Here is Brent Sherman doing his best Kurt Busch impression. Credit: AP

Track Smack: Offseason

Immediate thoughts on the 2005 season?

Elliott Gordon: I am glad it's over! I can see why Rusty wants to retire. I want to now, too. And what is it with Jeff Gordon? Is he so rich that he doesn't care about a $1 million bonus?! I think the seesaw year for Kasey Kahne stands out. Won his first race, at Richmond nonetheless, and then pukes in the standings. And now Tommy Baldwin is leaving.

Ryan Smithson: Even though Tony Stewart easily won the title, it was still the year of Roush Racing. We covered that team all year long from their early dominance, five cars in the chase, Mark Martin's no-retirement, Jamie McMurray, Kurt Busch at PIR, the list goes on and on.

Dave Rodman: Stewart. Gibbs. Zippy. I don't remember them ever being anything but bad to the bone -- and a pleasure to be around. Every year we're around this is a great year. The cast of characters stays the same and it's never the same.

Marty Smith: Great year. New winners. Deserving champion. Controversy by the barrel. Good stuff. Stewart finally wins Indy. Gordon collapses, then rebounds. Kurt and Jamie bolt. Edwards nearly pulls off the impossible.

Ryan Smithson: We had some really good races this year. Both road courses were good. Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami. And the spring Richmond race was the best I ever watched for 400 straight laps.

EMAIL Elliott Dave Ryan MartDawg

Dave Rodman: Just when you think it's calmed down -- what next?

You look at the rookie crop coming in next year and realize it just keeps on going.

Elliott Gordon: Why is everyone being so positive? What about all the crappy races we complain about?

Ryan Smithson: I guess I am just happy it's over, Elliott. I can complain if you want me to.

Elliott Gordon: Humbug! Me too, but God, we have two more 800-mile Pocono races to suffer through next year.

This is the only known photograph of Mark Macfarland. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Marty Smith: Dale Jr. keeps opening the door for his date, keeps selling jeans and auto parts, keeps giving May-Ling shout-outs.

Dave Rodman: What seemed impossible all of a sudden seeming quite likely. That rates an award of some sort. And just like you can have a crap race with a slam-bang finish and you forget it was crap. Well, crap races you just forget about, period.

Marty Smith: NASCAR's rulebook still needs help. Many policies are still so, so laughable.

Elliott Gordon: There we go! Let's get angry!

Ryan Smithson: Post it online, NASCAR. Come on.

Elliott Gordon: They can't. Then all the "Dale Earnhardt Jr." rules will be revealed.

Ryan Smithson: Boys, next year will be absolutely critical for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Marty Smith: Kick Marty in the groin.

Here is Track Smack favorite Peter Jellen behind Jeff Gordon. Jellen is hauler driver for Bobby Labonte. No. Wait. J.J. Yeley. And he is watching Jeff Gordon give an autopgraph. Credit: AP

Elliott Gordon: Let's see what happens when Truex runs better than Dale.

Dave Rodman: Having a viable Busch program with only his name on it. I guess you're right about that.

Ryan Smithson: Just curious -- how many races got rained out? None?

Marty Smith: I consider Truex a Chase contender. I also consider Denny Hamlin a Chase contender. I'm not saying they'll make it, I'm saying they'll be close come Richmond, Sept. 2006.

Dave Rodman: Junior's season-ending stretch just shows how iffy everything is. His cars were the best they had been all year and they did not really end up with much to show for it.

Elliott Gordon: At least he doesn't have to go to the banquet! That is a reward.

Dave Rodman: That's the only reason I wouldn't go way out on a limb for either Martin or Denny. I think either of them could certainly win a race, though.

Guys, did Casey Mears have a right to get angry over that last caution at Homestead?

Elliott Gordon: Absolutely. "Dead fly in Turn 4! Throw the caution!"

Marty Smith: Absolutely. He was robbed.

Kurt Busch isn't watching much of this basketball game. Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: Yeah. Happened to him at Texas, too. He could have won both.

Dave Rodman: No. Frustrated, for sure. They have crossed a threshold where they are now contending on a weekly basis. He'll get his in 2006 and it will damn good to see Donnie Wingo get some payoff.

Elliott Gordon: I really want him to win a race -- but just think, next year if he does, it will be in the classic Havoline colors.

Ryan Smithson: He said, "I've never won and they handed one more to Roush again." Strong words. Boys, I don't feel too stupid for saying preseason that Mears would win two races in 2005. He pretty much did.

Marty Smith: I spoke with Jimmy Elledge on pit road after the race, and his eyes were bleeding, he was so fired up. He was very poignant regarding how difficult the progression is: First, fielding a team. Then qualifying for the show. Then running decent. Then running decent consistently. Then vying for a single victory. Then vying for victory consistently. Then winning. Then winning consistently.

Dave Rodman: Cautions and causes is such an old story -- somebody is going to be yipping about it -- you hate it that it was Casey when his car was so good and he probably had his best shot yet. But Biffle said there was trash out there and TV showed a different piece.

Sterling, if you're willing to wear this garb, you must be making a lot of cash in 2006. Credit: AP

Elliott Gordon: Stop the presses. Bush just pardoned the turkey!

Ryan Smithson: Casey was the last car on pit road after the race. He got out, he looked awful. He just kind of dropped his head. It was sad. He looked defeated.

Dave Rodman: Well, he was. But he'll get his. Needs to keep his head up.

Marty Smith: Despite what Biffle and Edwards and Stewart and Johnson do, it's hard as hell to win a Nextel Cup race.

Ryan Smithson: It gets harder every day.

Elliott Gordon: Mears showed he could win races though. His final stretch run this season was very impressive.

Ryan Smithson: Boys, I think the Top 15 is the new Top 10. If that makes any sense.

Marty Smith: Makes perfect sense, Smithson.

Elliott Gordon: Jimmie Johnson is our generation's Mark Martin. He will never win the hardware.

Ryan Smithson: Elliott, you're kind of full of it, Jimmie Johnson will win a title.

That is crazy.

Dave Rodman: No way, E -- He'll be a multi-time champ before he's through.

Marty Smith: Elliott is completely full of it.

Ryan Smithson: He had a really bad year and still finished top 10 in over half the races.

Elliott Gordon: Until Peyton Manning wins the Super Bowl, he is our generation's Dan Marino.

Dave Rodman: Of course, time will tell...

Ryan Smithson: The Colts will win the Super Bowl in about 90-something days.

So there goes that argument.

Marty Smith: Rodman is Dan Marino's generation, Elliott.

Ryan Smithson: Laces out, Dan.

Marty Smith: Isotoners, Dan.

Elliott Gordon: Dave, did you play with those leather helmets?

Dave Rodman: I'm not ashamed to be referred to in a statement with him, that's for sure -- though he's definitely a better car salesman than I am.

Marty Smith: Dave was in Dr. Naismith's gym class. He tacked up the first peach basket.

Ryan Smithson: Well, they are from the same state.

Elliott Gordon: By the way, the Daytona 500 is 88 days away (as of Nov. 22).

Ryan Smithson: Vegas testing is in eight weeks.

Dave Rodman: That is a sickening thought, Elliott.

Marty Smith: Thanksgiving is tomorrow. I will eat too much. The Lions will lose. Same every year. ...

Elliott Gordon: That is tradition, Dawg!

Elliott Gordon: In those ugly, throwback uniforms I am sure.

Marty Smith: They are throwbacks. They should be thrown away.

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