Yep. Bobby Labonte is boring. Credit: Autostock

Track Smack: Phoenix

Besides the obvious (Bobby Labonte) who has really disappointed you this year?

Elliott Gordon: My vote is going to have to be for Matt Kenseth. He has had only one measly top-10 finish this year -- and at the same point last season, he had five of 'em. And those included two wins!

Ryan Smithson: I really thought Joe Nemechek would carry his momentum into 2005, but he just not performed well at all. I think he's got one top-10, and I think even that was a 10th. I figured he'd win in the first third of the season.

Marty Smith: I'd have to say DEI. To have the success Junior had in 2004, with six wins, to be as far off as they've been is shocking. That said, they were good at Texas, which, morale-wise, is unquantifiable.

Dave Rodman: Really disappointed me? You must be kidding. Since I have no vested interest in anything that's going on -- you ought to rephrase that question.

Elliott Gordon: With the way the other Roush cars are running, I am not sure what is going on in the 17 camp. Maybe Biffster needs to pass around some notes.

Ryan Smithson: Sure, Elliot, maybe Kenseth out of use his backup more.

Email us. We beg you. Conecrusher Statboy MartDawg MartDawg's boss

Elliott Gordon: Marty, are you sure Junior just didn't overachieve last year?

Marty Smith: Kenseth hasn't been as bad as you say he has, Elliott. He had a good piece in the 500, blew it up. He was running sixth at Fontana, blown tire.

Marty Smith: He may have overachieved, E, but that doesn't change the fact that he's not meeting expectation right now.

Dave Rodman: I don't see how anyone could have much in the way of expectations for DEI this year, considering their reinvention of the wheel tactic.

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.

Elliott Gordon: Yeah, but ifs and butts and nuts. His points on the stat sheet still determine if you make the Chase or not.

Ryan Smithson: Guys, if anything, this proves Earnhardt Jr. is not an overrated driver. He is not driving solid cars and yet he's hanging in there.

Ryan Smithson: Rules changes just killed a lot of guys though. Some of these veterans just can't drive these things. Junior included.

Elliott Gordon: Dude, veterans are littering the top-10 in points.

Ryan Smithson: I said some, not all.

Elliott Gordon: Biffle even said he loves sliding the car around again.

"Relax, Tony! The autograph is for my kid!" Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Ryan Smithson: Labonte, Earnhardt Jr. Clearly Nemechek's car does not drive the same.

Marty Smith: Biffle and Johnson are the two best out there at driving a loose car. It shows in the standings.

Ryan Smithson: Edwards too. Carl likes that end coming around. He was good at Texas even after the wreck.

Dave Rodman: Right now, Kasey Kahne has been pretty disappointing, but I think they have come to grips with everything much better if Texas is any indication and they've got three-quarters of the pre-season left to pull back up.

Ryan Smithson: Boy, Rudd has turned things around in a hurry. I know Rodman will comment because they are the same age.

Marty Smith: Ganassi cars were awesome, and Kahne had a top-5 car before the accident

"Ha, had ya scared, didn't I Mark"? Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Marty Smith: Looks to me like Dodge has made huge gains in the balance of the Charger.

Texas was a huge indicator of that.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, they tested until they were blue in the face.

Marty Smith: Had to, son. Kahne hit everything but the pace car for three weeks.

Ryan Smithson: They got to be out of cars now, Marty. He done wadded another one.

Elliott Gordon: Kahne is thinking too much

Marty Smith: I think Mayfield's team is coming around, too. They've had awful luck, like Labonte.

Elliott Gordon: Mayfield doesn't have the DNF disease though. He is finishing races, unlike Labonte

Ryan Smithson: I don't know, Marty, part of that is because Jeremy has been caught speeding seven times. Chuckle. I think Rusty and Jeremy (seven times each) lead the series.

Dave Rodman: I can't hardly think of anyone who's comprehensively run like trash week after week. Luck has been the thing -- or the lack of it.

Elliott Gordon: Rodman, we are lucky if you get to the track before the green flag falls.

This is what happens when you leave two hours before the green flag. Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: Poor Dave sat in traffic for three hours Sunday. Did I laugh? Yeah.

Elliott Gordon: Dave Rodman: Cone destroyer!

Marty Smith: When you leave at 10 a.m. from the hotel, you deserve to sit in traffic for three hours.

Ryan Smithson: At Texas you have got to leave at 7 a.m.

Dave Rodman: Sleep was wonderful -- and reading the paper was very peaceful.

