"This is the greatest moment of my life." Credit: Getty Images

Track Smack: Loudon

What is the status of Robbie Loomis in the No. 24 garage?

Marty Smith: Many 24 fans are questioning Loomis right now, but his job status is solid. Jeff Gordon believes in Robbie Loomis, but right now, the 24 team is the least productive in the Hendrick stable. The 5, 25 and 48 are all contending on a weekly basis, while the 24 has struggled. To their credit, they had terrible luck at Infineon. He had the best car there. Smoke even said it, himself.

Dave Rodman: I would say long-term success is not something to screw around with -- and as frustrating as things are in the Gordon camp -- I would like to think that pulling the trigger on something like that isn't part of their plans.

Ryan Smithson: Man, tough to say. Robbie Loomis is still the man behind three wins in just a half-season, but they are really glaringly bad right now. There is some real pressure on some teams that are just out of Chase for the Nextel Cup contention.

B. Duane Cross: I still believe that the 24 team has wasted a huge opportunity to lay waste to the field over the past month. That said, we're in an eight-race stretch where Jeff Gordon's average finish at these tracks is 11.3.

B. Duane Cross: Gordon and Loomis need to be strong this weekend to get some momentum on their side -- like Junior has done at Daytona and Chicago. It makes a world of difference in the public perception.

Dave Rodman: That's very true, Duane, but you know the old saw -- lose ground in one race, take three to make it up.

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Marty Smith: The sense of urgency in Gordon's comments is obvious. They need to step up. But once again, this is not all Robbie Loomis. Not by any means.

Dave Rodman: They are running out of races to have misfortune.

Ryan Smithson: They are out of races to have misfortune. One more DNF, and poof.

Marty Smith: Fortunately for Gordon and Loomis, they are awesome at Loudon and Indianapolis.

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Dave Rodman: Right on, Marty. There is nothing to pin on Robbie at any point in this.

B. Duane Cross: I agree, Marty (T-shirts for sale; click here). They've had some crap luck, kind of like Kenseth earlier this year. It may take a few races to make up a bad finish, but over the course of the next eight, the 24 team cannot afford too many mistakes. They are losing their grip on the Chase -- if they haven't lost it already.

Marty Smith: It's like all professional sports, guys, when a team sucks, the coach takes a hit. Crew chiefs are effectively coaches.

Ryan Smithson: We've seen stranger things as far as team changes, especially if the cars are bad. Gordon's deals have mostly been bad luck, but they were embarrassingly bad on Sunday.

Why's he calling me "Meat"? I'm the one driving a Dodge! Credit: Ron Vesely/Getty Images

B. Duane Cross: Yep -- and how many other crew chiefs would feel uncomfortable in their current position knowing that a guy of Loomis' abilities is a free agent? He'd be a hot commodity.

Marty Smith: They were, Smithson. Jeff said so himself after the wreck -- He was pissed at Bliss, real pissed, but at the same time said it wouldn't have happened if they'd been up front where they belonged.

Dave Rodman: All things considered, I think his spotter should've just told him to hold his line half a lane higher. You can't fault someone (Mike Bliss) for trying to race yah.

Marty Smith: Jeff Gordon did, Rodman.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, it's convenient to get mad at Bliss, but Gordon shouldn't be back there battling with him anyway.

Marty Smith: See my previous comment, Ryan.

B. Duane Cross: Tell Kasey Kahne's spotter the same thing; no need in being upset with Bobby Labonte after Kahne had to slow and McMurray plowed into his deck.

Ryan Smithson: Boys, Loomis has been with Gordon almost as long as Evernham was with Gordon.

Dave Rodman: I know he did -- but I felt it was not totally appropriate. Jeff, after all, has gigged a few people in his time.

Marty Smith: Sure he has. That's why so many people think Gordon's comments are baseless. They see it as a pot-calling-kettle-black deal.

Should Mark Martin and / or Rusty Wallace entertain thoughts of returning full-time to the Cup Series in 2006?

Marty Smith: Absolutely. Both are still very competitive and their fans would love it. Thing is, are they willing to sludge through that schedule one more time?

Dave Rodman: Absolutely not. They have sworn this was "it" -- and positioned everything as being "the end." They would lose a lot of credibility if they did.

Spitballs are illegal, Kyle. Credit: Getty Images

Ryan Smithson: It's rarely a good idea to leave a lame-duck driver in your car for four months, much less 18 months, so I'd be surprised if McMurray doesn't get to leave early for 2006. But I guess that contract is set in stone.

B. Duane Cross: I'm already on record as saying yes, and I think there's an argument to be made that they could be competitive again next year. But they're wary of that 10-month schedule.

Marty Smith: I disagree totally, Rodman.

Dave Rodman: I didn't say, "Could they..." Of course they could -- but that is the point of positioning your departure while you're on top of your game.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, they won't lose any credibility. They are running well. That is the difference. If Rusty/Mark was 29th in points, it would be different.

