Who knew MartDawg was such a big fan of Mrs. Beasley?

Track Smack: Loudon

Will the 24 team bounce back in these final 10 races?

Dave Rodman: You know what? I think we're gonna have to play it race by race to see. I think the 24 mold, as we knew it, is broken ...

Elliott Gordon: I don't really think so. It is clear that Loomis is already setting the stage for his exit, and that turmoil, combined with their already existing struggles, is going to be bad for the stretch run.

Marty Smith: They have a lot of work to do to get back to a competitive level, much less the championship level we're all used to. Robbie Loomis was quite candid Friday at Richmond that his priorities have changed, and Jeff won't stand for running badly for long.

Duane Cross: Here's how stupefying Jeff Gordon's slide has been -- we're still talking about the No. 24 team when the Chase is the topic du jour for most of the fans.

Dave Rodman: I thought it was odd that Jeff never once said "We're going to race for 11th and a place on the stage." He is much more concerned with getting the team right -- and rightfully so.

Marty Smith: Saturday night he said he doesn't care where we finish in points now, they just have to figure out what's wrong and make it right.

Elliott Gordon: The No. 24 team of 2006 might suffer the same ailments the No. 8 team of 2005 did -- don't be surprised. ... Think Jeff wants Brian Whitesell back yet?

Jeff Gordon didn't make the Chase, but he's got a nice consolation prize ... Credit: Peter Kramer/Getty Images

Marty Smith: Well, Whitesell was the lynchpin that made the 24/48 shop so stout. No he's over at the 5/25. It's not coincidence that they're running so well.

Elliott Gordon: Rusty, Newman and Martin -- zero wins -- inside the Chase. Gordon, three. Inconsistency kills you no matter what point system.

Dave Rodman: I would much more expect both the 24 and the 8 to do something -- quickly -- and use these 10 races as a true test or preparation for next season.

Duane Cross: Maybe the Nos. 24 and 48 can "pull a DEI" and swap crews! ... Then again, that has been tried -- and was a miserable failure.

Dave Rodman: Duane! Holy cow -- I can't believe you'd say that -- so I'm glad you got back on right keel quickly.

Duane Cross: Better yet -- wonder what the going price for Ray Evernham would be?

Marty Smith: Ha! I highly doubt a Dodge team sponsored by Dodge would let its owner go crew chief a Chevrolet program.

Elliott Gordon: Money talks!

Duane Cross: Yep, ol' Rick could pony up the bucks to make Dodge happy -- and Ray even richer.

Marty Smith: Never happen, Duane -- ever, ever, ever.

Elliott Gordon: Car dealerships for everyone!

Duane Cross: Hey, give Junior big ups for being so blunt at the Bud throwdown Thursday night; he said there are issues within DEI and that they will be addressed.

There is no truth -- absolutely none -- to the rumors that Brian Vickers will race a Segway in '06.

Marty Smith: Speaking of the 8, if I'm Richie Gilmore, I put Tony Jr. and Dale Jr. back together right now, and start building for 2006. They were championship-caliber last year and learned a huge lesson this time around.

Duane Cross: I agree with Marty! (Get your T-shirt here) ... Make the change with Tony Jr. now and get rolling toward 2006.

Marty Smith: Back to what E said for a moment -- the Chase format doesn't promote winning. It's still as much about consistency as it ever was. Actually, more so.

Dave Rodman: I think the next big step for DEI needs to be Dale stepping up and taking control. I know he's said he doesn't want to -- but that topic came up on Wind Tunnel [on Monday night] and, if Junior continues to mature, who knows. It could fix a lot.

Marty Smith: He's already burdened with being driver No. 8, company spokesman and unofficial fireman for DEI, Dave. He puts out more fires than Kurt Russell in Backdraft.

Dave Rodman: Yeah man -- so he needs to officially step up and be the man. I honestly don't really think they will ever really achieve their best until he does -- but it's his decision.

Duane Cross: And don't forget JR Motorsports in 2006 with the Busch Series. His plate is full, certainly. It's Teresa's call right now. ... Maybe Junior's in a few more years.

Elliott Gordon: Well the Chase is down to the Rusty Retirement Show anyway -- with no Gordon and Earnhardt, and Martin basically unretired -- and people crying about Roush having five cars.

Will a first-time winner in the final 10 play spoiler in the Chase?

Elliott Gordon: Do we consider Mark Martin, Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace first-time winners? Ha!

Marty Smith: Brian Vickers. He and Lance McGrew are on the cusp, boys.

Elliott Gordon: Yeah, I am with Marty. Toss me a T-shirt, Duane.

Mrs. Beasley ... er, MartDawg followed Jamie McMurray's Chase storyline at Richmond last weekend.

Duane Cross: Yep, Brian Vickers is the most likely first-time winner down the stretch.

Dave Rodman: Yeah. That's a good point. ... Joe Nemechek wasn't a first time winner last year -- but he won in the Chase. If I had to pick someone who's not Chasing -- it would be Vickers or Nemechek, and I really think those three Chase non-winners will step up and win somewhere.

Elliott Gordon: Can Elliott Sadler get back on track and win one of these races? That would at least be some redemption from imploding from the Chase. Dawg, you talk to ESad at all? Is he bumming?

