend with.

Dave Rodman: Is it possible what Kasey Kahne surmised is true -- that Dodge designed the car for the aero package that went away at the end of last season? That would not be real easy to overcome ...

Duane Cross: Dodge/aero package -- same thing happened to Pontiac back in the '90s.

Ryan Smithson: The Dodge situation is weird. That Casey Mears spin on Lap 1 at Atlanta was Twilight Zone-ish. Boom. There goes the back end.

Marty Smith: I saw Jimmy Elledge out at a restaurant the other night, and asked him about it. He shrugged. They think Scotty Riggs took some air off. See ya.

Dave Rodman: I think he just got de-aired, Ryan. Happens.

Ryan Smithson: Duane, I disagree about the Dodge/Pontiac comparison. The Pontiacs struggled more on plate tracks and tended to do better on the intermediates. But I see what ya mean, kinda. The whole nose deal ...

"I am not going to shave anymore, Jamie. I am wanting to look all rough and tough this year." Credit: Getty Images/Jamie Squire

Duane Cross: No argument there, but they changed the package when Pontiac rolled out its new body (which was geared toward the old rules). It took the teams a while to catch up. I think the same thing will happen with the Dodge guys.

Ryan Smithson: yeah, I see what you mean now. Dodge will be OK on short tracks, like the Pontiac was.

Dave Rodman: There's no question they'll catch up, but it's gonna take some time. Which in this format, isn't available in great supply.

Ryan Smithson: Problem is, ain't but six short track races.

Duane Cross: Dodge has three cars in the top 10 now -- which is one more than Chevy has, if anyone noticed. It's Ford's series -- right now.

Marty Smith: Dodge has great team with more engineers than Georgia Tech. They'll figure it out. Might be a bit too late, but they'll figure it out eventually.

Ryan Smithson: Not many girls at Georgia Tech. It's sad. Probably why Reed Sorenson didn't go there.

Marty Smith: There are girls in the garage.

Duane Cross: Prolly came from Georgia State

Is it just me, or does Krista Voda have the hots for Carl Edwards?
-- K. Kinney, Portland, Me.

Ryan Smithson: Maybe she likes nice, shiny white teeth. Crest strips rule.

Marty Smith: I work with her and I've never heard her mention his name. I will ask her tonight.

Our only photo of Shige Hattori, and also our only one of Deborah Renshaw and Kim Crosby, although you can barely see them. Credit: Getty Images/Jamie Squire

Duane Cross: Krista Voda ... born in Clinton, Iowa ... birthday's coming up; May 31, 1974 ... hobbies include sports and travel. Sounds like the perfect NASCAR show host.

Ryan Smithson: I remember last year he did a backflip for him last year on the show.

Duane Cross: Carl will do a backflip for a burger.

Ryan Smithson: If I were a NASCAR driver, my hobbies would be hunting, fishing and tinkering with cars.

Marty Smith: Y'all are scaring me, boys.

Ryan Smithson: Duane isn't going to stalk her, Marty.

Duane Cross: It's right there on her SPEED bio ... not that I've surfed it or anything ...

Duane Cross: Marty, you're there, too, buddy -- right next to Michelle Smith.

Ryan Smithson: Marty Smith ... born in Grit, Va. . birthday's coming up -- May 31, 1989 ... hobbies include softball and scrapbooking.

Marty Smith: I've been to Grit. That's where Stacy Compton's from.

Duane Cross: Michele loves to jet ski, snow ski, snorkel and travel (her favorite place being the South of France)

Ryan Smithson: That is why I said Grit. I think its cool.

Marty Smith: I was born in Culpepper, same as Big Kenny from Big n' Rich.

This was a last-minute deal for Mark Martin (no tux). Credit: Getty Images/Jamie Squire

Ryan Smithson: Grit and Hurt, Va. It varies with Compton.

Marty Smith: Raised in Pearisburg. We just got a Wal-Mart and a new stoplight. Getcha sum ...

Duane Cross: Big 'n Rich -- in my truck's CD player now.

Marty Smith: Dude, you need to buy the DVD. It's off the chain.

Ryan Smithson: My hometown (Centerville, Tenn.) had a stoplight but it kept getting shot out. We vetoed the Wal-Mart and Hohenwald got it.

Duane Cross: Hey, Aberdeen, Miss., doesn't even have a Wal-Mart any more ... it's so small, Wally World packed up and left!! Now, getcha sum of that!

Duane Cross: OK, now back to Michelle Smith ...

Bristol predictions?

Dave Rodman: I would pick Kurt Busch -- but y'all would call me gutless for that. So how about Tony Stewart?

Marty Smith: Kurt Busch wins; Harvick contends as well.

Elliott: "Pull!"

Ryan Smithson: Krista Voda gets hired by Morgan-McClure to drive second car, misses 42-car pileup, does backflip in Victory Lane.

Ryan Smithson: Just kidding. I'll go with Busch. Again. Sorry.

Duane Cross: Bristol is going to be tough for me; I lost part of my soul there when Gordon neutered Rusty for the win a few years ago (and my man hasn't recovered). ... I'd love to see the 2 car in Victory Lane, but I'm going with Jeff Gordon.

Dave Rodman: Marty, I think you're right. Kevin Harvick comes up just short in a late chase. Chocolate Lovers rules.

Ryan Smithson: Gordon has run great all year and no one has noticed really.

Duane Cross: I know Kurt's been a force there lately, but Gordon's gonna come out smoking past polesitter Ryan Newman.

Dave Rodman: So you're picking Jeff? If Rusty Wallace isn't anywhere near him, maybe. Rusty is due sooner or later, too.

Duane Cross: If Rusty wins Sunday, y'all won't see me for a while. I'm gonna hit every honky tonk between Bristol and Powder Springs, Georgia, buying rounds for the house.

Marty Smith: Big weekend for Junior, fellas. Huge. Remember, last time there he swept Busch and Cup. Granted, the races were at night, but they have a good base setup to start with.

The opinions listed here are solely ours.