Who knew the wax Jeff Gordon would have more personality than the real one? Credit: AP

Track Smack: Las Vegas

Guys, was the Hall of Fame announcement really that big of a deal?

Marty Smith: I'm not sure it won't have ramifications regarding the All-Star race. I've not yet spoken with Humpy Wheeler about the speculation, but I've heard from several sources that this decision could have wider-reaching dynamics involved.

Ryan Smithson: It was to the industry but I doubt the fans cared very much. This sure does cost a ton of money, and guys, a 2 percent hotel tax is a lot to ask for to pay for it. Hopefully it will have some very cool wrecked cars.

David Newton: It was to NASCAR. They're the ones making the money. And it was to Charlotte. They wanted the recognition. Don't think it was to the general public. I live in Charlotte and you don't hear anybody talking about it on the streets.

Dave Rodman: In a lot of ways it certainly was. Too many to go into in this forum. It's a classic. What they ought to do is buy up the assets and the classes of all the other automotive halls -- and merge them in one place.

ON THE MOVE? Was the future location of the Nextel All-Star Challenge a key bargaining chip in the decision to award Charlotte the NASCAR Hall of Fame?  "That was never brought up, not once," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said. "And frankly, why would it be? The event is very successful in Charlotte."  "We like to see this announcement as having just the opposite impact," LMS director of marketing and public relations Scott Cooper said. "Now that the Hall of Fame is coming to Charlotte, it only makes more sense to host the induction ceremonies annually during the week leading up to the Nextel All-Star Challenge.  "That would make the biggest All-Star event in professional sports just that much bigger, and give NASCAR a lot of momentum through the following Coca-Cola 600 week as it competes with the Indy 500 on a national stage.  "Like the slogan for the Hall of Fame effort, the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge was built here in Charlotte and it belongs here in Charlotte. We expect it to be here for years and years to come."  •   Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM

David Newton: Then they couldn't call it the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Rodman.

Dave Rodman: Well -- sorry, they would buy the NASCAR parcels. Obviously they could care less about the other stuff.

David Newton: Personally, I think they should have put it in Mexico City. It's bigger than Charlotte and Atlanta combined, and the streets are safer at night.

Ryan Smithson: Mexico, Missouri. Only Carl Edwards will get this joke.

David Newton: I'd think the all-star race would have to be more secure in Charlotte with the Hall here.

Dave Rodman: Well, that's what I meant. The last stone isn't turned on this one. Hard to see the All-Star used as a bargaining chip, considering how successful it's been at Charlotte. But, Nextel could have something to say about it.

David Newton: It would be the perfect time for inductions ceremonies.

Ryan Smithson: The all-star race is up to Nextel.

Marty Smith: Smithson, it's NASCAR's sandbox. Nextel's money means Nextel has a say. But if NASCAR wants to move their All-Star show they'll move their All-Star show, no matter who says they shouldn't.

Dave Rodman: Winston-Salem's proximity to Charlotte was just too darned convenient -- and Charlotte certainly rose up and took the thing to a level that maybe no one else could have.

Ryan Smithson: Boys, Daytona never had a chance. I mean, zero public money.

And the winner is...Charlotte announced as the site of NASCAR's Hall of Fame Home to The HallBrian France welcomes NASCAR's Hall of Fame to Charlotte Garage PassJeff Gordon plays poker and gets "waxed" in Las Vegas Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

Ryan Smithson: The Hall won't open until 2010. Tony Stewart might be retired by then.

David Newton: They can change the name of the hall just like they change the names of stadiums...the home of the Carolina Panthers' stadium has gone from Carolina Stadium to Ericsson Stadium to Bank of America Stadium.

Dave Rodman: Yeah, but Newt -- to me, that just cheapens it. Not that that makes much difference to the bean counters.

Dave Rodman: Looks good for the bottom line.

Ryan Smithson: The real question, boys, do you have Kurt Busch's plaque with a Sharpie or a Miller hat? And with his old ears or new ears?

David Newton: Ouch. Perhaps a before and after bust.

Ryan Smithson: I vote Miller hat with old ears. With Jimmy Spencer's fist in the top corner.

Dave Rodman: That's just plain dumb. Kurt is nowhere near retiring, so what hat he'll be wearing is probably three times removed from consideration.

Perhaps Brian France misunderstood. The Hall of Fame was supposed to be in Charlotte Amalie in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you can't ever get a joke. It amazes me. And you are downplaying a serious debate here.

Dave Rodman: Thankfully there are no such trivial questions with Rusty Wallace.

Marty Smith: Not true, Rodman. He won the title in the Kodiak Pontiac -- and the fro.

Ryan Smithson: Oh, wrong, Rodman. Do you enshrine him with BlueMax Racing or Penske?

Dave Rodman: Old and bitter man. Seen and been through too much. I appreciate you trying to make me laugh at trivialities.

Ryan Smithson: Rusty is enshrined with Oakleys, fro, and Kodiak.

