"Man, these earplugs don't taste as good as the ones I usually snack on." Credit: Getty Images/Streeter Lecka

Track Smack: Martinsville

There was a stark contrast between Bobby Hamilton Jr. and Shane Hmiel after their separate on-track incidents last weekend at Bristol. Will there be any repercussions from the way the drivers handled themselves?

Dave Rodman: The impact on Shane may not be quantifiable in the short-term. But I can't help but think if some company was thinking of throwing some support behind Billy Ballew Motorsports, for example -- that they might not rethink it. Unless it was Punks-R-Us.

Ryan Smithson: Gosh. The Hmiel-Jarrett deal was bad. It surprises me how easily you can stay in the gas and spin someone out at Bristol, and that is exactly what Hmiel did. Jarrett is in plenty of Busch races this year, and he'll pay him back.

Marty Smith: What Bobby Hamilton Jr. did was awesome. It's good to see a guy stand up and say, 'Man, I screwed up. It was my fault, and I'm sorry.' Huge respect, there. Shane Hmiel should get a fine for telling DJ he's No. 1, but only because it made the broadcast. That type stuff happens on the racetrack every single lap.

B. Duane Cross: Hamilton may have thought he was the "SOB" at Bristol, but Shane proved Bobby wrong. For whatever reason, Hmiel handled himself poorly when discussing his bump with Dale Jarrett.

Ryan Smithson: That wasn't a bump, Duane. He picked his rear off the ground.

B. Duane Cross: Yeah, it was more than a bump, Ryan -- but the next guy to get his "rear off the ground" may be Shane.

Marty Smith: Look, if I'm Shane, I'm not messing with a guy that's that respected. And that big.

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B. Duane Cross: The "one-finger salute" on TV was bad enough, but then to call out Jarrett for being old -- "he won't be around too much longer" -- was over the line. Jarrett will remember that for sure.

Ryan Smithson: I know Jarrett seems to be all 48 years old and nice, but he cares deeply about being competitive, and that comment, I am sure, kept him up at night. This will fire him up.

Dave Rodman: I would have been a lot more comfortable with it if Shane had been a man and said "it was time to go, I knocked him out of the way." But he weaseled and wormed and blamed everyone else. I think that was his middle finger I saw on TV. Talk about totally uncalled for.

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Marty Smith: I wonder what DJ would've done if Shane flew him the bird to his face.

Ryan Smithson: I guess we'll all pretty disappointed in Shane. Yeah, it was funny at first, but the more you thought about it, it's horse manure.

B. Duane Cross: I think it's more telling that Shane didn't do it to Dale's face.

Dave Rodman: Now Little Bobby, on the other hand, was about the epitome of a Nextel Cup driver. He is no less aggressive than Shane -- or a lot of other guys. But he manned-up -- and that is huge.

Ryan Smithson: It's telling that Shane stayed in the car with his helmet on.

Dave Rodman: Telling what?

We will go to great lengths to show that Bobby Labonte is a funny guy. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Marty Smith: That window net would've come down, and it'd have gotten big.

Marty Smith: Like I just said...I wonder how DJ would have reacted had that bird been flown when he walked up to the car.

B. Duane Cross: I give Bobby big props for tucking his tail and heading back to Nashville, as he put it. ... He'll get the benefit of the doubt next time. Shane, he'll get the wall.

Ryan Smithson: Y'all got to remember that this isn't the first time Shane has done this on a Monday. Remember Rockingham a couple years ago when he argued with Mike Wallace?

Marty Smith: Shane's a fiery dude, and like I said a couple weeks ago, I'm proud of the guy for getting back to where he is. But that deal Monday? That was disappointing.

Sticking with the bump-and-run theme, how will Jeff Burton and Jimmie Johnson resolve their on-track issues? Burton was pretty hot under the collar after crashing out Sunday.

Dave Rodman: If I was Jimmie, I would've already called him up, taken him to dinner, something. Jeff Burton might be a class act -- but he himself said he would not stand for that kind of treatment. Nor should he.

Ryan Smithson: I doubt Jeff will get him back. You can really only do that at Martinsville and it's not like Jeff is just going to take him out.

Would you mind autographing this for me, Mikey? Credit: Getty Images/Jamie Squire

Marty Smith: They'll discuss it at Martinsville and it'll be resolved. It's Bristol. Those things happen. I'm of the mind that Johnson was at fault, but Burton himself said that's not Johnson's style. It'll be over in a hurry.

B. Duane Cross: It'll be handled off the track; Jeff won't retaliate on the track. Burton won't stand for that kind of racing, but he knows where it happened and that it wasn't the first time someone has crashed out at Bristol.

Marty Smith: Well said, Duane. I agree.

