Tony Stewart avoids Jeff Gordon in the garage during a tense weekend at Dover. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Track Smack: Pocono

Fact or fiction -- Drivers are showing less on-track respect because the Chase is shaping up as a 10-car deal and the 400-point barrier is no longer an option?

Marty Smith: Not necessarily either. I think it's a result of the competition, and how hard wins are to come by these days with the competition being so close. I've said a few times this year, I don't know that there is a "right way" to win anymore. Guys are less willing to race clean when they have a car that is capable of winning.

Mark Spoor: I think that's partially true. I also think it has a lot to do with pressure. The reality is that you have to succeed now or you'll at least be part of the rumor mill. See Jason Leffler. There's a real sense of urgency.

Ryan Smithson: Fiction. Drivers are driving harder these days, not easier. It's simply becoming harder than ever to even finish 10th these days. I think Biffle is the best driver -- points-wise -- in the last six races, and he only has two top-fives.

B. Duane Cross: Fact is there have been more caution flags this year through 13 races. So much so that FOX's TV broadcast looks jaundiced from all the yellow being displayed. The Chase is the factor in why these guys are driving so hard.

Mark Spoor: You don't think it has anything to do with job insecurity, Duane?

B. Duane Cross: No one is giving an inch, and that makes for more fender rubbing, bumping, banging.

EMAIL Duane Dave Ryan MartDawg

Ryan Smithson: Duane, Tony Stewart can make the Chase in his sleep. He does not think Chase from week-to-week.

Marty Smith: I'll agree that the Chase makes guys less patient. Missing the Chase has huge ramifications from a sponsor perspective. It's still about running up front as to whether or not you get TV time, but mentally sponsors love being able to say their car is in the playoffs.

B. Duane Cross: Yeah, Spoor, it has a lot to do with job security -- which is why these drivers aren't giving an inch. There's not a lot of give-and-take. It's a lot more, "I'm taking that spot."

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Ryan Smithson: There are more caution flags because of rules changes. Impounding can't help, and obviously the cars are less forgiving. It isn't because of the Chase, Duane.

Mark Spoor: Regardless, this is clearly what NASCAR wanted when they went to the Chase format. More urgency.

Marty Smith: Smithson, Brian Vickers didn't dump Bill Elliott because his spoiler was shorter.

Ryan Smithson: No, Vickers did it because the caution came out and screwed him!

B. Duane Cross: I'm calling B.S. on that -- the spoiler/tire/gear changes have had some effect, but not that much.

Marty Smith: Tony Stewart didn't dump Jeff Gordon because his tires were softer.

"The schedule said the race starts at 1 p.m.!" Credit: AP

B. Duane Cross: The guys are under a lot of pressure to make the Chase; that's where the money is. And the way it's shaping up, there'll be a lot more beating and banging in the next 13 races.

Marty Smith: I'll agree the new aero/tire package has affected the competition, and is a large reason why Hendrick and Roush are so dominant, but I don't think it's why we had 22 cautions at Lowe's.

Mark Spoor: I also don't think guys can make the Chase in their sleep, either. Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are outside the top 10 this week.

Ryan Smithson: Guys, let's just pray those 22 yellows was an isolated incident.

Marty Smith: I think I'm still at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Ryan Smithson: The AP called Dover "crash-filled" when we only had three crashes.

Mark Spoor: Yeah. What race were they watching?

Ryan Smithson: If Pocono has 22 cautions, it will be a six-hour race. Would be kind of morbidly cool.

Marty Smith: No, it wouldn't. It would suck.

Ryan Smithson: Maybe than we could get that thing knocked back to 400, Marty.

Mark Spoor: I'm with Marty on that one.

"Who wants a fresh toasted sub? Be sure to get these babies home before they get cold." Credit: Christine Carland/NASCAR

Marty Smith: I told Biffle it needs to be 300 miles. But I guess that's like eight laps.

Ryan Smithson: I mean, they got to do something, so let's shoot for 30 cautions. Then they will change it.

Mark Spoor: What was Biffle's response, Dawg?

Ryan Smithson: If Pocono is eight laps, Marty, my money is on that 12 car.

Marty Smith: He said, yeah. Well, maybe 400.

Ryan Smithson: I spoke to his crew chief in the garage this morning.

Mark Spoor: And the track temperature is 212 degrees.

Marty Smith: More Larry Mac. At least he does his homework!

Will Shane Hmiel be given a third chance?

Marty Smith: If so, not for a long, long time. I spoke with NASCAR yesterday and was told "Indefinitely means indefinitely. Don't expect him back for a long time."

Ryan Smithson: I think you'll see Hmiel back eventually. I am waiting for you guys to call me crazy. By eventually, I mean years, not months.

Was the dark of the moon, on the sixth of June. In a Kenworth, pullin' logs. We're gonna roll this truckin' convoy, cross the USA. Credit: Autostock

Marty Smith: You're not crazy at all, Ryan. The boy can drive.

B. Duane Cross: Shane is going to be the poster boy for NASCAR-means-business when it comes to substance abuse.

B. Duane Cross: It'll be a long while, but drivers eventually get another chance.

Mark Spoor: I think NASCAR has to be very careful here. It's not like we're talking about baseball or football. It's literally a life-and-death situation. You can't go easy on that.

