All we're saying is that Scott Riggs' talent hasn't mirrored on-track results. Credit: Nick Laham/Getty Images

Track Smack: Indy

If you're Ray Evernham, who do you hire for his third car?

Elliott Gordon: Man, that is really a tough choice, considering the available drivers. I mean, who is out there really? Scott Riggs, Casey Mears, Michael Waltrip? Sterling Marlin?

Marty Smith: Scott Riggs. Riggs was Evernham's initial choice in the No. 9, anyway. Kahne's lawsuit with Ford is done, too, so Evernham gets his cake and eats it, too.

Ryan Smithson: Well, Elliott Gordon will typify himself by saying Ward Burton. I'll say that he should hire Scott Riggs and see if he can click right away. I am real curious to see what Scott can do with a different team.

Duane Cross: With Jeremy Mayfield and Kasey Kahne already on board, I might look for a newbie to put under Bill Elliott's wing for a season -- someone like Denny Hamlin or Ashton Lewis (existing contracts aside, of course).

Elliott Gordon: If I was Ray, I wouldn't want another young kid. Riggs has experience and certainly can win races. Riggs has proven he can motor a car this season. It is a shame that his bad luck just won't drift away.

Duane Cross: But in the real world, it's gotta be Riggs. He needs to be with a bigger-money team to show that he's capable of doing a lot more than starting up front. He can finish up front, too -- in the right equipment.

Marty Smith: Riggs is a stud. Period. Then again, I don't think Casey Mears has been able to show his true talent, either.

"Lalalalalalalalalalalala -- I'm not listening to the Track Smackers." Credit: Chris Stanford/Getty Images

Ryan Smithson: Marty, if MB2 gets a good sponsor, I'll bet they keep Riggs. he wants to stay with Rodney Childers. It's very hard to take your chief with you.

Elliott Gordon: Tell that to Michael Waltrip.

Marty Smith: What he wants to do is run up front, Smithson. He loves Childers, yes, but he also wants to have a shot at winning races. MB2 has been quite impressive with both its full-time teams this year, at times. Other times, they're out to lunch.

Duane Cross: Speaking of taking your crew chief, why wouldn't Childers go to Evernham with Riggs. Again, Ray could have his cake and eat it, too. These things can get done, if they want to.

Ryan Smithson: Don't get Marty or Elliott started on Lewis or Hamlin because they are Virginia boys.

Elliott Gordon: Virginia is for lovers.

Marty Smith: God Bless the Commonwealth.

Marty Smith: Sic Semper Tyrannis.

Elliott Gordon: Hokie Hokie Hokie Hi.

Ryan Smithson: Boys, I know this is off-subject, but I'd like to see what Scott Wimmer could do in a better car. Obviously Bill Davis Racing can't really compete these days, and I want to see Wimmer get the chance to show what he's got.

Marty Smith: That's not off-subject at all, Smithson. And I agree. Wimmer, when paired with Bootie Barker, was stellar.

Elliott Gordon: I can't comment on the BDR car. I am still bitter about the divorce with Ward -- who finished 9th and 10th in the points with that CAT 22 team.

Ryan Smithson: Watch out! Marty's about to shoot President Lincoln!

Duane Cross: And there's the Ward reference from EG that we've all been eagerly anticipating ...

Elliott Gordon: Ryan beat me to it already. ... Any chance Waltrip could end up with Ray?

Ryan Smithson: I am sick of your Ward Burton groveling, Elliott. He's at home. Get over it.

Duane Cross: He's in the woods, Statboy.

Marty Smith: Get ready, Smithson. The Ward Burton fans are gonna light you up like a Virginia Slim.

Ryan Smithson: Virginia Slim, eh. That makes me think of tennis.

Marty Smith: Some dude wrote me all ticked off because I said the FedEx man brought my Pocono credentials to my house. He said I am cocky because I say credentials show up at my house.

Elliott Gordon: Marty, that was probably a UPS employee getting on you.

Ryan Smithson: That was my dad, Marty. Sorry, he just learned how to email.

Duane Cross: Wow -- indoor plumbing and e-mail in the same month! Impressive for your neck of the woods, Ryan!

Does Jimmie Johnson slow down in the closing laps to give more points to Jeff Gordon?

