If you will not turn to the Dark Side, maybe your brother will! Credit: Autostock

Track Smack: All-Star Challenge

Now that Kasey Kahne has won, does it unleash the floodgates for him -- and Dodge?

Marty Smith: Yep. Kahne wins at least three more times in 2005, and his performance, as well as Jeremy Mayfield's have proven Evernham Motorsports has found the balance on the new Charger. It took them longer than anticipated, but they've figured it out.

Elliott Gordon: With how hard it is to win a race these days, I am not sure if the floodgates are going to open, but I certainly think he can win a few more events before the year is out.

Mark Spoor: I really think so guys. Ryan Newman could have easily won at Darlington two weeks ago. They just needed some time to get the Charger change and the spoiler change right.

Dave Rodman: You know I always take the coulda, shoulda route -- so they could sweep the rest of the season. Ryan Newman has gotten pretty good all of a sudden, Jamie Mac is just a tick off -- and Kahne and Mayfield have been stepping up in concert.

Mark Spoor: Plus, Kahne won't have to deal with the question of when's he gonna win

Elliott Gordon: Here is an interesting Ryan Newman stat: He has yet to finish a race higher than he started. Odd, huh?

EMAIL Mark Dave Elliott MartDawg

Dave Rodman: What would be the odds of predicting that? The new Stat Boy. Incredible.

Elliott Gordon: Richmond was close though -- started second, finished third -- and quietly at that.

Marty Smith: Newman's team is getting better on race day. They've improved tremendously at adjusting during the race, which is vital with the new impound procedure.

Elliott Gordon: I was really glad for Tommy Baldwin, too. He is a hell of a guy and deserved to be back in Victory Lane. I have to be honest though, I really didn't think a young kid like Kahne could win his first race at Richmond, but he proved me wrong.

Mark Spoor: I think he proved a lot of people wrong, but then again, his teammate did the same thing last September.

Dave Rodman: Jeremy had Matt Kenseth and Bobby Labonte's 2005 luck in the Chase. I don't really see that happening again.

Victory LaneKasey Kahne celebrates his elusive first Nextel Cup win Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

Marty Smith: Why is it surprising for him to there, Elliott? Tony Stewart, his mentor, won his first race at RIR

Dave Rodman: Just about everyone at the Nextel Cup level can win on a given week. It would have surprised me a heckuva lot more if his first win had come at Daytona or Talladega.

Elliott Gordon: Yeah, I know Marty, but Richmond just seems like a track that lends itself more to experience than eagerness.

Dave Rodman: Don't tell that to Johnny Sauter -- or Carl Edwards.

Mark Spoor: Wasn't Tony's support of Kahne nice to see? I think Stewart gained some fans Saturday night.

Elliott Gordon: Kahne's 18-year-old girl contingent?

Marty Smith: Spoor, it was impressive. His post-race quotes were quite genuine, too. He kept commenting about how much Kahne deserved it.

Dave Rodman: Well, I think that 's the real Tony -- so if the new fans join up with the "Legion of " -- well, I am afraid to put a label on 'em -- but that would be a stout(er) fan base.

Mark Spoor: It kept reminding me of a proud older brother.

This is what happens when the pit road board guy forgets his credentials. Credit: Autostock

Dave Rodman: Well, "big bro" conveniently didn't mention how he tattooed his lil' bro at Chicagoland -- but that only accented Tony's reaction. I don't think it diminished it at all.

Elliott Gordon: Now that Kahne is over the hump, who is the next driver that "deserves" to win?

Dave Rodman: Jason Leffler.

Dave Rodman: Mike Bliss.

Dave Rodman: Ward Burton.

Dave Rodman: Heck -- Jeff Burton.

Mark Spoor: I would say Jamie McMurray. Sure, he's won before, but his team has been running strong for quite a while now without a win to show for it.

Marty Smith: Hell, Rodman -- why don't you just post a series roster?

Dave Rodman: They all qualify. I hate to say it -- but Jamie could be another Bobby Hillin -- one win and out after a decent and lengthy career.

Mark Spoor: Remember to send those e-mails to dave.rodman @turner.com, ladies.

Dave Rodman: I take that back. He actually could win a couple times in quick succession.

Marty Smith: Rodman, please go take your ginseng.

Now that Mike Ford is out at Yates, who's the next crew chief that will be on the hot seat?

Mark Spoor: I hate to say it, but Robbie Reiser has to be on that list.

This is what happens when a crewman forgets his credentials. Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Elliott Gordon: Man, this is really tough, but I am starting to think the No. 17 needs a shake up. I mean, Kenseth has one top-10 this season, his worst career start to a season.

Mark Spoor: Not only that, but he's barely competitive this year. Sad to see, especially when you consider how well the rest of Roush Racing is doing.

Elliott Gordon: If the Eurys and Earnhardts can divorce, so can the Reisers and Kenseths.

Marty Smith: Isn't it always chic to say that Robbie Loomis needs to get fired? What a load of crap. I can't believe people email that to me all the time. What's the guy gotta do?

Dave Rodman: You know what, Jack Roush was talking about this very thing last weekend at Darlington -- though I never connected it to his 17 bunch at the time. The subject was how Biffle and Richert had come on -- but when you twist the glass...

Mark Spoor: Exactly Rodman. Something just isn't right with the DeWalt boys. Obviously, Kenseth can drive, so what's the deal?

Dave Rodman: Jack's point was that sometimes guys just reach the end of their effective time together. Matt's never raced with anyone else in NASCAR, to any degree -- so I'd like to think they could sit down, figure it out and fix it.

