"My fish was this big. Good thing too, because Rusty told me not to let Newman win." Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Track Smack: Texas

What do you think about the terrible luck Bobby Labonte is having? It seems like just when his luck is about to turn around, something completely out of his control happens. Do you think his luck will change, or will this keep happening all season? -- Courtney, Rockron, IL

Dave Rodman: The day I -- or anyone else for that matter -- try to predict luck should be the day you sign yourself into an asylum. Having said that, the bigger key is whether or not they've been running decent. I hate to say, they've hardly had a chance to show it.

Marty Smith: Well, Bobby's having the absolute worst luck I've ever seen. He's had a good car in more than half the races so far, and his motors break or he gets caught up in someone else's crap. He was very diplomatic Sunday at Martinsville, but the frustration was very obvious to those of us interviewing him.

Ryan Smithson: He surprised me with his Martinsville weekend. I like short tracks because they put more of the result in the driver's hands, and he certainly showed that a lot of the problems isn't with him. But he has got to get some luck. Now.

B. Duane Cross: Like the song says, "If it weren't for bad luck ..." BLab has been snakebit this year, but like Rodman says, there's no way to predict luck. If there was a way, we'd all be in Vegas.

Marty Smith: Man, it's almost incomprehensible that Bobby Labonte -- BOBBY LABONTE -- has to qualify on time at Texas.

Dave Rodman: Though they have one complete run -- and they were real decent at Martinsville, I think. So I think it's ridiculous to think: 1) They won't win. 2) They won't rebound. However, as I've always said, the more ground you give up, the harder it is to get back into it.

EMAIL Duane Dave Ryan MartDawg

Marty Smith: Decent at Martinsville? DECENT? Come on, Dave! He and Stewart were awesome.

Ryan Smithson: The good thing is -- and Dale Jr. and Kenseth have proved this -- is that you can get yourself back into the top-15 from 37th in the standings. But he's got to do it now, and he has got to get a top-10 this weekend.

B. Duane Cross: One good outing (hello, Texas) and the 18 crew is back on the beam, though. These things snowball. If they can get a good run this weekend, who knows -- they could get hot and reel off some good finishes.

Got a Track Smack topic? We're not that talented in coming up with topics, so we're asking you to select our topics for us. Send us a topic idea (click on this paragraph) with your name and hometown, and we'll use two or three a week.

Ryan Smithson: Gibbs was the class of the field. Evernham a close second.

Marty Smith: Labonte has the champion's provisional, fortunately.

Ryan Smithson: Unless Kenseth pukes or something.

Marty Smith: It's just unbelievable. You could see it on the Home Depot guys' faces after the race, too. JGR let one slip away Sunday.

Ryan Smithson: I've had a lot of 18 fans email me, and they are in arrears. It's really starting to bug them.

Dave Rodman: Arrears, or tears?

B. Duane Cross: Labonte qualifies good at Texas (two consecutive poles), but his past four finishes there have been nothing to write home about: 42, 30, 37, 25 ... they need to get going.

"Watch out for Hmiel if you see him, Dale. He like, drinks of ton of WinFuel." Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Dave Rodman: You would think after Kurt Busch's fiasco at Homestead -- no one in Cup racing would ever have a broken wheel again.

Ryan Smithson: Loose lugs, Rodman. That will do it every time.

Ryan Smithson: Zippy sounded pretty angry, Marty. I mean like enraged.

Dave Rodman: Well hell -- they ought to look in the mirror, then. At that level, that's hardly acceptable.

Marty Smith: He was upset, Smithson. So was Smoke. But they were both real team-focused, stressing that everyone makes mistakes at one point or another.

Marty Smith: I saw a different Tony Stewart Sunday evening, I know that much. He was the guy rallying everyone else to stick together. It was pretty cool to witness.

Ryan Smithson: Elaborate, Marty.

Look at Mayfield! All natty! Meanwhile, Tony has a sponsor logo. Credit: AP

B. Duane Cross: Give Tony some credit, though -- he didn't rail on the crew; he handled it very well, publicly at least. That could have been a tem-splitting moment, but they kept focus on the big picture. Big ups to Stewart for that.

Marty Smith: He gathered all his guys together in the transporter, had a meeting, told them to keep their heads up and walk out of there knowing they had the best piece.

Ryan Smithson: Well, Stewart's trying to hang within sight of Johnson, and he's definitely doing that.

Marty Smith: Stewart didn't get down on them. He built them up.

Ryan Smithson: It is probably pretty cool being a No. 20 Gibbs crew member knowing your driver has a pretty damn good shot at winning the race.

Marty Smith: He was actually proud of himself, at how he was handling the situation. He told us so in the garage after the race.

Is it too early to tell Sterling Marlin that he won't be back at Ganassi Racing? He is their top guy in the points right now.

