Will Robby Gordon and Michael Waltrip be able to play nice next time out? Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Track Smack: Dover

NHIS looked -- at times -- like a demolition derby was being held. Should NASCAR make "parking" a driver a more typical response for blatant on-track retaliation, in light of the recent actions by some drivers?

Marty Smith: Absolutely. Gordon should sit three races, Kahne one. That crap Sunday was unreal. Both could have affected the Chase, and Gordon could have seriously injured innocent bystanders on the clean up and safety crews.

Dave Rodman: I think we'll see that they want to play it incident by incident -- to continue to have wiggle room. That is the current NASCAR way -- and I do see an awful lot wrong with that.

Elliott Gordon: If a driver's actions are blatant and obvious, I think that parking has to become the norm. The points penalty of not racing is one thing -- but the backlash from paying sponsors is going to be another.

Duane Cross: Yep, NASCAR should make "parking" the rule rather than the exception. There's so much talk about safety -- tracks, cars -- that there should be a stiff penalty for a short-circuit between the driver's seat and the steering wheel.

Marty Smith: NASCAR needs to remind these boys who's boss. Now, that said, how in the name of all that's holy was Robby even in the position to throw his helmet? He should have immediately been escorted from the racing surface.

Duane Cross: TNT knows drama, Marty! That race began on a surreal note (Kurt Busch marching atop the No. 10 pit box) and got even stranger as the day went on.

Elliott Gordon: The safety crews aren't bailbondsman. Hands on the ambulance Robby, and spread 'em!

Marty Smith: So you're saying leave him be, Elliott? Let him hang out as cars are coming at him? When there was more than ample time to prevent it?

Elliott Gordon: I am saying they don't currently have the authority to "escort" him away.

Marty Smith: So give it to them. That was ludicrous.

Elliott Gordon: I agree, but it doesn't exist now. Hell, TASER the guy if you have to -- for safety's sake!

Dave Rodman: Yup. Until NASCAR trebles its number of inspectors and has riding possemen -- don't put the safety crew in that position.

Marty Smith: Look, I understand and appreciate Robby Gordon's frustration. He had a potentially stellar day ruined. But man, he nearly hit Tony Stewart with his car AND his helmet. What if it had affected the Chase, or the race's outcome?

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Elliott Gordon: NASCAR says "sorry" to Tony and moves on to the next race. Just like Gordon and the Martinsville pavement eating his car. Sorry!

Duane Cross: It's not the first time track workers have dropped the ball. Everyone remembers (except Jimmie) when Johnson banged the wall and rolled down pit road.

Marty Smith: I'm not sure the workers dropped the ball, Duane. Aren't they working on the authority of the NASCAR tower?

Duane Cross: Those workers' job should be to protect the drivers -- even if it's from themselves. Tackle the driver if need be before he walks back out on the track.

Elliott Gordon: Or maybe it is an instant "park" if you get back on the racing surface ...

Marty Smith: Bottom line, it's time for this crap to stop. To NASCAR's credit, it is impossible to sit in the tower and differentiate between purposeful and accidental. But it's time to ensure retaliation isn't an option.

Duane Cross: And just like with Jimmie, someone -- anyone! -- should have gotten Robby to the infield care center.

Dave Rodman: Let the driver go where he wants.

Duane Cross: You can't do that, Dave.

Marty Smith: What in the same hell are you talking about, Rodman.

Dave Rodman: If he looks like he has any purpose to his steps, let 'em walk. If someone hits 'em -- send flowers.

Duane Cross: These guys are amped up and not exactly thinking with a clear head in those moments.

Marty Smith: I can't believe the boys on the 10 team let Kurt get that far. Kurt must have been quite diplomatic. I know a lot of crew members who'd have sent him packing.

Duane Cross: Ditto; can't believe Childers was so cool about it, either. Childers handled it much better than many others would have -- and I doubt if it's because he was scared of Busch.

Elliott Gordon: Well, imagine if they were pitted next to each other. Royal Rumble!

Duane Cross: Maybe Jimmy Spencer will become a crew chief. ... Let's see Busch climb that pit box!

Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. close to tasting victory again? Credit: Autostock

Given that Dale Earnhardt Jr. already had five top-10s in 12 starts at Loudon -- and four in its past five races there -- should we read too much into Tony Eury Jr.'s return to the No. 8 after its fifth-place run Sunday?

Elliott Gordon: Yeah, it is way too early to tell. Let's see if Eury's prediction of 2-3 wins comes even close before the end of the season.

Marty Smith: We knew it was coming. Pressure's off and Tony Jr. is awesome at setting up flat-track cars. Mikey was awesome at Phoenix, remember.

Elliott Gordon: I mean they are still using Michael Waltrip's cars, don't forget!

Duane Cross: It was a huge shot in the arm for the No. 8 team, but it's not a season-maker.

Dave Rodman: I think the most telling stat was the one in which neither the 8 nor the 24 fell out of the top 15 all day.

Marty Smith: I'll buck up and say Junior will win again before the year's out.

Elliott Gordon: Does Talladega count?

Marty Smith: No -- not including Talladega. ... Phoenix, possibly.