"Breaker-One-Nine ... hey, Jimbo -- can you help a brother out today?" Credit: Darrell Ingham/Getty Images

Elliott Gordon: It wouldn't surprise me. I mean, is that any different than Greg Biffle letting Mark Martin get around for five bonus points? Team orders baby!

Ryan Smithson: Not anymore. Gordon is racing McMurray, not Johnson.

Duane Cross: Yes, there are "orders from above," and getting into the Chase is the objective. Hendrick has to do what's necessary to get JJ and Gordon in the playoffs. If that means losing a couple spots, it's big-picture racing.

"Oh yeah, now that's more like it!" Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Ryan Smithson: Poor Gordon looks like Ward Burton done went and shot his dog.

Marty Smith: Not hard to speculate that if you're a conspiracy theorist, considering Gordon's woes and Johnson's recent tendency of falling through the field late in races like an anchor. But if I know Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson, I doubt it. They'd lap their grandmothers. Happily.

Elliott Gordon: Karma has a way of sticking it to you though -- even if Jimmie has been "fading," Jeff's luck hasn't let him gain anything. Remember Loudon -- look mom, no brakes!

Marty Smith: It seems awfully convenient, though. I'll give you that.

Ryan Smithson: At Loudon, it made sense, but not anymore.

Duane Cross: Conspiracy theorists are buying tickets, Marty. ... They're blogging and e-mailing and calling into talk radio -- and Oliver Stone is buying the movie rights.

Ryan Smithson: Oliver Stone hasn't made a good movie since 1992. He used to be great. Now he's awful. But who cares. No one, I guess.

Elliott Gordon: Well at least Jeff can test for Jimmie during the Chase and Hendrick Motorsports can still get another championship.

E-MAIL •   Ryan •   Elliott •   MartDawg •   B. Duane JOIN THE FRAY •   Send us a topic for discussion

Duane Cross: Whoa, EG -- Gordon's not out of this yet. He can still lay waste over the next few races and make the Chase. True, it's long odds but it isn't time to throw the baby out with the bath water.

Marty Smith: It's just not feasible to me, guys. Johnson and Knaus are ruthless competitors. The concept of laying down on purpose just doesn't fly.

Ryan Smithson: I think Gordon will make it. ... It's going to be good, that's for sure.

Marty Smith: Smithson made a decent point. Gordon's racing for 10th, not 400 points. The 400-point deal will never apply.

Duane Cross: It's not laying down -- it's just not taking those next couple of positions if Gordon can't do likewise behind 'em.

Marty Smith: That's laying down, Duane. That is the very definition. You're not getting everything you possibly can? Laying down.

Duane Cross: Nah, it's kneeling -- at best

Marty Smith: Kneeling! Love it.

Who will win at Indy this weekend?

Elliott Gordon: I am going to say Kevin Harvick kisses the bricks again. He has never finished worse than 11th there in four tries -- and I am tired of picking Jeff Gordon.

Ryan Smithson: If Mark Martin qualifies top-10, which I expect he will, he will be very hard to beat. I am going to go with Martin. The tears will glisten, as Marty likes to say.

	"Oh geez ... I'm doomed. When was the last time EG picked a winner?" Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images
	And the winner will be ... Predictions for the Brickyard Smacker Driver Elliott K. Harvick Ryan M. Martin MartDawg E. Sadler B. Duane T. Stewart

Marty Smith: Elliott Sadler joins a distinguished list of Brickyard 400 champions. Robert Yates gets Brickyard win number, what? Three?

Duane Cross: Tony Stewart will be untouchable at the end. ... And Rusty Wallace will finish second for the fourth time in 12 races at the Brickyard.

Elliott Gordon: Yeah, I was going to say Dale Jarrett is my darkhorse pick. He has a pretty awesome record there.

Ryan Smithson: Yeah, Marty, Yates has won two, but it should have been more like five. Robert Yates Racing could have easily won every Brickyard race in the 1990s. They ran Jarrett out of gas in 1998, Irvan cut a tire in 1994. They won in 1996 and 1999.

Duane Cross: Woulda, coulda, shoulda -- Penske's luck has been just as bad. Dude has 13 wins in open-wheel at Indy. He's 0-fer in stock cars.

Elliott Gordon: I think Tony would prefer to drink milk rather than coke in victory lane at Indy, no?

Ryan Smithson: He won't give a crap if it's brake fluid.

Marty Smith: Sure. But milk ain't paying him to take a swig.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writers.