Marty Smith: I think you guys are insane.

Mark Spoor: Please expound.

Marty Smith: You are underestimating how important chemistry is. The fact that Reiser knows what Kenseth means when he says "loose" or "tight" is invaluable. A new guy may hear "loose," but doesn't know what that means to Matt Kenseth. Loose to Matt Kenseth is different than loose to Rusty Wallace.

Dave Rodman: Robbie himself said during the Chase last year that their team was not as good as it was when they won the championship. That surprised me quite a bit. Shocked a lot of people when Jeff Burton and Frank Stoddard split -- but Jack's take explains that.

Everytime this guy takes a sip of beer, the checkered flag waves. Credit: Autostock

Mark Spoor: But let's face it, we're 11 races in and this team is nowhere near where it should be. Something has to change, wouldn't we all agree?

Dave Rodman: Something has to change -- but I don't know that personnel would be the answer.

Marty Smith: You three may agree, but I don't.

Dave Rodman: But having said all that, a pairing that won a championship just two years ago has earned the respect and all the time it needs to work it out.

Elliott Gordon: Yes, and the 18 needs to perhaps look under the hood, too. I mean we are talking about championship teams from the last five-six years: 88, 18 and 17.

Mark Spoor: Then what's the key, Marty? What do they need?

Elliott Gordon: All three of those teams are struggling, but their teammates aren't.

Marty Smith: I think you guys forget that Kenseth and Labonte, both, have run better than the results indicate. You guys are looking at the stat sheet, not the racetrack. Sure, they're disappointing as heck and won't make the Chase for the Cup, but I don't think they need to go cleaning house either.

Elliott Gordon: Yeah but Marty, you have seen the trends in other sports -- you don't win, you hit the road.

Dave Rodman: I think it's way too early to go pulling the plug on the Chase. Dale Jr. proved that already this season.

Mark Spoor: So what do they need?

Marty Smith: Spoor; I don't know what they need. But cleaning house because the first 11 events have gone badly isn't the answer. Not right now.

The "new" Lowe's Motor Speedway kicks off with the Nextel Open -- after the truck race. Who'll win the Open and who will get voted into the All-Star Challenge?

Elliott Gordon: If I was a betting man, I think Jamie McMurray will win the Open. He has four top-10s in five starts at Lowe's. He will be strong Saturday night.

Mark Spoor: Jamie McMurray is my pick to win. He's won at Lowe's before and has run strong for most of this season.

Marty Smith: Kyle Busch will win the Open and Martin Truex will be voted-in by the Junior Nation.

Dave Rodman: Sterling Marlin has the track record in the Open -- though I am sure he wishes he didn't have to. Wins for him would be big bargaining chips, right now.

Mark Spoor: Good point, Dave. As far as voted in, if our TrackPass in-car audio polls are any indication, Blaney is the man, there.

Elliott Gordon: My dark horse pick is Jeff Burton. He hasn't had the results at Lowe's in recent years, but in the 99 car for Roush he secured a ton of great runs.

Dave Rodman: The Blaniacs could rule on the vote, true. I wish Duane were here -- I want to know what a Jack Daniel's Country Cocktail is. Boys?

Mark Spoor: It's in those four-packs in the stores. I like the Lynchburg Lemonade myself.

Marty Smith: Here you go, Wormus: http://www.countrycocktails.com/home.html

Dave Rodman: You rule, Dawggus.

Jamie McMurray felt Yoda's wrath on Saturday night. Credit: Autostock

Elliott Gordon: Marty is 100 percent correct. The Earnhardt Nation will vote in Truex, now that Kahne raced his way in.

Was Humpy Wheeler correct in his prediction -- or is someone other than Jeff Gordon going to win the Nextel All-Star Challenge?

Elliott Gordon: Is there any reason anyone would not pick Jimmie Johnson to win the Challenge after how much that team has dominated that track?

Mark Spoor: Hard to pick against the 48, even with the struggles they've had recently.

Elliott Gordon: And I am sure Chad is peaking at Robbie's notes...

Marty Smith: Jeff Gordon went 189 mph in testing -- boys, that's haulin' freight. So I'd say Humpy's right. JG wins a mil, buys another Ferrari.

Elliott Gordon: Marty, he was really testing his Coca-Cola 600 stuff though, right? I mean -- it is pretty common knowledge you don't bring out your "best" stuff to the All-Star.

Dave Rodman: Yeah, but moving from endurance to high speed mode would seem to be a short hop, to me -- especially with a bad-fast ride like Gordo's got.

Mark Spoor: It'll be interesting to see what the crowd reaction is if the 48 wins again. I heard a lot of boos in Richmond on Saturday.

Marty Smith: Point is he can go that fast, E. And in the All-Star race it's not about longevity, it's about hauling ass.

Dave Rodman: Having said that -- I think Ryan Newman is due. He's won the deal before. They have spilled enough blood this season -- so the 12 in Victory Lane to celebrate Roger's ownership consolidation.

Elliott Gordon: Dave, that is a pitiful way to get that topic inserted into this. Do you have a minority share in Penske we don't know about?

Mark Spoor: Really! Is your portfolio in trouble?

Dave Rodman: I think it's fascinating that Rusty -- freed of his team responsibilities -- is talking about opening a racetrack. He is not one to pee away money -- though you certainly could argue that team ownership is a way to make a small fortune.

Dave Rodman: Out of a bigger one.

Elliott Gordon: I think Dave is jockeying for the PR job at Rusty's future track.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.