Duane Cross: And a good run at Dover won't be, either. Junior is strong there; a win, five top-10s in 11 races. Now, if Eury Jr. coaxes a win out of Dover, 'Dega and Phoenix ... yeah, these guys enter 2006 on a roll.

Dave Rodman: Well, Eury Jr. said two or three wins and he did not qualify it -- so let's see what happens at Dover, at least in terms of consistency.

Elliott Gordon: Chemistry is chemistry. Those two know how to talk to each other, like it or not. Now, Gordon ... well, that remains to be seen. It took a while before Loomis and Gordo clicked.

Duane Cross: Wow, EG with a coherent thought! "Chemistry is chemistry." You learn that at Virginia Tech?

Elliott Gordon: To go along with my Newman prediction from last week.

Duane Cross: Newsflash: Blind squirrel finds a nut!

	Kurt Busch is 142 points out of first after NHIS. Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers Chasers after Loudon 2004 Driver Loudon Final Ku. Busch 1 1 M. Kenseth 2 8 D. Earnhardt Jr. 3 5 J. Gordon 7 4 E. Sadler 8 9 J. Johnson 11 2 M. Martin 13 4 R. Newman 33 7 J. Mayfield 35 10 T. Stewart 39 6

OK, Jeremy Mayfield finished 35th in the first race of the Chase last year; he was 10th in the final standings. Does a similar fate await defending Cup champ Kurt Busch after his 35th-place showing at Loudon?

Marty Smith: No. Busch will rebound. If you look at last year every driver had trouble at one time or another during the Chase.

Elliott Gordon: I am going to say no. Busch has one advantage that Mayfield didn't have last season -- four other teammates.

Duane Cross: Busch isn't Mayfield -- or more aptly, the Ford isn't a Dodge, and that's the biggest advantage Busch has going in trying to climb out of this 142-point hole.

Dave Rodman: I don't know that that is a valid comparison. Jeremy's team was good enough to make the Chase, but last year that was about it. The problem is the same as it was in the rundown to the Chase.

Duane Cross: Trying to get out of that hole with a Dodge would be brutal to watch. ... Busch will be back in the thick of things if he can stay out of trouble, but we know 'Dega awaits.

Dave Rodman: These are the best teams, on top of their games. But the fact that Kurt was running laps as fast as the leaders at the end of the race says a lot for the team, and the man.

Marty Smith: Thing is, Busch can't have any more trouble; two DNFs is almost sure death in the championship chase.

Elliott Gordon: Those Roush guys are going to give each other five bonus points as often as possible, until Miami that is.

Marty Smith: I disagree, Elliott. Did you see Kenseth and Biffle in the closing laps Sunday? They're racing one another just as hard as they're racing everyone else.

Elliott Gordon: That is racing for the win -- if it was halfway, you give the teammate points.

Marty Smith: WIN? Are you out of your mind? Newsflash: Smoke and Newman. You just cancelled out your "chemistry is chemistry" comment.

Elliott Gordon: Ask Biffle or Kenseth if they thought they might have a chance.

Marty Smith: I will. They didn't.

Duane Cross: I think what "I picked Ryan Newman to win" was saying is that Kenseth and Biffle were driving for position in the closing laps, not at halfway -- when it would be a lot easier to give your teammate some slack.

Elliott Gordon: Thanks, Billy. Sometimes Dawg needs it spelled out.

Duane Cross: I can't believe I just spoke on your behalf ...

	Ryan Newman gets two votes for a second consecutive victory this week. Credit: Autostock
	And the winner will be ... Predictions for Dover Smacker Driver Elliott R. Newman Duane T. Stewart Marty G. Biffle Dave R. Newman Last week's picks Smacker Driver Finish Elliott R. Newman 1st Dave Ky. Busch 27th Duane Ku. Busch 35th Marty Ku. Busch 35th

Predictions for Dover

Elliott Gordon: I am picking Ryan Newman to win again. Done.

Duane Cross: Smoke -- without question. Busch will be there at the end, too. But it's Stewart's race to lose.

Marty Smith: I'll go with Biffle to sweep.

Dave Rodman: As I said before, at this point it's Tony's championship to maybe not necessarily give away, but someone's gonna have to take it. Ryan stepped up big at NHIS, and he could do similar at Dover.

Elliott Gordon: Tony hasn't won there since 2000. Newman has won three of the last five events.

Duane Cross: For the new NASCAR fans, look up the name David Pearson. He dominated Dover, and Stewart is right there with him.

Elliott Gordon: Define "new" NASCAR fans for the folks out there, Cross.

Duane Cross: Well, folks like you, for example.

Marty Smith: Man, how awesome was Newman's dive to the bottom on that last pass. I thought he was gonna wreck the field. That was gutsy, boys.

Duane Cross: Yep, it was. The Dodge boys need to make some hay now -- before we get to downforce tracks.

Elliott Gordon: And maybe now Newman has the momentum monkey.

Dave Rodman: How about Ricky Rudd for a dark horse pick?

Marty Smith: Don't forget boys, Mark Martin and Kyle Busch were both really good at Dover in the spring, too.

Elliott Gordon: WHAT! Go Ward Burton.

Marty Smith: Elliott, might be time to shut up while you still have some hide left on your rear end.

Duane Cross: And there it is ... the Ward Burton reference of the week.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writers.