Who knew Texas would be the last-ever race Kurt Busch and Jimmy Fennig would work together? Credit: Autostock

Track Smack: Homestead

Kurt Busch.

Ryan Smithson: Boy, I will bet Jeremy Mayfield is glad he got pulled over. That means about $100,000 more for Mayfield in the points payout. Just kidding. Call me crazy, but the more I think about it, the more I want to hold off crucifying Kurt.

Dave Rodman: Many, many more questions than answers at this point, so doesn't make a lot of sense to talk about it much. If you want to talk Kurt Busch and his race team -- the big plus and the big winner was Herman Wallace. Talk about getting put on the spot -- and then putting his head down and delivering. Two thumbs up for Herm.

Marty Smith: I've not spoken with Kurt nor the Maricopa County sheriff's office, so judging isn't fair at this point. But from what I've read and seen, folks are hanging on an alcohol allegation. Key word: allegation. He wasn't charged with DUI. He was charged with reckless driving. I think that's key here.

Ryan Smithson: What a freaking story. It totally takes away from a great title chase. Sad.

Marty Smith: According to the county sheriff's interview on television, Kurt was belligerent with the deputy. If that is in fact true, he was behind the 8-ball from the minute he opened his mouth. Never, ever talk back to the law.

Ryan Smithson: I'd be surprised if Kurt didn't talk back to the deputy.

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Dave Rodman: There's been a lot of bi-color reporting of this. With all the stuff that has been reported, it looks like Kurt might have blown a number that was below the limit -- but he was so obnoxious, the gendarmes were trying to walk him off the plank.

Ryan Smithson: Kurt needs to come out and say, point-blank, whether he had anything to drink that night. If he says no, lay off.

Marty Smith: But I'll say this, an attorney called into Wind Tunnel Sunday night and said she'd been subjected to similar treatment -- with her teenage sons in the car. She was quite articulate and her comments were poignant.

Ryan Smithson: That was scary, Marty. I saw that.

Dave Rodman: When their meter at the track did not work, they threw up their hands and threw him out the door, with whatever ticket or tickets they were able to pin on him.

Ryan Smithson: One more thing: It's awfully easy to get a speeding ticket at PIR. It's really wide and open, and doing 60 feels like 30.

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Marty Smith: She felt for Kurt, and said she wouldn't be surprised if he were treated as she was. She said she was detained for 30 minutes. She said finally she looked at the deputy and said, "arrest me or let me go."

Dave Rodman: For better or worse, you wear the badge, you administer the law. She broke the law. Not that that put her in a position to be subjected to what she was. Kurt, on the other hand ...

Ryan Smithson: Looks like Kurt picked the wrong week to ... (insert Airplane joke here).

Marty Smith: As Rodman said, crucifying Kurt Busch is not fair at this juncture. And I know this much, too. If he did have a couple of casual drinks at dinner and decided to drive, he's no different than a considerable percentage of casual drinkers in this country.

Marty Smith: Folks don't view two beers as drinking and driving. It is, mind you, but we don't view it that way.

Ryan Smithson: In college we did those tests, Marty, and two beers usually make you go over the limit.

Marty Smith: I know, Smithson.

Dave Rodman: Nope -- there but for the grace of God go me, you and several million other people. The troubling thing is everything Kurt did after he apparently forgot that El Mirage has stop signs every fair piece of road, heading toward PIR's back gate.

Marty Smith: Oh, to switch gears a moment. How 'bout that guy that emailed us and asked y'all to "Kick Marty in the groin for me."

This is the angriest you'll ever see Denny Hamlin. Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: Marty, I told the guy you always wear a banana cup.

Marty Smith: Hilarious, Smithson. I think I will henceforth. Marty Smith, for Bike protective cups.

Ryan Smithson: I still have my banana cup from high school.

Dave Rodman: What, are you calling that guy who wrote in an alky?

Marty Smith: Nope, just saw that email again. I was in the emergency room at that moment, and had to laugh that words that come out of my (our, I've gotten similar notes about all Smackers) mouth, or words from my (our) fingers, have that type of effect.

Ryan Smithson: Guys, to switch gears again, I wonder what Kyle thought when he was about to be interviewed. He certainly didn't get to enjoy that win.

