Levigation also messes up the hair. Credit: Chris Stanford/Getty Images

Track Smack: M'ville

Wasn't Charlotte kind of good for the sport because it tightened up the points?

Dave Rodman: You're killing me. That's like saying World War II was a good idea because it cut the population. Charlotte was a real set of black eyes for whoever steps up and owns 'em.

Marty Smith: No way. In my opinion, it was a sheer debacle. It was an embarrassment. Period. Putting Busch Series and Nextel Cup drivers in a situation where their safety was compromised is completely unacceptable.

Ryan Smithson: I am kind of divided on what Charlotte meant to Tony Stewart. I wonder if he is going to be so angry that he leads 498 laps Sunday, or whether this will be the start of a quick decline. The race was certainly unfair to him. He lost four racecars to that track.

Marty Smith: I say he got lucky, Smithson. He should have finished 35th, but the rest of the field wrecked and he finished 25th. If he wins, look back at Charlotte.

Ryan Smithson: Man, Marty, you know I respect your opinion, but if I walked up to Tony and say "You got lucky," he won't be smiling. What was the race where Tony had battery issues? 'Dega? He got luckier there.

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Marty Smith: Well, I'm sure if you walked up to anybody and said that you'd get an evil glare. Naw, he had an overheating motor at 'Dega.

Dave Rodman: That's for sure, Marty. If you're strictly asking about points, that was a critical one for them -- but it points out how focused and unflappable they have been. If that's their worst, God help the rest of 'em.

Marty Smith: I'm telling you, guys, getting through the entire Chase without a problem is virtually impossible. It will eventually happen to everyone.

Dave Rodman: But I don't think they were lucky. That is one team that makes their breaks.

Ryan Smithson: Luck is way better than skill.

Marty Smith: In the Chase it is, Smithson.

Ryan Smithson: No one in the Chase has run badly. But luck ... ugh.

What? Me worry? Credit: AP

Marty Smith: The Chase is about not having trouble. It's a shame it's not about winning or running up front, but about not getting into trouble.

Ryan Smithson: I mean, Mayfield doesn't have a finish worse than 20th, I think, and he is already out of it. Amazing.

Dave Rodman: What do you mean he's out of it? He doesn't have the worst average finish and he's definitely not out of it with five to go.

Ryan Smithson: The good thing, boys, is that the big winners (Biff, Johnson, Tony) are the leaders.

Marty Smith: Kurt Busch is not done, boys.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, he is done. Five to go and asking him to pass nine guys?

Marty Smith: A month from now you'll say, 'Whoa, Kurt Busch made up a ton of ground during late October.'

Dave Rodman: Let's get through this week, first. Marty, he'll make up ground because he is running great, but it's math.

Marty Smith: This week will play a significant determining role in the Chase. I said it when the deal started -- Loudon, Talladega, Martinsville. I wasn't prepared for Lowe's to play such a significant role.

Dave Rodman: Charlotte wasn't math -- it was chaos -- and even though it's highly unlikely that could happen again, it's not impossible.

Ryan Smithson: I wasn't prepared for LMS to have two 5-hour races this year.

Marty Smith: And 7,400 cautions.

"Dang. Premium is up to $3.49? When I was 16, that was half a tank." Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Ryan Smithson: The first race was 5 hours, 22 minutes.

Dave Rodman: When you play Dr. Frankenstein you going to make some monsters. Someone over there should be proud.

Ryan Smithson: Well, they are going to re-pave it. Bad thing is that pole speed in May will be 195 mph. If not more, I guess.

Marty Smith: NASCAR should have called off Saturday's race early. Rather than that tire pressure mandate crap, they should have told the teams, 'OK, we're going to pit, then have a 20-lap shootout.' That way, everyone would have been appeased.

Dave Rodman: I would say that would be their worst move, but considering the year they've had, that might be debatable at this point.

Marty Smith: With just 20 laps left, drivers could mat it with confidence, knowing the tires would last that amount of time, and the fans would see a scintillating finish.

Dave Rodman: Umm, I think that's what they saw.

Marty Smith: After 10 cars hit the fence! Wake up, Dave!

Ryan Smithson: Was Biffle the only car of 43 not to have a tire problem?