Marty Smith: Why would they lose credibility? Riding around uncompetitive would mean credibility lost, not vying for wins and championships.

B. Duane Cross: The 2 and 6 fans would love it, if they'd come back. And I don't think those guys can loose credibility by being competitive; their careers speak for themselves.

Marty Smith: Like Michael Jordan, dude. He came back and won another championship. He didn't lose cred until he put on a Washington Wizards jersey.

To Kevin, your pal, Greg Biffle. Credit: AP

Dave Rodman: Mark has repeatedly said he couldn't muster the energy to contend again -- and I don't see anything happening that would make him change his mind on that. Rusty has also said he hates being at a racetrack, in a motorhome week after week.

Marty Smith: True, but money talks, Dave. If Roush/Penske threw a big chunk of change at them, they'd struggle to decline the offer.

Dave Rodman: Whatever -- it just took him a little longer to get into the dump. The point I'm making is they've made a big deal about leaving. If they turn around and come back -- I don't bet many people would believe the next thing they said.

Ryan Smithson: I am really surprised Rusty is doing so well, and I am equally surprised Martin hasn't won this year.

B. Duane Cross: Surprised at Wallace doing so well, Smithson? Once NASCAR adopted the spoiler/tire rule, Wallace fans knew he'd at least be back in the mix. This set-up is made for the guys who know how to drive -- not be robots behind the wheel.

Ryan Smithson: Duane, Rusty isn't exactly enthralled with loose cars. And he hasn't been running up front -- just very steady.

B. Duane Cross: He doesn't have the horses, which makes his runs at the front even more impressive.

Dave Rodman: I wasn't talking about their competitive credibility -- I was talking about talking out of both sides of your mouth.

"Ryne Sandberg! I was a big fan of yours as a kid! You?re the greatest second baseman in Wrigley Stadium history!" Credit: Gavin Lawrence/Getty Images

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, I really think Wallace and Martin have kept a pretty low profile myself.

B. Duane Cross: I'd venture to say Wallace and Martin could drive in '06, help secure the futures of their teams and step away with as much aplomb as any drivers in recent memory -- despite delaying their retirements.

Marty Smith: They aren't DW, boys. They aren't taking the champion's provisional each week.

Dave Rodman: Extenuating circumstances, eh? I could buy that -- but I feel like Jamie will buy his way away from Chip sooner...

Ryan Smithson: I don't ever want to see another DW commercial. If hostile forces capture me, they can break me by forcing me to watch those deals.

Kurt Busch swept Loudon in 2004. So who's the pick to win Sunday?

Ryan Smithson: Loudon is very tough to pick. I shouldn't do it, but I like Stewart again. He seems so calm and comfortable.

Dave Rodman: Ass-uming he has the same pony back under him, I think it's time for Kurt Busch to step up -- and NHIS is a good place to do it. But I don't disagree with Ryan: If we can keep the safety workers away from him, Tony will be tough.

Marty Smith: Sorry, boys. FedEx man just showed up with my Pocono credentials. Yee haw. I'm going with Mark Martin and JJ this weekend.

	Last Week's Picks Smacker Pick Finish StatBoy Johnson 3rd MartDawg Stewart 5th Elliott Stewart 5th Rodman Newman 29th This Week's Picks Smacker Pick StatBoy Stewart MartDawg Johnson B. Duane Newman Rodman Kurt Busch

B. Duane Cross: Ryan Newman -- he wins from the pole for the fourth time. That he wins the pole won't be a surprise; that he wins is a shot in the arm.

Ryan Smithson: Loudon is not my most favorite track, boys.

Marty Smith: It is Rodman's. He gets some home-cookin.

Ryan Smithson: Heck, he gets there two weeks early.

B. Duane Cross: So Dave, where can you get some good food in Loudon?

Dave Rodman: Weathervane, brother.

Marty Smith: There's some place with fried stuff and newspapers on the table that everybody drools over. What's that place called, Worm?

Marty Smith: Maybe that's Dover. I forget.

Dave Rodman: Oh yeah, dude -- you're talking Sambo's in -- where is that, Ryan? Leipsic. Spell that three times in a row

Marty Smith: Yeah, Sambo's! 10-4, that's it.

Dave Rodman: I once saw the a guy eat 75 crabs there.

B. Duane Cross: Anywhere there's fried food, it's gotta be good. Lard is damn tasty when battered.

Ryan Smithson: My family has a restaurant, and once I stepped into a bucket of lard.

Ryan Smithson: I know for a fact that you can wash shoes that are covered in lard.

Marty Smith: Dude, I almost tossed cookies when I read that statement. The word lard is heinous.

B. Duane Cross: I've heard of lard-asses, but never lard-feet.

Ryan Smithson: Lard-butt. Stand by Me.

Dave Rodman: I think we'd best quit while we're ahead.

Marty Smith: See y'all. LIVE FREE OR DIE. That's the best state motto ever, man.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.