 | | "Please God, let this be the last question." Credit: NASCAR Media |
NASCAR.COM
March 23, 2006
03:56 PM EST (20:56 GMT)
Guys, is Kasey Kahne's fast start the real deal? Marty Smith: I think it definitely is, for two reasons: 1. Kenny Francis is so dad gum underrated and 2. Kahne has completely altered his approach. He's not pressing as much. He's learned how to be successful in a 500-mile race. Ryan Smithson: I don't know. But it is clear that he is enjoying working with Kenny Francis. He has changed his driving style, and he admitted after the win that he probably couldn't have won this race with last year's mentality. David Newton: I'll be the first to admit I thought he was more hype than real after last season, but the way he's started this season has me believing he's the real deal. That he's done what he's done in a Charger makes it all the more impressive. Dave Rodman: One race might be considered an anomaly -- but four on the trot is too good and too consistent to be anything but a real breakout year in the making. This will make 2004 seem mediocre. Marty Smith: It is truly an impressive comeback after last year's abysmal performance. The 9 team was the most disappointing in 2005. David Newton: Don't get too carried away and put him in the Hall of Fame. Dave Rodman: Buddy Baker was right -- less is more when it comes to Hall recognition. Ryan Smithson: More disappointing than the 8 team, Marty? No way. Marty Smith: Absolutely, Smithson. David Newton: I agree Marty. I thought he might have been a one-year wonder until this start. Marty Smith: Earnhardt had an entirely new team. Kahne was the best thing since sliced bread this time last year. Dave Rodman: Exactly. The 8's deal was a shot in the dark that turned out to be even more blind than anyone could imagine. Marty Smith: And they flat bombed. Ryan Smithson: Clearly, Kahne surprised us all, but on the other side of the coin, Mayfield is overdrawn at the luck bank. Mayfield has to worry about being in the top 35 now. Dave Rodman: Kasey and Tommy Baldwin had a multiplicity of things stacked against them -- and given youth and inexperience -- bombs away. David Newton: I disagree on Mayfield, Ryan. He has made the Chase the past two years, and came from 21st this time a year ago to make the field. He's done more than Kasey at this point. Ryan Smithson: Newt, 34th is a lot different than 21st. Dave Rodman: How valuable a "team" is, is showing up here. Jeremy hasn't forgotten how to drive -- and I dare say if he was with the same group as last year, there definitely might be two Evernham cars in the top 10. David Newton: Mayfield isn't the only one veteran that has to worry about points. Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick aren't sitting too pretty either. Dave Rodman: Then again, a lot of variables determine that. Marty Smith: Boys, is anyone else as baffled by Edwards' luck as I am? Ryan Smithson: Edwards needs to relax a little. He is awfully intense this year, you know? Marty Smith: Expectation has a way of doing that, Smithson.  |  | | The Evernham team spends some time with new crew members. Credit: NASCAR Media |
| |  |
Ryan Smithson: Have some fun, get back to winning races. Marty Smith: It's the difference in racing without pressure and racing with expectation. Ryan Smithson: Marty, yeah, but Carl expects more from himself than the media does, and that is rare. David Newton: I think Edwards will turn it around. His equipment is too good. He'll be the Matt Kenseth from last season. Marty Smith: I agree, Newt. Edwards will be there when the smoke clears. Ryan Smithson: Carl is going to be fine if he focuses on the good things, and dang, he has a fast car at Atlanta. Marty Smith: What's the common variable between Mayfield's Chase runs and Kahne's early success, boys? Marty Smith: Kenny Francis. Dude is underrated. Ryan Smithson: He certainly doesn't panic much. That is a healthy thing to have in Nextel Cup. David Newton: A young guy like Kasey needs that calmness on the other end of the radio. Marty Smith: See: Darian Grubb. That leads us into Knaus. That guy will hate life this weekend. Ryan Smithson: Another good example is Gustafson and Kyle Busch. David Newton: Was just getting ready to throw that out, Marty. Dave Rodman: But Kasey has grown up immensely. What he's done in studying "the masters," as he puts it, is priceless -- or better yet, can be measured in victories. Marty Smith: That's what I wrote Tuesday, Dave. He's matured tremendously right before our overzealous-turned-unforgiving eyes. Ryan Smithson: I am just sitting here nodding in agreement about the Knaus-hating-life comment. Marty Smith: We anointed him the next big thing, and then totally forgot about him. Now, he's back at the top of the gaga list again. David Newton: Knaus has to feel like the other woman at this point. And Jimmie has to be looking at Darian like the new girlfriend, somebody new and interesting. Ryan Smithson: Guys, it's very simple. Kahne has learned that a 15th-place car is going to finish 10th at best, and that is with strategy. You can't drive a 15th-place car to a win anymore. Dave Rodman: I tell you what, J.J. Yeley is following in his shadow -- though he had farther to go. Ryan Smithson: J.J. Yeley is going to roll off the truck one Sunday and lead 150 laps. Dave Rodman: J.J. is calm, confident and has good stuff and good people behind him -- and his season has been a real revelation. Ryan Smithson: I am so impressed with Paul Menard, boys. I wish you could have seen that car he drove at AMS. Not a nick on it. His tires didn't even have beads on them. Marty Smith: Menard was the man Monday! My buddy told me he bought him for three bucks on fantasy. Good buy. Dave Rodman: Great dice roll. Problem with part-time teams is they have trouble -- they park. But Paul has oodles of potential. Guys, pick a driver that will flourish over the short-track season, and who will falter. David Newton: I'll go with Dale Earnhardt Jr. His program appears back on track and he can drive the short tracks. Ryan Smithson: You'll see Bobby Labonte get a couple of top-10s. Mark my words. Brent Sherman is going to be in some real points trouble if he can't get out of Bristol with a top-20 finish. Marty Smith: I'll go with Matt Kenseth. He dominated Bristol last fall and is hitting all cylinders this year. He was awesome again Monday in Atlanta before tire issues marked his demise. Ryan Smithson: There have been three men that had a winning car in all four races: Kenseth, Johnson, Stewart. Marty Smith: I think the Jeff Green/Bootie Barker union will surprise some folks at Bristol and Martinsville, too. Dave Rodman: There are too many guys that have the potential to do it to narrow it down too far -- like Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Junior ... Kenseth. Dave Rodman: Yeah, you'll get a splash here and there from any number of people -- but those four will be the most consistent. David Newton: Kurt better do it or he'll be watching the Chase. He has had just as much bad luck as Edwards. Ryan Smithson: It is going to be tough. Kurt is intensely frustrated right now. Not good. Dave Rodman: And I think Jeff Gordon will make a bounce back on the short tracks -- across the board. David Newton: Yeah, Kurt could explode if he has one more rough weekend. And Bristol would be a good place for that. Marty Smith: I told DeLana Harvick that they should stage a charity cage match between Kevin and Kurt. They'd raise millions. Ryan Smithson: Did she agree to it? She'd be the one to set that up, for sure. David Newton: She wanted to make it a mud-wrestling match. Marty Smith: Ha. No. Dave Rodman: Martinsville. Hermie's already got the venue set up for a Saturday evening TNA match/concert. Talk about priceless. Ryan Smithson: Let's hope he does not get his butt kicked after a DNQ. | 