Ryan Smithson: I actually had a fan email me -- and y'all probably go it too -- and they claimed that some ingredients in WinFuel caused him to fail the test. Which I guess is possible if you're adding stuff to the WinFuel.

Marty Smith: It's sad, guys. It's sad that all that talent and all that opportunity was squandered. There are thousands of drivers who'd cut off a limb for those opportunities.

Ryan Smithson: Which I guess is possible if you're adding stuff to the WinFuel.

B. Duane Cross: Shane is young (24) and if he matures enough to show he's kicked the habit, he'll get another ride. Question is, is there a sponsor who wants to attach their product to a two-time suspended driver.

Mark Spoor: That's the sidebar story, Marty. Imagine all the guys sitting at home that would give everything for one shot and Hmiel has blown two.

B. Duane Cross: It's not like WinFuel was a low-profile team; it has Junior pitching its product.

Ryan Smithson: Guys, this opens up a quality Busch Series ride. A lot of drivers, I am sure, are on the phone trying to get it.

This is Marlin's publicist. And her umbrella done got turned inside out. Credit: Autostock

Mark Spoor: I think if he does come back, don't you think it'll be tough for other drivers to trust him enough to work with him on the track? I mean, how will he live down his reputation?

Marty Smith: Yeah.. NASCAR does not like being burned twice, either, boys. Y'all know that. Elite, I'd say, Smithson. Better than quality.

Ryan Smithson: Elite is a strong word, Marty, when that team hasn't even won. All the pieces are there.

B. Duane Cross: Not at all, Mark. I think these drivers will be in NASCAR's ear to the point that if he ever gets back on the track, they'll be satisfied that he's OK. ... Not on the same scale, but like Ernie Irvan after his crash.

Marty Smith: It also hasn't had a Cup driver in the seat, Smithson.

B. Duane Cross: There were drivers leery of Irvan returning with diminished eyesight.

Marty Smith: How many other teams have won with full-time Busch drivers? The 8? The 41? And that was at a stand-alone event!

Ryan Smithson: Thinking. Truex. Reed. Pretty much it. I guess we can say the 32 is an elite Busch Series-stand alone ride. Wow. New term.

Mark Spoor: Well, that's another whole story on the state of the Busch Series.

B. Duane Cross: And now we see the problem that has become the Buschwhackers Series.

It takes 72 muscles to frown, and only 15 to smile. Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: Guys, and Marty may know this -- will Shane be allowed to work in a race shop?

Marty Smith: No clue. But if I had a guess, I'd venture to say yes.

Mark Spoor: So it's not a Pete Rose-type deal?

Ryan Smithson: We need to find out. This is interesting.

Marty Smith: Well, race teams aren't franchises. So it's really up to the team owner.

Ryan Smithson: Man, Shane sure did wreck a ton of cars this year.

Mark Spoor: Seemed like every week, didn't it?

B. Duane Cross: Yeah, finished only 79 percent of his laps.

Predictions for Pocono?

B. Duane Cross: Pick a Dodge -- Newman, Mayfield, Kahne.

Mark Spoor: Tough to bet against Jimmie Johnson. If he could do three in a row at Lowe's, he could probably do Pocono, as well.

Ryan Smithson: 32 cautions, 7 hours on FOX, NASCAR announces Pocono knocked back to eight laps.

Ryan Smithson: I am going to go completely off the wall here, guys. I am expecting Brian Vickers to have a good weekend there. Top-3.

Marty Smith: This is the week Smoke breaks through. Don't forget, boys, this will be a different Pocono. With the gear rule, Jeff Gordon says there will be no shifting, or at least greatly reduced shifting, which is a stark contrast to the past. Maybe attrition won't be so bad.

Mark Spoor: Kevin Hamlin said much the same thing to me at Dover, Dawg.

This is Jason Mraz, who did a great job singing the National Anthem on Sunday. Except he said his favorite driver was "Kenny Kahne." We're not kidding. Credit: Darrell Ingham/Getty Images

Marty Smith: Vick continues to improve. Amazing that fans continue to email me wondering if he's getting fired. The answer is no, by the way.

B. Duane Cross: RE: Vickers: It's the win-now attitude among fans that we talked about in the past few weeks.

Ryan Smithson: I like Pocono. On TV anyway. In the infield you can't see anything obviously. But it's a nice change to see cars going five-wide down the front. Not sure they can do that this weekend though.

Marty Smith: Man, last year I stayed in a hotel in White Haven. It was the worst hotel I've ever been in my entire life. Heinous. I didn't take my shoes off for four days.

Worst hotel y'all have stayed at on the NASCAR Tour?

Marty Smith: See above.

Ryan Smithson: Days Inn, Dover, before they renovated it. The ceilings were 4 feet tall.

B. Duane Cross: Guess that's why Mikey stays at Best Western.

Marty Smith: Dude, I went to the store and bought garbage bags to sit on the couch.

Mark Spoor: Motel 6 outside of Dallas -- It felt like that Geico commercial with "Tiny House."

Ryan Smithson: Marty once was complaining about the Days Inn near Talladega. The carpet was black or something.

Marty Smith: Yeah, kept my shoes on there, too. I would put a trash bag over my pillow, but I'd probably suffocate.

Ryan Smithson: I forgot the hotel where I took a trickle, not shower. I will think of it in a second.

Marty Smith: Smithson said Trickle.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.