Marty Smith had a rough weekend at New Hampshire. Credit: Autostock

Track Smack: Pocono

Were you guys surprised Waltrip and DEI divorced?

Marty Smith: No. How can you be surprised when you find out that Mikey wasn't assured he'd get Tony Jr. and that pit crew back? Makes sense to me. The big question is whether or not NAPA goes with him. If so, he'll have a ton of teams ready to pull the trigger.

Ryan Smithson: I was very surprised. Just two weeks ago, Waltrip said he really wanted to return with Dale Earnhardt Inc., and I figured after Martin Truex got his deal done, Waltrip would re-sign and they'd return to a three-car deal.

Elliott Gordon: I am not really surprised that he is leaving, no. I think they expected more victories out of Waltrip over the four seasons, which didn't happen, and then they swapped cars and crews with the Dale Earnhardt Jr., and that didn't work either.

B. Duane Cross: Surprised, no -- the light at the end of the tunnel was a train, and everyone knew it was coming. If Waltrip lands with a contender, it'll be good for his career from the standpoint of we'll get to see what kind of driver Mikey is. If he wins races, he can say it was not because of DEI. ... If he struggles, well that's another can of worms.

Marty Smith: He said he would, Duane. He said he would be in Cup, and it would be with a contending team.

Elliott Gordon: I believe sponsors have loyalty to drivers now, not teams. NAPA will go with Waltrip.

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Ryan Smithson: Is Haas CNC a "contending" team, boys?

Marty Smith: Right now, the primary speculation says he's going to the No. 0, which of course has Hendrick affiliation.

B. Duane Cross: Yeah, and then he's hanging out with the No. 0 team. ... Not exactly "contending."

Ryan Smithson: Well, Marty read my mind. Duane too.

Elliott Gordon: Ward to the No. 15!

Ryan Smithson: I swear I got more Ward Burton e-mails this week than any week since January.

Marty Smith: I wonder if Ward will ever be back in a Cup ride.

Elliott Gordon: Silly season, man. He is worthy of a ride. He should race the No. 6 next season.

Marty Smith: He's been gone a long time.

Ryan Smithson: It's awfully tough to hire a man who has been idle for a year.

I knew I shouldn't have gone to Wrigley Stadium. Credit: AP

Marty Smith: And he's what, E, 45 years old?

Elliott Gordon: So, you think Ricky Craven will do better in that car?

Ryan Smithson: Elliott, come on man, it'll be Martin or MacMary in the 6 next season.

Marty Smith: Boys, listen. It's either Martin or MacMary in the No. 6.

B. Duane Cross: Outside of the No. 15, the only other "contender" with an open seat is the No. 2. ... Mikey to the No. 2 and Ward to the No. 15 -- bring on the year-end holiday season, boys, 'cause we just solved Silly Season.

Ryan Smithson: No Craven. No Jon Wood. No nothing.

Marty Smith: That's a point that should be made. If NAPA stays, DEI will have to hire another driver, too.

B. Duane Cross: Ward could pitch auto parts with the best of 'em! Ward, Junior and Truex -- now there's a commercial director's dream trio.

Elliott Gordon: Mears/Truex/Dale Jr. -- is that a better lineup than Vickers/Gordon/Johnson/Busch?

Jamie McMurray shows newcomer Ryan Moore the correct way to look tough while waiting to qualify. Credit: Autostock

Marty Smith: If you guys were NAPA, having so much equity in both sides, which side to you go with?

Ryan Smithson: DEI would probably go after Mears if he were available.

Marty Smith: True, Smithson, but you have to think Dodge will do everything possible to retain Mears' in their stable.

Marty Smith: They just lost MacMary. They don't wanna lose Mears, too

Elliott Gordon: Mears will be in a Dodge when he drives the No. 2.

Ryan Smithson: Why, Marty? Mears has done little. He'd be better off with a change of scenery.

B. Duane Cross: Re: NAPA -- depends on where Waltrip lands. If he goes to a team with an already-established sponsor, NAPA is outta luck.

Marty Smith: He's young, attractive and marketable, Smithson. That's why.

Elliott Gordon: So is Ward Burton!

B. Duane Cross: So is Casey Atwood -- and no one is mentioning him.

B. Duane Cross: Team owners should strike the words "young, attractive and marketable" from their vocabulary when looking for talent. These owners' first priority is finding someone who can wheel it; Kurt Busch is Exhibit A.

The Red Sox rid themselves of one curse -- and then snakebitten Kasey Kahne shows up. Credit: Jim McIssac/Getty Images

Elliott Gordon: Or Jason Leffler, who could be gonzo.

Marty Smith: Man, that poor guy fell off the landscape.