Marty Smith: The 38 team is a perplexing deal, kind of like the 24. Penthouse to outhouse in the blink of an eye. I thought the 38 would be in the title hunt come Homestead. ... Considering the awful luck Nemechek's had this year, it's amazing he was still mathematically eligible for the Chase at Richmond. I mean, that guy could easily have three or four wins, and should have at least one. That deal at LMS was a heart-breaker, man.

Duane Cross: Chew on this, it's mind-boggling: During the past two years, Yates' drivers have just 11 top-10 finishes -- only one by DJ this year -- in 40 races combined leading into the Chase.

Dave Rodman: Duane -- the new Stat Boy. I love it. ... I ain't a psychologist -- and that is what it looks like we need, there. Incomprehensible -- but I would like to see ESad win two or three in the stretch. He could, you know.

Duane Cross: No reason why Yates can't win a race at any given time; they just have something that's ailing those teams when it gets to crunch time.

Elliott Gordon: Well Tony Stewart has won at seven of the 10 Chase tracks, so chew on that.

Duane Cross: Yeah, yeah ... I'll take Jimmie -- and you'll like it!

Elliott Gordon: Bandwagon!

Marty Smith: Bandwagon? You're bandwagon.com, son

Elliott Gordon: No, I just work here.

Marty Smith: I've gotten 500 e-mails from Stewart fans for picking Kurt Busch to win the championship. They are angry.

Dave Rodman: Championship is Tony's to give away -- but that leads us to the next question.

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What will rear up to affect the Chase?

Duane Cross: Hendrick gets its ... um, stuff together and blows away the competition.

Dave Rodman: That's hard to say. You could say the panic-stricken have already fired their bullets -- and they ain't in the Chase.

Elliott Gordon: Talladega. The Big One is going to wipe someone out this year from the Chase picture.

Marty Smith: Loudon, Martinsville and Talladega will be the three races that separate the champion from the rest.

Duane Cross: What -- no one is taking Robby Gordon to wipe out a handful of Chasers in one felled swoop?

Elliott Gordon: Well Carl can't putter around Martinsville and hope to win the Chase. His short track skills better be polished up!

Duane Cross: Hey, Loudon ... Martinsville -- both good tracks for ol' Rusty! If he can get over his plate-racing record, he may make a run at this thing despite driving a Dodge!

Marty Smith: Both good tracks for Busch, too, BDC. He's won at them both. So has Stewart, though.

Duane Cross: Yep -- and they are two reason why the Penske boys won't be celebrating at Homestead -- Busch and Smoke. ... And Biffle and Johnson.

Dave Rodman: If you look at this year's field of 10 -- they are some calculating individuals. Even though Carl is probably the most youthfully exuberant -- I think he can be pretty thoughtful in a pinch -- so it will be something totally unexpected.

Elliott Gordon: Wait till all five Roush cars are locked up in a row at Talladega! Yeehaw!

	Once a dream, Ryan Newman now can mark off the career to-do list "wear the big red hard hat at Hoover Dam." Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images
	And the winner will be ... Predictions for Loudon Smacker Driver Elliott Ryan Newman Marty Kurt Busch Duane Kurt Busch Dave Kyle Busch Last week's picks Smacker Driver Finish Marty M. Kenseth 2nd Elliott R. Newman 12th Duane D. Earnhardt Jr. 20th Dave B. Vickers 37th

Predictions for Loudon

Elliott Gordon: Hello, Newman! First win of the year -- from the pole, too!

Marty Smith: You're off your dadgum rocker, EG. Busch wins. Statement.

Duane Cross: Put the house payment on Kurt Busch; he's gonna do exactly what he did last year -- head to Dover as the points leader.

Elliott Gordon: Newman has finished worse than 10th once in six starts there boss. And that was 33rd.

Marty Smith: Dude, all you ever do is spout off meaningless statistics. ... Earnhardt will be a player. Despite their struggles this year, DEI has been pretty good on flat tracks.

Dave Rodman: I'm killing myself laughing. After saying how calculating they are -- Kurt Busch and Tony beat the heck outta each other going for the flag. Kyle Busch slides through for the win. But even if they don't wreck each other -- those two will figure big in the outcome.

Duane Cross: Busch, Stewart, JJ -- right now I'd take 'em all over Newman at New Hampshire.

Elliott Gordon: You are all crazy.

Duane Cross: True enough, Newman's got a good track record (second to JJ among the Chasers), but the No. 12 team won't be a factor by the time we get to sunny F-L-A.

Elliott Gordon: I never said that, Cross. I agree with you there.

Marty Smith: Johnson tested Milwaukee to be ready for this race, so the 48 bunch is pretty confident heading in.

Dave Rodman: I want to see New Hampshire come down before I stick the 48 back up in the contender's pool.

Elliott Gordon: Heck, Vickers could win this, too. He was great there in the spring.

Dave Rodman: And if you want a Chase prediction for 2006 -- watch that 5 car.

Duane Cross: 2006, Dave. ... Let's just get to Homestead, first -- and then vacation. ... Daytona testing will be here soon enough.