Marty Smith: You have to leave at 7 am everywhere, Smithson.

Ryan Smithson: Not for night races. Kidding.

Dave Rodman: It would be the day when I let goobers or inefficient track types dictate my day.

Ryan Smithson: There you have it, folks, from Dave "Conecrusher" Rodman.

Dave Rodman: I'll leave for a track before 7 the day after I die.

If you could spend one day hanging out with anyone in the Cup series, who would it be and why? --Sincerely, Jeremy Webster, Veedersburg, Ind.

Dave Rodman: Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- he's got a kart track and unlimited Budweiser.

Elliott Gordon: I would shadow Mike Helton for sure, but only if he lets me into the meetings. I would love to be a fly on the wall for the Sauter conversations this week.

Ryan Smithson: I'd want to go play Pinehurst No. 2 with Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler. I'd want to try to outdrive 'em and curse all day.

Dude! Bad day? Credit: Getty Images/Ronald Martinez

Dave Rodman: Rusty Wallace -- since he'd probably have cart blanche to any golf course in the country. And plenty of Miller Lite.

Marty Smith: I'd probably kick it with Rick Hendrick. He's the man.

Ryan Smithson: I don't know, Rodman, Jarrett and Sadler are much better golfers than Rusty. Rusty just started like a few years ago.

Elliott Gordon: You guys are boring ... "I want to hang with Elliott Sadler so we can eat M&Ms"

Marty Smith: Golf sucks.

Elliott Gordon: Maybe I will hang with Stewart so he can help me build a deck from Home Depot!

Ryan Smithson: We still got to get Marty do his Sadler impersonation and put the audio on Track Smack.

Marty Smith: They want me to do it on NASCAR Nation, too, Smithson. I won't.

Ryan Smithson: Tony Stewart hasn't got time to build you a stupid deck, Elliott.

Dave Rodman: I am not a golf snob, Ryan -- though a foursome with DJ, ESad and Rusty would be pure bliss.

Don't muss the hair! Credit: AP

Elliott Gordon: Well, carpenter bees are hell in Atlanta anyway.

Marty Smith: Nice try, Elliott. Depot isn't going to bite.

Dave Rodman: I'd have to have someone to beat up on, right?

Ryan Smithson: Marty, it will greatly help your TV career if you do your Sadler impersonation.

Marty Smith: It is funny, I reckon.

Elliott Gordon: Will it help my TV career if I do my Ward impersonation?

Ryan Smithson: I think I got him convinced, folks.

Ryan Smithson: It's not as funny as Tony Stewart's PR rep, who can do a deadpan LarryMac. But it is pretty funny.

Elliott Gordon: Maybe we should have a contest to hang with Dave Rodman in the Cup garage as a dream date.

Marty Smith: Nothing's funnier than Stewart's PR rep's Larry Mac. "I'm watching you, boy."

Elliott Gordon: That would get him out of the hotel before 7 a.m.!

Predictions for Phoenix?

Marty Smith: Mark Martin wins.

Ryan Smithson: I think Jeff Gordon will be so angry after Texas that he will annihilate the field this weekend.

Elliott Gordon: I am going with the 31 car baby. Jeff Burton. Seven top-12 finishes in a row, including wins in 2000 and 2001.

"I swear, if I get this duct tape off....." Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: You are reaching if you say top-12. Geez.

Elliott Gordon: Yeah, true, but the stat looked better than five top-5s in seven races.

Ryan Smithson: Those wins are long gone, Elliott. Come on. That was five freaking' years ago.

Elliott Gordon: RCR is on the track back to greatness. I want to make Marty interview Happy a few more times.

Ryan Smithson: You're digging a huge hole for yourself.

Dave Rodman: If not Rusty -- then Kevin Harvick in a bounce-back win.

Elliott Gordon: Are you saying Jeff Burton has no chance Ryan?

Ryan Smithson: Not this weekend. No. Top five? Maybe. A win? No. If you make him the favorite, you're pretty much nuts.

Elliott Gordon: Well at least I didn't pick someone easy like Gordon. That is like picking Newman to win a pole.

Marty Smith: Y'all ever had Detour protein bars? They're good as hell...

Ryan Smithson: I'll give you that. And yes, Newman will get the pole.

Ryan Smithson: It's a nice day out, boys. Let's end this. See y'all later.

Elliott Gordon: Dave, leave for Phoenix now. You will make it on time.

The opinions here are solely those of the participants.