Marty Smith: Burton has a huge estate. Maybe JJ can give him some Lowe's gift cards as a peace offering.

Ryan Smithson: Man, that was one of those "look out" crashes. What a freaking hit.

B. Duane Cross: But it was nice to see that competitive fire so evident in Jeff. So many times he comes across as one laid-back dude. He was fired-up after that wreck.

Dave Rodman: The Nextel Cup championship leader doesn't need to have something like that hanging over his head. Because if someone had a mind to get you -- you would be gotten. But when you see what Kevin Harvick managed to do for two days of masterful racing -- at Bristol, no less -- it makes a silly error like JJ's even more glaring.

With Kenseth off to a slow start and Biffle and Edwards steam rolling forward. What are the chances the 17 will be last in points in the Roush stable?
-- Danny Kuzma Erie, Pa.

Ryan Smithson: I don't think there's any question Kenseth will finish last, but that isn't a bad thing considering how good the team is. It's simply way down in a mathematical hole. It will be hard for him to catch the others.

Dave Rodman: On the one hand, I seriously doubt the wheels will be off Matt's trolley for long. On the other hand, with the way Jack's teams are running,

Don't worry, Dale. I'll get Shane back for ya. Credit: Getty Images/Streeter Lecka

Marty Smith: Oh it could happen, certainly. But I honestly think once Matt has any semblance of luck, they'll be winning races. The 17 is good, y'all, way better than I gave them credit for. They just have awful, awful luck.

B. Duane Cross: Yep, Marty -- awful luck. Before we get to Loudon in September, I think Kenseth could be one of the guys making a run at the Chase.

Dave Rodman: Matt could be No. 5 and in the top-15 in points. Is that so bad?

B. Duane Cross: I'd say the chances are about one in five, mathematically speaking. I still believe Biffle is the team's top driver, with Busch right there followed by Kenseth/Martin in any order and finally Edwards.

Ryan Smithson: I just don't see Biffle falling any. He's here to stay in the top five.

Dave Rodman: When the "worst day of your life" is a third place finish -- that's saying something.

Dave Rodman: Due to Edwards' simple lack of depth of experience, right Duane?

B. Duane Cross: Yes, I think Edwards' lack of experience makes him the No. 5 driver in that stable.

Marty Smith: I said in January Kenseth would miss the Chase, and I may be right. But if it happens, I'm right for the wrong reasons.

Marty Smith: I didn't think he'd be this competitive.

Ryan Smithson: He runs well on every track, Marty. That will make it tough to keep him out.

Marty Smith: He was top-five at California, had the tire issues. Had his best speedway car ever at Daytona, blew up. He never even got started at Atlanta, and was running up front at Bristol, too.

Marty Smith: Joss Stone can wail, boys.

B. Duane Cross: But Matt's going to have to have some things go his way in a hurry; I'm coming around -- slowly -- to the idea that the 400-point barrier may not come into play this year, as I've championed all season.

Marty Smith: It won't, Duane.

Dave Rodman: Their day will come. But as we've said all along, it'd better come sooner rather than later -- as Junior proved at Martinsville. Decent run boosted him a pile in the points.

Marty Smith: Just 10 drivers will qualify for the Chase.

Ryan Smithson: Jimmie Johnson will make it hard for the 10th-place guy to stay within 700, much less 400.

Dave Rodman: Something very strange would have to happen for the 400-point cutoff not to be invoked.

B. Duane Cross: Yep, JJ is making this look too easy. I thought he'd falter at Bristol; he still finished in the top 10. Amazing streak he's on -- which is bad news for everyone else.

Predictions for Martinsville ...

Ryan Smithson: Matt Kenseth. He's awfully smooth there.

Marty Smith: Jeff Gordon wins. Sadler, Harvick, Johnson, Martin contend.

B. Duane Cross: Two for Gordon -- I think it's his race to lose.

Dave Rodman: If Jimmie Johnson does not get into a barging match with the wrong guy, he's going to be tough as most recent winner. Jeff Gordon won't be kept down. I like Rusty -- but man, that was a dumb thing he did at Bristol.

Marty Smith: He had tire trouble, Dave. What are you talking about?

Dave Rodman: Could Ryan Newman sneak up on everyone?

Dave Rodman: Following Sterling Marlin -- of all people -- onto pit road under a red flag. That was not good.

Marty Smith: Oh, yes. Good point.

Dave Rodman: Everyone talks about spotters-this and owners-on-the-box that -- I think everyone was taking a coffee break -- or a bathroom break -- then.

B. Duane Cross: Newman's been good there recently, as e-mailer John M. Killacky reminded me.

Marty Smith: Way to play to the crowd, Duane! The man has charisma, folks.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.