Marty Smith: Stewart said 42 of 43 teams had tire problems. I'm uncertain which didn't.

Dave Rodman: Seems someone mentioned the 25 did not. I wasn't there, and I definitely did not make up that chart -- did anyone?

Ryan Smithson: Man, let's drop it. I am worn out discussing tires. We should be discussing how Charlotte shaped the title by showing who had the best car for AMS and Miami.

Marty Smith: And Texas.

Dave Rodman: AMS, Miami and Texas aren't Frankensteined racetracks.

Surprised RCR brought Clint Bowyer up? How will he do?

Ryan Smithson: Bowyer won't beat Martin Truex Jr. for rookie of the year, but he should be OK. RCR is slowly improving, but don't expect miracles.

No one knows how to bend a cap like me. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Marty Smith: Nope. He's ready. I'd say he'll perform much like Harvick and Burton have -- be really good at times and really off at times. Given good equipment he'll be fine.

Ryan Smithson: I saw a funny headline: "Blaney fired because middle-aged men don't use the product."

Dave Rodman: I would say they did a pretty good sales job. I also don't think Clint will beat Martin for RoY -- and no doubt he'll tear up way more stuff than Dave did.

Marty Smith: The Blaniacs must be livid. I'm ready to receive an e-mail from every resident of Hartford, Ohio.

Ryan Smithson: I am still very surprised Blaney didn't fare better in that car.Just a really bad year. No other way around it.

Dave Rodman: But for better or worse he is a lot more ready than David Stremme -- though you wanna talk about luck, that kid's had little of it this season.

Ryan Smithson: Blaney is not a kid.

Dave Rodman: Stremme is.

Marty Smith: Bowyer is pale like me. Bowyer, Dale Jr. and I should have a who's palest contest.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, oh yeah, because Kenseth is so tan.

Marty Smith: Yeah, throw Matt in there.

Ryan Smithson: And Kvapil. Geez. He should do Hawaiian Tropics commercials.

Marty Smith: Lainie and I pray that our offspring has her skin. Please, Lord.

Who is going to win at Martinville, and who will leave with the points lead?

Dave Rodman: William Russell Wallace will win the race -- but Charlotte might have opened the door for one Ryan Newman. I think he may profit most from his perseverance last Saturday night.

Hey Sterling. Don't sneeze. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Ryan Smithson: Newman wins, takes points lead.

Dave Rodman: If Rusty can get away from him, he'll win -- but Newman will be the point leader.

Marty Smith: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins. Stewart regains points lead.

Ryan Smithson: You're going to get 100 e-mails on that calling you a Junior lover. People hate Junior. It's sad. People want him to suck.

Dave Rodman: He has run pretty sporty there, but I can't help thinking something terrible will happen.

Marty Smith: Screw 'em. He's good at Martinsville. It's as easy as that. He has no pressure. He's back with Tony Jr.

Marty Smith: I don't give a crap who wins. I honestly think Earnhardt will contend for victory.

Ryan Smithson: I have got to give a plug for a kid from my native Hickman County, Tenn. Name is Willie Allen, a good guy who will be driving the No. 47 truck this weekend. Opportunity of a lifetime.

Dave Rodman: I hate getting put on the spot to pick, because I think it will be truly wild.

And the winner wil be ... Picks for Martinsville Smacker Driver MartDawg Earnhardt Jr. Ryan R. Newman Rodman R. Wallace

Marty Smith: Martinsville is awesome. Nothing in the world better than Virginia in October.

Dave Rodman: And I don't want to put the hex on the dang Chase and ruin it, but JJ could go on another tear and win a couple more.

Ryan Smithson: I'd love to have Dennis Setzer as my teammate at Martinsville. That is like having Michael Waltrip as your teammate at Daytona.

Dave Rodman: What they did last year was no accident. But yeah, Ryan -- Dennis needs some help against those Dodge boys -- particularly Ultra Motorsports. They got a scent.

Ryan Smithson: Martinsville is always my fave Truck Series race. Period.

Marty Smith: Mine's Atlanta, Smithson. For whatever reason, the Truck races at Atlanta are always killer.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writers.