Marty Smith: In my opinion, Kyle Busch should have said, "I support my brother" in Victory Lane and left it at that. Attacking the media does him no good.

Dave Rodman: I don't know about that. I would agree he might not have enjoyed it as much. But he looked pleased enough for the most part. Of course, we didn't get to see the show in the rhino pen -- oops, media center.

Ryan Smithson: Well, he's 20, Marty, and you know he and his brother have sat at home complaining about media coverage at some point.

Ryan Smithson: When Kyle is in the series for six more years, he won't spout off like that. But it did sting a little.

Marty Smith: He's also a dang fine racecar driver who let an awesome effort be overshadowed by post-race comments.

Dave Rodman: How about Tony? He stuck a fork in someone for about the fifth straight week for a semi-dumb question.

Ryan Smithson: "Tony, can you win the title?" "No, I don't see how. We have a real bad car for Homestead."

Marty Smith: Sometimes, boys, it's your year. Smoke, Zippy and those boys have been flat awesome. And man, that pit crew hasn't gotten nearly the praise it deserves. Flawless.

Dave Rodman: No, it was more like, "Tony, you had a goal of increasing your point lead today -- did you do that?"

Ryan Smithson: I have tried to in Pit Move every Monday. Those guys are cocky and they back it up 100 percent. They know they won't lose on pit road.

"Enough of the Kurt Busch talk already!" Credit: Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Marty Smith: That's what I like about Stewart. If he thinks your question is dumb, he'll tell you it's dumb. At qualifying for the All-Star race this year when he spun out on pit road, I went to talk to him about it and he got on me.

Marty Smith: You have to give it back to him, or he'll eat you alive

Ryan Smithson: What was your question?

Marty Smith: He said, 'What the bleep do you want?"

Dave Rodman: He keeps you on your toes, that's for sure.

Marty Smith: I said, "to talk to you about nearly piling it up during qualifying." He laughed and obliged.

So you guys think Stewart will cruise this weekend?

Marty Smith: Yes. Fifty-two points is too much for anyone to overcome.

Ryan Smithson: Well, here is what you have got to remember. If the jack breaks or if Stewart punches in a fender, it's fair game. If nothing happens, Stewart is untouchable.

Dave Rodman: Cruise? He can't cruise. Fifty-two points is a substantial margin, but definitely not insurmountable.

Ryan Smithson: None of us are saying Stewart can't lose. But something bad has to happen.

Marty Smith: It's been that way for six weeks, Smithson.

Ryan Smithson: What has?

"Jamie, remind me to Tivo the Country Music Association Awards on Tuesday night." Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Marty Smith: That Stewart would have to falter to make this a points race.

Marty Smith: I would pick Dale Jr. to win, but then Smithson would have to kick me in the groin. Marty Smith, for Bike protective cups.

Dave Rodman: All he needs to do is business as usual. You look at what Johnson and Gordon did last year and it still wasn't enough to overcome.

Dave Rodman: But bad things do happen -- and there are a lot of testimonials to that, from the Chasers right down to 45th in points. But for Tony and that gang to slip up would be highly unlikely.

Ryan Smithson: The good thing, boys, is that four guys can win the title, and if any one of them win it, they earned it. With all due respect to Mark Martin, if he won the title with a single win, I'd raise a brow.

Dave Rodman: Then again, when you look at that little three-wide move Carl Edwards initiated -- or the narrow escape Brian Vickers had running through the grass to miss, I think, Denny Hamlin -- you see what a fine line success or misery can assume.

Marty Smith: That's one point that should be made, here. Smoke could win easily without a victory.

Ryan Smithson: Like we said, they points-race. For good reason. Biffle mounted four tires every time on Sunday. It's safe.

Dave Rodman: What, a win in the Chase? Definitely not a necessity. Tarnishes his season not one bit.

Dave Rodman: If there wasn't a Chase, he probably would have clinched after Texas -- so that doesn't bother me much.

Marty Smith: Smoke was dialed in at the Homestead test, heard it myself from another driver in the Chase. He may even win the race.

Ryan Smithson: Martin gets win No. 2.

Marty Smith: Rodman, describe the tux you wore to your senior prom. Baby blue. White ruffles. White loafers.

Ryan Smithson: He missed his prom due to World War II, Marty. It was canceled.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writers. This sentence is italicized every single week without fail.