 | | Bobby Labonte led just 64 laps in 2005. Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images |
December 28, 2005
01:22 PM EST (18:22 GMT)
Who will make the biggest comeback in 2006? Elliott Gordon: Kasey Kahne. He suffered his sophomore slump -- even with a victory -- and while he won't have Baldwin any more, all that experience from a second year will serve him well in Year No. 3. Ryan Smithson: It will be pretty tough for Earnhardt Jr. to get back in the top five. It will be easier for a Bobby Labonte to finish 11th with a team that has been stuck in the bottom 20s. Mark Spoor: Kahne's a good call too, Elliott. However, I'm not yet convinced that the crew chief situation will work to their advantage. He is going to miss working with Tommy Baldwin. DuaneCross: Rusty Wallace -- he'll scratch the itch at least once, though Spoor already is on record as saying five times! Of course, we goaded him into that prediction, but ... I believe Rusty will do at least a one-off -- Bristol, Martinsville, Richmond -- and that will be the newsmaker. Who knows, he may even come back for the all-star race. Elliott Gordon: Labonte won't finish higher than 20th, my friend. He can drive a car, but that equipment isn't all the sudden going to be close to a top-10 team, even with Loomis. Duane Cross: Au contraire -- I think the Petty group will make a concerted effort to improve across the board. They've already done so with Labonte, Todd Parrott, Robbie Loomis ... Times are a'changing at Petty. Saying BLab won't be close to a top-10 team is a bit overboard. Ryan Smithson: Guys, I just thought of something. With all the people they have added over at Yates, it will be hard to keep Elliott Sadler out of the Chase. He has got to become tougher. Elliott Gordon: Cross, look at the Yankees. You can go out and pay for the greatest names in baseball and still just barely make the playoffs. Ryan Smithson: You guys, Labonte will finish in the top 20. Petty has good stuff from Evernham, and Labonte will finish a lot of races. His motors won't blow. He'll finish top 20. You guys are crazy. I am not saying he will make the Chase, but he'll be top 20 in his sleep. Duane Cross: Petty has been yesterday's news for so long that the Pony Express finally delivered news that Cup racing is more than a famous number on the side of the car. They'll spend the money now to get back into the game. Ryan Smithson: They already spend the money, but they tried some things a few years ago (Mike Ege engines) that set them back a few years. Duane Cross: Yankees lost sight of what gets you there -- pitching. The Pettys have figured out that spending the money on resources -- people and machinery -- is key, and they're doing that now. Elliott Gordon: Yeah, it will take a year or two to get up to speed -- not to mention all the lovely rules changes I am sure will be coming. Duane Cross: Whaaaaa? Rules changes -- you can't go changing the rules! Ryan Smithson: I guess you guys agree that Earnhardt Jr. will have a tough time again next year. Duane Cross: I'm not drinking that Kool-Aid. I think the No. 8 team will be a Chase contender. Ryan Smithson: It's not Kool-Aid. But they are way behind. Mark Spoor: I think tough time is a relative term. I think he'll win a race or two and be in contention for the Chase, but to repeat his six-win season in '04, I don't think so. Duane Cross: I think he'll come to Speedweeks much more focused than we've seen in the past. He knows that team had too many Linda Blair moments last year. You won't see them spewing chunks again next year. Elliott Gordon: He will have an easier time than 2005, but I am not sure he will make the Chase. Hell, Martin may outrun him! Ryan Smithson: Mark Martin will outrun all but a few people, Elliott. Elliott Gordon: I was talking Martin Truex, not Mark Martin. Duane Cross: Dude, they're talking Truex Jr. Mark Spoor: I agree with Smithson there. Martin is to NASCAR what Dick Clark is to New Year's Eve. The guy just doesn't age, at least in driving terms. Duane Cross: Spoor, having a senior moment -- much like Dick Clark! Mark Spoor: Ah. You think Truex will outrun Junior? Ryan Smithson: No, but it will be closer than you think.  |  | | Kasey Kahne Credit: Chris Stanford/Getty Images |
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Elliott Gordon: If Carl Edwards can outrun the rest of Roush, I think Truex can outrun the rest of DEI. Duane Cross: Nope, nope, nope ... Truex will be Robin to Junior's Batman. Ryan Smithson: I am really irritated that they made Cheaper by the Dozen 2. Elliott Gordon: I haven't been to the movies in like a year. Duane Cross: Boggles my mind that you saw the first one! Ryan Smithson: I didn't. ... Munich was outstanding and Syriana was decent. Elliott Gordon: But I will have my Sundays free starting in a week anyway -- see you in SoCal! Mark Spoor: Make sure to wear your sun block. Elliott Gordon: SPF 500. Duane Cross: Here's kicking sand in your face, Santa Monica boy! Ryan Smithson: Oh yeah, everyone. Elliott is moving to California. He is going to do car reviews. And he can't even drive a stick shift. Spoor can't drive a stick shift either. Mark Spoor: Some say I can't drive an automatic. Just ask my wife. Elliott Gordon: My first car was stick. My dad bought it for me: 1979 Dodge Colt. He said, "Here, learn to drive it." Ryan Smithson: We had a 1969 Ford with a three-speed on the column. |  | | Elliott's new governor. Both are planning to attend the February race at Fontana. Credit: AP |
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Mark Spoor: My dad had a GMC with three-speed on the column. Ryan Smithson: A driver won a NASCAR race with an automatic transmission back in the 1950s. Bet y'all didn't know that. Elliott Gordon: Was it Dave Rodman? Duane Cross: True story: Until about two years ago, Spoor was tooling around in a Dodge ... Duster, with original green shag carpeting. He was Austin Powers, International Redneck of Misery. Mark Spoor: Yes, sir. Ran that car into the ground. It didn't take much. Ryan Smithson: All of 35,000 miles, eh. Duane Cross: Ah the Duster ... it was a chick magnet. Mark Spoor: Before that, I drove a Horizon. My Hyundai is a big step up. Duane Cross: Dude, don't believe I'd have told that. Ryan Smithson: If a Dodge Duster is a chick magnet, I don't want to see the chicks it attracts. They graze around the car. Mark Spoor: I'll tell my wife you said that. The opinions listed here are solely those of the participants. | 
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