Dave Rodman: And achieved 98 percent of what he achieved with Penske and Miller.

David Newton: Who say he'll get enshrined?

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you suck at math. He won about a quarter of his races with BlueMax.

David Newton: They can't let everybody in. That would trivialize it.

Mark Martin expects the new Hall of Fame to offer a AAA discount. Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: Actually, let's look this up.

Marty Smith: He didn't win a championship with Penske. Isn't that what sets Petty and Earnhardt apart from everyone else? Championships? And isn't that the "but" when people mention how awesome Mark Martin is.

Marty Smith: Come on, Rodman. Don't be naive.

David Newton: Let's get a more serious question. Who gets in first?

Ryan Smithson: Chad Little. That is easy.

Dave Rodman: So Marty, you're saying Mark Martin doesn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?

Marty Smith: Nope. That's not what I'm saying at all, Dave. He absolutely is in.

Marty Smith: He's merely the example of how not winning a title stays with you forever, or at least until you do win one.

E-MAIL •   Dave Rodman •   Ryan Smithson •   Marty Smith •   David Newton JOIN THE FRAY •   Send us a topic for discussion

Marty Smith: I think it should be the cat that used to hand out the hats in Victory Lane. That white-haired dude. I think he worked for 76 gasoline.

Ryan Smithson: I can hear see Chad's plaque right now. "Only lawyer in Winston Cup." "Ran second at Texas in 1998."

David Newton: Good one Ryan.

Ryan Smithson: "Paved the way for Washingtonians like Greg Biffle and Kasey Kahne."

Marty Smith: "Most famous Gonzaga graduate until Adam Morrison is finished."

David Newton: Good, if we keep this up, Chad will be in the hall.

Marty Smith: Well, Chad Little drove the John Deere Ford. That's Hall-worthy right there.

A young Ryan Smithson once waited four hours for Chad Little's signature. Credit: ASP

Guys, is Kyle Busch overaggressive, or simply just inexperienced?

David Newton: Probably a little bit of both. But give him credit; he took the blame for what happened in Mexico City.

Ryan Smithson: He is only 20. He'll get better with age. His brother did. Kurt ticked off some people early, too.

Dave Rodman: Kyle Busch is talented, aggressive and has great equipment -- so when you match that with his relative lack of experience, it will get him in spots.

Marty Smith: The jury is out on that one. Newt had a story a couple weeks back that quoted many Nextel Cup competitors, and both sides were represented. He's aggressive as hell, no doubt.

David Newton: There's no questioned he's talented. Once that's refined he'll be fine -- or fined.

Dave Rodman: But I'd rather have him in 50 spots and having to apologize and talk his way out of them, than struggling like hell to get into one.

I said "Mexican take-out", Kyle, not take out the Mexican! Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: He is no Chad Little though. I mean, Little was up on the wheel.

Marty Smith: Wonder if he got a free Gator? I'd be very jealous.

Ryan Smithson: Yes, he did. And gets another when he gets inducted.

Marty Smith: Kurt drove the John Deere Ford Taurus at the end of the 2000 season, though. I need to ask him if he got a free Gator.

Dave Rodman: That last one was just impatience and inexperience -- but only 50 percent his fault. I was impressed he took 100 percent of the blame.

Marty Smith: Excellent use of percentage analysis, Rodman.

Ryan Smithson: Maybe that is why Kurt got his ears done. When he drove the Gator, bugs flew into his eardrums.

Marty Smith: Look, Mark Martin told me last year at Pocono that Kyle Busch might the best talent he's ever seen. That's the highest praise right there, boys.

Ryan Smithson: Mark Martin also said the same thing about Chad Little.

Dave Rodman: Look, Chad Little achieved more in racing than more than 90 percent of racers. Speaking of percentages.

Picks for Vegas?

David Newton: You're going to mention I picked Matt Kenseth at California, right Rodman?

Marty Smith: Please, Newt. I picked Biffle. You lucked out. I nailed it.

PICKS: LAS VEGAS •   MartDawg: Tony Stewart  •   Smithson: Tony Stewart  •   Rodman: Kyle Busch  •   Newton: Greg Biffle

Dave Rodman: Newtonian, I did not remember that. That's Smithson's category.

Ryan Smithson: Biffle pretty much won Fontana.

David Newton: I can't help Biffle's engine problems. You should have figured that in.

Dave Rodman: Kyle or Kurt Busch will win at Vegas.

Marty Smith: I'm going with Tony Stewart.

Ryan Smithson: Kurt Busch isn't going to win Vegas if he takes his Fontana car.

David Newton: Which one, Rodman? Kyle or Kurt. You can't pick two. I am going with Biffle.

Ryan Smithson: Stewart is my pick as well. He sure did handle well at Fontana.

Dave Rodman: Kyle.

Ryan Smithson: If Chad Little had a ride, he'd wipe the field this weekend. I mean annihilate it.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the participants.