"Winless? Wait a minute ... there was Homestead last year, no wait. There was Texas, no wait." Credit: Autostock

Track Smack: All-Star

Winless drivers like Casey Mears are suddenly hot free agents that will probably get huge raises after the season. Why is there such a driver shortage?

Marty Smith: Because the Busch Series is Nextel Cup Light. There's no driver development program when half the Busch field is comprised of Nextel Cup drivers.

Ryan Smithson: Simple. The Truck Series is where former Nextel Cup veterans go. The Busch Series is stocked with Nextel Cup regulars, and the other Busch drivers are in inferior equipment, so it looks like they have no talent. Hence no drivers in the pipeline.

Dave Newton: Man, three months ago Marty was talking about Casey Mears making the Chase. Now we're calling him Winless Casey Mears. Bottom line, the shortage is of experienced drivers, not drivers.

Dave Rodman: Don't pick on Casey Mears. He is a budding talent. Are you saying he wouldn't even deserve a cost-of-living bump? There are drivers in development. But they are what's referred to in the NBA as "projects."

Dave Newton: Plus, the sponsors want -- no, demand -- somebody that can win for them now so they get the most exposure. Can't always do that with untested talent.

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Ryan Smithson: I can't think of a single driver in Busch or Trucks -- off the top of my head -- that is ready for Nextel Cup. Not one.

Marty Smith: That's why all the new drivers are coming from Sprint cars. That's where you find them. Kevin Harvick got Burney Lamar from stock cars, but he's the exception, not the rule.

Ryan Smithson: Denny Hamlin.

Marty Smith: Menard, Smithson. Denny Hamlin's already in Cup, dude. Didn't he just finish second at Richmond?

Ryan Smithson: Menard is pretty good. Hasn't won in Busch yet.

Marty Smith: He is vastly underrated. Junior tells me he's Cup full time next year.

Ryan Smithson: That is the funny thing, Marty. These guys getting promoted -- Mears, Hamlin, Yeley, Menard -- no Busch wins at the time of their promotion. Obviously Menard can change that.

Marty Smith: Anymore, too, young drivers don't get a shot unless they come with money.

Dave Newton: There's always a Clint Bowyer or two floating around down there.

Dave Rodman: You don't think Jason Leffler could do well in the right situation? And David Starr and David Reutimann would not do any differently than David Stremme or Brent Sherman, given the same circumstances. They might even do better.

	"I am David Reutimann, and I have come here to race." Credit: Autostock
	DAVID REUTIMANN •   2006 Statistics •   Driver Page

Dave Newton: Remember, this year's class is pretty big and considered "the best'' rookie class in a long time, maybe ever. It's just a cyclical thing.

Ryan Smithson: David Reutimann would do much better than Sherman. Sherman couldn't handle that short spoiler.

Dave Rodman: He's certainly got more -- and more varied -- experience.

Marty Smith: If you don't have a couple million in your pocket, owners turn you away. Newt nailed it. Sponsors love getting a Cup star -- and the shot at Victory Lane and the appearances that accompany him -- at a third of the price.

Dave Newton: Nailed it? Think I'll retire. Perhaps Brent Sherman should as well.

Ryan Smithson: It seems like a lot of these guys are making it to Cup without knowing how to win.

Marty Smith: Calling Mears a non-winner sucks. He got screwed at Homestead so badly. I still can't believe NASCAR threw that debris caution. He had a huge lead, and out comes debris when Stewart's about to get lapped.

Dave Newton: They don't have a chance to win in Busch because all the Cup guys are winning.

	Count the Busch regulars ... go ahead, we dare you. Credit: Autostock
	BUSCH LIGHT? •   Simpathy, not solutions offered to Busch regulars •   2006 Standings

Dave Rodman: That's right.

Ryan Smithson: Pretty much what I meant, Newt.

Dave Newton: Wondered how long it would take you to get back to Mears, Marty.

Ryan Smithson: Reed Sorenson won in Busch last year and has really impressed me in recent weeks. He slapped the wall every lap on Saturday. Finished 11th.

Dave Newton: But I can't imagine Ganassi letting Mears slip away. He's already got a stable full of kids.

Dave Rodman: Maybe someone will come along and make him an "offer he can't refuse," like D.J. got.

Ryan Smithson: Mears has got to look at whether Ganassi is a long-term solution. That team hasn't won recently. If RCR can get him in a fourth car, you take that in a heartbeat.

Ryan Smithson: My father always said, "I am going to give that man an offer he can refuse."

Dave Rodman: But Casey says he'd like to stay with Chipster -- so I would almost take that to the bank.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, he is going to say that, man. He doesn't want the team to think he is leaving. That gets morale down.

