Will the red head be the face of Red Bull Racing? Credit: Autostock

Track Smack: Michigan

Vickers' future, Lester entered at MIS and this week's predictions

Should Brian Vickers go to Robert Yates Racing or Red Bull Racing?

Ryan Smithson: I know he probably won't, but I'd still rather be with RYR. They are currently fixing that program and Vickers faces the real possibility of missing some races next year if he signs with Red Bull. Major growing pains.

Duane Cross: Without question, Yates -- mainly because of its association with Roush Racing. Despite its deep pockets, Toyota will not take the Cup Series by storm in 2007; Vickers wants to win, and Yates' established program (and owners' points) is a huge load off the next driver of the No. 88.

Dave Rodman: If it was his choice, I think he'd have to really analyze the personnel he'd be working with, and to determine what the chemical balance would be. Long term, I think it might be a dead heat.

Marty Smith: Vickers' whole stance is performance, so I'd go Yates. If the rumored seamless partnership with Roush comes to fruition legally under NASCAR's four-car cap, Yates will improve a lot. They're on the mend already, and I think it will continue.

Ryan Smithson: Geez, guys, thanks for agreeing with me. Except for Rodman, who ducked the question.

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

Dave Rodman: But right from the get-go, I think Yates would be the better call since they're definitely a known quantity. Red Bull is nothing but great potential fueled by a lot of money.

Marty Smith: But from a marketing standpoint, man, being the face of Red Bull would be huge.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, if by some miracle Yates could keep UPS and use Vickers as its spokesman, that is not a small marketing machine, either.

Marty Smith: Agreed, Smithson. And possibly a young, vibrant kid like Brian is just what UPS is looking for Yates to secure in order to stay. Someone to offset the Denny Hamlin explosion.

Dave Rodman: Worlds greater. Red Bull would seem to be very much a niche market, to me. You're right about UPS and whoever its face is -- though I can't believe it would abandon the brand it's built with D.J.

	We know Casey Mears will be sliding over to the No. 25. Credit: Autostock
	HEADLINES •   Mears signs on as driver of Hendrick Motorsports' No. 25 •   Vickers: Performance not there for No. 25 car

Duane Cross: Yates isn't far from being a championship contender, and joining forces with Roush would be another step in the right direction -- and how huge would it be for Vickers to be the face of that?

Ryan Smithson: Robert Yates Racing has some very fixable problems. Red Bull doesn't.

Marty Smith: Duane raises a huge point -- top 35.

Ryan Smithson: That was my point!

Dave Rodman: Duane, if RYR didn't get its chemistry in line, do you think the points cushion might only be a five-race respite?

Is Brian Vickers headed to RYR's No. 88? Credit: Autostock

Marty Smith: I wouldn't want to have to put a brand new car with a brand new engine into the Daytona 500 on time. Whew! That is pressure.

Duane Cross: No, I don't think it would be a five-race respite. Vickers can wheel it as well as Dale Jarrett, so no reason to think he couldn't keep that ride in the top 35.

Ryan Smithson: Vickers is a very good qualifier. That we know.

Dave Rodman: Points aren't based on qualifying, though.

Duane Cross: Welcome to Michael Waltrip's world, Marty. Dude knows the pressure of time trials -- and next year the pressure intensifies.

Marty Smith: Qualifying at Daytona is all car, Smithson. Vickers' prowess won't come into play until the following weekend.

Dave Rodman: I think to avoid that mess, they would have to hit Speedweeks running on every possible element they can use.

	Credit: Autostock
	VICKERS MAILBAG Brian Vickers will answer fans' questions each week on NASCAR.COM.  •   To post a question, click here •   This week Brian addresses distractions and Michigan

Ryan Smithson: I wonder who the heck drives the 88 if Vickers goes to Red Bull.

Duane Cross: Vickers can post top-20s -- and with just a little improvement, top-15s ... and that will get you in the Chase.

Marty Smith: I totally disagree, Duane. Top-15s won't get you in the Chase.

Duane Cross: It got Rusty Wallace in last year.

Ryan Smithson: Top-15s do get you in the Chase. Easily.

Dave Rodman: If you had top-15s and nothing worse, you could do it.

Ryan Smithson: The top 15 is the new top 10. Rusty Wallace 13th-placed the field to death last year.

Ryan Smithson: The bad thing is, Marty, if you roll off the truck at Daytona and struggle, you have a hard time improving.

Dave Rodman: And all you have to do is spell it -- S-c-o-t-t R-i-g-g-s -- to know what a nightmare Speedweeks can be.

Marty Smith: Well, since you three all agree I will stand corrected. But I still disagree.

Duane Cross: And it's keeping Denny Hamlin in the mix -- though a win or two helps tremendously. Top-15s, a win or two ... you can struggle and still make a run. Ask Matt Kenseth.

Guys, Bill Lester is attempting his second Nextel Cup start this weekend. Where is the hype we saw in Atlanta?

	Bill Lester was in the media spotlight at Atlanta. Credit: Autostock
	LOOKING BACK •   Lester's debut turns into worldwide headline

Dave Rodman: There shouldn't be any -- Atlanta was the one-shot deal and good for Bill, he delivered. But as he himself said, he wants it to be about the racing, this time.

Duane Cross: It goes to prove a point I made in March: It was nothing more than flavor-of-the-week for the media. I'm glad to see the lack of hype; let Bill be a racer, it's all he wanted in the first place.

Ryan Smithson: Well, part of it is the media market. Lester lives in Atlanta, and the local Atlanta media really hyped it up big-time. And there was also a lot of hype after he qualified so well.

Marty Smith: That was a first-in-20-years deal. This is a first-in-two-months deal.

Ryan Smithson: Well said, Marty. That is pretty much it.

Marty Smith: If Bill Lester finishes 15th this weekend, he's in the Chase!

Dave Rodman: Chase for what?

Ryan Smithson: He was kidding, Rodman. Geez.

Dave Rodman: No kidding

Duane Cross: So the sport is so void of storylines that the media has to latch onto something that wasn't even "historical" (as too many outlets reports ad-nauseam)? ... But here's the deal for all the fantasy racing players: Bill Lester will receive points this week, unlike Atlanta -- when he was post-entry. ... Maybe now the e-mails will cease.

Ryan Smithson: Those e-mails never stopped coming. Geez.

Dave Rodman: He's a very poor -- or really risky -- fantasy pick because like every other part-timer -- if they have a problem, they quit.

Marty Smith: I got more Kenny Wallace e-mails about that than I did Bill Lester e-mails. Though the conspiracy theories therein were vastly different. Lack of points for post-entry.

Predictions for Michigan?

Season Predictions Up-to-date Standings Smacker No. W T-5 T-10 Avg. Smithson 14 1 7 10 9.42 MartDawg 13 0 4 8 14.6 Rodman 14 0 5 7 14.78 Newton 14 1 4 7 14.90 Free VideoA day's worth of news in 90 seconds

Duane Cross: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have the coolest cat on the track -- bar none. The old school Bud bow tie ... man, that's going to be sweet!

Ryan Smithson: Fuel-mileage race again. Greg Biffle either way. By a mile. And without a sandwich in the windshield.

Dave Rodman: Kurt Busch takes his Roush roots and new front end and wins. Roush Racing sweeps second through sixth.

Marty Smith: Stewart. He impressed the heck out of me last weekend at Pocono.

Dave Rodman: Yeah, Duane -- but will Junior prevail?

Ryan Smithson: Junior never does well at Fontana or Michigan.

Duane Cross: Tough to argue against Biffle (or any of the Roush drivers). Even Jamie McMurray will be in the mix. But it'll be Matt Kenseth.

	Matt Kenseth finished 17th at Michigan in his second start there, in June 2000. Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers Matt Kenseth at Michigan Starts 13 Wins 1 Top-5s 5 Top-10s 9 Top-15s 12 Poles 0 DNFs 0 Avg. Start 22.5 Avg Finish 8.1

Dave Rodman: There's your fantasy pick -- has never finished out of the top 15 at Michigan in his career.

Marty Smith: Hamlin's bringing the same car back this weekend that he dominated Pocono with ... look out for back-to-back.

Dave Rodman: It would be coolest, though, if Mayfield scored back-to-back fuel-mileage wins.

Ryan Smithson: You love Mayfield. Like completely in love. Like Cruel Intentions-style love.

Marty Smith: It'd be cool if Mayfield wins by spanking the field. The fuel-mileage deal? Not so much.

Dave Rodman: Earth to Planet Smithson ...

Duane Cross: Who's never finished outside the top 15 at Michigan, Dave?

Dave Rodman: Kenseth.

Duane Cross: Nada -- 17th is his worst finish.

Dave Rodman: 'Scuse me -- it was top-20s, then.

Duane Cross: But he does have six consecutive top-10s and seven in eight races (including a win). Just set my fantasy lineup, so it was top of mind.

The opinions expressed are solely of the participants.