Marty Smith: It seems like it's a done deal. Sterling said himself he won't be back and is looking for rides.

B. Duane Cross: Sterling will be in another ride next year -- if not sooner.

Ryan Smithson: It's kind of sad, but it gives Sterling a lot of time to find a ride. Better than waiting until October.

Marty Smith: I figured he'd finish his career there, though. Hell, that guy was on his way to the championship in '02 before he got hurt, and nearly won Martinsville.

Ryan Smithson: I don't see how we won't see Reed Sorenson in Cup next year.

B. Duane Cross: If someone can make Sterling a deal for 2005, he'll take it and Ganassi will make-do by promoting from within or getting a fill-in driver, like Ward Burton.

This is what Elliott looked like back when he used to get haircuts. Or maybe this is Hermie. We're not sure.

Dave Rodman: Reality would seem to tell you that, but with so much of the future predicated on building and the youth movement, makes most sense to do it now.

Dave Rodman: And if you have respect for someone, you'll give them the best opportunity to do their next deal.

Marty Smith: I'll agree with that, Smithson. But another year in the Busch car wouldn't hurt him. He'll probably be in Cup, and run every tandem Busch race, too.

Ryan Smithson: I like how Biffle and Truex did it, Marty. No rush, you know?

Marty Smith: Absolutely, Smithson. These days, keeping a guy like Truex in Busch is nearly unheard of.

Dave Rodman: That makes the most sense. There's no point in rushing anything.

Marty Smith: But I like it. He'll be better for it.

Ryan Smithson: Ganassi really didn't give Sterling a chance for this season. They bumped up their crew and got him some great cars, but with Stremme and Sorenson in the wings, you knew Sterling would never get two more years.

Can I have some of that umbrella, Mikey? Please? Credit: CIA Stock Photo

B. Duane Cross: Cup-tandem Busch races seems to be the "in" thing. Maybe it's something DEI should consider. It's not like Michael Waltrip is lighting it up. And if teams are not preparing for the future, they will be also-rans in trying to play catch-up for the next few years.

Ryan Smithson: The cool thing is, Sterling is actually in really good shape for his age. I know everyone slows down as they near 50, but Sterling can still get a car a top-15 points finish. He needs to win one more.

Dave Rodman: If Sterl had lit it up from the start, maybe won a race by now -- he might have forestalled the inevitable. He is running decent, but that's not quite good enough.

Ryan Smithson: With the new Dodge, that is tough, Rodman. It's not like any Dodger driver has 'lit it up.'

Marty Smith: This weekend we'll return to the Roush/Hendrick show, boys.

Dave Rodman: Nope. But unfortunately people in some situations have to make miracles happen. Or else.

Predictions for Texas?

Marty Smith: Elliott Sadler won there last year, and he told me no other teams but Roush and Hendrick have a shot at Texas.

Ryan Smithson: Well, Marty already said Roush/Hendrick, but I almost guarantee every RCR car will get a top 15.

Dave Rodman: I am thinking Mark Martin has a better-than-average shot at a weekend sweep.

Marty Smith: Therefore, I'll go with Sadler. He's got momentum on his side, and he and Todd Parrott always perform well there.

Dave Rodman: He's got to win a Cup race sooner or later. I don't care how much ESad soft-peddles it -- a RYR twin-kill in the top-10 wouldn't surprise me.

"Dude, I ate 10 of those hot dogs with chili this morning. I am glad we drive alone." Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Marty Smith: I know this much, Carl Edwards is elated to get away from short tracks.

Ryan Smithson: What a disaster that was,

Dave Rodman: Part of the learning process. Inevitable.

Marty Smith: Man, that poor kid hit everything but the pace car the past couple weeks.

Ryan Smithson: That killed him in the points. Keeled.

Marty Smith: What'd he drop, Smithson? Third to 11th or something?

Ryan Smithson: Yeah, 10-4. That will make it tough for him to secure a Chase spot.

Ryan Smithson: Carl's got two more short tracks before the Chase, but he'll be much better at Richmond.

Marty Smith: He'll run top-five this weekend.

B. Duane Cross: Strange thing about Texas -- no repeat winners. Bodes well for Hendrick. I like Jeff Gordon -- but Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle will be there, too.

Marty Smith: Aight...y'all be good. I got to go cut my grass before the homeowner's Association fines me.

Ryan Smithson: How much is a fine? $25,000?

B. Duane Cross: I'm there with you, Marty.

Ryan Smithson: You still got that motorless mower?

Marty Smith: Naw man, I stole my Daddy-in-law's mower. It's a pile of crap, too. But, I'm going to buy a new one in short order. My blower is awesome. My trimmer is awesome. My mower is budget.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.