Dave Newton: But who gives Mears the best chance at Indy? Ganassi or Childress?

Ryan Smithson: Childress has more wins at Indy in a stock car, bud.

	Casey Mears drove well on bricks in the No. 41 car, but can he do it again in the No. 42? Credit: Autostock
	CASEY MEARS •   10 Questions

Dave Rodman: There you go Newt -- though I don't see the later start time at Indy clearing up any time soon. Would have been perfect for John Andretti, though, if he'd decided to do it.

Ryan Smithson: Dadgummit Rodman, what is your obsession with John Andretti?

Dave Rodman: You should certainly think a NASCAR driver doing the Indy 500 would be worth some consideration.

Ryan Smithson: That is an old, tired story, my man.

Dave Rodman: Not that it's the same feat it once was.

Dave Newton: How many NASCAR races do you have to enter this year to technically be considered a NASCAR driver?

Ryan Smithson: One. That was easy.

Dave Newton: Just checking. How many has Andretti made this year?

Dave Rodman: Who -- or what -- prompted that question?

Ryan Smithson: Newton, asked it but not sure why.

Dave Newton: Trying to quantify Rodman calling Andretti a NASCAR driver.

Dave Rodman: You're kidding, right?

Dave Newton: Just funning'. Nothing personal against John.

Marty Smith: Dude I saw Andretti spin out and go a lap down before the Lucky Dog ever existed and come back to win. He qualifies.

Ryan Smithson: That was a great race, 1999 Martinsville. He beat Jeff Burton. Mowed him down.

Dave Newton: I'm talking about 2006.

	"You want to strap in a racecar and go toe-to-to, Newt?" Credit: Autostock
	ANDRETTI AT INDY The Andretti "family reunion" at Indianapolis this month took on another dimension Friday at Darlington Raceway, where John Andretti said he is considering an offer to drive in the Indianapolis 500.  •   Complete story, click here

Ryan Smithson: Oh, well, he's a Busch rookie. Chuckle.

Dave Newton: But seriously, I was just kidding. I like John.

Thoughts on the All-Star event?

Dave Newton: Can't wait to see Train and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Humpy Wheeler paid me to say that.

Dave Rodman: Nice night for a circus.

Ryan Smithson: Humpy has no idea who the Chili Peppers are, man.

Dave Newton: I predict a wreck-fest with those hard tires unless drivers use a lot of common sense, which they don't usually do in this event. ... C'mon. Humpy is a hip dude.

Dave Rodman: Well, ideally they'll get all the wrecking out of the way in practice -- though they might end up doing both.

Marty Smith: Different race with the new surface. Drivers will have to be quite conservative, which goes against the nature of the event.

Ryan Smithson: It will probably end up being pretty danged normal.

Dave Newton: Let's hope not.

Dave Rodman: Junior stated it perfectly -- I could have been his ghost writer -- he said, whoever wins will figure out the conditions the best, even if they aren't the optimal. Seems to me I said that once or twice last year.

Marty Smith: Dave Nostradamus.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you're off the rocker, son. They wanted to burn Nostradamus at the stake, you know.

Dave Rodman: So you're saying Dale Jr. and me are nuts.

Ryan Smithson: Yeah. Pretty much.

Dave Rodman: Be that ignorant if you want to be.

	This is a Chili Pepper. Credit: AP
	CHILI PEPPERS AT ALL-STAR The Red Hot Chili Peppers will take center stage between the first and second segments of the Nextel All-Star Challenge on May 20 to perform songs from their recently released album, "Stadium Arcadium."   •   Complete story, click here

Dave Newton: No, Dave rocks. He went to the Chili Peppers' first concert.

Dave Rodman: Right on!

Ryan Smithson: Dave Rodman, name me one Chili Peppers song. You can't do it.

Marty Smith: Rodman, in five seconds you must name the two most famous Chili Peppers. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

Ryan Smithson: He is Googling it right now.

Dave Rodman: I came up with one for those goofballs the other week -- man, can't remember it though ...

Marty Smith: I am itching to know, Rodman.

Ryan Smithson: Itching like a Flea.

Dave Rodman: Banged my head 'til I puked, or something like that. Wouldn't waste my time, Smithson.

Ryan Smithson: You lose again, son. Nirvana, now this.

Dave Rodman: Ain't going to lose any sleep over that.

Ryan Smithson: Hey Marty. Remember when Under the Bridge was the best song for like two years straight?

Marty Smith: For sure. Killer jam. I was in eighth grade or so.

Dave Newton: Maybe D.W. will start the race with Buckle Down.