Ryan Smithson: Y'all crack me up. This is pretty funny.

Elliott Gordon: Ward to the No. 11.

Ryan Smithson: It bothers me that people think Stremme got his job because he is young, attractive and marketable, but dadgum it, he is a heck of a driver too.

Marty Smith: I agree, Smithson. Totally.

Ryan Smithson: Stremme can turn some very very fast laps.

Marty Smith: People say Stremme's done nothing in the Busch Series. Neither did Stewart, Newman or Johnson.

Ryan Smithson: Success in the Busch Series isn't everything. I hate to say it, but it means little. I think Johnson won once, and that was in a race where Newman blew a tire while leading.

B. Duane Cross: But those guys had other credentials; Stremme didn't come through with the track record of Stewart, Newman or Johnson.

"Let me think ... if I average a sixth-place finish the next four weeks, I should get into the top 10, as long as Mayfield ... Busch ... oh, forget it." Credit: AP

B. Duane Cross: Hell, even Stremme said he didn't think he'd get a Cup ride. ... That's confidence in your abilities, right there.

Elliott Gordon: Newman hasn't won a race since last September. Anyone else find that odd?

Marty Smith: Ask him, Elliott, and he'll say he won Darlington this year, too.

Ryan Smithson: Ganassi said in June 2004 that Stremme was his Cup driver in 2006, but people forget that.

Marty Smith: I did.

Marty Smith: Only Rainman Statboy can remember such things.

Ryan Smithson: Boys, this is going to be a heck of a Silly Season. Geez Louise.

B. Duane Cross: Well, Jack Roush is to announce this, so remember it: Matt Martin will be his Cup driver in 2012.

Marty Smith: Smithson's memory is photographic. He probably remembers what perfume his preschool teacher wore.

Ryan Smithson: No one seems to know who replaces Rusty. No one is even guessing.

MartDawg says Vickers will finish one spot better than he did at Pocono last month.

Last Week's Picks Smacker Pick Finish Ryan Stewart 1st MartDawg Johnson 13th B. Duane Newman 7th Rodman Ku. Busch 2nd This Week's Picks Smacker Pick for Pocono Ryan Ku. Busch MartDawg Vickers B. Duane Johnson Elliott J. Gordon Last 6 weeks Smacker Avg. Pick Finishes ... Ryan 1.5 B. Duane 5.25 Elliott 14.6 MartDawg 14.8 Rodman 24.3 Note: Averages were killed at Somoma when Rodman picked Dale Jr. (transmission) and MartDawg picked Jeff Gordon (ditto).

Time for Pocono again?! Who wins this time?

Elliott Gordon: Not Carl Edwards. And Waltrip won't sit on the pole either.

Ryan Smithson: Kurt Busch wins this weekend. But geez, with the tires, who knows. But if the tires are OK, Kurt, and pretty easily.

Marty Smith: Brian Vickers. He had an awesome car last time, and he's far overdue.

B. Duane Cross: Jimmie Johnson will beat Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart to the stripe. I'm picking the trifecta.

Elliott Gordon: I am going with the 24. They need it bad bad bad bad.

B. Duane Cross: Gutsy call on Vickers; he's been strong, no doubt.

Ryan Smithson: Busch, Vickers and Johnson are all easy picks to make.

Marty Smith: He and Kyle Busch have been really solid lately.

B. Duane Cross: We've been saying that for a couple weeks about the No. 24. ... Where have you been, EG, on vacation?

Marty Smith: Matter of fact, Kyle Busch is still in the Race for the Chase, if you ask me.

Elliott Gordon: Yeah, sunny Florida! And I saw a NASCAR fan in a deli wearing a 24 hat with a 24 gold chain!

Ryan Smithson: Elliott has been on vacation and doesn't realize Jason Leffler has passed Jeff Gordon two weeks in a row.

B. Duane Cross: Marty -- let's not get carried away. Kyle is NOT still in the Chase picture.

Marty Smith: Doesn't seem so on paper, Billy Duane Cross. I'll give you that. For whatever reason, I have a hunch.

Ryan Smithson: Greg Biffle wasn't on the Chase picture last year, but that hardly stopped him from killing the field in the second half.

B. Duane Cross: Dawg, I can't hawk your T-shirts when you say things like that, buddy!

Elliott Gordon: Guys, anyone worse than 15th in the points right now doesn't really have a chance, I don't think.

Marty Smith: Boys, just put a storm door on the house. Pella windows. My cats think the door is open and keep running into it. It's hilarious.

Elliott Gordon: Kenseth is 168 out of 400 -- that is more than a full race of points.

B. Duane Cross: I agree with Elliott (no T-shirts available, ladies; sorry).

The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants.