"No, guys. I swear I'm not leaving 'till the end of the season. And yes, I will race this weekend." Credit: Autostock

Track Smack: Sonoma

Ringers replacing regulars, Sadler's career options and predictions

Some teams (Ganassi, PPI) pull their regular driver for the road courses. Does this help or hurt the team in the long run?

Marty Smith: It helps. These days, it's all top 35, all the time. If Scott Pruett can get a top-five finish for the 40 team, then they're that much closer to a guaranteed spot in the field. That's huge for Stremme. That said, I'm not sure I agree with it. It's akin to the Terry Labonte in the 96 deal. Choose a driver and stick with him.

Ryan Smithson: I know that Ganassi wants to get its team in the top 35, but David Stremme is going to need road-course experience eventually. He was hired to be part of the team's long-term future. They can't just hide him twice a year. It can't help morale.

Duane Cross: It goes to show that winning isn't the week-to-week goal for all teams; making the field for the sponsors' sake is (just ask Michael Waltrip). The dearth of competent Cup drivers is amplified at the road courses, and that should make the light bulb go off over someone's head: Maybe 43-car fields is not the best way to run a race.

David Newton: It only helps the team in the all-important owner points, and the drivers that are replaced aren't in the championship chase picture so it doesn't affect them. Until they start replacing Jimmie Johnson or Greg Biffle, no big deal.

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

Marty Smith: A better alternative might be sending Stemme or Kvapil to Bondurant School or Skip Barber or something. Like Smithson said, doing that forever isn't really feasible.

Ryan Smithson: Funny thing is, I pay close attention to the last six races, and Kvapil is finally starting to make some minute gains. "See ya. You're out of the car this week."

Marty Smith: I bet it eats at those guys, Smithson.

Ryan Smithson: The thing is though, and we all know this, is that a sponsor like Tide can get more exposure this weekend than the first 14 races combined.

David Newton: On that point, it doesn't seem fair to the driver. And how else will they get experience if they don't get on the course?

	"Where's that traction control?" Credit: Autostock
	ALSO •   Stremme out, Pruett in for Ganassi's 40 car at Sonoma

Duane Cross: But again, it comes back to sponsors -- and if they're willing to pay, someone is willing to put a scrub behind the wheel for a paycheck.

Marty Smith: Will Jeff Gordon be back in the top-10 after Sonoma and Daytona, boys?

Ryan Smithson: Tough to call, Marty, because we don't know how Hamlin will do in his first trip to Sonoma.

David Newton: Yes to Gordon. Some of the things that have happened lately, like the brakes going out at Pocono, aren't his fault. He's still one of the top five or six drivers out there.

Duane Cross: Yeah, I believe Gordon will be back in the top 10 after Sunday; a win goes a long ways toward making up an 11-point deficit.

Marty Smith: Denny is an adept road racer, Smithson, as evidenced by Mexico City. And he always has that computer.

Ryan Smithson: Hamlin didn't race against the Gordons in Mexico City. Not that it won't keep him from a top-15. Just saying.

Marty Smith: I forget, did Robby Gordon not run Mexico City?

Ryan Smithson: No, he didn't.

	Yes, Tide does sponsor a car this year. Credit: Autostock
	FELLOWS IN 32 CAR •   Fellows to drive PPI's No. 32 Chevy for Sonoma race

David Newton: Hamlin still had some pretty stiff competition in Mexico, and would have had more had Kyle Busch not taken out Jourdain.

Ryan Smithson: Sonoma is the toughest track for a rookie to get a win on. Heck, half the time, owners won't even let them run the race.

Marty Smith: Gordon told me at Michigan last week that Sonoma is very technical, and requires precision for excellence. Much more so that Watkins Glen. And with the rookies not being allowed to test there, it's all the more difficult.

David Newton: Well, a few rookies did test there. Just not in Cup cars.

Marty Smith: Exactly, Newt.

Should Elliott Sadler stay at Yates or move to Ganassi, Toyota?

David Newton: Moving won't necessarily make him run better. Ganassi's program isn't in much better shape than Yates. And Toyota will take a few years to get up to snuff.

Marty Smith: This is such a Rodman answer, but honestly, we'd be idiots to try to act like we know all the dynamics involved at Yates. That said, I'd like to see him stay.

Ryan Smithson: I wouldn't go to Toyota right now. He should hang on and see where he is in a year or two. If he wants to leave, there will be some good jobs opening up.

Duane Cross: Ganassi -- no way. There's not enough money to make ESad that stupid. ... It's either Yates or Toyota -- and I believe he is the guy to get Yates back into title contention.

	"You sure you want to ask me for advice about staying or leaving, Elliott?" Credit: Autostock
	NASCAR 24/7A day's worth of news in 90 seconds

David Newton: Or at least into Chase contention.

Ryan Smithson: Elliott is only 31 years old and has a good seven to 10 years left. He's a three-time winner. Heck, guys that have never won are getting crazy rides.

Marty Smith: I think Yates will make great strides once everyone is on board together, and they pool resources completely with Roush.

Duane Cross: Toyota is going to struggle, without question; having to qualify each week is going to be pressure enough. ... Yep, Marty nailed it: Sadler will benefit from that Roush partnership.

Ryan Smithson: But guys, I think that open seat at Ganassi is the best one out there right now.

David Newton: But is the open seat at Ganassi better than the one he's got at Yates is what you have to consider.

Duane Cross: I couldn't disagree more, Ryan.

David Newton: I don't think it is, Ryan.

Marty Smith: I don't think you guys give enough credit to Donnie Wingo and those 42 guys. That's a great damn race team.

Ryan Smithson: Yes. Ganassi has shown that the 42 car is a solid top-15 car. It can run on plate tracks, Michigans, you name it.

	Kyle Petty drove the No. 42 car to six victories between 1989 and 1996. Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers The No. 42 car since 1989 Driver Yrs. W T5 T10 C. Mears '06 0 1 4 J. McMurray '03-'05 0 18 44 K. Irwin Jr. '00 0 1 1 J. Nemechek '97-'99 1 4 10 K. Petty '89-'96 6 26 59 Totals 16 7 50 118

Duane Cross: Chip needs to decide if he's going to be a Cup owner or an open-wheel owner. Ditto for Roger Penske. Neither team will compete for a Cup championship without their undivided attention.

Ryan Smithson: Dodge is a pretty good racecar right now.

David Newton: You mean Kasey Kahne in a Dodge is a pretty good combination.

Marty Smith: Something like that, Smithson. Kahne is taking names.

Duane Cross: Until then, I'd stay far away from Ganassi. Again, money can do a lot for you -- but at some point competitive nature takes over and you want to win, not just run top 15.

Ryan Smithson: I can't believe you guys' underestimation of that 42 car. They have made tremendous strides. I'd work with Donnie Wingo any day. Geez.

Duane Cross: The 42 has made tremendous strides -- and it is maxed out.

Marty Smith: What? Smithson you started this conversation.

Ryan Smithson: I didn't say you, Marty. I mean Meathead and Bonnaroo attendee.

David Newton: Maybe you should drive the car, Ryan.

Duane Cross: This team won't be any better than it has been in the first 15 races. It's not a Chase car, it won't be a Chase car anytime soon.

Ryan Smithson: No, but it's close. Close enough to where the driver could make up the difference.

	"Yeah, Mark, I am totally underrated on the road course. One time, I got a top-10 finish." Credit: Autostock
	Infineon Predictions Smacker Pick Ryan Jimmie Johnson MartDawg Tony Stewart Newt Jeff Gordon Duane Jeff Gordon

Marty Smith: Newt is salivating to bust my ass. Go ahead, bro.

Duane Cross: Give 'em credit for making chicken salad.

Predictions?

David Newton: Ryan has to pick the 42 this week.

Ryan Smithson: No, but I will pick someone you guys won't: The 48.

Marty Smith: Stewart. But I'll go one better, Smithson -- McMurray. Very underrated as a road-course racer.

Duane Cross: McMurray underrated as a road-course driver? Maybe two top-fives in 21 starts has something to do with that perception. Or a 17th average finishing position.

David Newton: I'll go with Gordon. Jeff, not Robby. I think he may have won last week's race had the rain not hit.

Duane Cross: Jeff Gordon wins at Infineon -- with Smoke, Harvick, Biffle and Kenseth in the top 10.

Ryan Smithson: Fellows has much better car this time. He'll be top-five.

The opinions expressed are solely of the participants.